• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.403-414
• /
• 2015

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used as a traditional oriental medicine. In this study, the acute and 28-day subacute oral dose toxicity studies of hexane extracts of the roots of L. erythrorhizon (LEH) were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. In the acute toxicity study, LEH was administered once orally to 5 male and 5 female rats at dose levels of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg. Mortality, clinical signs, and body weight changes were monitored for 14 days. Salivation, soft stool, soiled perineal region, compound-colored stool, chromaturia and a decrease in body weight were observed in the extract-treated groups, and no deaths occurred during the study. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of LEH in male and female rats was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, LEH was administered orally to male and female rats for 28 days at dose levels of 25, 100, and 400 mg/kg/day. There was no LEH-related toxic effect in the body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, hematology, clinical chemistry and organ weights. Compound-colored (black) stool, chromaturia and increased protein, ketone bodies, bilirubin and occult blood in urine were observed in the male and female rats treated with the test substance. In addition, the necropsy revealed dark red discoloration of the kidneys, and the histopathological examination showed presence of red brown pigment or increased hyaline droplets in the renal tubules of the renal cortex. However, there were no test substance-related toxic effects in the hematology and clinical chemistry, and no morphological changes were observed in the histopathological examination of the kidneys. Therefore, it was determined that there was no significant toxicity because the changes observed were caused by the intrinsic color of the test substance. These results suggest that the no-observed-adverse-effect Level (NOAEL) of LEH is greater than 400 mg/kg/day in both sexes.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.11
• /
• pp.1388-1396
• /
• 2013

This study used an S-180 cell-injected mouse model to evaluate the antitumor effects of the acute and subacute toxicity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract intravenously administrated in ICR mice. When administered intravenously (31.3-250 mg/kg body weight), Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract significantly inhibited the growth of the solid tumor cell. The antitumor activity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract increased in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose (250 mg/kg body weight) was highly effective, reducing tumor formation by 42.7% compared with the control group. In the acute toxicity test, $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 632.84 mg/kg (♂) and 814.48 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. In addition, liver and spleen weight were increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the subacute toxicity test, the mice were intravenously administered over the course of 28 days. The $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 355.41 mg/kg (♂) and 383.53 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. The liver and spleen weight also increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the case of the group that received more than 125 mg/kg of intravenous administration, exercise capacity, such as jumping ability and agility, were significantly increased. These results suggest that Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract can be regarded as a potent enhancer of the innate immune response, and it can be considered as a new natural product with low toxicity that may be used as a candidate for antitumor action.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.161-172
• /
• 1994

This study was conducted to examine DA-3002, a biosynthetic human growth hormone, for its acute and subacute toxicities in mice and rats. The drug was administered subcutaneously and orally at a dose level of 1.0, 3.0, 8.9, 26.7 or 80.0 lU/kg once for single dose toxicity and given subcutaneously at a dose level of 0.34, 1.7 or 8.4 lU/kg daily for 13 weeks to investigate repeated dose toxicity. In the acute toxicity study, doses up to 80 lU/kg had no adverse effect on the behavior or body weight gain. Pathological examinations revealed no abnormal changes which could be attributed to toxic effect of DA-3002. In the subacute toxicity study, the growth hormone was tolerated well in broth mice and rats. No drug related deaths occurred and all animals appeared to be normal throughout the dosing period. Increases in body weight gain, food utilisation and absolute organ weights were observed in the rats in the high dose group. Mild changes in the blood chemical parameters were also seen in the treated groups. Histopathologically, however, no abnormal changes were observed in any organ. The changes noted during the treatment periods presumably represent exaggerated pharmacological effects of the growth hormone, and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be more than 8.4 lu/kg/day.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 1998

