• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.226-232
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• 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of atrovasatatin on the pharmacokinetics of nicardipine after oral and intravenous administration of nicardipine to rats. Nicardipine was administered orally (12 mg/kg) or intravenously (i.v., 4 mg/kg) without or with oral administration of atrovasatatin (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg) to rats. The effect of atorvastatin on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) as well as CYP3A4 activity was also evaluated. Atorvastatin inhibited CYP3A4 enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition concentration ($IC_{50}$) of 48 ${\mu}M$. Compared to the controls (nicardipine alone), the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of nicardipine was significantly (1.0 mg/kg, p<0.05) greater by 16.8-45.4%, and the peak plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) was significantly (1.0 mg/kg, p<0.05) higher by 28.0% after oral administration of nicardipine with atorvastatin, respectively. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of nicardipine was increased by 1.17- to 1.45-fold and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of nicardipine with atrovasatatin was significantly greater by 16.7-20.9% compared to that of the controls (14.3%). Compared to the i.v. control, atrovasatatin did not significantly change pharmacokinetic parameters of i.v. administration nicardipine. The enhanced oral bioavailability of nicardipine by atorvastatin suggests that CYP3A subfamily-mediated metabolism were inhibited in the intestine and/or in the liver rather than P-gp-mediated efflux of nicardipine. Based on these results, modification of nicardipine of dosage regimen is required in the patients. Human studies are required to prove the above hypothesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.186-194
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• 2014

The object of this study was to obtain acute toxicity information (single-dose oral toxicity) of Woohwangchungshim-won (WHCSW), a pill type herbal medicine used in Korean Medicine (KM) for treating stroke. In order to obtain the 50% lethal dose (LD50), approximate lethal dosage (ALD) and target organs, WHCSW powders were once orally administered to female and male ICR mice at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (control) mg/kg (body weight.) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines (Notification No. 2009-116). The mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored for 14 days after single-dose oral administration of WHCSW according to KFDA Guidelines with organ weights and histopathological changes were observed in 12 principle organs. After single-dose oral administration of WHCSW, we could not find any mortality and toxicological evidences up to 2,000 mg/kg-administered group, except for some accidental findings and dose-independent increases of body weight gains in female 1,000 and 500 mg/kg-administered female mice. The results obtained in this study suggest that the LD50 and ALD of WHCSW in both female and male mice after single-dose oral administration were considered as over 2,000 mg/kg because no mortalities were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg that was the highest dose recommended by KFDA and Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), and can be safely used in clinics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.898-906
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• 2007

This study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of Processed Sulphur on Hepatotoxicity. Processed Sulphur was administered orally to rats for 28 days. We measured the body and liver weight index, heamtological and biomedical parameters. We also observed the histopathological changes of liver in rats. No significant differences in body weight, liver weight index, heamtological and biomedical parameters and histopathological changes of hepatocyte between control and Processed Sulphur fed group were found. Our data indicate that hepatotoxicity was not caused by oral medication of Processed Sulphur up to 60mg/200g/day for 28 days in rats. Therefore, Processed Sulphur appears to be safe and non-toxic in these studies and a no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in rats is established at 60mg/200g/day. The data could provide satisfactory preclinical evidence of safety to launch clinical trial on standardized formulation of mineral extracts.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.221-233
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• 1996

This experiment was carried out to study the toxic effect of solublized methylcellulose (MC). Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with 1%(w/v) MC in 0.9% saline by gavage at a dose of 10ml/kg b.w/day or by intravenous injection at a dose of 5ml/kg b.w/day for 28 days. Clinical signs were observed once a day. Body weights, water and food consumptions were measured and urinalysis was performed several times during the experiment. Rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 15 and 28 for hematology, blood chemistry, organ weights and histopathology. The relative weight of the spleen and foamy cells of the spleen were increased in the gavage group. Body weight gain, food consumptions, the values of RBC, Hb, MCH, Hct, serum proteins, glucose, bilirubin, AST, and ALP were decreased in I.V. treatment group. On the other hand, water consumptions, the values of serum cholesterol, creatinine, and BUN were increased. Microscopic findings were granulomas, distended sinusoids, and hypertrophy of Kupffer cells with vacuoles in the liver. Spleen exhibited granuloma, increased extramedullary hematopoiesis, and congestion. Kidney exhibited foamy cells in the glomeruli, distension of the tubules. The findings appeared more severe when the treatment was extended. In conclusion, MC solution is not a safe vehicle for intravenous administration because of the toxic effects on the liver, kidney and spleen. In addition, a long-term and large dosage of oral administration of MC appears to be unsafe also and needs to be investigated further.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.341-347
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• 2011

