Volume 6 • Issue 5 • 1000193 J Drug Metab Toxicol ISSN: 2157-7609 JDMT, an open access journal Research Article Open Access Pawar and Lalitha, J Drug Metab Toxicol 2015, 6:5 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7609.1000193 Research Article Open Access Drug Metabolism & Toxicology J o u r n a l o f D r u g M e t a b o li s m & T o x i c o l o g y ISSN: 2157-7609 *Corresponding author: Dr. Harshal Ashok Pawar, Assistant Professor and Head of Department (Quality Assurance), Dr. L. H. Hiranandani College of Pharmacy, Smt. CHM Campus, Opp. Ulhasnagar Railway Station, Ulhasnagar-421003, Maharashtra, India, Tel: +91-8097148638; E-mail: harshal.dlhhcop@gmail.com Received October 30, 2015; Accepted December 03, 2015; Published December 13, 2015 Citation: Pawar HA, Lalitha KG (2015) Toxicological Evaluation of Gum (Galactomannans) Isolated from Senna tora Seeds . J Drug Metab Toxicol 6: 193. doi:10.4172/2157-7609.1000193 Copyright: © 2015 Pawar HA, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Seed gums possess excellent emulsifying, suspending, binding, thickening stabilizing and water-holding properties. Therefore they are used in various pharmaceutical dosage forms like tablets, syrups, suspensions, lotions, ointments and for sustained drug release systems. Gum derived from the seeds of Senna tora L. is common herbaceous annual occurring weed throughout the India. The present investigation reports preliminary phytochemical screening and toxicological evaluation of the isolated seed gum from the Senna tora. The acute toxicity study was carried out in adult albino rats by “fxed dose” method. The sub-acute toxicity study was carried out for 28 days in wistar albino rats. All the Animals used were observed for clinical signs, physical abnormalities, changes in body weight and pre-terminal deaths. Laboratory investigations such as hematology and clinical chemistry were performed at sacrifce and the data were statistically analyzed. Based on the results of the acute oral toxicity on the polysaccharide in Wistar rats, it may be concluded that the LD50 of the Senna tora gum is greater than 2000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute toxicity study, the gum treated groups did not show any sign of toxicity after getting treated at dose levels of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Toxicological Evaluation of Gum (Galactomannans) Isolated from Senna tora Seeds Harshal A Pawar 1 * and KG Lalitha 2 1 Dr. L. H. Hiranandani College of Pharmacy, Ulhasnagar-421003, Maharashtra, India 2 Ultra College of Pharmacy, 4/235, College Road, Thasildar Nagar,Madurai-625020, Tamil Nadu, India Keywords: Toxicity; Phytochemical screening; Seed gum; Senna tora; Galactomannans Introduction Seed gums are vital food hydrocolloids used globally in various food and pharmaceutical industries. Te rising industrial applications of these gums in the area of paper, textile, petroleum, food and pharmaceutical industries has resulted in an impetus in India for intensifed research on new sources of gum and their derived products [1]. Tese gums are normally stable at a wide pH range and have good interaction abilities with organic, inorganic and food constituents. Tey are biocompatible, cheap and easily available. Natural materials have advantages over synthetic ones since they are chemically inert, nontoxic, less expensive, biodegradable and widely available [2]. Tey possesses excellent binding, suspending, emulsifying, thickening stabilizing and water-holding properties and could be utilized for the preparation of pharmaceutical dosage forms like tablets, syrups, suspensions, lotions, ointments and for sustained drug release systems [3]. Gum isolated from the seeds of Senna tora L. is common herbaceous annual occurring weed throughout the India. It is also commonly known as ‘Sickle Pod’ [4]. Literature survey revealed presence of various phytoconstituents such as anthraquinone glycosides, naphthopyrone glycosides, favanoids and phenolic compounds in diferent parts of Senna tora plant [5-7]. Several medicinal properties have been credited to Senna tora in Indian system of medicine. Te seeds of Senna tora have been used in Chinese medicine as aperients, antiasthnic, diuretic agent and also improve the visual activity [8]. Te Senna tora leaves extract has been found to exhibit signifcant hepatoprotective activity and anti-infammatory activity [9,10]. It is important to study phytochemistry and toxicity of the galactomannans isolated from Senna tora seeds to fnd its utility, suitability and acceptability as a polymer/excipient in formulating various pharmaceutical dosage forms. Te objective of acute oral toxicity study was to assess the toxicological profle of the Senna tora gum when administered to rats by a single oral gavage. Tis study aimed at providing a rational basis for risk assessment in human being. Te purpose repeated dose (28-day) oral toxicity study was to assess the systemic toxic potential of the test item when administered by gavage to rats. Tis study provides information on the possible health hazards likely to arise from repeated exposure over a relatively limited period of time. Te study was performed at Ultra College of Pharmacy in compliance with OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines. Materials and Method Collection and authentication of plant material Te pods of Senna tora were collected in the month of September- October from Maharashtra region. Te seeds were separated manually and dried under shade. Plant material was authenticated by Dr. Rajendra D. Shinde, Associate Professor, Blatter Herbarium; St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and was identifed as Senna tora (L.) Roxb (Herbarium Specimen no.8361). Te herbarium specimen of Senna tora was stored in Ultra College of Pharmacy, Madurai for future reference. Isolation and purifcation of gum Te endosperms of the Senna tora seed were separated mechanically followed by milling. Te powder of the endosperm obtained was soaked in benzene–ethanol solution (1:1) overnight to remove lipids and then