ACUTE AND SUB ACUTE TOXICITY STUDIES OF A SIDDHA SASTRIC FORMULATION LINGA CHENDHURAM IN WISTAR RATS

Linga Chendhuram (LC) is a herbo-mineral formulation cited in Siddha literature Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu comprises of purified Lingam (Cinnabar) processed in herbal juice – Citrullus colocynthis and used in the management of various types of fever, arthritis and anaemia at 65 mg/dose. Acute and Sub-acute oral toxicity of Linga Chendhuram was carried out in Wistar rats under OECD guidelines 423 and 407. In acute study, LC was administered at 2000mg/kg orally and animals were observed for toxic signs for 14 days. In sub-acute toxicity study, test groups were treated with LC at 18, 90 and 180 mg/kg/day along with 2 ml of diluted honey and control group with distilled water 2 ml/day for 28 days daily. LC at 2000mg/kg produced no treatment related toxic signs or mortality during the study. Haematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed using auto analyzer with standard kits and one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett test was performed for significant analyses. Gross necropsy and histopathology studies using H&E stain were done on major organs. LD50 was found more than 2 g/kg. No-Observed-Adverse-Effect level of LC was seen at 180 mg/kg in 28 days of treatment. No abnormal findings were noted in high dose group organs. Administration of LC at its human therapeutic dose of 195 mg/kg in rat (180 mg/kg) is safe

ANTI ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY OF HERBO MINERAL SIDDHA PREPARATION ARUMUGA CHENDURAM AGAINST TYPE II COLLAGEN INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Siddha system of medicine is the eternal science of life. It is a system that has its extensive bonding with Dravidian culture, language and beliefs. The system of medicine mostly prevailed and prospered in the regions of Dravidian cultures by the great Siddhars. It’s unique as one only than other AYUSH traditional systems of medicine across India with its distinctive abundant usage of medicinal plants, metals, minerals and animal products. Siddhars used the steps of Alchemy to prepare various medicines from metallic and mineral origin for attainment elixir and various rare diseases. Siddha medicine is classified into 32 types of internal and external medicine each. Among the 32 types of internal medicine Chendhuram is a medicine shelf life of 75 years usually from herbo-mineral combinations. Arumuga Chendhuram (ARC) is a herbo-mineral formulation cited in Siddha literature ‘Siddha Vaithiya Thirattu’. ARC was orally administered at higher dose 2gm/kg to the Wistar Albino rats in acute toxicity study and during 28 days of repeated (sub acute) toxicity study, at daily doses of 12, 24 & 48mg/kg of body weight to the Wistar Albino rats. Type II collagen arthritis is another model for developing autoimmune arthritis. The immune pathogenesis mediated by T cell and B cell response to collagen. By this model, nearly 100% arthritis can be achieved. In our study, ARC after 42 days treatment reduced the arthritic swelling significantly and degree of inflammation evident to act against auto immune disorder