Safety and Effectiveness of Mist Antiaris, a Herbal Preparation for Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy

S Antwi,O Quasie,M Boakye-Yiadom,R Yeboah,A Ocloo,D Offei-Abrokwa,J Asiedu-Larbi,C A Sapaty,F Ayertey,D Oduro-Mensah,E K Kumatia,O N K Martey

doi:10.1155/2019/2607872

Abstract

Mist Antiaris is a herbal decoction for treatment of nervous disorders. Safety and efficacy were evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats and human patients, respectively. Acute toxicity was assessed by administration of a single 5000 mg/kg oral dose of decoction to a group of six rats. For subchronic toxicity, four groups of six rats each received water (control) or 10, 100, or 200 mg/kg oral doses of decoction daily for eight weeks. Body weight, serum, urine, and hematological profile of the animals in each group were monitored over the period. Effects of treatment on pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and histology of liver, lung, heart, and kidney tissue were assessed at the end of the study. There was no evidence of acute toxicity within 48 hours of the oral dose. Over the 8-week period, body weight increases in Mist Antiaris treatment groups were reduced relative to the control group. There were no significant differences in urine profile, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. Tissue histology revealed no differences relative to controls. Assessment of efficacy was by retrospective review of data on patients who presented with peripheral neuropathy. Treatment resulted in 53.7 % of patients reporting complete resolution and 15.7 % showing reduction in neuropathic symptoms. The data demonstrate that there is no toxicity due to subchronic administration of Mist Antiaris in Sprague-Dawley rats. The reduction or resolution of neuropathic symptoms indicated by patents' file data provides evidence to suggest that Mist Antiaris has antineuropathic effects.

Highlights

Peripheral neuropathy is a long-term complication that involves one or several nerve trunks causing pain, numbness, tingling and burning sensation, muscle weakness, and/or atrophy
Peripheral neuropathy is reported to affect 50% of diabetes patients, with type II diabetics accounting for approximately 45% and type I accounting for 54% of recorded cases [2]
Other conditions such as leprosy, HIV infection, alcohol abuse, and aging are associated with clinical cases of peripheral neuropathy, most occurring within the age range of 50 69 years, especially in females [4, 5]

Summary

Introduction

Peripheral neuropathy is a long-term complication that involves one or several nerve trunks causing pain, numbness, tingling and burning sensation, muscle weakness, and/or atrophy. It is a common neurological presentation at many Outpatient Clinics in Ghana [1]. Incidence of peripheral neuropathy among hypertensive individuals is approximately 97.2% [3] and is likely to double in some developing countries by 2030 [2]. Other conditions such as leprosy, HIV infection, alcohol abuse, and aging are associated with clinical cases of peripheral neuropathy, most occurring within the age range of 50 69 years, especially in females [4, 5]. Affected parts of the body are the upper and lower extremities [2, 6]

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