ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF THE CERIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLES IN WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Cerium oxide is an oxide of the rare earth metal which is widely used for several disorders. However, there are no complete toxicity studies done on it.The purpose of present study is to evaluate acute and subacute toxicity of cerium oxide nano particles on Wistar albino rats. Both acute and subacute studies were done according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In the acute toxicity study, Cerium oxides were administered to six rats at 2000 mg/kg, once orally and were observed for 48 hours. No toxic signs/mortality was observed. In the sub-acute study, Cerium oxide was administered once daily for 28 days to rats at 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, orally. No toxic signs/mortality was observed. There were no significant changes (P < 0.01) in the body weights, organ weights and haemato-biochemical parameters in any of the dose levels. No treatment related gross/histopathological lesions were observed. The present investigation demonstrated that the no observed adverse effect level was 2000 mg/kg body weight per day of Cerium oxide in rats and hence may be considered as non-toxic.

Key words: Cerium oxide, Acute toxicity, Sub-acute toxicity, Wistar rats.