• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.143-151
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the preventing effects of OPB (Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch and Eleutherococcus senticosus Max extracts) and combined OPB/Calcium therapy on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Sixty Sprague Dawley rats of 12-week-old were divided into eight groups: OVX (ovariectomized), OPBL (OPB 50 mg/kg), OPBM (OPB100 mg/kg), OPBH (OPB 200 mg/kg), OPBL/CAL(OPBL+CAL), OPBM/CAL (OPBM+CAL), OPBH/CAL (OPBH+CAL) and CAL (Calcium citrate 88.33 mg/kg+1$\alpha$, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin $D_3$ 33.33 IU/kg). Bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone strength indices and cortical thickness were analyzed by peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT). pQCT scanning showed that OVX induced a significant decrease in trabecular bone mineral density and bone mineral content in the proximal tibia $(-36.4\pm2.4%,\;-21.8\pm12.7%)$. These decreases were significantly prevented by the administration of OPBM and OPBM/CAL. Cortical BMD and BMC of tibia were slightly enhanced by OPB and OPB/CAL. However there was no significant difference between OVX and OPB, OPB/CAL treated group. Bone strength indices and cortical thickness were not significantly different. Our results suggest that OPB and combined OPB/Calcium therapy are effective in preventing the development of bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2017

Objectives : HT042 is a combination of three herbal extracts from the roots of Astragalus membranaceus, the stems of Eleutherococcus senticosus and the roots of Phlomis umbrosa, which has been demonstrated to increase longitudinal bone growth rate. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of HT042 after repeated oral administration. Methods : A 14-day repeated oral dose toxicity study was conducted using male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. HT042 was administered orally at repeated doses of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Clinical signs and mortality were observed daily, whereas body weight and food consumption were recorded weekly throughout the experiment. At the end of the study, blood was taken from the posterior vena cava for hematology and serum biochemistry. All organs of the body surface, subcutis, head, thoracic cavity, and abdominal cavity were observed grossly. Then, the internal organs were removed and weighed. Results : No death occurred and no significant changes in clinical sign, body weight, food consumption and serum biochemistry parameters were observed in male and female rats over the study period. Although there were some alterations in hematologic and necropsy findings, and organ weights, these changes were not considered toxicologically significant. Conclusions : These results suggest that the 14-day repeated administration of HT042 does not produce any significant oral toxicity at doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg/day in male and female rats under the present experimental conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2020

We previously demonstrated that Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) antigen (Ag) enhances the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Ag-specific immune response. The focus of this study was whether acellular bacterin of B. bronchiseptica could be used as an adjuvant to increase antigen-presenting capability of dendritic cells (DCs) by increasing the level of activation. The metabolic activity of DCs was increased by B. bronchiseptica, similar to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that B. bronchiseptica increases the expression of major histocompatibility complex class-2, cluster of differentiation (CD)40, CD54, and CD86 which are closely related to DC-mediated immune responses. B. bronchiseptica enhanced the production of cytokines related to adaptive immune responses. Furthermore, the survival rate of B. bronchiseptica-injected groups was 100% at 15 and 20 mg/kg doses, whereas that of LPS-injected groups was only 20%, 0% at 15 and 20 mg/kg doses respectively, and so B. bronchiseptica is likely to be safer than LPS. Taken together, these results indicate that B. bronchiseptica can be used as an adjuvant to enhance the antigen-presenting capability of DCs. B. bronchiseptica is a candidate for producing vaccines, especially in case of DC-mediating efficacy and safety demands. This study provides researchers and clinicians with valuable information regarding the usage of B. bronchiseptica as a safe bacteria-derived immunostimulating agent for developing efficient vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.2 s.141
• /
• pp.93-96
• /
• 2005

Mutagenicity of Gamgung-tang (GGT) was tested using in vitro S-9 mixture in vitro host-mediated assay with Salmonella typhimurium. In the previous reports, GGT was tested for the safety using Ames(-S-9), Bacillus subtilis Rec, and umu gene expression mutagenicity tests. Mutagenic activity in any assays we tested was not found. In this report, we further investigated safety of GGT after metabolic activation in vivo. Ames test with S-9 mixture and host-mediated assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 were used to identify metagenic property of GGT. GGT was administered 3 times with i.m. to Balb/c mice did not induced mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 recovered from the liver after 3.5h with i.p. treatment. Over the entire dose range $(3{\sim}150mg/mouse)$ tested no toxicity was detected to the bacterial cells. These results suggest that there was no DNA damage and mutagenicity by GGT.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.1159-1165
• /
• 2011

Telemetry techniques of rats have been used for assessing safety pharmacology of drugs and chemicals. Biological signals including blood pressure and heart rate measured under anesthesia were significantly different from those obtained under normal conditions. The stress of restraint in awake animals can also affect the accuracy of physiological evaluation. This paper details the surgery required to allow key cardiovascular parameters to be determined. The telemetric measurement of cardiovascular parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiograph(ECG) established. We carried out the continuous monitoring of cardiovascular parameters using the telemetry system in F344 rats. During the measurement, no significant changes were observed in the heart rate and blood pressure. ECG signals and body temperature were also constant during the measurement of biological signals. With the results of this study, we conclude that this telemetry system can be applied usefully for the assesment of biological parameters in the rats.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.253-258
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The goals of this research were to evaluate acute (single-dose) and sub-acute (repeated-dose) toxicity profiles of methanolic extract of Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart ex Brandis (PI) for Wistar rats and to assess the safety profile of PI by observing physiological changes, mortality, changes in body weight, the histopathology of body organs, the hematology and the biochemistry of the animals. Methods: The toxicity profile of PI was evaluated using Wistar rats of both sexes. Animals were divided into four groups: Group 1; control group (normal saline), Group 2; PI-1 (250 mg/kg), Group 3; PI-2 (500 mg/kg), Group 4; PL-3 (1,000 mg/kg). An acute-toxicity study in which animals received a single dose of PI extract (2,000 mg/kg) and were then observed for 14 days for changes in skin, fur, eye color, mucous membrane secretions and excretions, gait, posture, and tonic or clonic movements was performed according to guideline 425 of the Organization of Economic and Corporation Development (OECD). In the repeated-dose toxicity study (OECD - 407) animals received a daily dose of PI extract for 28 days (4 weeks). The parameters observed in this study include body weight, hematology and biochemistry of the animals. Results: In the acute toxicity study, no mortalities or changes in behavior were noted in the animals. The repeated-dose toxicity study was also devoid of any toxicity in the animals during the 28 days of testing with PI extract. The extract did not alter- the body weight, hematology or biochemistry of the animals. The methanolic extract of PI was to be found safe to the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for the single-dose and repeated-dose toxicity tests in rats. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of PI was devoid of toxicity; hence, it can be used for various ayurvedic preparations and treatments of diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2018

