• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.46-56
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the single-dose toxicity of Samgihwalryeok pharmacopuncture. Methods: Forty six-week-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats each; each group was then sub-divided into two smaller groups, one of five males and the other of five females. Group 1 (G1, control) received 1.0 mL of normal saline solution, while group 2 (G2, low-dose group), group 3 (G3, mid-does group, and group 4 (G4, high-dose group) received 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mL of Samgihwalryeok pharmacopuncture, respectively. Results: No mortalities or clinical signs were observed in the four groups. Also, no significant changes in body weights were observed among the group, and no significant differences in hematology/biochemistry, necropsy, or histopathology results were noted. Conclusion: The above findings suggest that treatment with Samgihwalryeok pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.36-43
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Water-soluble carthami flos (WCF) is a new mixture of Carthami flos (CF) pharmacopuncture. We conducted a 4-week toxicity test of repeated intramuscular injections of WCF in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Forty male and 40 female rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 male and 10 female SD rats: The control group received 0.5 mL/animal/day of normal saline whereas the three experimental groups received WCF at doses of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mL/animal/day, respectively. For 4 weeks, the solutions were injected into the femoral muscle of the rats alternating from side to side. Clinical signs, body weights, and food consumption were observed; opthalmological examinations and urinalyses were performed. On day 29, blood samples were taken for hematological and clinical chemistry analyses. Then, necropsy was conducted in all animals to observe weights and external and histopathological changes in the bodily organs. All data were tested using a statistical analysis system (SAS). Results: No deaths were observed. Temporary irregular respiration was observed in male rats of the experimental group for the first 10 days. Body weights, food consumptions, opthalmological examinations, urinalyses, clinical chemistry analyses, organ weights and necropsy produced no findings with toxicological meaning. In the hematological analysis, delay of prothrombin time (PT) was observed in male rats of the 0.25- and the 0.5-mL/animal/day groups. In the histopathological test, a dose-dependent inflammatory cell infiltration into the fascia and panniculitis in perimuscular tissues was observed in all animals of the experimental groups. However, those symptoms were limited to local injection points. No toxicological meanings, except localized changes, were noted. Conclusion: WCF solution has no significant toxicological meaning, but does produce localized symptoms. No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of WCF in male and female rats is expected for doses over 0.5 mL/animal/day.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.237-246
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Capsaicin-containing (CP) pharmacopuncture was developed to treat neuropathic pain. This study was conducted to assess the toxicity of CP extract for pharmacopuncture, using a micronucleus test. Methods: First, a dose range finding study was conducted. Then an in vivo micronucleus test was performed to determine the induction of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells after intramuscular administration of CP twice with a 24-hour interval to 8-week-old ICR mice. A high dose of 0.2 mL/animal was selected, and this was sequentially diluted by applying a geometric ratio of 2 to produce two lower dose levels (0.1 and 0.05 mL/animal). In addition, negative and positive control groups were set up, and an HPLC analysis was conducted to confirm the capsaicin content of CP. Results: The incidence of micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in polychromatic erythrocytes in the CP-treated group was similar to that in the negative-control group, while that in the positive-control group was significantly greater. In addition, the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes to total erythrocytes in the CP treatment group and the positive control group was not significantly different from the negative control group. In the HPLC analysis, capsaicin in the CP was identified through a comparison with the retention time of the capsaicin standard of 27 min. Conclusion: CP did not show any indication of any potential to induce micronuclei formation in bone marrow cells of ICR mice under the conditions of this study. Further toxicity studies are necessary to ensure the safety of the use of CP in clinical practice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2020

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the safety and dosing of scolopendrid pharmacopuncture (SPP). Methods: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (males and 20 females 20) were selected following a 7-day inspection and acclimation period. SPP was administered via intramuscular injection, over a 2-week period using 3 doses including a high-dose [0.84 mg of scolopendrid per kg of body weight (BW)], a med-dose (0.42 mg/kg BW), and a low-dose (0.21 mg/kg BW). The control group was injected with sterile water into the muscles. Unusual changes caused by administration of the test substance were observed. Weight, feed intake, organ weight, and hematological examinations were compared among the groups. Using the SPSS statistical program, Levene's test was performed to evaluate the homogeneity of variances, and a one-way ANOVA test was subsequently performed to assess the significance between each test group. Results: During the experiment no animals died. Weight change, food consumption, organ weight, hematological test, and blood biochemical tests showed no significant differences in the treatment groups compared to controls. Conclusion: No toxicological changes related to the administration of test substances were observed. Therefore, the LD₅₀ (lethal-dose that kills 50%) of scolopendrid pharmacoupuncture in rats was greater than 0.84 mg/kg.