Acute and Repeated Dose Toxicity Assessment of Kelussia Odoratissima Mozaff Essential Oil in Female Rat

Background: We aimed in this study to evaluate the acute and repeated dose toxicity of Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff (Kelussia) identified as a rare medicinal plant species which grows in western parts of Iran with potential nutraceutical applications. Materials and Methods: To determine the clinical, hematological, biochemical, necropsy and histopathological effects of the herb’s essential oil, aerial parts of this plant were collected from Shahrekord in spring 2019. After careful evaluation and issuing the Herbarium Code Number, herb’s dry powder was provided and the essential oil was prepared by Clevenger apparatus. Acute and repeated dose toxicity tests were performed by OECD 423 and 407 guidelines through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections to female rats. Results: Acute test didn’t show any sign of toxicity in doses up to 2000 mg/kg and in delayed acute toxicity assessment no sign of toxic reaction was recorded. In repeated dose test all animals in two different dose groups (5 and 50 mg/kg) survived healthy according to the clinical, biochemical, hematological, necropsy and histopathological studies. Significant weight increase in high dose group (50 mg /kg/day) was accompanied with hepatotoxic reactions compared to vehicle control group (distilled water). Low dose group (5 mg/kg /day) showed significant biochemical changes in relevant nephrotoxicity related biomarkers which were not accompanied with histopathological evidence. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that oral long term administration of Kelussia essential oil could be considered as a safe herbal remedy in doses up to 5 mcg/kg/day for human medical and nutritional purposes.