Reference Data of the Main Physiological Parameters in Control Sprague-Dawley Rats from Pre-clinical Toxicity Studies

Repeated-dose toxicity and toxicokinetic study of isobutylparaben in rats subcutaneously treated for 13 weeks

Parabens have historically served as antimicrobial preservatives in a range of consumables such as food, beverages, medications, and personal care products due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal properties. Traditionally, these compounds were believed to exhibit low toxicity, causing minimal irritation, and possessing limited sensitization potential. However, recent evidence suggests that parabens might function as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Consequently, extensive research is underway to elucidate potential human health implications arising from exposure to these substances. Among these parabens, particular concerns have been raised regarding the potential adverse effects of iso-butylparaben (IBP). Studies have specifically highlighted its potential for inducing hormonal disruption, significant ocular damage, and allergic skin reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the prolonged systemic toxicity, semen quality, and estrus cycle in relation to endocrine disruption endpoints, alongside assessing the toxicokinetic behavior of IBP in Sprague-Dawley rats following a 13-week repeated subcutaneous administration. The rats were administered either the vehicle (4% Tween 80) or IBP at dosage levels of 2, 10, and 50 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks. Blood collection for toxicokinetic study was conducted on three specified days: day 1 (1st), day 30 (2nd), and day 91 (3rd). Systemic toxicity assessment and potential endocrine effects were based on various parameters including mortality rates, clinical signs, body weights, food and water consumption, ophthalmological findings, urinalysis, hematological and clinical biochemistry tests, organ weights, necropsy and histopathological findings, estrus cycle regularity, semen quality, and toxicokinetic behavior. The findings revealed that IBP induced local irritation at the injection site in males at doses ≥ 10 mg/kg/day and in females at 50 mg/kg/day; however, systemic toxicity was not observed. Consequently, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for IBP was determined to be 50 mg/kg/day in rats of both sexes, indicating no impact on the endocrine system. The toxicokinetics of IBP exhibited dose-dependent systemic exposure, reaching a maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day, and repeated administration over 13 weeks showed no signs of accumulation.

Safety assessment and gastrointestinal retention of orally administered cerium oxide nanoparticles in rats

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs, NM-212) are well-known for their catalytic properties and antioxidant potential, and have many applications in various industries, drug delivery, and cosmetic formulations. CeO2 NPs exhibit strong antimicrobial activity and can be used to efficiently remove pathogens from different environments. However, knowledge of the toxicological evaluation of CeO2 NPs is too limited to support their safe use. In this study, CeO2 NPs were orally administered to Sprague Dawley rats for 13 weeks at the doses of 0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg bw/day, followed by a four week recovery period. The hematology values for the absolute and relative reticulocyte counts in male rats treated with 1000 mg/kg bw/day CeO2 NPs were lower than those in control rats. The clinical chemistry values for sodium and chloride in the treated male rat groups (100 and 1000 mg/kg/day) and total protein and calcium in the treated female rat groups (100 mg/kg/day) were higher than those in the control groups. However, these changes were not consistent in both sexes, and no abnormalities were found in the corresponding pathological findings. The results showed no adverse effects on any of the parameters assessed. CeO2 NPs accumulated in the jejunum, colon, and stomach wall of rats administered 1000 mg/kg CeO2 NPs for 90 days. However, these changes were not abnormal in the corresponding histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Therefore, 1000 mg/kg bw/day may be considered the "no observed adverse effect level" of CeO2 NPs (NM-212) in male and female SD rats under the present experimental conditions.

Safety evaluation of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) via toxicological tests

This study aims to evaluate the safety of MK-7 produced by fermentation process using a Bacillus subtilis var. natto strain for human ingestion via acute oral toxicity, repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity, 28-day recovery test, and genotoxicity tests. The acute oral toxicity test results indicated that all subjects survived at the dose of 5000 mg/kg with no toxic effects. For the repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity test, MK-7 was administered to rats at 500, 1500, and 4500 mg/kg for 90 d. No abnormal findings were detected in clinical observations or in clinical pathological and histopathological examinations. The no-observed-adverse-effect level(NOAEL) was determined to be 4500 mg/kg/d, the maximum dose tested. For the evaluation of genotoxicity, reverse mutation, chromosomal aberration, and micronucleus tests were performed. In the reversion mutation test, vitamin K2 did not induce reversion in bacterial strains, and no chromosomal abnormality was observed in the chromosomal abnormality test using Chinese hamster lung cells. In the micronucleus test, micronuclei were not induced using ICR mouse bone marrow cells. All the toxicity test results suggest that vitamin K2 produced by fermentation processes using Bacillus subtilis var. natto induced no toxicological changes under the experimental conditions.

Assessment of subchronic toxicity and toxicokinetics of AG NPP709 in Sprague-Dawley rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedera helix L. (HH) leaves and Coptidis rhizoma (CR) have traditionally been used to treat respiratory conditions. AG NPP709, which is formulated using extracts of both these herbs, has been developed as an expectorant and antitussive.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective was to evaluate the subchronic toxicity and toxicokinetic characteristics of AG NPP709 in laboratory rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AG NPP709 was orally administered to rats at doses of up to 2.0 g/kg/day for a duration of 13 weeks. Various health parameters were measured throughout the treatment period. At the end of the treatment, a necropsy was conducted and additional parameters were analyzed. Toxicokinetic analyses were also performed on hederacoside C and berberine, the active components of HH leaves and CR, respectively, in the plasma of rats treated with AG NPP709.

RESULTS

AG NPP709-treated rats exhibited several health issues, such as reduced feed intake, altered differential white blood cell (WBC) count, increased plasma Alb/Glo ratio in females, and reduced kidney weight in males. However, these changes appeared to be incidental and fell within the typical range for healthy animals of this species. Additionally, toxicokinetic analysis of hederacoside C and berberine showed no accumulation in the plasma of rats during the repeated treatments with AG NPP709.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that AG NPP709 does not have any harmful effects on rats under experimental conditions. Based upon these findings, the no observed adverse effect level of AG NPP709 can be estimated to be 2.0 g/kg/day in rats.

Toxicological safety assessment of AP-Bio®, a standardized extract of Andrographis paniculata in Sprague Dawley rats

Andrographis paniculata, commonly known as green chiretta, is a traditionally used plant in India, China, and Southeast Asian countries for its varied health benefits including immune health. The objective of the present study was to assess the safety of AP-Bio®, a standardized A. paniculata extract in Sprague Dawley rats by following the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines of acute and 90-day repeated dose sub-chronic toxicity studies. AP-Bio® did not show any treatment-related clinical signs of toxicity or mortality during the 14-day observation period in animals tested in the single-dose acute oral toxicity study up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the 90-day repeated dose sub-chronic oral toxicity study, no treatment-related adverse clinical signs were observed in any of the treated groups (300, 600, and 900 mg/kg). All treated animals showed usual weight gain and comparable feed intake. The ophthalmoscope examination did not reveal any abnormalities. Also, no toxicologically significant changes were observed in urinalysis, hematology, and blood chemistry parameters. Absolute organ weights and relative organ weights of vital organs did not differ significantly compared to control. Gross and histopathological findings did not show any remarkable and treatment-related changes. Results of the safety evaluation showed the median lethal dose (LD50 ) of AP-Bio® was found to be more than 5000 mg/kg rat body weight and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of AP-Bio® was found to be 900 mg/kg rat body weight.