The neuroprotective effects of herbal ethanol extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP-EX) in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease treated with L-DOPA were investigated. Rats were prepared for the Parkinson's disease model by 6-OHDA-lesioning for 14 days. The rats were then treated with L-DOPA (10 and 20 mg/kg) with or without the oral administration of GP-EX (30 mg/kg, daily) for 28 days. L-DOPA (20 mg/kg) treatment for 28 days enhanced dopaminergic neuronal cell death in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups, but L-DOPA (10 mg/kg) did not. However, the oral administration of GP-EX (30 mg/kg) for 28 days ameliorated the enhanced neurotoxic effects induced by chronic L-DOPA treatment in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups by increasing tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunohistochemical staining and the number of TH-immunopositive cells surviving in the substantia nigra. In addition, GP-EX administration (30 mg/kg) for 28 days recovered the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine of the striatum in 6-OHDA-lesioned rat groups, which were markedly reduced by L-DOPA treatment (20 mg/kg). GP-EX (30 mg/kg) did not produce any signs of toxicity, such as weight loss, diarrhea, or vomiting in rats during the 28-day treatment period. These results suggest that GP-EX has protective functions against chronic L-DOPA-induced neurotoxic reactions in dopaminergic neurons in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, GP-EX may be beneficial in the prevention of adverse symptoms in parkisonian patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2002

A single administration toxicity of (R)-JG-381 was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes. In this study, rats were administered orally with dose of 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg／kg of(R)-JG-381. We daily examined number of deaths, clinical signs, body weights and gross findings fur 14 days after (R)-JG-381 administration. When we administered different doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg／kg, we found 5, 3, 5 and 5 male rats and 1, 4, 4 and 5 female rats dead within 1 day after administration, respectively. Some clinical signs(decrease of locomotor activity, decreased respiration rate, lacrimation, prone position) were observed during the experimental period. Our findings suggest that oral $LD_{50}s$(95% confidence limit) for male and female rats are 93.8mg／kg (28.8~161.6mg／kg) and 166.3mg／kg (89. I~284.8mg／kg), respectively.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.712-722
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the residual properties of tebuconazole-treated pigs. Twenty pigs were treated with different concentrations (0.25, 1.25, 2.5, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg bw/d) of tebuconazole for 28 d. Blood biochemistry, histology, and residual levels were analyzed using the VetTest analyzer, Masson's trichrome staining kit, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. The final body weights were not significantly different between the control and treatment groups. Alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly different from those of the control after exposure for 14 d. However, alanine aminotransferase levels showed changes only after exposure to pesticides for 28 d. The biochemical parameters were separated during the experimental period (14 d versus 28 d) by principal component analysis. Based on variable importance plots, blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase are candidate biomarkers for tebuconazole exposure. The residual levels were observed at T4 (12.5 mg/kg bw/d) and T5 (25 mg/kg bw/d) in the liver and fat tissues, respectively. Fibrosis increased in the liver, kidney, and fat tissues, depending on the tebuconazole concentration. In conclusion, the residue limits of tebuconazole and the physiological changes caused by dietary tebuconazole in pigs provide important information for establishing maximum residue limits of pork and pork products.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3 s.39
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• pp.45-53
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• 1999

