EXPERIMENTAL SUBSTITUTION OF THE SAFETY OF TINCTURE FROM WAX MOTH LARVAE

Abstract

Introduction. An important stage of preclinical study of new drugs is the assessment of their safety, in particular, the determination of the toxicity class during short-term use of large doses.One of the promising drugs is wax moth larvae, which can exhibit various types of pharmacological activity. It is known from folk medicine that they are used to treat tuberculosis, upper respiratory tract, to increase physical activity and to improve the functioning of the immune system.The Aim of this study is experimental substantiation of the safety of tinctures from wax moth larvae for possible further use in medical practice.Research Methods. The study was conducted on 48 white outbred rats of both sexes weighing 150– 220 g. Rats were divided into 8 groups, each of which included 6 animals. When choosing doses for intragastric administration, the limiting indicator in determining LD50 is the maximum dose of the fourth toxicity class (low- toxic substances) – 20 ml/kg, which was selected for a single intragastric administration to male and female rats of tinctures from wax moth larvae with alcohol concentrations of 30% and 50%. Control animals were administered 30% and 50% ethanol in the same dose. For 14 days, the experimental animals were observed and their general condition, lethality, body weight dynamics (on days 3, 7 and 14) were assessed, and after the end of the experiment, a macroscopic examination of the internal organs and determination of their weight were performed.Results and Discussion. It was established that after intragastric administration of tinctures from wax moth larvae with alcohol concentrations of 30% and 50% at a dose of 20.0 ml/kg, no signs of intoxication were detected in the experimental animals, and no lethality was detected in the experimental groups of animals. Throughout the entire observation period, there was a physiological increase in the body weight of the experimental animals relative to the initial data. Analysis of the mass coefficients of the internal organs of male and female rats after a single intragastric administration of tinctures from wax moth larvae, as well as in the control groups of animals, showed that no pathological changes were observed in the organs of the experimental rats.Conclusions. Studies on the acute toxicity of tinctures of wax moth larvae with 30% and 50% alcohol concentration showed that they do not have a toxic effect on the animal body. According to the toxicological classification of substances by K.K. Sidorov, tinctures of wax moth larvae (30% and 50%) (LD50 >20.0 ml/kg) when administered intragastrically belong to the V toxicity class – practically harmless substances.