• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2011

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of methylcyclohexane (MCH) by a single oral dose in female rats. The test chemical was administered once by gavage to female rats at dose levels 0, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg. Mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were monitored for the 14-day period following the administration. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete gross postmortem and histopathological examinations were performed. Treatment-related clinical signs, as evidenced by depression, soft feces, decreased locomotion activity, solid perineal region, crouching position, and anorexia were observed in all treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner. At the dose level of 5,000 mg/kg, decreased or suppressed body weight gain was found during the study period. At the scheduled necropsy, one case of congestion of the intestine and an increase in the weights of liver and kidney were observed in the 5,000 mg/kg group. Histopathological examinations exhibited an increased incidence of glomerular atrophy, congestion/hemorrhage, and focal degeneration/necrosis in the liver and an increased incidence of congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidney. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that a single oral administration of MCH resulted in some adverse effects on clinical sign, body weight gain, and organ weight and histopathology in the liver and kidney in female rats. In the experimental conditions, the minimal lethal dose ($LD_{10}$) of MCH was greater than 5,000 mg/kg.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.175-180
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• 2009

Recently, as the male silkworm pupae, bee pupae have the potential that strengths men's vitality on vascular endothelial nitric oxide in endothelial cells. Especially we prepared alcohol extract of pupae of bumblebee, native bee named Hobakbul, Bombus ignitus. The alcohol extract of pupae of B. ignitus was administered to rats at doses of 0, 0.04, 0.2, 1 or 2 g/kg as a single oral dose. There were no observed clinical signs or deaths related to treatment in all the groups tested. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose of the alcohol extract B. ignitus pupae was considered to be higher than 2 g/kg in rats. Mild decreases in body weight gain in male were observed dose-dependently within B. ignitus pupae alcohol extract treated groups in dose response manner over 2 weeks. Throughout the administration periods, no significant changes in diet consumption, ophthalmologic findings, clinical pathology (hematology, clinical chemistry and coagulation) or gross pathology were detected. Minor changes in male and female rats were found in hematological parameters for all or partial of B. ignitus pupae extract treated groups but all the changes observed were within the physiological range. From these results, it was concluded that there was no-evidence of specific toxicity related to the ingestion of alcohol extract of B. ignitus pupae.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.18-24
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• 2011

Objective: Leejung-tang (Rechu-to in Japanese) is a traditional Korean herbal formula used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as vomiting, stomach pain, chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal ulceration. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of Leejung-tang water extract (LJT) by a single oral dose in Crl:CD (SD) rats in compliance with current guidelines. Methods: In the preliminary study, there were no adverse effects such as death, clinical signs, and body weight changes at dose levels of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day body weight. Based on the results, a dose of 2000 mg/kg was selected as the toxicological limited dose. LJT was administered once by gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0 and 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. During the study period, mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were observed for 14 days following the administration. On day 14 after the treatment, the animals were sacrificed by carbon dioxide overdose and complete gross postmortem examinations were performed. Results: In present study, no treatment-related deaths were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs and body weight changes. In addition, there were no observed gross findings in all groups except for a kidney cyst in the 2000 mg/kg/day female group. Conclusion: The results indicated that LJT did not induce toxic effects at a dose level up to 2000 mg/kg in rats and its median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) was considered to be over 2000 mg/kg/day body weight for both genders.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.993-1002
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• 2009

The object of this study was to evaluate the single dose toxicity of Taeumjowui-tang(TUJWT), a polyherbal formula have been traditionally used as prevention or treatment agent for obesity, in male and female mice. Aqueous extracts of TUJWT (Yield = 10.5%) was administered to female and male ICR mice as an oral dose of 2000, 1000 and 500 mg/kg (body wt.) according to the recommendation of KFDA Guidelines. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy, organ weight and histopathology of 12 principle organs were examined. As results, we could not find any mortality, clinical signs, and changes in the body and organ weight except for diarrhea restricted in TUJWT 2000 mg/kg treated one male mouse at 1 day after administration, and increases of popliteal lymph node weights in all TUJWT administered groups. In addition, no TUJWT-treatment related abnormal gross findings and changes in histopathology of principle organs were detected except for increases of the frequency of hypertrophy and hyperplasia of lymphoid cells in the popliteal lymph nodes in all TUJWT treatment groups with some sporadic accidental findings. These increases of popliteal lymph node weights with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of lymphoid cells were considered that related to the immune modulate effect of TUJWT not toxicological signs. The results obtained in this study suggest that the TUJWT does not cause any toxicological signs. The 50% lethal dose and approximate lethal dose of TUJWT aqueous extracts in both female and male mice were considered as over 2000 mg/kg.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1132-1136
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• 2014

