Pharmacology & Toxicology

1. Professor Assistant Professor
Safety & Toxicity Evaluation of a Herbal
Drug - Xanthium strumarium Linn.
Presented by
Prof. Bhanu P. S. Sagar,
M.Pharm, Ph.D., D.Sc., LLB
(Director - School of Pharmacy, IEC-GI)
Fellow Researcher & Scholars
Prof. Sandeep Kumar Shukla, M.Pharm, Ph.D.
Ms Srishti Singh, M.Pharm
School of Pharmacy, IEC Group of Institutions,
Plot # 4, Knowledge Park-I, Institutional Area,
Gautam Buddh Nagar, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

2. • The fact that something is natural does not necessarily make it
safe or effective.
• Medicines and Poisons are oftentimes the same substances
given with different intents.
 Herbal Medicine, sometimes referred to as Herbalism or
Botanical Medicine, is the use of herbs for their therapeutic or
medicinal value. Medicinal plants produce and contain a variety
of secondary plant metabolites (SPMs) substances that act
upon the body and produce physiological changes.
 Today, scientists have proved the medicinal properties of a
large number of botanicals, and their healing components have
been extracted and analyzed. Many such medicinal plant
components are now synthesized in laboratories.
INTRODUCTION

3. • Herbal medicines are ubiquitous.
• Many medicinal herbs and pharmaceutical drugs are therapeutic at
one dose and toxic at another.
• The "poison herbs“ have strong potential for either acute or chronic toxicity
and should only be utilized by clinicians who are trained to use them and
clearly understand their toxicology and appropriate use.
• Even though the herb industry is often portrayed as unregulated and
irresponsible, the vast majorities of the herbs in this category is not
available to the public and are not sold in health food or herb stores.
Examples of "poison herbs" include Aconite, Arnica, Belladonna, Bryonia,
Datura, Gelsemium, Henbane, Male Fern, Phytolacca, and Veratrum .
• Many herbs interact negatively with anti-clotting and cause unsafe
reactions. Herbs that magnify or increase the action of Coumadin include:
Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo biloba, Dong quai and Feverfew.
• Some herbs prevent or block anti-clotting from working e.g. St. John's wort
Herbs - Panacea's or Poisons?

4. • Interactions between herbs and drugs may increase or decrease the
pharmacological or toxicological effects of either component. Synergistic
therapeutic effects may complicate the dosing of long-term medications
for example herbs traditionally used to decrease glucose concentrations
in diabetes could theoretically precipitate hypoglycaemia if taken in
combination with conventional drugs.
• Concurrent use of herbs may mimic, magnify, or oppose the effect of
drugs.
• The dearth of reports of adverse events and interactions probably reflects
a combination of under-reporting and the benign nature of most herbs
used.
Herbs - Panacea's or Poisons?

5. ATRACTYLOSIDE (ATR) is an extremely
toxic diterpenoid glycoside that produces :
Hypoglycemia, Convulsions
and even Death
In India, ATR is found in
Xanthium strumarium L. a common
weed , poisonous to mammals and
important ingredient of herbal drugs
available in market.
OBJECTIVES

6. Atractyloside was found in roots and seeds of
Xanthium strumarium L. : so it was worthwhile to carry
out investigation with underneath objectives-
Develop protocols for
extraction, isolation,
purification of ATR
Hepatotoxic assessments of
oral administration of ATR in
albino Wistar rats.
Safety & Toxicity evaluation
of methanolic extract of X.
strumaium L. in albino Wistar
rats.
Cardiotoxic assessments
of ATR in perfused frog
heart.

7. METHODOLOGIES USED
• Phytochemical,
• Chromatographic (IPTLC, HPLC),
• Spectral (IR, Mass, NMR)
Modern
Scientific
Technologies
• Estimation of hepatic biochemical
parameters / liver function test - LFT :
SGPT, SGOT, total protein, serum
albumin, serum bilirubin and serum
alkaline phosphatase,
• Histopathological analysis of the liver
Hepatotoxic
Studies
• Estimation of effects of drugs on heart
rate and cardiac output
Cardiotoxic
studies

8. Xanthium
strumarium L.
Seeds Plant
Seeds Flower
X. strumarium L. is
a common annual
herb: also known
by-
•Banokra
•Chotadhatura
Two species are
found in india:
•X. indicum
•X. strumarium
Grows in waste
places & in river
banks.

9. RESULTS AND FINDINGS
• IR SPECTRA of ATRACTYLOSIDE POTASSIUM
500
750
1000
1250
1500
1750
2000
2250
2500
2750
3000
3250
3500
3750
4000
4250
4500
1/cm
30
37.5
45
52.5
60
67.5
75
82.5
90
97.5
%T

10. MASS SPECTRA

11. NMR SPECTRA

12. ATRACTYLOSIDE

13. Fig. 1 : TS of Normal liver of albino wistar rat.
Fig. 2&3 : TS of Toxic Liver
(ATR Induced)