Objective : Many patients take antihypertensive drugs as well as herbal medicines at the same time in order to treat other symptoms or to keep their well-being. In this study, interactions between herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs were analyzed. Methods : To investigate the interaction between herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs, three electronic databases, including OASIS, Mediline and Sciencedirect were searched. Experimental and clinical studies on the interaction between herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs were independently reviewed and included. Results : Analyzing selected studies, twenty herbs were found to interact with antihypertensive drugs. Herbs found to increase the antihypertensive effect were Panax ginseng, Carthamus tinctorius, Magnolia officinalis, Silybum marianum, Scutellaria baicalensis, Schisandra chinensis, Sophora flavescens, Piper nigrum, Curcuma longa, Ginkgo biloba, Juncus effuses and Hydrastis canadensis. In contrast, Commiphora myrrha, Rhodiola rosea, Hypericum perforatum, Eurycoma longifolia, and Daturae metel were found to inhibit the antihypertensive effect. Stephania tetrandra could increase or decrease the effect depending on the type of antihypertensive drug. Epedria sínica was suspected of pharmacodynamic interaction with antihypertensive drug. Glycyrrhiza uralensis has been reported to have serious side effects in combination with antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion : These results imply that when used in combination with herbal medicines and synthetic antihypertensive drugs, proper doses and herbs which are to avoid need to be informed to the patients. Despite concerns about interactions between herbal medicines and synthetic drugs, related research is very limited. More systematic researches are needed to give information on patient safety as well as to guide clinical practice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2005

Cell therapy (CT) is a group of techniques to treat human disorders by transplantation of cells which have been processed and propagated independent of the living body. Blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant have been the primary examples of cell therapy. With introduction of stem cell (SC) technologies, however, CT is perceived as the next generation of biologies to treat human diseases such as cancer, neurological diseases, and heart disease. Despite potential of cell therapy, insufficient guidelines have been implemented concerning safety test and regulation of cell therapy. This review addresses the safety issues to be resolved for the cell therapy, especially SC therapy, to be successfully utilized for clinical practice. Adequate donor cell screening must preceed to ensure safety in cell therapy. In terms of SC culture, controlled, standardized practices and procedures should be established. Further molecular studies should be done on SC development and differentiation to enhance safety level in cell therapy. Finally, animal model must be further installed to evaluate toxicity, new concepts, and proliferative potential of SC including alternative feeder layer of animal cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.222-228
• /
• 2020

Background: 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (C₄₂H₇₂O₁₃), a natural triterpenoid saponin, is extracted from red ginseng. The increasing use of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 has raised product safety concerns. Methods: In acute toxicity, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 was singly and orally administrated to Kunming mice and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at the maximum doses of 1600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg, respectively. In the 26-week toxicity study, we used repeated oral administration of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 in SD rats over 26 weeks at doses of 0, 20, 60, or 180 mg/kg. Moreover, a 4-week recovery period was scheduled to observe the persistence, delayed occurrence, and reversibility of toxic effects. Results: The result of acute toxicity shows that oral administration of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 to mice and rats did not induce mortality or toxicity up to 1600 and 800 mg/kg, respectively. During a 26-week administration period and a 4-week withdrawal period (recovery period), there were no significant differences in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis parameters, biochemical and hematological values, or histopathological findings. Conclusion: The mean oral lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3, in acute toxicity, is above 1600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg in mice and rats, respectively. In a repeated-dose 26-week oral toxicity study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for female and male SD rats was 180 mg/kg.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.226-230
• /
• 1994

The characteristics of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release as factors controlling neural activities in the hypothalamus which is an important regulatory site for cardiovascular function wre studied. Two groups of animals : male spontaneously hyperterisive rat (SHR) and age-matched nomotensive wistar rat (NW) were used in this study. Animals at 4, 6 and 16 weeks of age were sacrificed by decapitiation and the hypothalamus was dissected out. Voltage-dependent calcium uptake and norepinephrine release were determined from hypothalamic synaptosomes either in low potassium (5 mM) or high potassium (41 mM) stimulatory conditions by using ^{45}Ca$ isotope and HPLC-ECD techniques. Degrees of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release evoked by calcium uptake in the hypothalamus of prehypertensive phase (4 weeks old) of SHR were significantly smaller than those in NW of the same age. However, in the developmental phase (6 weeks old) and the established phase (16 weeks old) of hyperrtension in SHR, degrees of voltage-dependent ^{45}Calcium$ uptake and norepinephrine release were similar to those of age-matched normotensive wistae eats. These data imply that the deficit in hypothalamic norepinephrine release might be an important underlying factor for the development of hypertension in SHR.