• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.729-735
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• 1999

Scopolia rhizome is mistaken as an atractylodes rhizome because of their similarities in shape. That is why atractylodes rhizome imported from China sometimes contain scopolia rhizome, which is very toxic. 8 persons were intoxicated atractylodes after taking imported atractylodes rhizome which is tainted. In kampo medicine prepared with such imported atractylodes rhizome, the level of tropane alkaloids ranged from 1.12∼4.34 mg/dose. In this study, we tried to investigate the tissue distribution of scopolia rhizome in rats. The extracts of scopolia was administered orally to rats (a single dose of 10mg/kg, 20mg/kg and 7 days repeated dose of 10mg/kg). Their blood was collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 hrs, and liver, kidney, lung and spleen were collected after 6 hrs. The tissue homogenate was applied to solid phase extraction column for the determination of tropane alkaloids. After the oral administration of 20mg/kg scopolia extracts, l-hyoscyamine was detected in rat blood to 2 hrs after dosing. The concentration of tropane alkaloids was the highest in liver followed by lung, kidney and spleen. However, lung, kidney and spleen were similar in amount.