A yellow-colored pigment is found in turmeric, or Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), a perennial herb distributed mainly throughout tropical and subtropical regions. C. longa has potent antiviral, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. However, pharmacological mechanisms of ethanol extract derived from C. longa remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential acute toxicity of C. longa (Curcuma longa L.) extract in BALB/c mice administered a single oral dose of 0, 20, 200, and 2,000 mg/kg by gavage. After the administration of the agent, signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 hr and every day for 14 days. No mortality, abnormal clinical signs, or pathological changes were observed compared to a control group, and there were no differences in the body weights of the control and treatment groups. Biological serum activities were not significantly changed in the treatment group compared to the control group. These results indicate that a single oral administration of C. longa extract does not exert any toxic effects at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight and that the $LD_{50}$ of C. longa extract is greater than 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Accordingly, C. longa appears to have potential in various functional agents or foods, without toxicity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-28
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• 2017

Objectives : The contents of aconitine in aconiti radix lateralis preparata, purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was analyzed to compare toxicity. Toxicity of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was assessed with a single oral toxicity test on 6-week-old male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : 1. The contents of aconitine in Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was analyzed using the purity test according to the "Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia". 2. 2,000mg/kg was injected for the single oral toxicity test of purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and the test was done for a test group (injection) and a control group, each with 5 male and 5 female rats. For 14 days after injection, rats were observed for general symptoms and changes in weight. Afterwards, blood biochemical test, autopsy, and histophathological exam of the liver was conducted. Results : 1. The contents of aconitine was 0.0785% for Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, 0.1510% for purified hot water extract of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, and 0.1248% for purified hot water extract of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. 2. There was no death of either male or female rats in both the control group and the test group (injection of 2,000mg/kg). 3. No unusual symptom was observed in both the control group and the test group (injection of 2,000mg/kg). 4. No significant change in weight was observed for both male and female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). 5. The histopathological exam of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and LDH showed no significant changes for both male and female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). 6. According to the autopsy results, no visible abnormality of organs or tissues was found in both the control group and the test group (2,000mg/kg). 7. According to the histopathological exam of the liver, the effect of the injected material was not observed for either male or female rats in the test group (2,000mg/kg). Conclusions : The contents of aconitine in Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata was lower for decoction of Sambutang-P with ginseng radix alba than for decoction of only Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. This suggests that ginseng radix alba can dilute toxicity of Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata. As for a single oral toxicity test of Sambutang-P that contains Aconiti Radix lateralis preparata, no abnormal reaction was observed even when the injection amount far exceeded a toxic dose or a lethal dose. Thus, it is deemed that using Sambutang-P at a clinically prescribed dose would not lead to hepatoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.960-964
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• 2007