Toxicity of a 90-day repeated oral dose of a collagen peptide derived from skate (Raja kenojei) skin: a rat model study

Collagen peptides are widely employed as therapeutic materials due to their numerous beneficial properties, including for the following uses: antiaging, antioxidant applications, antibacterial applications, wound healing, tissue engineering, medication delivery, and cosmetics. Although collagen peptides are useful in these applications, to our knowledge, few published studies have been undertaken on their repeated-dose toxicity. We evaluated the possible subchronic toxicity of a collagen peptide derived from skate (Raja kenojei) skin (CPSS) in Sprague-Dawley rats by administering repeated oral doses over 90 days. Rats of both sexes were assigned randomly to one of four experimental groups, respectively receiving 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/day of CPSS. At all doses tested, repeated oral CPSS administration had no treatment-related adverse effects in terms of clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, detailed clinical observation, sensory reactivity, functional assessment, urinalysis, ophthalmic examination, gross pathology, hematology, serum biochemistry, hormone analysis, organ weight, and histopathology. Even though there were some alterations in hematologic parameters, serum biochemistry parameters, organ weight, and histopathological findings, these did not follow a dose-response pattern and were within historical limits for control rats. The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the CPSS was 2000 mg/kg/day for both male and female rats in the applied experimental circumstances, and no target organs were identified.

Diagnostic potential of serum miR-532-3p as a circulating biomarker for experimental intrinsic drug-induced liver injury by acetaminophen and cisplatin in rats

Evaluating tissue injury largely depends on serum biochemical analysis despite insufficient tissue specificity and low sensitivity. Therefore, attention has been paid to the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) to overcome the limitations of the current diagnostic tools, as tissue-enriched miRNAs are detected in the blood upon tissue injury. First, using a cisplatin-injected rats, we screened a specific pattern of altered hepatic miRNAs and their target mRNAs. Subsequently, we identified novel liver-specific circulating miRNAs for drug-induced liver injury by comparing miRNA expression changes in organs and serum. RNA sequencing revealed that 32 hepatic miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the cisplatin-treated group. Furthermore, among the 1217 targets predicted using miRDB on these DE-miRNAs, 153 hepatic genes involved in different liver function-related pathways and processes were found to be dysregulated by cisplatin. Next, comparative analyses of the liver, kidneys, and serum DE-miRNAs were conducted to select circulating miRNA biomarker candidates reflecting drug-induced liver injury. Finally, among the four liver-specific circulating miRNAs selected based on their expression patterns in tissue and serum, miR-532-3p was increased in the serum after cisplatin or acetaminophen administration. Our findings suggest that miR-532-3p is potential as a serum biomarker for identifying drug-induced liver injury, leading to the accurate diagnosis.

In Vivo Toxicity Assessment of the Probiotic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 Isolated from Stingless Bee (Heterotrigona itama) Honey

This study evaluated the acute and sub-acute toxicity of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 (isolated from stingless bee honey) in female Sprague Dawley rats. In an acute toxicity study, the rats received a low dosage (1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL^-1), medium dosage (3 × 10⁹ CFU·mL^-1), or high dosage (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU·mL^-1) of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 daily orally by syringe-feeding for 14 days. For the subacute toxicity study, rats received a low dosage (1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL^-1) or a high dosage (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU·mL^-1) for 28 days. The probiotic feeding in acute and sub-acute toxicity studies showed no mortality or significant abnormalities in rats throughout the experimental period. In week 2 of the acute study, the body weight of the rats showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared to the control. By gross and microscopic examination of organs, no evidently significant changes were observed in the morphology of organs. Serum biochemical tests and blood hematology tests also revealed no treatment-related changes. Overall, these data indicated that oral administration of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 up to 1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL^-1 for 28 days can be considered safe.

Integrated transcriptomic analysis of liver and kidney after 28 days of thioacetamide treatment in rats

Thioacetamide (TAA) was developed as a pesticide; however, it was soon found to cause hepatic and renal toxicity. To evaluate target organ interactions during hepatotoxicity, we compared gene expression profiles in the liver and kidney after TAA treatment. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated daily with oral TAA and then sacrificed, and their tissues were evaluated for acute toxicity (30 and 100 mg/kg bw/day), 7-day (15 and 50 mg/kg bw/day), and 4-week repeated-dose toxicity (10 and 30 mg/kg). After the 4-week repeated toxicity study, total RNA was extracted from the liver and kidneys, and microarray analysis was performed. Differentially expressed genes were selected based on fold change and significance, and gene functions were analyzed using ingenuity pathway analysis. Microarray analysis showed that significantly regulated genes were involved in liver hyperplasia, renal tubule injury, and kidney failure in the TAA-treated group. Commonly regulated genes in the liver or kidney were associated with xenobiotic metabolism, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. We revealed changes in the molecular pathways of the target organs in response to TAA and provided information on candidate genes that can indicate TAA-induced toxicity. These results may help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of target organ interactions during TAA-induced hepatotoxicity.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-022-00156-y.

Research on 90-day subchronic toxicities of the ethanol extract from the cultivated Fritillaria Cirrhosa bulbs by oral administration in Sprague-Dawley rats

Fritillaria Cirrhosa bulbus (BFC) is a Chinese herbal medicine. In the present study, subchronic toxicities of the ethanol extract from cultivated Fritillaria Cirrhosa bulbus (ECBFC) were performed by oral daily administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. The subchronic toxicity test of ECBFC was conducted at doses of 0.34, 0.68, and 2.04 g/kg/day for 90 days (equivalent to the highest human clinical recommend dosage of 25, 50, and 150-fold) with a 4-week satellite group. No mortality or significant changes in behaviors, body weight and food consumption were observed during the experimental and recovery periods. According to the data from ematological analysis, biochemistry, organ coefficient and the results of histopathology, the ECBFC have toxicity to the spleen and liver at the highest (2.04 g/kg), medium (0.68 g/kg) dose and nephrotoxicity at the highest dose. Subchronic oral toxicity of ECBFC in SD rats (90 days) with NOAEL was 0.34 g/kg and LOAEL was 0.68 g/kg. In addition, the toxicity is gender neutral and reversible. The NOAEL value (0.34 g/kg) is 25-fold of the highest human clinical recommend dosage thus the ECBFC could be long-term used as Chinese patent medicine or functional food.

Acute and 13 weeks subchronic toxicological evaluation of the flavonoid-rich extract of Sophora flavescens

The roots of Sophora flavescens have a long history of use in Chinese medicine for the treatment of various medical conditions. Flavonoids from the ethyl acetate extract of S. flavescens have shown anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicological profile of a flavonoid-rich extract of S. flavescens (SFEA). We conducted acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity studies of SFEA in Kunming (KM) mice and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Acute oral administration of 9.0 g/kg SFEA did not result in mortality, clinical signs of toxicity, or abnormal changes in the body weight or food consumption patterns. No significant changes in hematological, blood biochemical, or histopathological parameters were observed. A 13-week sub-chronic toxicity study was conducted in SD rats; the rats were orally administrated with various doses of SFEA (in mg/kg): 0 (control), 40, 80, 400, 800, and 1200. Mortality, clinical signs, or treatment-related changes in body weight, food consumption, hematological parameters, blood biochemical parameters, organ weights, or histopathological parameters were not observed. We found that SFEA is practically nontoxic to KM mice at a dose of 9.0 g/kg and that the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of SFEA in SD rats is greater than 1200 mg/kg.

