Investigating the Effect of Acute and Subacute Toxicity of Ferula macrocolea (Boiss.) Boiss Essential Oil in BALB/c Mice

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of Ferula macrocolea essential oil on blood and serum biochemical parameters in BALB/c mice. To determine acute toxicity, four groups of mice (each comprising 6 mice) received a single oral dose of 1.24 ml/kg of F. macrocolea essential oil. Subacute toxicity was assessed by examining vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and blood parameters after administering doses (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 ml/kg) of the plant essential oil orally for 28 days. The results of acute toxicity studies, where a single dose of 1.24 ml/kg of plant essential oil was orally administered to the mice, were monitored for 28 days. The median lethal dose (LD50) of this compound was determined to be 1.79 ml/kg. In the study of acute toxicity, conducted with a dose of 1.24 ml/kg, no cases of animal death were observed. Additionally, in the study of subacute toxicity with doses of (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 ml/kg), no toxic effects on vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, as well as blood parameters, were observed. Finally, none of the blood parameters and histological characteristics of the studied organs were altered by the consumption of F. macrocolea essential oil. Therefore, it exhibits no significant toxicity and can be considered for potential effects on various diseases in future studies.