Phenolic profile, and safety evaluation of the Moroccan aqueous polyherbal formulation containing Petroselinum crispum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Apium graveolens L.: Acute and sub-acute toxicity.

Medicinal plants harbor numerous natural bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential, utilized in the synthesis of various drug formulations. While the diverse benefits of herbal formulations have been extensively researched, a toxicity assessment is crucial to establish a wide margin of safety for the therapeutic application of this polyherbal formulation. The recent study aimed to assess the phytochemical profile and potential toxic effects of an aqueous extract derived from a polyherbal formulation containing Petroselinum crispum L., Coriandrum sativum L., and Apium graveolens L. The investigation involved acute and sub-acute toxicity studies conducted in male and female Swiss albino mice, as well as adult rats. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed a rich composition of phytochemical compounds in the extract. In acute toxicity assessments, oral administration of the extract up to 14 g/kg showed no signs of toxicity or fatalities in mice. However, intraperitoneal administration resulted in dose-dependent toxicity, with a calculated LD 50 of 11.8 g/kg. Sub-acute toxicity studies in rats over 28 days showed no significant changes in organ weights, hematological, or biochemical parameters, except for a minor decrease in WBC count. Histopathological examination revealed no morphological disturbances in the liver and kidneys, indicating a wide margin of safety for therapeutic use. [Display omitted] • This is the first report on the toxicity assessment of the Moroccan polyherbal formulation containing Petroselinum crispum L., Coriandrum sativum L., and Apium graveolens l. • The acute and subacute toxicity profiles of the polyherbal formulation aqueous extract in mice and rats. • The lethal dose 50 (LD 50) for the polyherbal formulation via oral administration exceeded 14 g/kg, while it equaled 11.8 g/kg for intraperitoneal administration. • No severe toxic effects on hematological and biochemical parameters, as well as vital organs, were observed in the subacute toxicity test conducted over a period of 28 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]