Hematotoxic Effect of Respiratory Exposure to PHMG-p and Its Integrated Genetic Analysis

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p), the main ingredient of humidifier disinfectants, circulates systemically through the lungs; however, its toxicological assessment has been primarily limited to pulmonary disease. Herein, we investigated the possible abnormalities in hematopoietic function 20 weeks after intratracheal instillation of PHMG-p in a rat model. Notable abnormalities were found out in the peripheral blood cell count and bone marrow (BM) biopsy, while RNA sequencing of BM tissue revealed markedly altered gene expression. Furthermore, signaling involved in hematopoietic dysfunction was predicted by analyzing candidate genes through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) program. Respiratory PHMG-p exposure significantly decreased monocyte and platelet (PLT) counts and total protein, while significantly increasing hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in peripheral blood. Histopathological analysis of the BM revealed a reduced number of megakaryocytes, with no significant differences in spleen and liver weight to body weight. Moreover, PHMG-p exposure significantly activated estrogen receptor signaling and RHOA signaling, and inhibited RHOGDI signaling. In IPA analysis, candidate genes were found to be strongly related to 'hematological system development and function' and 'hematological disease.' Accordingly, our results suggest that PHMG-p could affect hematopoiesis, which participates in monocyte differentiation and PLT production, and may induce hematologic diseases via the respiratory tract.

In vivo study of subacute oral toxicity of kelulut honey

Kelulut honey is favoured for its tremendous nutritional benefits. However, the lack of systematic safety studies leads to it having no quality control or safety guarantee for the consumers. Consequently, the present work was designed to assess the effect of daily kelulut honey consumption. Subacute oral toxicity study was conducted following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 407. Sprague Dawley rats were administered with kelulut honey at the concentrations of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg for four weeks, and observed for any changes or toxicity signs following daily consumption. The rats were physically and biochemically analysed, and the serum of highest honey concentration (2,000 mg/kg) consumption underwent metabolite analysis. Histopathology observations on the kidney and liver were also performed. The highest concentration of kelulut honey did not show any mortality or toxicity. Overall, there were no significant differences in all parameters, physically and biochemically, as compared to the control (distilled water), thus indicating the absence of toxicity of kelulut honey daily consumption. It was found that kelulut honey consumption demonstrated generally good health effects, such as in controlling food intake, weight gain, and increasing immune function. The honey’s lethal medium dose surpassed 2,000 mg/kg, thus classified in category 5 according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, which means that it is safe to consume at a high dose.

Sublethal pulmonary toxicity screening of silica nanoparticles in rats after direct intratracheal instillation

The present aimed to characterize the toxicity of silica nanoparticles in Sprague Dawley rats and determine the dose levels for a repeated-dose toxicity study. Silica nanoparticles (SiO2, 20 nm and 50 nm) were administered as a single intratracheal instillation of standardized SiO2 20 nm (low dose, 200 µg/mL; high dose, 400 µg/mL) and 50 nm (low dose, 200 µg/mL; high dose, 400 µg/mL). Each group consisted of five male rats. We documented the mortality rate, clinical signs, body weight, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis, hematological values, serum chemistry values, organ weight, gross findings at necropsy, and histopathological assessments. Rats treated with 200 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL SiO2 50 nm exhibited a decreased mean corpuscular volume, while those treated with 400 µg/mL of SiO2 50 nm showed increases in absolute monocyte and absolute lymphocyte count as well as prothrombin time. In addition, rats treated with 400 µg/mL SiO2 20 nm and 50 nm presented reduced creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, and sodium levels. Therefore, a single intratracheal instillation of SiO2 20 nm and 50 nm elicited no toxicity up to a dose of 400 µg/mL, and the approximate lethal dose of this test substance exceeded 400 µg/mL in male Sprague Dawley rats under the present experimental conditions.

Evaluation of the acute toxicity and 28-days subacute toxicity of the alcoholic extract from Ganoderma leucocontextum

Ganoderma leucocontextum is a well-known traditional medicine in Tibet Autonomous Region, which has benefits, such as anti-hypoxia, neurotrophic action on nerves, easing coughs and relieving asthma, strengthening the body and prolonging life. However, few research have focused on its negative effects, possibly jeopardizing its safety. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of an alcoholic extract from G. leucocontextum (GLA) in vivo. The phytochemical characterization analysis showed that alcoholic extract from G. leucocontextum were rich in polysaccharides, triterpenoids. Then, in acute oral toxicity, male and female mice from Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) were orally administered with 16 g/kg GLA and were observed for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity, male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered with 2, 4, and 8 g/kg doses of GLA for 28 days. There was no death or clinical changes in male and female mice in the acute toxicity test. During the subacute toxicity test, the difference in body weights, food consumption, biochemical and hematological parameters, and organ coefficients between treated and control groups were unrelated to GLA treatment. The obtained data show that the GLA had no significant toxic effects when administered orally to male and female rats in acute and subacute toxicity.

Evaluation of toxicological safety and quality control of Luobufukebiri pill

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Luobufukebiri pill is one of the characteristic medicines of Uygur nationality in Xinjiang. It has the effect of warming and tonifying the brain and kidney, benefiting the heart and filling the essential functions, mainly used to treat impotence, depression, spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation, bodily weakness, emaciation, and neurasthenia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study evaluated the toxicology and developed a quality control protocol of Luobufukebiri pill to ensure its safety and effectiveness in clinical applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute toxicity in mice was studied by the maximum-dose method, and the toxic reactions in mice were observed within two weeks. In the study of Sub-chronic toxicity, SD rats were randomized into four groups: three drug groups which were treated with 8.00, 2.67, and 0.80 g/kg of Luobufukebiri pill, respectively, and one control group which was treated with the same volume of distilled water. Subsequently, at 30 days of medication and 30 days of drug withdrawal, the hematologic indexes, biochemical indexes, organ coefficient, and pathological sections of main organs were detected, respectively. According to the prescription, the contents of 8 active components in the pill were quantified simultaneously. The chromatographic conditions were as follows: Stepwise gradient elution was carried out using 0.1% formic acid (solvent A) and acetonitrile (solvent B), 0-8 min, 80% → 60% B; 8-25 min, 60% → 25%B. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, the column was maintained at 25 °C, and the injected sample volume was 10 μL.

