Samraj et al., IJP, 2014; Vol. 1(11): 715-723. ISSN: 2348-3962 International Journal of Pharmacognosy 715 IJP (2014), Vol. 1, Issue 11 (Research article) Received on 29 August, 2014; received in revised form, 21 October, 2014; accepted, 29 October, 2014; published 01 November, 2014 ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY ON SIDDHA DRUG MAGIZHAM PATTAI CHOORANAM IN RODENTS K. Samraj 1* , S. Thillaivanan 2 , S. Padmanathan 3 , K. Kanagavalli 4 and P. Parthiban 5 Velumailu Siddha Medical College 1 , Sriperumpudur, Tamil Nadu, India. Assistant Medical officer (Siddha) 2 , GPHC, Jamunamarathur, Tamil Nadu, India. Medical Officer (Siddha) 3 , Tamilnadu Medical Service, India. Department of General Medicine (U.G) 4, 5 , Govt. Siddha Medical College, Chennai, India. ABSTRACT: Infertility is one of the most extremely tragic all over the world. Despite recent advances in the treatment of male infertility, the problem has not been satisfactorily tackled. The male infertility is mainly due to an inadequate number of spermatozoa in the semen, the failure of the spermatozoa to move with sufficient vigour towards their goal. Herbal medicines have been broadly used in developed countries hence they are natural and comparatively safe. They contain plant materials as their pharmacologically active components. Aim of the study is to evaluate the acute and sub- acute toxicity of the spermatogenic siddha drug Magizhampattai Chooranam (MPC). For acute studies, different doses of MPC were administered orally to rats once daily for one week. For sub-acute studies, different doses of IC were administered orally to rats once daily for 28 days in various doses at 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg of body weight. Detailed hematological, biochemical, necropsy and Histopathological evaluation of organs was performed for all animals. Histopathological analysis revealed that Spleen, Testes, Pancreas, Lung, Liver, Brain, Heart, Stomach, Intestine, Bone, Ovary, and Kidney tissues of treated groups did not show any signs of toxicity. No impairment in hepatic, renal, haemopoietic functions were observed throughout the study. INTRODUCTION: Infertility is the failure of a couple to conceive a pregnancy after trying to do so for at least one full year. Approximately 20% of couples struggle with infertility at any given time. Infertility has increased as a problem over the last 30 years 1 . Male reproductive health has social and psychological impact on normal life 2 . Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity 3 . Male reproductive medicine and surgery remains one of the most actively evolving areas in urology, with a variety of therapeutic modalities under investigation 4 . QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.1(11).715-23 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpjournal.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.1(11).715-23 Conventional treatment for infertility usually involves invasive and, expensive procedures. There are many alternative treatments available that can increase the chance of conception 5 . Herbs have been in use since long time to treat various diseases 6 . However, many issues related to a lack of scientific evidence about the efficacy and safety of herbal remedies remains unresolved 7, 8 . Pre-clinical toxicity studies are essential to determining a safe dose for human trial 9 . Prior to the initiation of human clinical trials of novel drugs, the safety of their application is to be proved. Generally this is accomplished by the implementation of general preclinical toxicity experiments to uncover potential poisonous effects of any drug in animals 10 . Worldwide use of complementary and alternative medicines, including herbal products for various health Keywords: Siddha Drug, Herbal Medicine, Magizham Pattai Chooranam, Acute Toxicity, Sub-Acute Toxicity Correspondence to Author: K. Samraj Lecturer, Velumailu Siddha Medical College, Sriperumpudur, Tamil Nadu India. E-mail: drsam.md@rediff.com