Evaluation of acute, sub-acute toxicity and cardiac activity of processed borax

Abstract

Borax is used in Ayurveda to treat various diseases like asthma, ulcer, and others, after removal of the water for crystallization. It causes toxicity when accumulated in the body, leads to vomiting, fatigue, and renal failure. The present study was carried out to evaluate the acute and the sub-acute toxicity and cardiac activity of processed borax in rats. Acute toxicity of processed borax was observed at the doses of 112.5, 225.0, 450.0, 900.0, and 1800.0 mg/kg. Processed borax solution at 22.5 and 112.5 mg/kg/day dose was administered for 30 consecutive days in sub-acute toxicity study. Cardiac activity of processed borax was studied by giving borax solution at 22.5 and 112.5 mg/kg/day dose for 30 days and taking ECG. In the acute toxicity test, the processed borax did not produce any deaths. The sub-acute treatment with the processed borax (22.5 and 112.5 mg/kg, n = 6/group) failed to induce serious alterations in almost all the parameters, except toxicity in kidney at 112.5 mg/kg. No change in ECG was observed in cardiac activity study. The LD₅₀ of processed borax is above 1.8 mg/kg. It has no serious toxicity on sub-acute exposure and has no pathological intervention on heart in rats.