RESULTS

The acute toxicity experiment documented a large dose of Luobufukebiri pill had no significant effect on organ and body weight and did not cause apparent damage to parenchymal organs. At Sub-chronic toxicity, the behavior of rats was as normal as the control group. There were some differences in hematologic indexes, serum biochemical indexes, and organ coefficient tests between the drug and control groups, but they had no toxic significance. No obvious pathological changes were observed in the pathological sections of major organs. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the clinical dose of Luobufukebiri pill was far less than its toxic dose, and it had reliable safety. The contents of eight index components of Luobufukebiri pill were measured. All calibration curves exhibited good linearity with correlation coefficients better than 0.9997. The relative standard deviations of precision, reproducibility, stability, and recovery were less than 2.0%, demonstrating the stability and reliability of the method.

CONCLUSIONS

This study further confirmed the safety of Luobufukebiri pill in clinical practice. A rapid, accurate, and convenient RP-HPLC-PDA detection method has been developed for the simultaneous detection of eight active compounds in the pharmaceutical samples of Luobufukebiri pill. This study provided a reference for the safety and enhancement of the quality standards of Luobufukebiri pill.

Subchronic Toxicity Evaluation of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles in Rats Following 28-Day Repeated Oral Administration

Several studies on the potential adverse effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃NPs) have reported conflicting results. The present study investigated the potential adverse effects of Al₂O₃NPs in Sprague-Dawley rats following 28-day repeated oral administration. In addition, we aimed to determine the target organ and no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of Al₂O₃NPs. Al₂O₃NPs was administered once daily by gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. There were no treatment-related adverse effects as indicated by the clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis, ophthalmology, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross pathology, organ weight, and histopathology at all the tested doses. Under the experimental conditions of the present study, 28-day repeated oral administration of Al₂O₃NPs at doses of up to 1000 mg/kg/day did not induce any treatment-related systemic toxicity in male and female rats. The NOAEL of Al₂O₃NPs was set at 1000 mg/kg/day in both male and female rats and no target organs were identified.

Toxicological Safety Evaluation in Acute and 21-Day Studies of Ethanol Extract from Solanum lyratum Thunb

Solanum lyratum (Solanaceae) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used to remedy cold fever, damp-heat jaundice, herpes, and nephritis dropsy. Despite its obvious therapeutic advantages, few toxicological studies have involved the efficacy and safety of its long-term treatment. To investigate the acute and subchronic toxicity of the extract of 75% ethanol extract of whole Solanum lyratum (ESL) after oral administration in mice. In acute toxicity experiment, mice were intragastric administration with ESL at doses of 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 mg/kg for 1 day. In a subchronic toxicity experiment, mice were intragastrically administration with ESL at doses of 180, 360, and 720 mg/kg and 0.9% saline for 21 days. Weight gain, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analysis of vital organs were evaluated. The presence of aristolochic acid I in ESL was studied using UPLC-QTOF-MS. Phytochemical analysis indicated that the presence of aristolochic acid I in ESL was 0.0025 mg/g. This relatively low concentration is not enough to cause toxicity. In the acute toxicity experiment, neither mortality nor clinical alterations were shown, except for the mild transient diarrhea at 5000 mg/kg. So the LD₅₀ value of ESL was assessed to be more than 5000 mg/kg. In the subchronic toxicity experiment, neither mortality nor treatment-related clinical signs were observed. There was a significant increase in body weight, hemoglobin (HB), and urea nitrogen (BUN) after administration with ESL at 180 mg/kg. In addition, the weight of the stomach was increased and the hematocrit (HCT) was decreased after administration with ESL at 360 mg/kg. The changes were not considered treatment-related toxicological effects because the toxicity and histopathological analysis indicate that the extracts are safe for oral administration.

Acute toxicity and safety profile evolution of aqueous extracts of Sanren decoction using in vivo models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sanren decoction (SRD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine prescription containing eight kinds of materials. SRD has been used mainly in China for more than 200 years for the treatment of respiratory disorders that co-occur with a bad fever after midday.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the acute and 28-day subacute toxicity of an aqueous extract of SRD using in vivo methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To determine acute toxicity, SRD was administered by gavage at a dosage of 58.5 g/kg/day to male and female mice for 7 days. To determine subacute toxicity, SRD was administered at 3.3, 6.5, or 13 g/kg/day to male and female rats for 28 days. The general behavior, body weight, biochemical and hematological parameters, organ coefficients and pathological morphology of the treated animals were analyzed.

RESULTS

Neither acute nor subacute concentrations of SRD caused significant changes in the body weights, general behavior, hematology and biochemical parameters, organ weights, or histopathological appearances of the liver, kidney, spleen, brain, lung or heart in mice or rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of SRD can be considered safe within the conditions of this study.

Extracts of Citrus Juice Processing Wastes Induce Weight Gain and Decrease Serum Glucose in Sprague-Dawley Rats

In this study, the safety and functionality of using citrus juice processing waste (CJPW) was confirmed. Large quantities of CJPW are generated on Jeju Island and cause environmental problems. CJPW extract (2,000 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically to male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 14 days and the rats were analyzed. No general signs of toxicity were observed in SD rats administered CJPW extract. Feed intake did not differ between experimental and control animals. However, male and female rats administered CJPW extract had greater weight gain (102.9±5.53% and 114.15±6.89%, respectively) compared with the control animals. Higher weight gain was found in male and female experimental animals, but the difference was only significant in female animals. Serum analyses indicated that total protein and albumin, indicators of nutritional status, were significantly increased in animals administered CJPW. Further, serum glucose values were lower in male and female rats treated with CJPW (91.6±9.02% and 69.9±4.11%, respectively) compared with the controls; again, the difference was significant only for female animals. From the results of this study, CJPW can be considered as a safe material that does not induce toxicity in experimental animals. Therefore, CJPW is a potential raw material that can be used as a supplement in animal feed to help improve weight gain and achieve serum glucose con-trol.

The Effects of Colocasia esculenta Leaf Extract in Inhibition of Erythrocyte Aldose Reductase Activity and Increase of Haemoglobin in Experimental Rats

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has reached a number of 382 million in 2013 and expected to rise to 592 million by 2035. Chronic diabetes can lead to impaired formation of erythropoietin in haemoglobin production and may cause anemia. Inhibition of aldose reductase is a key point of diabetes treatment and prevention of complications in diabetes. Colocasia esculenta (CE) leaf is one of Indonesian vegetables which has inhibition effect on aldose reductase activity. This research was a true experimental study with post-test only group design. 21 male Sprague dawley rats were divided into: K (control group), P1 (extract CE 200 mg/KgBW) and P2 (extract CE 400 mg/KgBW). Rats were induced to become obese with High Fat Sucrose Diet (HFSD) for 4 wk then extract CE were given for 3 wk. The data were analyzed with independent t-test. CE have a significant effect to increase haemoglobin but have no significant inhibition effect to erythrocyte aldose reductase activity. The results of this research found that the mean haemoglobin of control group was 13.14±1.55, treatment group 1 (P1) was 15.22±0.59, and treatment group 2 (P2) was 15.77±0.71. There was significant increase in haemoglobin (p<0.05). The mean of aldose reductase activity of treatment group was lower than control group. However, there was no significant difference found (p>0.05) between the groups. 200 mg/kgBW and 400 mg/kgBW dose of CE could increase haemoglobin and decrease the mean of aldose reductase activity.

