From the laboratory to the commercial product... Which records of toxicity should we consider?

GAMARRA LUQUES C

San Juan

Conferencia; XLI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo.; 2023

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

In recent years, worldwide, the scientific system has begun to place particular emphasis on the so-called "translational research", whose objective is to create a bridge between the results of basic research and its application for the benefit of people and communities. As a definition, its use in the field of scientific research is infinite. Limiting the scope of this definition to the field of natural compounds, particularly to studies carried out on plants, the knowledge provided by basic sciences has great potential for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries; as well as, in its area of intersection called nutraceutical, which refers to the exploitation of the medicinal properties of some edibles or foods. In this recent translational context, it is essential to identify those previous antecedents of relevance and toxicological validity, to establish the priorities of future research. Therefore, located in the basic research carried out on plants, the objective of this presentation is to establish which published scientific studies that allow us to estimate the toxicity of plant compounds for their use as food, biopharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals. In accordance with international regulations, determined by international control agencies, the toxic risk assessment must provide information on the identification of the danger presented by a compound, the evaluation of its exposure, the determined effects due to its dose-response relationship and the characterization of the type of risk (risk quantification). Considering these conceptual contributions, coming from general toxicology, finding antecedents of toxicological validity, among available scientific publications, generally aimed at evaluating and describing biological properties (i.e. antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, between others), is often a frustrating challenge. In the selection of published antecedents, the first thing need to be considered is the type of study carried out; thus, epidemiological studies, clinical trials and some laboratory experiments are of interest. Among them, those studies that evaluate the toxic properties of the compounds, specifying the route of contact, the magnitude and the duration of exposure, will be useful. In each of these cases, the characterization of a dose-response relationship is essential. Then, on based of this information, the relevant toxicological information of a product can be certainly established. Concluding, the compound details at least need to include: effects (i.e. nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity), the highest non-toxic doses (NOAEL), the lowest doses at which these effects are observed (LOAEL), potency, margin of safety; as well as the characteristics of the different populations subject to risk (i.e. sick people, children, pregnant women).