Toxicological evaluation of pomegranate seed oil.

In this manuscript, the toxicology and safety of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) was evaluated by in vitro (Ames, chromosomal aberration), and in vivo toxicity tests (acute toxicity and 28-day toxicity in Wistar rats). No mutagenicity of PSO was observed in the absence and presence of metabolic activation up to precipitating concentrations of 5000 microg/plate (Ames test) or 333 microg/ml (chromosome aberration test). The acute oral toxicity study revealed no significant findings at 2000 mg PSO/kg body weight. In the 28-day dietary toxicity study PSO was dosed at concentrations of 0, 10,000, 50,000 and 150,000 ppm, which resulted in a mean intake of 0-0, 825-847, 4269-4330 and 13,710-14,214 mg PSO/kg body weight per day in males-females, respectively. At 150,000 ppm dietary exposure to PSO, a much higher dose than the level of PSO that elicits antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory efficacy, increased hepatic enzyme activities determined in plasma (aspartate, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and increased liver-to-body weight ratios were observed. However, these effects might be the result of a physiological response to exposure to a very high level of a fatty acid which is not part of the normal diet, and are most likely not toxicologically relevant. The no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 50,000 ppm PSO (=4.3 g PSO/kg body weight/day).

An alternative approach for the safety evaluation of new and existing chemicals, an exercise in integrated testing.

Various in vitro and in silico methods without animals were applied to 10 substances listed on ELINCS with a complete VIIA base-set available at NOTOX. The hazard assessment for these substances was performed on basis of available non-animal data, QSAR, PBBK-modelling and additional, new in vitro testing was applied. Based on these data predictions on fish toxicity, acute toxicity, skin- and eye-irritation, sensitisation, and toxicity after repeated dosing were made. The predictions were compared with the outcome of the in vivo tests. Nine out of ten predictions on fish LC(50) proved to be correct. For skin- and eye-irritation 70% was predicted correctly. Sensitisation was predicted correctly for 7 out of 10 substances, but three false negatives were found. Acute oral toxicity (LD(50)) and repeated dose toxicity were less successful (5 out of 10 and 2 out of 10 correct predictions, respectively); application of the PBBK model proved successful. Acute dermal toxicity was predicted correctly in 9 out of 10 cases. In general an over-estimation of systemic toxicity was found, which can be explained by an over-prediction of cytotoxicity and worst case assumptions on absorption and binding to (plasma) proteins. This integrated approach leads to a 38% reduction of laboratory animals.