Oral acute and subchronic (28-day) toxicity studies of snakehead fish (Channa striata)

Abstract

Food and drug control authorities in each country have issued warnings about the toxic effect potential of using commonly consumed traditional medicines. The safety assurance, standardization, and market regulation of herbal medicines being sold need to be determined. This study's goal is to investigate the acute and subchronic toxicity of cold-processed snakehead fish (Channa striata) flesh. In-vivo rats models were given dosages of 350, 1400, and 5600 mg/kg processed snakehead fish (SF) and were monitored for toxic symptoms and mortality for 14 days. Meanwhile, regarding subchronic toxicity, doses of 350, 700, and 1400 mg/kg SF were administered orally for 28 days. Afterward, the animal subjects were sacrificed for histopathological, hematological, and biochemical examinations. There were no evidence of toxicity or mortality in rats during the acute examination, which lasted 14 days. The subchronic toxicity results showed no significant changes in most of the hematological, biochemical, and histological profiles of the organs. Some changes observed in blood biochemistry and relative organ weight were assumed as a temporary effect and not a sign of toxicity. The overall results showed that the SF was non-toxic up to 1400 mg/kg, which can be considered a safe dose for the application of health supplement raw materials.