• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2023

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity of a recently developed no-pain pharmacopuncture (NPP) targeting muscle relaxation and analgesia using the micronucleus test. Methods: To evaluate the potential of NPP extracts to induce micronuclei in rat bone marrow cells, a micronucleus test was performed using male Sprague-Dawley rats. The test substance NPP was administered intramuscularly at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mL/animal. Saline was used as the negative control and cyclophosphamide as the positive control. Results: No NPP treatment-related deaths or abnormal changes in general appearance were observed at any dose level during the experimental period. No statistically significant differences in body weight were observed in any of the NPP dose groups compared to the saline negative control group. NPP did not cause a significant increase in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) and PCEs or in the ratio of PCE-to-total erythrocytes. Conclusion: The NPP extract did not exhibit genotoxic in Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow cells under the conditions of this study. Further toxicity studies of the NPP extract are required.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential toxicity of a recently developed and clinically used No-Pain pharmacopuncture (NPP) solution. We also assessed the lethal dose of the NPP agent following a single intramuscular injection in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Animals were divided into two groups: the NPP test material group and the normal saline control group. A single intramuscular injection of the NPP agent (1.0 mL/animal) was administered to rats of the NPP test material group. The control group rats received the same volume of normal saline. Both female and male rats were included in each group. All rats were monitored for clinical signs and body weight changes for 14 days after administration of the test substance or saline. At the end of the observation period, a gross necropsy was conducted and localized tolerance at the injection site was analyzed. Results: No mortality was observed in the NPP test material and control groups. Moreover, no test substance-related effects were observed on clinical signs, body weight, necropsy findings, and localized tolerance at the injection site. Conclusion: The approximate lethal dose of the NPP agent is greater than 1.0 mL/animal under the conditions used in this study. Additional toxicity evaluations and clinical studies are needed to confirm the safety of NPP use in clinical practice.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2024

Objectives: Genotoxicity is evaluated through a chromosomal aberration test using cultured mammalian cells to determine the toxicity of no-pain pharmacopuncture (NPP), which has recently been used to treat musculoskeletal pain disorders in Korean medical clinical practice. Methods: An initial test was performed to determine the dosage range of the NPP, followed by the main test. In this study, NPP doses of 10.0, 5.0, and 2.5%, and negative and positive controls were tested. An in vitro chromosome aberration test was performed using Chinese hamster lung cells under short-term treatment with or without metabolic activation and under continuous treatment without metabolic activation. Results: Compared with the saline negative control group, NPP did not significantly increase the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in Chinese hamster lung cells, regardless of the presence or absence of metabolic activation. Additionally, the number of cells with structural chromosomal abnormalities was significantly higher in the positive control group than that in the negative control group that received saline. Conclusion: Based on the above results, the chromosomal abnormality-producing effect of NPP was determined to be negative under these test conditions.