Assessment of General Toxicity of the Glycyrrhiza New Variety Extract in Rats

The Glycyrrhiza radix (Licorice) is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in Asian countries, such as China, India, and Korea. It has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, including cough, cold, asthma, fatigue, gastritis, and respiratory tract infections. A Glycyrrhiza new variety, Wongam (WG), has been developed by the Korea Rural Development Administration and revealed pharmacological effects. However, the potential adverse effects of WG have not been revealed yet. This study evaluates the general toxicity of the WG extract through a single and repeated oral dose toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats. After single oral dose administration, no significant toxicological changes or mortality was observed up to 5000 mg/kg. Over a 4-week repeated oral dose toxicity study, no adverse effects and target organs were observed up to 5000 mg/kg/day. Over a 13-week repeated oral dose toxicity study, no mortality or toxicological changes involving ophthalmology, water consumption, or hematology were observed up to 5000 mg/kg/day. Although other parameters were changed, the alterations in question were not considered toxicologically significant, since responses remained within normal ranges and were not dose-dependent. In conclusion, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of WG was higher than 5000 mg/kg/day, and no target organs were identified in rats.

Thirteen-week subcutaneous repeated dose toxicity study of butylparaben and its toxicokinetics in rats

Parabens are widely used preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products and are approved as food additives. These chemicals have been considered safe for many years. However, the literature classifies parabens as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and an assessment of their influence on the endocrine system and systemic toxicity is important. This study explored long-term systemic toxicity, effects on the endocrine system, and toxicokinetic behavior after repeated subcutaneous administration of butylparaben to Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with vehicle (4% Tween 80) or butylparaben at dose levels of 2, 10, and 50 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks. Assessment of systemic toxicity and endocrine-disrupting effects was based on mortality; clinical signs; body weight; food and water consumption; ophthalmological findings; urinalysis; hematology and clinical biochemistry; organ weights; necropsy and histopathological findings; regularity and length of the estrous cycle; semen quality; and toxicokinetic behavior. Female uterine weight and estrous cycle, and male semen quality indicated no estrogenic effects. Butylparaben induced local irritation at the injection site in both sexes at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, but systemic toxicity was not observed. Therefore, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of butylparaben is set at 50 mg/kg/day in rats of both sexes. Butylparaben was without endocrine system effects at this dose. Butylparaben displays dose-dependent systemic exposure up to the maximum dose of 50 mg/kg/day and repeated administration of butylparaben for 13 weeks shows no bioaccumulation.

Fluorosurfactants for medical nanoemulsions, their surface-active and biological properties

Nano- and microemulsions have found various applications in pharmaceutical and medical areas both in research field as well as in applied solutions for drug delivery or diagnostic agents. However, production of stable and bio- / hemocompatible nanoemulsions are still challenging. New group of ionic surfactants have been synthesized with perfluorohexyl- or perfluorooctyl-groups as hydrophobic tail. The CMC and the parametres of the O/W emulsion (the particle size distribution and the zeta-potential) were determined. The influence of the surfactants on in vitro proliferation of human endothelial cell lines HMEC-1, murine fibroblasts L929 and hemolysis were investigated as characteristic for biocompatibility. Three candidates of surfactants were selected for pre-clinical tests on a small animal model (adult Sprague Dawley rats) on the basis of preliminary studies. This allowed to obtain nanoemulsions with narrow droplets size (average droplet diameter 141-147 nm with PDI index 0.059 - 0.065) and showed better stability over time in comparison to the commercially available surfactants. Neither cytotoxic nor hemolytic potential were observed during incubation of obtained fluorosurfactans with model cell lines L929 and HMEC-1 (average cell viability above 85 % after incubation with 1% solutions) and erythrocytes (hemolysis rate below 3.1 % for all 0.5 % solutions). During acute toxicity test on rat model, it was found that all three tested surfactant solutions showed no significant differences in controlled parameters and survival rate with control group (p > 0.05). Presented surfactants are dedicated but not limited to emulsification of organic fluorocompounds.

No mutagenicity and oral toxicity of winter mushroom powder treated with atmospheric non-thermal plasma

This study aimed to evaluate the mutagenicity and oral acute toxicity of winter mushroom powder (PW) treated by atmospheric non-thermal plasma (ANP). Winter mushroom powder without plasma treatment (CW) containing an equivalent amount of sodium nitrite as PW was used as a control. The Ames test revealed that the number of revertant colonies did not significantly increase compared to that in the control. Acute toxicity was assessed in rats that were fed a single dose of winter mushroom powder (5000 mg/kg body weight). Results of the acute toxicity test revealed no remarkable clinical symptoms in any of the rats. No significant difference was observed in of the serum biochemical parameters between the treatments. Regardless of the ANP treatment, mild histological changes were observed in few rats in all groups. Therefore, it is concluded that ANP treatment did not cause any mutagenicity or acute toxicity in the winter mushroom.

Toxicological evaluation of aqueous extract of the traditional Chinese formula Qing Hao Gan Cao

Qing Hao Gan Cao (QHGC), a Chinese medicinal formula containing Artemisia annua and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, has been used to treat sunstroke and as an antiviral agent for more than 800 years. It has not previously been subject to a toxicological safety evaluation in acute and subacute (28 days) studies. Therefore, the acute and subacute toxicity of an aqueous extract of QHGC were evaluated in vivo. For the QHGC preparation, the botanical raw materials were crushed into pieces and mixed in the ratio of 10:1 in distilled water for 12 h, then boiling three times for 2 h each time. The three decoctions were mixed and filtered, then spray-dried with hot air at 160°C for 30 min, and stored at room temperature. For the acute toxicity test, 72.0 g/kg of QHGC extract was administered by gavage to male and female mice. Body weight, general observations, and autopsy results were recorded. No mortality or toxicity signs were observed during the studies. For the subacute toxicity test, 4.0, 8.0, or 16.0 g/kg/day of QHGC extract was administered to rats for 28 days. General observations and mortality, body weight, biochemical and hematological parameters, organ weight, and pathological morphology were analyzed. The acute and subacute toxicity studies did not show significant changes in body weight, general observations, hematology and biochemical parameters, organ weight, and liver, spleen, stomach, duodenum, testis, ovary, lung, heart, and kidney histopathological analyses. The consumption of QHGC aqueous extract can be considered safe within the conditions of this study.

Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, in Sprague-Dawley rats

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is commonly used in Asia as a medicinal herb. In particular, fermented ginseng, GBCK25, has been recently developed to increase ginsenoside absorption. It also has other beneficial biological effects such as hemodynamic and anti-inflammation functions. Here, we investigated the potential toxicity of GBCK25 in Sprague-Dawley rats following 13 weeks of GBCK25 treatment by oral gavage at doses of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/day and reversible toxic effects over a 4-week recovery phase. Ten male and female rats per group were randomly allocated to the main toxicology groups and five male and female rats per group were allocated to the 0 and 1000 mg/kg/day recovery groups, respectively. There was no mortality; significant clinical toxicity or microscopic findings; and changes in body weight, food consumption, hematological parameters, serum biochemistry, or absolute and relative organ weights in any of the groups. In conclusion, there were no toxicological changes upon repeated oral gavage of GBCK25 at doses of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg/day in Sprague-Dawley rats over 13 weeks. The no-observed-adverse-effect level of GBCK25 was 1000 mg/kg/day in both sexes of Sprague-Dawley rat.

