• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.31-45
• /
• 2014

Objectives This study intends to clarify how Leejung-tang (here in after reffered to LJT) affect Wistar Rat whose osteoarthritis was induced by MIA. Methods Osteoarthritis was induced into rat by injecting MIA in its knee joint. Rats are divided into a total of 4 groups (n=6). Normal group are not treated at all without inducing osteoarthritis whereas control group were induced for osteoarthritis by MIA and oral medicated with 2 ml of physiological saline per day. Positive comparison group (Indomethacin) was injected with MIA and after 7 days, 2 mg/kg of Indomethacin was medicated. Experimental group (LJT) was injected with MIA and after 7 days that was medicated with 23 mg/kg of LJT. Indomethacin and LJT were oral medicated for each substance a total of 4 weeks with one time per day. After experiments (from 1 week after injection of MIA to 4 weeks elapsed), Hind paw weight bearing ability, Functions of liver and kidney, Serum prostaglandin $E_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, Osteocalcin, TIMP-1, MMP-9, LTB4 and amount of cartilage were measured and histopathological variations for knee joint structures were observed. Results 1) Hind paw weight bearing ability of LJT administration group was increased but there was no statistical significance. 2) Functions of liver and kidney were not affected. 3) Serum prostaglandin $E_2$, IL-1${\beta}$, Osteocalcin, MMP-9 were significantly decreased and TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, TIMP-1, LTB4 were also decreased but there were no statistical significance. 4) In H&E staining and Safranin-O staining, there were small histopathological changes in LJT administration group than control group. 5) In micro CT (computed tomography)-arthrography, cartilage destruction was more suppressed in LJT administration group than control group. Conclusions Based on all results mentioned above, Leejung-tang (LJT) is believed to be meaningful for suppressing the progress of osteoarthritis and its treatments because of its anti-inflammatory effects and alleviation of pain with histopathological effective efficacy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.18-24
• /
• 2011

Objective: Leejung-tang (Rechu-to in Japanese) is a traditional Korean herbal formula used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting, stomach pain, chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal ulceration. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of Leejung-tang water extract (LJT) by a single oral dose in Crl:CD (SD) rats in compliance with current guidelines. Methods: In the preliminary study, there were no adverse effects such as death, clinical signs, and body weight changes at dose levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day body weight. Based on the results, a dose of 2000 mg/kg was selected as the toxicological limited dose. LJT was administered once by gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0 and 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. During the study period, mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were observed for 14 days following the administration. On day 14 after the treatment, the animals were sacrificed by carbon dioxide overdose and complete gross postmortem examinations were performed. Results: In present study, no treatment-related deaths were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs and body weight changes. In addition, there were no observed gross findings in all groups except for a kidney cyst in the 2000 mg/kg/day female group. Conclusion: The results indicated that LJT did not induce toxic effects at a dose level up to 2000 mg/kg in rats and its median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) was considered to be over 2000 mg/kg/day body weight for both genders.