Systemic and local toxicity assay of an aqueous extract of Larrea divaricata Cav.: Role of NDGA

PERALTA IGNACIO; MARTINO RENZO; DAVICINO ROBERTO; GORZALCZANY SUSANA; ALONSO ROSARIO; ANESINI CLAUDIA

international journal of pharmaceutical sciences and research

Elsevier

Lugar: Pachkula; Año: 2015 vol. 6 p. 1000 - 1010

2320-5148

 Larrea divaricata Cav. (Zygophyllaceae) is an autochthonous plant ofSouth America, widely distributed in Argentina. It is used in folk medicine as ananti-inflammatory drug. By other way, presents well documented antitumoral andimmunomodulatory effects. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), an antioxidantcompound, had been previously described in this plant. Nowadays a formulation forhair growth based on an extract of L divaricata is commercialized in Argentina.Taken these into account, the objective of this work was to determine the systemicand local toxicities of the aqueous extract of L divaricata, by giving it under oral andtopical administration. Also, it was proposed to analyze the participation of NDGAin the systemic toxicity of the plant extract. The extract presented low acute toxicity,and the histopathological examination of the tissues did not show any signal oftoxicity at the same time that did not affect biochemical parameters excepteosinophils which were decreased by the treatment. Which is more; the extract didnot exert dermatological or ocular irritation. It is important to note that in relation toits innocuousness and pharmacological properties other phytotherapy formulationscould be prepared in a future.