Toxicity Studies on Amukkarac Curanam - A Siddha Poly Herbal Drug

Abstract

Objective: The effect of Amukkarac curanam (AC), a widely used Siddha medicine was evaluated for acute and chronic toxicity in rats. Material and methods: Amukkarac is botanically equated to Withania somnifera Dunal. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 5.0 g/kg body weight while the chronic dosage was 500 mg/kg body weight /day. All external morphological, hematological, serum parameters, histopathological, in addition to body weight and vital organ weights were recorded. Results and conclusion: During this investigation no significant mortality was observed. The results showed that AC at the given dose of 500 mg/kg body weight did not produce any significant toxic effect in rats during 90 days period of the treatment.