• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1132-1136
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• 2014

A yellow-colored pigment is found in turmeric, or Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), a perennial herb distributed mainly throughout tropical and subtropical regions. C. longa has potent antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. However, pharmacological mechanisms of ethanol extract derived from C. longa remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential acute toxicity of C. longa (Curcuma longa L.) extract in BALB/c mice administered a single oral dose of 0, 20, 200, and 2,000 mg/kg by gavage. After the administration of the agent, signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 hr and every day for 14 days. No mortality, abnormal clinical signs, or pathological changes were observed compared to a control group, and there were no differences in the body weights of the control and treatment groups. Biological serum activities were not significantly changed in the treatment group compared to the control group. These results indicate that a single oral administration of C. longa extract does not exert any toxic effects at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight and that the $LD_{50}$ of C. longa extract is greater than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Accordingly, C. longa appears to have potential in various functional agents or foods, without toxicity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the safety of Bangpungtongsung-san in rats. Methods : The safety of this prescription on acute toxicity was evaluated by single dose toxicity study. Rats were orally administrated in a single dose of 0 and 2,000 mg/kg(limited dose) Bangpungtongsung-san. There were 7 rats in each groups. All animals were sacrificed after 14 days of treatment. After single administration, mortality, clinical signs, and body weight changes were observed for 14 days. Three parameters(autopsy finding, clinical chemistry, and hematology) were tested on the last day. Results : In this study with rats, Bangpungtongsung-san treatment did not show any acute toxicity. No mortality was noted for 14 days of treatment. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight changes, and autopsy finding at all treatment groups. The clinical chemistry parameters attesting to liver and kidney functions as well as the hematological parameters were within the normal ranges. Conclusions : It is considered that $LD_{50}$ of Bangpungtongsung-san is over 2,000 mg/kg in oral administration by rats. This finding of the safety of Bangpungtongsung-san is expected to strengthen the position of this prescription as nontoxic medicine.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2010

Objectives: Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a liquid compound obtained by condensation of two molecules of epichlorohydrin with one molecule of bisphenol A. General and reproductive toxicity with BADGE has been reported higher than 1000 mg/kg/day. This study was performed to show the effects of acute exposure to BADGE below 1000 mg/kg/day on the testis in adult male rats. Methods: BADGE was administered by gastric lavage in a single dose of 500, 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day in 8-week old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats. The right testis was processed for light microscopic analysis. The left testis was homogenized and spermatids were counted to determine the daily sperm production and daily abnormal sperm production. The sperm count, sperm motility, and incidence of abnormal sperm were estimated in the epididymis. In testicular sections, the seminiferous tubules were observed for qualitative changes. The progression of spermatogenesis was arbitrarily classified as full-matured, maturing, and immature. The specimen slide was observed at 3 points and 10 seminiferous tubules were evaluated at each point. Results: The male rats exposed to single oral dose of BADGE at 750, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day were significantly increased the number of immature and maturing sperm on the testis. There were no significant differences with respect to sperm head count, sperm motility, and sperm abnormality in the BADGE treatment groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that single oral exposure of BADGE 750 mg/kg/day can affect adult male testis development.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2010

Objective : The objective of this study was to evaluate the single dose oral toxicity of Hwangryundaedok-tang extract in ICR mice. Methods : 0(control group), 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg of Hwangryundaedok-tang extracts were orally administered to 20 male and 20 female ICR mice. After single oral administration of Hwangryundaedok-tang extract to ICR mice, we observed number of the death, clinical signs, changes of body weights for 14 days. After 14 day of Hwangryundaedok-tang extract administration, all mice were sacrificed and major organs were observed. Results : Compared with the control group, we could not find any toxic signs in the mortalities, clinical signs, body weight changes, necropsy findings and hematological values in all treated groups(1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg). Conclusions : $LD_{50}$ value of Hwangryundaedok-tang extracts may be over 5000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.131-148
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• 2003

This study was performed to evaluate the acute oral toxicity of an oriental medical prescription for obesity treatment, SH21-B, in Sprague-Dawley rats and Beagle dogs. SH21-B was administered in rats at does of 0mg/kg, 2,000mg/kg, and 5,000mg/kg. And also SH21-B was administered in Beagle dogs at does of 150mg/kg, 300mg/kg, and 600mg/kg. The rats and dogs of both sexes were observed daily for 14 days after single oral administration. Two female rats, one administered at 2,000mg/kg and the other administered at 5,000mg/kg, died, but no dead animal was observed among male rats. Therefore LD50 in the female rat is observed to be 8,710mg/kg, and MLD(Minimum Lethal Dose) of the male rat is observed to be more than 5,000mg/kg. Among dogs, no dead animal was observed up to 600mg/kg and MLD is observed to be more than 600mg/kg.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.275-279
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• 1993