It has been reported that 50~70% of child asthma, bronchial asthma in adult, and allergic rhinitis are caused by house dust mite. The antigen extracted from house dust mite has been used for effective treatment against allergic diseases and for clinical test. This house dust mite antigen has been entirely imported from abroad. However, the composition and content of all the antigen imported vary from a brand to other brand. Thus, we need to standardize the composition and content of the antigen by developing it domestically. We proceeded pre-clinically general pharmacological test and toxicological test that are required for the eventual human use by utilizing the house dust mite cultured in Korea. In order to obtain information on general pharmacological tests such as its toxic signs in tissues or organs which are mainly affected, we examined the effect of house dust mite on the tensions of the isolated tissues and heart rates of cardiac muscle by recording with force displacement transducer of polygragh (Glass Model 7). We determined lethality of antigen extracted from house dust mite in mice and guinea pigs. We examined acute and subacute toxicity by administrating house dust mite extract of 500, 100, 20 times of the expected clinical dose. In male and female mice and guinea pigs, given a sigle intraperitoneal dose of antigen, $LD_{50}$ values were over 5.0 $\textrm{m}{\ell}$/kg, respectively. In animals administrated with house dust mite, there were no significant change of clinical symptom, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, eye examinations, urinalysis, blood biochemistry, and histopathological examinations in any animals tested. We found no toxic effect of this house dust mite. These results show that the house dust mite cultured by us could be used in the development of medicine against allergic diseases caused by the antigen of house dust mite.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 1982

Acute toxicities of purified ginseng saponin (PGS) in mice, and sbacute toxicities of PGS in rats were investigated. Average lethal doses ($LD_{50}$) of PGS in male mice were 270mg/kg (i.v.), 342mg/kg (i.p.), 505mg/kg (i.m.), 950mg/kg (s.c.), and more than 5,000mg/kg (p.o.), respectively. Results of subacute toxicity of PGS was as follows. Body weight was markedly increased by administration of PGS 7.7mg/kg but side effects were shown by administration of 77mg/kg and above dose. Especially administration of PGS 240mg/kg caused a marked decrease of albumin/globulin ratio, and 28% increase of urea nitrogen in serum, as well as 33% increase of liver weight/body weight ratio.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.262-269
• /
• 1988

The Forsythiae fructus is described to be used as an antiinflammatory drug, diuretics, antidotes and antibacterials in oriental literatures. In order to investigate the efficacy of Forsythiae viridissima (Oleaceae), the methanol extract and its fraction have been evaluated for the acute toxicity, antiinflammatory, analgesic and spasmolytic action in animals. The methanol extract of Forsythiae fructus was found to have significant antiinflammatory activity in the acute and subacute antiinflammatory model in rats, but have no analgesic action. Furthermore, through fractionation procedure, it was found that the active compounds were easily soluble in chloroform and butanol. It is also noted that the extracts had spasmolytic activities in the rat fundus and uterus and had low acute toxicity in mice.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.365-370
• /
• 1998

To evaluate the renal toxicity of the antitumor agent, p-{N,N,-Bis(2-chloroethyl)amino}-4-phenyl acetyl-amino-2,6-piperidinedione(CK-15), rats were treated with CK-15 (acute: 50mg/kg. i.p., single and subacute: 5mg/kg, i.p., daily for 7 days). The changes in the body weight, water consumption, kidney weights and urine volume after and during the treatment were observed. The concentrations of urinary creatinine and portein, the activities of N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (${\gamma}$-GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in 24hr urine were also determined. The body weight, water consumption, and urine volume were decreased after the acute and subacute administration. However the weights of kidney were not changed after the treatments. The excretion of creatinine was significantly decreased 1 day after acute administration but, returned to the control value. In subactute administration, the excretion of creatinine was gradually decreased. However, the protein excretion did not changed in both treatment. Those indicate that CK-15 might decrease the metabolic rate of muscle. THe urinary activities of NAG, AAP, ${\gamma}$-GT, and LDH were significantly affected bythe drug treatment. The urinary activities of NAG, AAP and ${\gamma}$-GT were significantly increased 1 day after the acute administration and then returned to the control value. However, the urinary activities of LDH were not changed in acute treatment. In subacute treatment, although the urinary activities of NAG were not changed, those of AAP and ${\gamma}$-GT were significantly increased 2.3 times at 3 days during the subacute administration. Also the urinary activities of LDH were significantly increased at 7 day after the administration. These results indicate that the high and subacute administration might induce a damage in the kidney cells. Furthermore the present results suggest that the toxic effects of CK-15 might be due to the accumulation of the metabolites.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.182-190
• /
• 1998