Acute and Subacute Toxicity Studies of the Aqueous Extract from Haloxylon scoparium Pomel (Hammada scoparia (Pomel)) by Oral Administration in Rodents

Materials and Methods

Acute toxicity test was performed on Swiss albino mice at a single oral dose of 1-10 g/kg for 14 consecutive days. General behavioral adverse effects, mortality, and latency of mortality were determined. In the subacute study, the Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract was administered orally at doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg daily for 30 days to Wistar rats. Body weight and selected biochemical and hematological parameters were determined at the end of the experiment. Sections of livers and kidneys were removed for histological studies.

Results

Acute toxicity study showed that the oral LD₅₀ value of Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract was 5000 mg/kg. The subacute toxicity study of Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract at doses 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg did not produce any observable symptoms of toxicity and no significant variation in body weight, organ weights, food, and water consumption or mortality in all treated rats. However, the administration of the Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract to rats at 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg showed a significant decrease in platelets. Moreover, only at the highest dose (2000 mg/kg), the extract caused a significant increase in red blood cells and hemoglobin. Our results showed that subacute treatments with Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract at doses of 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase and triglycerides. Histological studies showed that the subacute treatments of rats with Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extracts, at the doses 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, induced some histopathological changes in the livers but a slight changing in kidneys.

Conclusion

Our results indicated low acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Haloxylon scoparium Pomel. Furthermore, daily oral administration of Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extract caused some damages to the livers of rats treated with high doses, expressed by an increase in some enzyme activities such as ALP. Regarding the renal function, we did not find remarkable toxicity in the subacute treatment with Haloxylon scoparium Pomel extracts at doses 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. However, further toxicity assessments should be done to ascertain the safety or the toxicity of this valuable plant species “Haloxylon scoparium pomel” in subchronic treatments.

Evaluation of 28-day repeated oral dose toxicity of aluminum chloride in rats

The present study investigated the potential adverse effects of aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) following a 4-week repeated oral administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. The test article was administered once daily by gavage to male and female rats at dose levels of 0, 100, 300, and 900 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. After administration of AlCl₃ at 900 mg/kg/day, treatment-related systemic toxicity manifested as significant increases in salivation incidence, neutrophil percentage, reticulocytes, serum triglyceride, adrenal gland and liver weights, and single-hepatocyte necrosis, as well as significant decreases in body weight gain, food intake, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), lymphocyte percentage, serum total protein and albumin, and thymus weight in male rats; and significant increases in salivation incidence, serum triglyceride, and liver weight, as well as a significant decrease in lymphocyte percentage in female rats. At 300 mg/kg/day, a significant decrease in MCHC was found in male rats, but not in female rats. However, this finding was not toxicologically significant because the reduction was minimal and was not accompanied by changes in any other parameters. No treatment-related effects were observed in the 100 mg/kg/day group of both genders. Under the experimental conditions of this study, the target organs of AlCl₃ were determined to be the blood, liver, and thymus in rats. The no-observed-adverse-effect level was found to be 300 mg/kg/day in rats of both genders.

Four-week repeated dose oral toxicity study of KDS2010, a novel selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor, in Sprague Dawley rats

Repeated dose oral toxicity and toxicokinetic of KDS2010, a new drug for Parkinson's disease, was investigated after 4-week repeated oral administration at 30, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg/day in rats. Body weight and body weight gain decreased in rats of both sexes in the 75 and 100 mg/kg groups, and food consumption was reduced in male rats of the 75 and 100 mg/kg male groups. Histological alterations were observed in the kidney (urothelial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration in the renal pelvis, tubular vacuolation/degeneration, basophilic tubules, and hyaline droplets in the proximal tubules) of the 75 and 100 mg/kg male groups and the 50 and 100 mg/kg female groups. The 75 and 100 mg/kg male groups showed adverse effect in the testes (degeneration/exfoliation of germ cells, seminiferous tubules atrophy) and epididymis (cellular debris, oligospermia). These changes were partially recovered after a 2-week recovery period. However, basophilic tubules and hyaline droplets in the proximal tubules in the kidney and germ cell degeneration/exfoliation in the testis were not recovered. In toxicokinetics study, systemic exposure to KDS2010 increased proportionally in both sexes by in a dose -dependent manner. In addition, repeated administration for 4 weeks led to increased tendency of systemic exposure in both sexes compared with that in Day 1. In conclusion, KDS2010 was shown to target the kidney and testis with a no-observed-adverse-effect level of 50 and 30 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively.

Subchronic Toxicity Assessment of Phytolacca americana L. (Phytolaccaceae) in F344 Rats

Phytolacca americana L. is traditionally used in Korea, Japan, and China as a diuretic, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory agent, and also in the treatment of hepatitis B, psoriasis, edema, and rheumatism. In this study, we evaluated the subchronic toxicity of an aqueous extract of P. americana (PAAE) in male and female F344 rats. The rats were orally administered PAAE (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 13 weeks. Mortality rate, body weight, food consumption, and organ weights were measured and assessed. Additionally, ophthalmological, hematological, and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Urinalysis and necropsy were also performed. The clinical chemistry values for potassium in the treated female groups (500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/ body weight/day) were higher than those in the control. Further, the relative weights of the kidneys in the treated female groups (1000 and 2000 mg/kg/ body weight/day) were higher than those in the control. However, these changes were not consistent in either sex, and no abnormalities were found in the corresponding pathological findings. Thus the results showed no adverse effects in all the parameters assessed. The findings show that after 13 weeks of treatment, the “no-observed-adverse-effect level” of PAAE is 2000 mg/kg body weight in both male and female F344 rats under the experimental conditions applied. Although treatment-related adverse effects were not seen, potassium-level changes in the blood should be examined to establish the safety profile of PAAE after long-term treatment.

Characterization of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Loaded Polylactic Acid-Based Microneedle and Its Dermal Safety Profile

A surge of interest in microneedle (MN) vaccines as a novel vaccination system has emerged. Before the clinical application of MN vaccine, an assessment of potential biological risks to skin and quality control of MN must be performed. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the physicochemical properties of MN and to evaluate the histological changes and inflammatory cell infiltrations after the application of MN with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). During in vitro and in vivo release testing, HBsAg MN released over 70% of HBsAg at 30 min. During the pyrogen test of HBsAg MN in rabbit, no rabbit showed an individual rise in temperature of 0.5 °C or more. MN with HBsAg produced the moderate immunization in mice. MN application did not alter the thickness of dermal and epidermal layers in mice. In addition, the topical applications of MN and MN for hepatitis B vaccine did not acutely induce the inflammation, allergic reaction, dermal toxicity and skin irritation. Thus, the MN system for the delivery of HBsAg could be the promising technology in the hepatitis B vaccination.

