Subchronic dermal toxicity studies of Alcide Allay gel and liquid in rabbits

Screening of acute and sub-chronic dermal toxicity of Calendula officinalis L essential oil

The objective of the study is to access the safety of Calendula essential oil by studying acute and sub-chronic dermal toxicity. The dermal toxicities of Calendula essential oil were evaluated in accordance with OECD guidelines number 402 and 411 respectively. The animals were exposed to Calendula officinalis (CO) essential oil dose of 20 mL/kg body weight for acute dermal toxicity, whereas for dermal sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were exposed to CO oil 2.5, 5 and 10 mL/kg body weight, respectively, for 7 times in a week for 90 days. The parameters studies included CNS stimulation, depression, hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Hb, Lymphocyte % etc), biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, ALP, AST, etc), relative organ weight, necropsy and histopathology. In toxicity studies, all animals exhibited normal behavior without any change in hematology, blood biochemistry, necroscopical and histopathology. The no observed effect level (NOEL) and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of CO oil were 2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively. CO oil is under the herbal medicinal product according to the European Medicines Agency with the claim of an LD₅₀ value of 20 mL/kg body weight. The result indicates that CO essential oil did not produce any significant toxic effects.

Chlorine dioxide and hemodialysis

In the United States chlorination of potable water supplies has been the standard method of disinfection for about 75 years. In recent times concern has been raised about the propensity of chlorination to introduce potentially carcinogenic trihalomethanes (THM) such as chloroform into finished water. The levels of THM introduced depend on many factors including the quality of the raw water. Numerous community water treatment facilities are experiencing difficulty in meeting current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, and it is likely that the permissible levels may be lowered in the future. An alternative to chlorination which does not generate THM during disinfection is chlorine dioxide, but there are concerns about the acute and chronic toxicity of ClO2 and its disinfection by-products, chlorite and chlorate. Deleterious effects of moderately high levels of these oxychlorines have been demonstrated experimentally on red blood cells, thyroid function, and development in laboratory animals. Adverse effects in controlled prospective studies in humans and in actual use situations in community water supplies have as yet failed to reveal clear evidence of adverse health effects. Among groups who may be at special risk from this suggested alternative are patients who must undergo chronic extracorporeal hemodialysis. The special needs, precautions, and experience to date in regard to finished water are reviewed. Again, very limited human experience has failed to reveal adverse health effects. Further study, caution, and extreme vigilance are indicated, but dialysis patients in carefully controlled facilities may be at no greater risk than the general population.