• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-35
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• 2011

Objectives: The two criteria to clarify the toxicity of a herbal diet are well known. Although mechanical analysis of effective ingredients, a western approach, is widely used, the toxicity presence classification through the herbal analysis from a viewpoint of a theory of the herbal medicine properties has been disregarded. This study is for the safe use of a herbal diet through classification and study of toxicity presence in the herbal diet from the view of a theory of herbal medicine properties, one of the methods of Oriental Medicine. Methods: We classified and studied the toxicity presence in four kinds of herbal diets, waters and grains, animals groups, fruits and vegetables, and herbs and trees, excluding mineral natural drugs, of 1,400 kinds of medicines in 16 chapters of Tang-aec-pyeon, Dong-ui-bo-gam, for which the herbal analysis from a viewpoint of the theory of the herbal medicine properties has been used. The criteria of the toxicity presence in the herbal diet have been largely classified into the toxicant and the non-toxicant, and the toxicant is in turn classified into the insignificant, the medium and the significant. The category to clarify herbal diet has been limited to simultaneous utilization of food and natural drugs. The main text is Dong-ui-bo-gam, although diverse other references have also been used. Results: There are toxicant diets: a kind of tortoise meat of animals groups; five kinds of grains part in fruits and vegetables: aengdo, peach, oyat, small apple and gingko nut; and 12 kinds of vegetables part in fruits and vegetables: ginger, oriental cabbage, lettuce, chongbaek, onion, garlic, leek, fern, houttuynia cordata (myeol), pyeongji, geundae, and spinach, which should be prohibited from long-term use both as food and medicine. Conclusion: If herbal diet is used as health food supplements or food, the toxicity presence should be considered on the grounds of an Oriental Medicine theory of the herbal medicine properties.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.222-227
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• 2002

Although there are a few reports concerning the side effects and toxicity of herbal medicines, there has not yet been any report concerning their causes, mechanisms or prevention. We investigated the internal reports concerning the side effects and toxicity of herbal medicines. In the findings, liver disorder (hepatic injury) was found in 7 cases, kidney disorders (nephropathy) were found in 12 cases, heart disorders were found in 4 cases and mineral-caused diseases were found in 2 cases. Besides, we found the major cause of the side effects and toxicity was drug abuse, such as over-dosage and long term medication. So, we hope this report brings more attention to the safety and toxicity of herbal medicines.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.76-94
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• 2003

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate Acute$\cdot$Subacute Toxicity and Anti-cancer Effect of K-Herbal-acupuncture in mice and rats. Methods : Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for subacute toxicity test. K-Herbal-acupuncture was injected on abdomen of mice with S-180 cancer cell line. Result : 1. $LD_{50}$ of K-Herbal-acupuncture was limited $4{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg~$2{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg by the test. 2. In acute toxicity test, all of mice were down to the moving reflex, but the weight of mice was increased in treatment group, compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 3. In acute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of mice, glucose was increased in treatment II group, total cholesterol was increased both treatments.(P<0.05) 4. In subacute toxicity test, the clinical signs of toxication was down to the moving reflex, but it is not severe like acute toxicity test, and observed weight loss at the treatments. 5. In subacute toxicity test, liver weight was decreased compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 6. In subacute toxicity test of complete blood count test (CBC) of rat, HCT was decreased in treatments, compared with the normal group.(P<0.05) 7. In subacute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of rat, uric acid and triglyceride were decreased, and glucose was increased in treatment groups compared with the control group. (P<0.05) 8. Median survival time was increased about $45\%$ in treatment groups compared with the control group.(P<0.05) 9. Natural killer cell activity was increased in B16F10 lung cancer model, but it was not in sarcoma-180 abdomen cancer. 10. In interleukin-2 productivity test, treatment groups didn't show significant change in lung cancer and abdomen cancer, compared with the normal group.(P<0.005) 11. In making an examination of metastatic cancer with the naked eye, melanoma metastasized in the Lung of C57BL/6 mice. The treated group showed more Melanoma than the control in the numbers and volume. Conclusion : According to the result, K-herbal-acupuncture need further study to know the function and effect in cancer.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2013

Objectives : Traditional medicine Oryeong-san (ORS) has been prescribed for a long time to treat light fever, thirst, dysuria, and accompanying edema. However, the acute toxicity and safety were not reported. In this study, we evaluated the potent acute toxicity and safety of ORS. Methods : ICR mice were used to evaluate acute toxicity and safety by oral administration of 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000mg/kg of ORS. Mortality, body weight, and clinical symptoms were observed, and organ weight and blood biochemical parameters were analyzed after necropsy. Results : We found no mortality and no toxic or abnormal clinical symptoms by administration of ORS. Comparing with control group, no significant alterations in organ weight and blood biochemical parameters were observed. Conclusions : ORS recognized as safe and non-toxic medicinal material, and median lethal dose considered to be over 2,000 mg/kg in both male and female ICR mice.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 2005