Nanochannel-driven rapid capture of sub-nanogram level biomarkers for painless preeclampsia diagnosis

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive syndrome recognized as the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Painful blood-collection procedures or low accuracy of non-invasive approaches require faster, patient-friendly, and more sensitive diagnostic technologies. Here we report a painless, highly sensitive detection platform using nanoporous microneedles (nMNs) that enables rapid capture of biomarkers present at sub-nanogram levels. The highly porous nanostructures on the nMN surface were prepared by anodization of aluminum MN and then functionalized by immobilization of capture antibodies to detect target biomarkers based on an immunoassay method. The immuno-functionalized nMN array demonstrated rapid capture of an estrogen (E2) biomarker for PE following a 1-min incubation and exhibited a concentration-dependent change in fluorescence intensity over the E2 range of 0.5 ng mL^-1 to 1000 ng mL^-1 after treatment with fluorescence-detection antibodies. Remarkably, the nMN patch selectively detected sub-nanogram-levels of E2 in subcutaneous interstitial fluid from rats with increased diagnostic accuracy as compared with commercial immunoassay kits. This bio-functionalized nMN platform showed improved biosensing capability for multiple PE-related biomarkers, including hormones and proteins. Furthermore, this painless method demonstrated efficacy as a point-of-need diagnostic platform using portable smartphone-based fluorescence microscope to obtain fluorescence images of biomarker-captured nMN arrays.

Evaluation of genetic toxicity, acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity and systemic safety of Agrimonia pilosa and Rhus gall 50% ethanolic extract mixture (APRG64) in vitro and in vivo (rodent and non-rodent animal models)

Agrimonia pilosa (AP) and Rhus gall (RG) are traditional medicinal plants. The bioflavonoid composition standardized by HPLC analysis was named APRG64. Despite many studies reported to beneficial bioactivities of AP and RG, very limited range of toxicity tests have documented. So, we did experiment diversely on the toxicity tests of the substance APRG64. Genotoxicity (mammalian chromosomal aberration test, micronoucleus test) against APRG64, acute and sub-chronic toxicity test from rodent/non-rodent, and systemic safety pharmacology test were conducted. As a result of the test, genotoxicity against APRG64 was not observed. The NOAEL of rodents was confirmed as 2000 mg/kg/day and non-rodents was confirmed as 500 mg/kg/day. In addition, systemic safety pharmacological toxicity (effects on respiratory system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system) following administration of APRG64 was not observed. Finally, we accomplished ten potential toxicity tests and evaluated extensive safety of APRG64. Consequently, APRG64 may be a promising material for nutraceuticals and natural medicines.

Evaluation of acute oral toxicity, embryotoxicity and cytotoxicity of the polar fraction of Parkinsonia aculeata aerial parts extract

Ethnopharmacobotanical information reports that Parkinsonia aculeata infusion is used to control diabetes-related complications and dyslipidemia. However, few studies are reported on the safe use of this species. The aim of this study is to evaluate the acute toxicity, embryotoxicity and cytotoxicity of a polar fraction obtained from hydroethanolic extract of P. aculeata (PfrHEPA). For the acute toxicity test, we considered the Up and Down method which the guidelines are described by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD N°425). The animals were treated with PfrHEPA (2000 mg/kg) or with distilled water (10 ml/kg) by gavage and observed from Day 1 to14. For embryotoxicity assay, zebrafish embryos were exposed to PfrHEPA (100 mg/L) and toxicity parameters were observed during four consecutive days. The cytotoxicity of PfrHEPA (5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/ml, respectively) was performed on normal cell lines (mesenchymal stem cells, African green monkey renal cells and mouse pre-adipocytes 3 T3-L1 using the MTT salt reduction assay. In the acute toxicity test, no mortality was observed in mice treated with PfrHEPA (2000 mg/kg), as well as behavioral changes, histopathological abnormalities and hematological and biochemical variables. In the embryotoxicity test, no abnormal changes related to the toxicological parameters were observed in the period of 96 h. Regarding the cytotoxicity assay, PfrHEPA showed no cytotoxic effect on the normal cell lines tested, with an IC₅₀ value > 100 μg/ml. These results suggest the safe use of P. aculeata, however, more trials are needed for PfrHEPA to be presented as new safe therapeutic proposal for the control of metabolic disorders.

Toxicological safety evaluation in acute and 28-day studies of aqueous extract from Bei-Qi-Wu-Jia formula

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Bei Qi Wu Jia (BQWJ), a modern preparation of a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, is a combination of Radix Astragali and Acanthopanacis Senticosi. Although BQWJ has been used to treat insomnia, fatigue, and loss of appetite, toxicological safety studies are rare in the literature.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of BQWJ extract after oral administration in mice and rats, respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the acute toxicity study, mice underwent oral administration of 67.5 g extract/kg/day. In the subacute toxicity study, rats underwent a single oral administration of 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 g/kg/day of BQWJ extract for 28 days. The animals' general behavior, body weight, food intake, biochemical and hematologic parameters, organ coefficients, and pathological morphology were analyzed.

RESULTS

No evidence of toxicity was observed in the mice after acute exposure to BQWJ extract. The subacute results included no deaths and no changes in general behavior. Although BQWJ extract resulted in some significant changes in other parameters, these alterations cannot be considered treatment-related because they remained within normal ranges throughout the 28 days.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the oral administration of BQWJ extract at doses of less than 67.5 g/kg/day for 1 day or 10.0 g/kg/day for 28 consecutive days can be considered safe and showed no distinct toxicity or side effects in this study.

Extended Intake of Mulberry Leaf Extract Delayed Metformin Elimination via Inhibiting the Organic Cation Transporter 2

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has become a major health problem in most countries of the world. DM causes many complications, including hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and death. In Asia, mulberry has been used widely in the treatment of DM. Combination of drugs with herbal medicine may reduce the unwanted side effects caused by drugs. In this study, the influence of extended mulberry leaves extract (MLE) intake on metformin (Met) was evaluated in terms of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in DM-induced rats. Three week-treatment of MLE alone produced the anti-hyperglycemic effect (around 24%) if compared to the control. Interestingly, Met administration after MLE treatment for 3 weeks enhanced about 49% of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Met. In addition, the extended intake of MLE potentiated the anti-hyperglycemic effect of Met on various concentrations. This potentiated anti-hyperglycemic effect of Met appears to be due to the pharmacokinetic change of Met. In this study, 3 week-treatment of MLE reduced the elimination of Met in DM-induced rats. In addition, MLE reduced the human organic cation transporter 2 (hOCT2) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, these findings suggest that MLE lowered the elimination of Met via inhibiting the hOCT2.

Texturized mung bean protein as a sustainable food source: techno-functionality, anti-nutrient properties, in vivo protein quality and toxicity

Mung bean is an underutilized yet sustainable protein source. The current work elucidates the pilot-scale production of mung bean protein isolate and reveals good in vivo protein quality which secures TMBP's potential as a protein meal replacement and dietary supplement.