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to analyze the single dose toxicity of Mecasin(Gami-Jakyak Gamcho buja Decoction) pharmacopuncture in muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: All experiments were performed at the Medvill, an institution acknowledged to conduct non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen in this pilot study. The reason Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen is that they have been widely used in safety test in the field of medicine, so the results can be easily compared with many other databases. Doses of Mecasin pharmacopuncture, 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000mg/kg, were registered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 10 ml/kg, was registered to the control group. Mecasin pharmacopuncture and normal saline were injected into the thigh of the rats by disposable syringes at intervals of six hours twice a day. This study was performed under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethic Committee. Results: There is no death or abnormality in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To inspect abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above outcomes suggest that treatment with Mecasin pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further evaluations and studies on this subject are needed to prove more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to analyze the single-dose toxicity of ShinYangHur (SYH) herbal acupuncture injected into the muscles of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: The SYH herbal acupuncture was made in a clean room at the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute (KPI, Korea-Good Manufacturing Practice, K-GMP). After the mixing process with sterile distilled water, the pH was controlled to between 7.0 and 7.5. Then, NaCl was added to make a 0.9% isotonic solution by using sterilized equipment. All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech, an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). SD rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of SYH herbal acupuncture, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mL, were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 1.0 mL, was administered to the control group. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy was used to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above outcomes suggest that treatment with SYH herbal acupuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.247-255
• /
• 1994

As a series of safety studies of DA-3030, a new rhO-CSF, its local irritancy was examined in the rabbits after the following treatment; application into the conjunctival sac of the eye(single), subcutaneous injection(single), intramuscular injection(single), and intravenous injection(8-day repeated). In addition, paravenous irritation of DA-3030 was investigated in mice. The results obtained were as follows. 1. In the result of ocular irritation test, 0.03% solution of DA-3030 could be considered as a non-irritating material. 2. The local irritation of DA-3030 by an injection of 0.5mι of its solution subcutaneously or intramuscularly was negligible and not so much different from that of saline. 3. In the vascular irritancy test, macro- and microscopic observations revealed that the irritating activity of DA-3030 in blood vessels was not different from that of saline when they were injected once a day into vein retroauricularis of rabbits for 8 days.4. The paravenous administration of DA-3030 did not induce any abnormal changes at injection sites except mild swelling in 1 mouse at 3 hours after injection which was thought to be due to slow absorption. The above-mentioned results suggest that DA-3030 has no irritating activity when injected through intravenous or subcutaneous route for clinical practice as 0.03% solution.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.54-62
• /
• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of the test substance, SU-Eohyeol Pharmacopuncture (SUEP), to induce micronuclei in bone marrow cells of Sprague-Dawley (SD) Rats. Methods : The dose range preliminary study was performed first. 1 ml/animal was selected as the high dose of this study. Two additional lower dose levels (0.5 and 0.25 ml/animal) were produced by applying a geometric ratio of 2. In addition, the positive and negative control groups were set. Then, after intramuscular administration (1 ml/animal) of SUEP to 8-week-old male SD rats, an in vivo micronucleus test was performed to evaluate the induction of micronuclei in SD rat bone marrow cells. Results : As a result of the main study, the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) in the test substance SUEP groups was not statistically significantly different from the negative control group. In addition, the ratio of PCE to total erythrocytes in the test substance SUEP groups was not statistically significantly different from the negative control group. In the positive control group, the incidence of MNPCE in PCE was statistically significantly increased when compared to the negative control group. The ratio of PCE to total erythrocytes in the positive control group was not statistically significantly different from the negative control group. Conclusions : Based on these results, the test substance, SUEP, did not have any potential to induce micronuclei formation in bone marrow cells of rats under the conditions of this study.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.350-358
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study was carried out to analyze the single dose toxicity of ShinEumHur (SEH) pharmacopuncture injected into the muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: The SEH pharmacopuncture was made in a clean room at the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute (K-GMP). After the mixing process with sterile distilled water had been completed, the pH was controlled to between 7.0 and 7.5. All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech, an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of SEH pharmacopuncture, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mL, were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 1.0 mL, was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weights, clinical signs, mean hematology parameters, mean clinical chemistry, necropsy and histopathological findings. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weight, hematological parameters or clinical chemistry between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above findings suggest that treatment with SEH pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.