LAUSR

INTRODUCTION Shigellosis is an intestinal disease and is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality among children in India. The study aims to analyze the effect of the designed formulation on the hematological parameters in shigellosis-induced rats and assess the in vivo toxicity of this formulation. METHODS Male Wistar rats were housed in different groups. Group 1 is normal control; group 2 is diseased control; group 3 and group 4 diseased rats received 250 mg/kg formulation and 20 mg/kg body weight norfloxacin, respectively, orally once a day. Shigellosis was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Shigella flexneri, and bacterial load was calculated using the Shigella agar plate. On completion of the study, blood was collected for hematological as well as electrolyte analysis. RESULTS The in vivo acute toxicity results indicate that the formulation is safe up to 2000 mg/kg. Furthermore, formulation significantly (p < 0.05) decreases the bacterial load and increases the RBC, WBC, MCHC, platelet, hemoglobin, and electrolytes (Ca++, K+, and Na+) compared to diseased control. CONCLUSION The results support the designed formulation's safety and therapeutic effects and support its use as an alternative medicine for treating shigellosis.