Dermal Safety Study and Antifungal Activity of Dhatrayadi lepa

Background

Agad Tantra deals with poison and its manifestation, investigation, and treatment. It also deals with medicine having poisonous ingredients which always needs to be evaluated for its toxicity. In India the drug regulatory authorities, drug inspectors, drug testing laboratory, state level committees are functioning a big role for the purpose of drug safety and standardization. In light of this, a study on Dhatrayadi lepa has been taken. It contains Snuhi i.e. Euphorbia nerifolia Linn., that is a poisonous plant, corrosive and irritant in nature, it is categorised under Schedule E1 drug in herbal poison group in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945. Dhatrayadi lepa is mentioned in Vangsen Samhita which is said to be therapeutically efficacious as “Kachchhudadruharolepah”.

Aim

For above purpose 2 studies were carried out on Dhatrayadi lepa, to evaluate (i) Sub-acute toxicity study as per OECD guideline 410 and (ii) In vitro Antifungal activity through cup plate diffusion method.

Materials and Methods

Before the study, collection, authentication of ingredients and preparation and physico-chemical analysis of Dhatrayadi lepa were performed. 24 Wistar albino rats were divided in four groups taken for sub-acute dermal toxicity study. Dhatrayadi lepa was apply over the skin of rats for 28 days. The antifungal activity was carried out with the fungus “Trichophyton rubrum” which causes several skin diseases to humans. Three different extracts i.e. Tushodak extract of Dhatrayadi lepa, ethanol extract of Dhatrayadi lepa and methanol extract of Dhatrayadi lepa were taken to evaluate this activity, taking a standard antifungal drug “Terbinafine”.

Results and Conclusion

During Sub-acute dermal toxicity study, experimental rats did not showed any significant toxic effect on physical, hematological, biochemical and histological parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that Dhatrayadi lepa is safe. Activity revealed that all the extract of Dhatrayadi lepa in higher concentration have antifungal efficacy. Among the three extracts, Tushodak extract of Dhatrayadi lepa is found to be most significant, thereafter ethanol extract and methanol extract. Standard drug terbin a fine has observed maximum ZOI (Zone of Inhibition) 47.6±0.66 mm at 1000 µg/mL. Dhatrayadi lepa (Tushodak) extract was shown to have a maximum zone of inhibition 26.3±0.33 mm at 1000 µg/mL concentration level.