Traditional herbal medicine is widely used among the Korean people, and other eastern Asian countries employ similar therapies as well. In recent years, due to increasing interest in herbal medicines, many researches have been made on the toxicity and side effects of herbal medications. Through private and public media, there have been many opinions suggesting taking herbal medicines is very harmful, especially on the liver and kidney functions. This assertion has been mainly presented by the doctors that practice western medicine, But this assertion is never based on adequate knowledge of herbal medicine. This study aims to provide the evidences that taking herbal medicines is safe on the renal functions. Four frequently used herbal medications(Sipjeondaebotang, Bojungigitang, Ojeoksan, and Yukmijihwangtang) were used to test the toxicity of herbal medicine oh the lab animal model(SD-Rat). There is no significant difference in body weight and kidney weight after herbal medication for 1 month. In all experimental groups, no abnormal findings were observed in histological study, and lab renal function index(BUN, creatinine, uric acid). These results say that four herbal multi-used-medicines, when medicated, is safe from the renal toxicity in lab animal model.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate genetic toxicity of Cervi pantotrichum Cornu herbal acupuncture solution(CPCHA). Methods : In this study, a series of investigation have been carried out to analyze the effects of Cervi pantotrichum Cornu herball acupuncture solution(CPCHA) on colony forming ability of NIH3T3cells, Hela cells and adrenorectal coloncell for genetic toxicity test. Results and Conclusions : From the above results, it is suggested that Cervi pantotrichum Cornu herball acupuncture solution(CPCHA) was limited 0.5-10ug/ml by test. Cervi pantotrichum Cornu herball acupuncture solution(CPCHA) did not exert the protective role to the genetic toxicity in kinds of cell lines used in this study. From these results, Cervi pantotrichum Cornu herbal aqua-acupuncture solution needs further study to prove it's function in cell culture system.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2002

Nowadays a huge variety of products that aim to assist to quit smoking or reduce addictive symptoms are developed and manufactured with safety evaluation, but the safety of the most recent products of interest which do not contain tobacco and nicotine, and shape cigarettes is not evaluated and guaranteed relatively. This study was carried out to evaluate the single and repeated dose inhalation toxicity and genotoxicity of H menthol (Nicotine free-tobacco free) herbal cigarettes provided by Cigastop Ltd. in ICR mice. In this study, doses which we determined to expose to mice were 40 cigarettes for 6 hours a day to mice in single dose and 20 (high dose), 10 (middle dose) and 5 cigarettes (low dose) a day for 28 days in repeated dose inhalation toxicity, in vivo chromosome aberration test and micronucleus test. The particulate substances from H menthol herbal cigarettes also were gathered and used in the Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay (Salmonella test; Ames test). We could find neither significant changes between control and treatment groups nor dose-response effects of test material at all except serum Ca level of female middle dose treatment group in repeated dose inhalation toxicity test. In conclusion, H menthol herbal cigarettes, when applied clinically intended dose we used, might not show any toxic and/or mutagenic effect.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.300-305
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• 2004

Background : Due to increased interest in herbal medicines is recent years, medical circles have made studies of toxicity and side effects of herbal medicines. Particularly the kidney is sensitive to toxicity. A few reports concerning the side effects and toxicity of herbal medicine have been presented recently. This has bought on some distrust in herbal medicines among patients and western doctors. Objectives : The purpose of this study is to determine what effects long-term prescription of one herbal medicine may have on renal function. Methods : Nineteen patients took herbal medicine for eight weeks. Tests of their Blood Urea Nitrogen(BUN), Creatinine of blood plasma, and urine (chemical and microscopic) were taken before taking medicine and at the 2nd, 4th, 8th weeks. Results : After taking a herbal medicine, BUN and Creatinine decreased significantly or remained the same in comparison with the prior interval. Chemical and microscopic examination of urine showed no changes. Conclusions : The results suggest that taking this herbal medicine for a long time does not induce nephrotixicity. Further study is needed for investigating safety and toxicity of herbal medicines.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.7-27
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• 2003

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate acute and subacute toxicity and sarcoma-180 anti-cancer effects of herbal acupuncture with cultivated wild ginseng (distilled) in mice and rats. Method : Balb/c mice were injected intravenous with cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenous with cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture for subacute toxicity test. The cultivated wild ginseng herbal-acupuncture was injected at the tail vein of mice. Results : 1. In acute $LD_{50}$ toxicity test, there was no mortality thus unable to attain the value. 2. Examining the toxic response in the acute toxicity test, there was no sign of toxication. 3. In acute toxic test, running biochemical serum test couldn't yield any differences between the control and experiment groups. 4. In subacute toxicity test, there was no sign of toxication in the experimental groups and didn't show any changes in weight compared to the normal group. 5. In subacute toxicity test, biochemical serum test showed significant increase of Total albumin, Albumin, and Glucose in the experimental group I compared with the control group. Significant decrease of GOT, ALP, GPT, and Triglyceride were shown. In experiment group II, only Glucose showed significant increase compared with the control group. 6. Measuring survival rate for anti-cancer effects of Sarcoma-180 cancer cell line, all the experimental groups showed significant increase in survival rate. 7. Measuring NK cell activity rate, no significant difference was shown throughout the groups. 8. Measuring Interleukin-2 productivity rate, all the experimental groups didn't show significant difference. 9. For manifestation of cytokine mRNA, significant decrease of interleukin-10 was witnessed in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion : According to the results, we can conclude cultivated wild ginseng herbal acupuncture caused negligible toxicity, and had anti-tumor effects in mice.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2007

Objectives: Samul-tang(Siwu-tang) has been traditionally prescribed a medicine as a restorative. Methods: In this study, we investigated the acute toxicity about water-extracted Samul-tang(Siwu-tang). Twenty-five mice completed 14 days of oral Samul-tang(Siwu-tang) at the respective doses of 0(control group), 2560, 3200, 4000 and 5000mg/kg. Results: We observed survival rates, general toxicity, change of body weight, and autopsy. Conclusions: Compared with the control group, we could not find any toxic alteration in all treated groups (2560, 3200, 4000 and 5000mg/kg). $LD_{50}$ of Samul-tang(Siwu-tang) was over 5000mg/kg and it is very safe to ICR mice.