Safety evaluation of standardized Ayurvedic formulation-Panchvalkala, by subacute toxicity study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panchvalkala is a conventional Ayurvedic medicine used as a douche in gynecological disorders such as leucorrhea, infertility, and endometriosis. Recently, we have reported the anticancer activity of Panchvalkala aqueous extract (PVaq) in cervical cancer cell lines, SiHa (HPV16+), HeLa (HPV18+), and mouse papilloma models.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Here, we have evaluated the safety of the aqueous extract of Ayurvedic formulation, Panchvalkala (PVaq), in Swiss albino mice by performing subacute toxicity study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male and female Swiss albino mice (n = 5/sex/group) were gavaged orally with different doses of PVaq for 28 consecutive days. The mice were distributed into six groups: I (vehicle control), II (vehicle control reversal), III (PVaq 250 mg/kg), IV (PVaq 500 mg/kg), V (1000 mg/kg) and VI (1000 mg/kg high dose reversal). Animals were observed periodically to record any clinical signs of toxicity or mortality. After completion of treatment and recovery periods, animals were evaluated for the effect of PVaq on urine parameters, followed by hematological and biochemical parameters. Animals were sacrificed on day 29 for gross observation of vital organs and to study their histopathology. Reversal groups were maintained for further 14 days to observe any delayed onset of toxic side effects or reversal of toxicity, followed by sacrificing the mice on day 43.

RESULTS

In the subacute toxicity study, PVaq did not show any significant change in food, water consumption, and body weights. There were no significant alterations in hematology, biochemistry, urine parameters, and histopathology of the analyzed tissues (brain, heart, liver, lung, spleen, thymus, kidney, epididymis/ovaries, and testis/uterus). The parameters were comparable to their respective controls in both the female as well as the male mice groups. Upon macroscopic and microscopic observation of vital organs, no abnormality was detected compared to the respective control groups.

CONCLUSION

The subacute toxicity study demonstrated that oral administration of PVaq was safe in female and male Swiss albino mice.

Panchvalkala, a traditional Ayurvedic formulation, exhibits antineoplastic and immunomodulatory activity in cervical cancer cells and C57BL/6 mouse papilloma model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Panchvalkala, an Ayurvedic traditional formulation has references in Charak Samhita and Bhavaprakasha Nighantu for the treatment of women with endometriosis-related problems, leucorrhea and vaginal ailments. The formulation comprises of equal ratios of the barks from Ficus glomerata, Ficus virens, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, and Thespesia populnea.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to evaluate the anticancer and immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Panchvalkala (PVaq) against cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effect of PVaq on disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential in cervical cancer cell lines, SiHa and HeLa, was studied by using JC1 dye. The expression of generic caspases in the cells after treatment with PVaq was evaluated by ELISA kit. The expression of pRb, p53, E6 and E7 proteins were evaluated by western blotting. Acute oral toxicity and DRF studies were performed in Swiss albino mice by following OECD guidelines 423 and 407, respectively. Tumor retardation study was done in C57BL/6 mouse papilloma model. The mice were divided into six groups: No tumor control (NTC), Tumor control (TC), Cisplatin (Cis) (4 mg/kg b.w.), PVaq 100, 200 mg/kg b.w and combination of PVaq (200 mg/kg b.w.) and Cisplatin (4 mg/kg b.w.). The mice were orally gavaged with PVaq daily for 14 days and cisplatin was given intravenously on every 1st, 5th and 9th day. Hematological and biochemical parameters were studied by using hematology analyzer and kits, respectively. E6 and E7 gene expression in the tumor samples was determined by qPCR. Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

PVaq induced mitochondrial depolarization in SiHa and HeLa, and increased the expression of generic caspases, resulting into apoptosis. PVaq upregulated the expression of tumor suppressor proteins (p53 and pRb) and reduced the expression of viral oncoproteins (E6 and E7). Acute toxicity study displayed non-toxicity of PVaq while DRF study ensured its safe dose for further efficacy studies. PVaq reduced tumor volume and weight in mouse papilloma model and induced immunomodulation in the animals. It increased serum levels of IL-2 (Th1) with a concomitant decrease in IL-10 (Th2) cytokines. The drug did not affect body weight, food consumption and organ histopathology of the animals.

CONCLUSIONS

PVaq exhibited anticancer and immunomodulatory activities against cervical cancer cells and female mouse papilloma model.

Evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of an ayurvedic formulation, panchvalkala

We report the free radical scavenging activity of an Ayurvedic preparation Panchvalkala and its individual components (stem bark of Ficus benghalensis, F. glomerata, F. religiosa, F. virens and Thespesia populnea). Being stem barks, these samples contain phenolics (ranging from 3.5% to 10.8% w/w) and tannins (1.6% to 7.0% w/w). This prompted us to study the free radical scavenging activity of Panchvalkala and its components which was evaluated in three in vitro models viz. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay. Panchvalkala and its individual components showed significant antiradical activity by bleaching 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (EC(50) ranging from 7.27 to 12.08 microg) which was comparable to pyrogallol (EC(50) 4.85 microg). Thin layer chromatography of the methanol extracts when sprayed with 0.2% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl in methanol revealed several bands with antiradical activity as seen by bleaching of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. All the samples showed good superoxide scavenging potential (EC(50) ranging from 41.55 to 73.56 microg) comparable to ascorbic acid (EC(50) 45.39 microg) in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction ability, Fe(3+) to Fe(2+) transformation was found to increase with increasing concentrations of all the sample extracts.