In-vivo Toxicity Profile of 2-Butyl-3-(3, 5-Diiodo-4-Hydroxybenzoyl) Benzofuran on Different Experimental Models

Abstract

The anti-cancer properties of 2-butyl-3-(3, 5-Diiodo-4-Hydroxybenzoyl) benzofuran have been determined in earlier in-vitro studies, but safety and efficacy still need to be resolved. This research investigates the acute oral toxicity of 2-butyl-3-(3, 5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzoyl) benzofuran on female Wistar rats, zebrafish, and brine shrimp. The present study was conducted on rats to evaluate the compound acute oral toxicity, following the protocols established by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 423. After 14 days of duration, histopathological changes were observed in the liver and heart of animals that received a dosage of 2,000 mg/kg. The compound was tested at a limit test concentration of 100 mg/L in zebrafish for period of 96 hours. During this time, sub-lethal clinical signs and mortalities were observed at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Brine shrimps were exposed to various concentrations for 24 hours to evaluate their cytotoxicity and calculate the percentage of mortality. Histopathological changes are primarily observed in the liver (multifocal necrosis of hepatocytes), heart (myocardial inflammation) and lung (low alveolar/interstitial inflammation). There are no recordings of mortalities at 300 and 2,000 mg/kg treated rats. Behavioral patterns remained unchanged, whereas food intake and body weight decreased significantly. The oral administration of the test chemical to rats would result in an LD50 greater than 2,000 mg/kg, ranking it in the fifth category of the GHS. The LC50 (322.96 μg/mL) for the brine shrimp lethality assay was calculated using a plotted graph. The test compound’s LC50 value in the zebrafish model would be higher than 100 mg/L. The acute toxicity profile of 2-butyl-3-(3, 5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzoyl) benzofuran has been demonstrated using rodents, zebrafish, and brine shrimp lethality assay. This study will guide subsequent chronic toxicological assessments.