Single oral administration to SD rats of both sexes were performed to investigate the acute toxicity of two new cough and cold remedies, WHS-1 and WHS-2. WHS-1 is composed of acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine maleate, cloperastine hydrochloride, dl-methylephedrine hydrochloride, caffein anhydrous, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin and serratiopeptidase. WHS-2 is composed of similar formula except that thiamine hydrochloride and riboflavin is not added. The results were as follows. $LD_{50}$ values of WHS-1 were 4295.5 mg/kg for males and 4606.3 mg/kg for females, and $LD_{50}$ values of WHS-2 were 3236.7 mg/kg for males and 4360.5 mg/kg for females. Death occurred within 2~3 hours after administration at doses up to 2900 mg/kg in WHS-1 and 2500 mg/kg in WHS-2, the main cause of deaths seemed to be respiratory disturbance. General symptoms included decreased motor activity, salivation and loss of consciousness which were commonly observed in all dead animals treated with WHS-1 and WHS-2. No significant gross finding and body weight changes were observed at any dose level in the groups treated with WHS-1 and WHS-2.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2009

Objectives : Yukmijihwang-tang (YJT) is known as a tonifying formula for reinforcement of yin deficiency conditions. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of YJT in ICR male and female mice. Methods : We investigated the acute toxicity about boiling water-extracted YJT. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to 20 male and 20 female mice at dose levels of 0 (control group), 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Mortalities, clinical findings, autopsy and body weight changes were monitored daily for the 14 days following the administration according to the Regulation of Korean Food and Drug Administration. Results : We observed survival rates, general toxicity, change of body weight, and autopsy. Single oral administration of YJT with different dosages, no animals died of the test drug. Autopsy of animal revealed no abnormal gross finding. Therefore, $LD_{50}$ value of YJT for ICR mice was more than 5000 mg/kg on oral route. Conclusions : These results suggest that no toxic dose level of YJT in mice is considered to be more than 5000 mg/kg. Consequently, it was concluded that YJT have no effect on acute toxicity and side effect in ICR mice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

Objectives : Samchulgeonbi-tang (shenzhujianpi-tang) has been prescribed as one of traditional herbal medicine for treatment of stomach diseases since ancient time in Korea. Samchulgeonbi-tang extract was fermented by Lactobacillus spp. for improving the effect. However, the toxicity and safety of fermented Samchulgeonbi-tang (FS) extract were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of FS extract. Methods : To evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of FS extract, several doses of FS extract, 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, were orally administered to 20 male and 20 female ICR mice, respectively. After treatment with FS extract, we observed mortality, general toxicity, behavior and change of body weight for the 14 days. After 14 days of oral administration, all mice were sacrificed and hematological parameters were analyzed from blood serum. Results : In present study, the toxic signs such as mortality or abnormal behaviors by FS extract were not observed. There are no significant differences between FS-treated group and control group in body weight, organ weights, and hematological parameters. Conclusions : The remarkable adverse effects by FS extract were not observed in ICR mice. Also, any death was not occurred at all treated FS doses, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of FS extract may be more than 2000 mg/kg.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.255-266
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• 2017

Chemically derived pesticides have been used to prevent biological damage to domestic cultural property. However, their use is gradually being restricted due to the harmful effects on the human body and environment. Therefore, there is a growing interest in the search for new antifungal biopharmaceuticals whose safety has been confirmed by toxicity evaluation through animal experiments. This paper presents methods of toxicity evaluation of natural biocides using Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Safety of the natural biocide extract of Asarum sieboldii was evaluated using single-dose oral and dermal toxicity tests in Sprague-Dawley rats, and eye and skin irritation tests in NZW rabbits. The extract has proven antimicrobial and insecticidal activities against wood-rotting fungi and termites. After single oral administration to rats, the $LD_{50}$ values were determined to be over 4,000 and 2,000 mg/kg for males and females, respectively. After single dermal administration to rats, the $LD_{50}$ values exceeded 10,000 mg/kg for both males and females. The extract was identified to be non-irritant to the rabbit eye, and only slightly irritant to the rabbit skin. In this study, we confirmed the safety of the A sieboldii extract through animal testing. Due to the harmfulness of humidifier disinfectants, focus is on the safety of chemical pesticides, and toxicity evaluation is suggested as the basic method for hazard evaluation.