Single- And Repeated-Dose Inhalation Toxicity of Medicinal Cigarettes with Antitussive and Expectorants in ICR Mice

ABSTRACT Antitussives suppress coughing, possibly by reducing brain cough center activity, while expectorants thin mucus to help loosen congestion and clear airways. Inhaling antitussives and expectorants, involving using inhaled vapors or aerosolized medications to manage cough and mucus, allow for direct inhalation into the respiratory tract to provide faster relief. However, the reported adverse effects raised question as to whether inhaling antitussives and expectorants directly can pose risks. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the toxicological profile of medicinal cigarette with antitussive and expectorants, though single- and repeated-dose toxicity test. Male and female ICR mice were received by whole-body inhalation at target mainstream smoke concentrations of 95 mg/m3 total particulate matter (TPM) of medicinal cigarette with antitussive and expectorants in the single-dose toxicity test. In the repeated-dose toxicity study, no mortality or behavioral signs of toxicity were observed, indicating the LD50 was higher than 95 mg/m3 in the exposure period and the following 2 weeks observation period. In the repeated-dose inhalation toxicity study, the potential toxic effects of medicinal cigarette with antitussive and expectorants were examined using ICR mice exposed for 4 weeks, by whole-body inhalation at target mainstream smoke concentrations of 15.7, 27.9 and 47.5 mg/m3 TPM, while control rats were exposed to filtered air. There was no significant difference observed in the body weights, feed consumption, relative organ weights, haematological, prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, and serum biochemical findings. The histopathologic examination also did not show any differences in vital organs. These data suggested that medicinal cigarette with antitussive and expectorants used in this study did not produce any marked repeated-dose toxic effects up to a maximum concentration of 47.5 mg/m3 TPM.