DA-3585 is a recombinant human erythropoietin produced by Dong-A pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. using recombinant DNA technique. Recently, recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) has been used to treat various types of anemia. In this study, we examined acute and subacute toxicity of DA-3585 in rats. DA-3585 was intravenously administered to rats at dose levels of 0, 6,250, 12,500 and 25,000 lU/kg for single dose toxicity study and at dose levels of 0,100,500 and 2,500IU/kg daily for 4 week-repeated dose toxicity study. In the single dose toxicity study, there were no death, clinical signs and changes in body weight gain related to the treatment. Necropsy revealed no evidence of toxicity related to DA-3585, In the repeated dose toxicity study, all the rats survived throughout the study. There were no treatment-related changes in clinical signs, food and water intake, and body weight. Hematological examination showed increases in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value and mean corpuscular volume, and decrease in the number of platelet in 500 and 2,500 lU/kg dosed groups. Extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen and erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow were noted as treatment-related histological changes. Toxicologically significant changes were not observed in blood biochemistry, urinalysis, organ weights and in any other examinations. The treatment-related changes observed in this study were hematological or histological changes associated with pharmacological effects of DA-3585. On the basis of the results of this study, LD5n value of DA-3585 was above 25,000 lU/kg and the no-observed-adverse-effect-level was estimated to be 100 lU/kg.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2000

To evaluate the renal toxicity of the antitumor agent, 1-(N-methyl) piperazinyl-3-phenyl-isoquinoline(CWJ-$\alpha$-5), rats were terated with CWJ-$\alpha$-5 (acute : 100mg/kg, i.p., single and subacute : 10mg/kr, i.p., daily for 7 days). The changes in the body weights, water consumption, kidney weights and urine volume after and during the treatment were observed. The concentrations of urinary creatinine, the activities of N-acetyl-$\beta$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), alanine aminopeptidase (AAP), $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase ($\gamma$-GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in 24 hr urine were also determined. The body weight and water consumption were decreased after the acute and subacute administration. However, the excretion of urine was not changed except the 1 day after the acute treatment. The excretion of creatinine was significantly decreased from 1 day after acute administration and continuously decreased. Also the excretion of creatinine was decreased during subacute administration. However, the protein excretion did not changed in both treatment. Those indicate that CWJ-$\alpha$-5 might decrease the metabolic rate of muscle. The urinary activities of NAG, AAP, $\gamma$-GT, and LDH were significantly affected by the drug treatment. The urinary activities of NAG, AAP and $\gamma$-GT were significantly increased 1 and 3 days after the acute administration and then returned to the control value. However, the urinary activities of LDH were increased 7 days after acute treatment. During subacute treatment, the urinary activities of $\gamma$-GT were not changed. However, the urinary activities of NAG, AAP and LDH were only significantly increased after the third administration. These results indicate that either the high acute dose or the subacute administration with low dose of the compound might induce a temporal damage in the kidney cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.171-181
• /
• 1998

DA-3585, a biosynthetic recombinant human erythropoietin has been developed as a treatment for anemia associated with chronic renal failure in Dong-A pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. This study was carried out to assess its acute and subacute toxicities in rabbits. DA-3585 was intravenously administered to rabbits at dose levels of 6250, 12500 or 25000 lU/kg for single dose toxicity study and at dose levels of 100, 500 or 2500 lU/kg/day for 4-week repeated dose toxicity study. In the acute toxicity study, dose up to 25000 lU/kg had no adverse effect on the behavior or body weight gain. Pathological examinations revealed no abnormal gross lesions related to DA-3585. In the subacute toxicity study, all animals survived until termination of treatment. DA-3585 had no influence on clinical signs, food and water intake or on body weight changes. Hematological examination showed increases in the number of RBC, hemoglobin contents and hematocrit values with a dose dependent manner in the animals treated with DA-3585. Histopathological examination revealed erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver. The changes detected in the hematological and histopathological examination presumably represent exaggerated pharmacological effects of erythropoietin. The NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect-level) of DA-3585 was estimated to be 100 lU/kg/ day under this study condition.