Since Radix Stemonae was recorded hypothennal and a little toxic in the 'Myngyubelrok (名醫別錄)', it has been recorded as having the same nature in many herbal books. However, the security of Radix Stemonae when used to treat respiratory disease over a long term has not been studied until now. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the effects of Radix Stemonae on the main organs if Radix Stemonae is administrated over a long term. In order to investigate the histological changes of the liver and kidneys of rats after oral administration of Radix Stemonae extract, the experimental rats were subdivided into control, 1, 3, 5, 7, 21, 28 and 35 days after administration groups, and 10 rats per group were used in this study. The control group was sufficiently supplied with water and solid forage. The other groups were administrated the reagent at 5mg/kg once a day by oral injection. Several times each day, the experimental groups were carefully observed for any changes of general condition, toxic symptoms, activity, appearance and the number of dead rats. The experimental groups were weighed and narcotized. For the histological observation, the tissues of liver and kidneys of the experimental groups were collected, stained by hematoxylin-eosin stain, and evaluated by observing the changes of gross appearance and by observing microscopic findings. 1. This drug, during the experimental term, did not induce any toxicological effect in mortality, abnormal symptoms or changes of body weight except for the 1 day after administration groups whose body weights were decreased, compared to the control group. 2. No gross changes of the liver and kidneys were observed in this study. 3. No histological changes of the liver were detected in 1 day after administration groups. However, dilation of the central vein was observed in 3, 5 and 7 days after administration groups and chronic passive congestion of the liver was demonstrated in the 21 days after administration groups. In the 28 and 35 days after administration groups, a centrolobular disposition of fatty tissue (adipose cell) was observed. 4. No histological changes of the kidneys were observed in this study. It is evaluated that if Radix Stemonae is administrated for a long term, it induces toxicity in the liver. So, to examine the toxicity of Radix Stemonae on the liver and kidney, it is necessary that the studies of biochemistry and electron microscopic findings about Radix Stemonae be systematically performed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.815-822
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• 1995

The toxicokinetics of rifapentine was studied after an oral administration to beagle dogs. High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) using column-switching technique was performed to determine the serum concentrations of rifapentine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of rifapentine were analysed using one-compartment open model. Following a single oral administration of 10mg/kg, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined as follows: maximum serum concentration($C_{max}$), $28.90{\mu}g/ml$; maximum concentration time($T_{max}$), 3.7hr; elimination half-life($t_{1/2}$, 4.7hr; area under the curve(AUC), $339.0{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml$; volume of disiribution/bioavailability (Vd/F), 0.21 l/kg; lag time, 24min; absorption rate constant($k_a$), $0.445hr^{-1}$; elimination rate constant($k_{el}$), $0.148hr^{-1}$. After 6 month multiple oral doses of 10mg/kg/day, parameters were as follows: $C_{max}$, $34.40{\mu}g/ml$; $T_{max}$, 2.6hr; $t_{1/2}$, 6.7hr; AUC, $391.3{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml$; Vd/F, 0.291/kg; $k_a$, $0.976hr^{-1}$; $k_{el}$, $0.104hr^{-1}$. The consistant kinetic parameters after a single and multiple oral administration show that there was no accumulation of rifapentine after 6 month oral administration. We also simulated the concentration of rifapentine after oral multiple administration of 10 and 50mg/kg/ day, based on the parameters obtained form the single administration. The measured serum concentrations of rifapentine were well fitted to the simulated results. The simulated results show that rifapentine readily reaches to steady-state after about 3 doses and the steady-state serum concentrations($C_{ss}$) are fluctuated in between $2.2{\sim}25.2{\mu}g/ml$, and $10.6{\sim}125.2{\mu}g/ml$ at the doses of 10 and 50mg/kg/day, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.156-161
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• 1997

For the search of hepatoprotective compounds from the folk medicines, 14 natural products which have been traditionally used as hepatoprotective drugs in Korea were extracted with methanol. The extracts were screened for the antioxidant activity on lipid peroxidation induced by Fenton reaction in rat homogenate and Ac2F cell toxicity by t-hydroperoxide. Dendrobium moniliforme and Castanea crenata were chosen for the further investigation and its therapeutic effects on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats were evaluated. Oral administration of the extracts reduced the aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activities in the serum of the carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rat. And the treatment of the extracts prevented the decrease of aminopyrine N-demethylation and aniline hydroxylation activities of the carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated rat liver. These results suggest that oral administration of Dendrobium moniliforme and Castanea crenata is effective in recovering the liver function in $CCl_4-treated$ rats.