This study was performed to examine the toxicity of Psoralea corylifolia L. by the single-dose oral toxicity tests in rat and bacterial reverse mutation assay. In single-dose oral toxicity tests, 5 mL ethanol extract of P. corylifolia L. were directly injected into 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) at a dosage of 2 g/kg. Death practice was not detected during breeding periods (14 days), and $LD_{50}$ was calculated over 2 g/kg. No difference were observed with control group in the growth rate and histological observations. In bacterial reverse mutation assay, his(-) Salmonella Typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and trp(-) Escherichia coli WP2uvrA (pKM101) were used for assessing the toxicity of ethanol extracts of P. corylifolia L.. No significant difference in formation of the colonies and no dose-dependent increase was observed regardless of the addition of S9 mix. The results showed that ethanol extracts of P. corylifolia L. did not have single-dose oral toxicity and mutagenic toxicity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.204-211
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to obtain acute (single) oral dose toxicity information on Lactobacillus-fermented Araliae Continentalis Radix aqueous extracts (fACR) in female and male ICR mice, as compared with Araliae Continentalis Radix aqueous extracts (ACR). After administering a single oral dose of fACR, no treatment-related mortalities were observed within 14 days after the end of treatment up to 2,000 mg/kg, the maximum dosage for rodents of both sexes; moreover, no fACR treatment-related changes in the body and organ weights, clinical signs, necropsy, and histopathological findings were detected in this experiment. In addition, no ACR 2,000 mg/kg treatment-related mortalities, clinical signs, body and organ weights, or gross and histopathological findings were observed, as compared with equal genders of vehicle control. The results obtained in this study suggest that fACR is non-toxic in mice and is, therefore, likely to be safe for clinical use. The LD₅₀ and approximate LD in female mice and male mice, respectively, were considered after a single oral dose of fACR over 2,000 mg/kg, the maximum dosage for rodents. In addition, no specific targets or clinical signs were detected in the present study. ACR 2,000 mg/kg-treated mice also did not show any treatment-related mortalities, clinical signs, changes to body and organ weights, or gross and histopathological findings, as compared with equal genders of vehicle control.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2006

This study was conducted to obtain the acute information of the oral dose toxicity of lyophilized water extract of Picrorrhiza Rhizoma (PR) - dried underground stem of Picrorrhiza kurroa, having various pharmacological effects, in male and female mice. In order to calculate 50% lethal dose ($LD_{50}$), approximate lethal dose and target organs, test article was administered once by oral gavage to male and female ICR mice at 2000, 1000, 500 and 250 mg/kg. The mortality and changes on body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored during 14 days after dosing with organ weight and histopathology of 12 types of principle organs. As the results, we could not find any mortality, clinical signs, changes in the body weight and gross findings except for hair loss, a significantly (p<0.05) increase of body weight gains in 2000mg/kg of PR extracts-dosing male group and some sporadic gross findings. In addition, no meaningful changes on the organ weight and histopathology of 12 types of principle organs were detected in the present study except for significantly (p<0.05) but dose independent changes on thymus, spleen and popliteal lymph nodes weights, and some sporadic accidental histopathological findings. The results obtained in this study suggest that the PR extract is non-toxic in mice and is therefore likely to be safe for clinical use. The $LD_{50}$ and approximate lethal dose of PR extracts in both female and male mice were considered as over 2000 mg/kg.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2013

Armeniacae semen (AS) has been considered a toxic herb in the Korean medicine as it contains hydrogen cyanide and amygdalin, especially in its endocarp. Therefore, prebrewed AS that is devoid of endocarp has been traditionally used. In the present study, amygdalin content of the prebrewed AS was significantly lower ($2.73{\pm}0.32{\mu}g/ml$; p<0.01) than the content in the extract that contained the endocarps ($28.50{\pm}6.71{\mu}g/ml$); amygdalin content corresponded to 10% of the extract in the present study. Because of single oral dose toxicity of prebrewed AS according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration Guidelines (2009-116, 2009), which was based on single oral dose toxicity study of prebrewed AS, mortality due to toxic principles was significantly reduced. In this study, 2,000 mg/kg of prebrewed AS led to death of 1 female rat and 1 male rat at the end of 2 hr of administration. Based on these results, the 50% lethal dose in both male and female rats was determined to be 9279.5 mg/kg. Seizure, loss of locomotion, and increases in respiration and heart rate were observed as prebrewed AS treatment-related toxicological signs; these signs were restrictedly manifested in the prebrewed AS (2,000 mg/kg)-treated rats. In addition, no changes were observed in body weight, organ weight, gross features, and histopathological parameters with 2,000 mg/kg of AS in both male and female rats. These findings serve as direct evidence that amygdalin in AS is the toxic principle, which can be reduced by the traditional prebrewing method involving the exclusion of endocarp.