Inhalation exposure to cigarette smoke induces endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and enhances vascular collagen deposition in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Smoking is an acknowledged risk factor for vascular disorders, and vascular complication is a main outcome of diabetes. Hence, we investigated the impact of cigarette smoke on blood vessels in diabetes, postulating that smoking might aggravate diabetic vascular impairment. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, cigarette smoke-exposed, diabetic, and cigarette smoke-exposed diabetic groups. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were exposed to cigarette smoke by inhalation at total particulate matter concentration of 200 μg/L for 4 h/day, 5 day/week for a total of 4 weeks. Diabetes caused structural change of aorta, but additional cigarette smoke exposure did not induce further alteration. Collagen, a marker for fibrosis, was increased in media of diabetic aorta, and this increase was augmented by cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling in the diabetic group. Malondialdehyde was increased and glutathione was decreased in blood from diabetes, but these effects were not exaggerated by cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke caused NADPH oxidase (NOX) 2 expression in diabetic aorta and enhanced diabetes-induced NOX4 expression in aorta. Taken together, cigarette smoke exposure can aggravate vascular fibrosis and induce eNOS uncoupling in diabetes under experimental condition, suggesting that smoking might exacerbate diabetic vascular impairments.

Subchronic toxicity evaluation of ethanol extract of Cassia tora L. seeds in rats

Cassia tora Linn. is an annual or perennial plant of the Fabaceae/Leguminosae family. It is used in traditional medicine for various biological activities including anti-constipation, anti-inflammatory, visual acuity, and hepato-protective activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of C. tora L. seed ethanol extract (CTSEE) following a 13-week repeated oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. CTSEE was administered orally to male and female rats for 13 weeks at 0 (control), 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day (n = 10, for male and female rats for each dose). Additional recovery groups from the control group and high dose group were observed for a 4-week recovery period. At the end of the treatment and recovery periods, animals were sacrificed, and their organs were weighed and blood samples collected. There were no treatment-related adverse effects in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, estrous cycle, sperm parameters, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weight, and histopathology at any doses tested. Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of the CTSEE was >2000 mg/kg/day in both genders, and no target organs were identified.

Assessment of the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity and genotoxicity of GHX02

Herbal medicines are widely utilized for disease prevention and health promotion. GHX02 consists of mixtures including Gwaruin (Trichosanthes kirilowii), Haengin (Prunus armeniaca), Hwangryeon (Coptis japonica) and Hwangkeum (Scutellaria baicalensis). It has been purported to have therapeutic effectiveness in cases of severe bronchitis. Non‐clinical safety testing comprised a single‐dose oral toxicity study and a 28‐day repeated‐dose oral toxicity study with a 14‐day recovery period, and genotoxicity was assessed by a bacterial reverse mutation test, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test and single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay). In the single‐dose oral toxicity study, the approximate lethal dosage is estimated to be higher than 5000 mg/kg in rats. Thus, the dosage levels were set at 0, 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg/day in the 28‐day repeated‐dose oral toxicity study, and 10 male rats and 10 female rats/dose were administered GHX02. No clinical signs of toxicological significance were recorded in any animal during the dosing and the observation period in the single‐dose study. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level of GHX02 was 5000 mg/kg/day when administered orally for 28 days to male and female Sprague‐Dawley rats. Despite increases in the frequencies of cells with numerical chromosomal aberration in the in vitro test, the increases were not considered relevant to the in vivo genetic risk. Except for the increase of in vitro numerical chromosomal aberration, clear negative results were obtained from other genetic toxicity studies.

GHX02 consists of mixtures including Gwaruin, Haengin, Hwangryeon and Hwangkeum. This study aimed to evaluate the 4‐week repeated‐dose oral toxicity and genotoxicity of GHX02. GHX02 exhibits no general toxic and genotoxic effects and the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level of GHX02 could be established in 5000 mg/kg/day in both male and female Sprague‐Dawley rats.

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity studies of standardized extract of Nasturtium officinale in Wistar rats

Nasturtium officinale (watercress) is a perennial dicotyledonous plant, rich in vitamins, minerals and chemical compounds. The leaves of this plant, which contain glucosinolate, are used for its diuretic and hypoglycemic effects. The purpose of the study was to investigate the safety of the standardized extract of Nasturtium officinale (SENO) with phenylethyl glucosinolate 5.0 mg/ml^-1, using acute and sub-acute oral dosage in Wistar rats. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyzed the chemical composition, from aerial parts of watercress. In the acute toxicity study, dose estimated was LD₅₀ in the range of 2000-5000 mg/kg, signs of mortality and toxicity on female rats were observed for 14 days, after single doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute study, female and male rats, age 10 weeks, were supplemented at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. On the 29th day, rats were fasted, anesthetized, euthanized, then their blood used for hematological and biochemical evaluation. No significant changes in general behavior were reported regarding the acute study, while the sub-acute study demonstrated no toxicity of the hematopoietic and biochemical systems. The results showed that SENO at dosage up to 5000 mg/kg in acute study was safe, and NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect levels) in the sub-acute, was up to 1000 mg/kg.

Subacute Oral Toxicity and Bacterial Mutagenicity Study of a Mixture of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Salvia plebeia R. Br. Extracts

As various populations are rapidly becoming an aging society worldwide and interest in health issues has increased, demand for functional foods including herbal products has increased markedly to maintain a healthy state which has led to safety issues about their intake as an inevitable result. The objective of this study was to identify the safety profile of a Korean red ginseng and Salvia plebeia R. Br. extract mixture (KGC-03-PS) which is a valuable ingredient that can be used as a functional food. In the present study, the subacute oral toxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity of KGC-03-PS were evaluated. Sprague Dawley rats were administered KGC-03-PS orally for 28 days by gavage. Daily KGC-03-PS dose concentrations were 0, 500, 1,000, or 2,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. Bacterial reverse mutation test with KGC-03-PS dose levels ranging from 312.5 to 5,000 μg/plate was carried out by OECD test guideline No. 471. Five bacterial strains (Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2) were tested in the presence or absence of metabolic activation by plate incorporation method. There were no toxicological effects related with test substance in the clinical evaluation of subacute oral toxicity test including clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption. Moreover, no toxicological changes related to KGC-03-PS were observed in the hematological and serum biochemical characteristics as well as in the pathological examinations, which included organ weight measurements and in the gross- or histopathological findings. KGC-03-PS did not induce an increase in the number of revertant colonies in all bacterial strains of the bacterial reverse mutation test. The no-observed-adverse-effect level of KGC-03-PS is greater than 2,000 mg/kg bw/day, and KGC-03-PS did not induce genotoxicity related to bacterial reverse mutations under the conditions used in this study.

A 90-Day Repeated Oral Dose Toxicity Study of Alismatis Rhizoma Aqueous Extract in Rats

Alismatis rhizoma (AR), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a well-known, traditional medicine that is used for the various biological activities including as a diuretic, to lower cholesterol and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of the Alismatis rhizoma aqueous extract (ARAE) following 90-day repeated oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. ARAE was administered orally to male and female rats for 90 days at 0 (control), 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day (n = 10 for male and female rats for each dose). Additional recovery groups from the control group and high dose group were observed for a 28-day recovery period. Chromatograms of ARAE detected main compounds with four peaks. Treatment-related effects including an increase in the red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, total protein, and urine volume were observed in males of the 2,000 mg/kg/day group (p < 0.05). However, the diuretic effect of ARAE was considered, a major cause of hematological and serum biochemical changes. The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the ARAE was > 2,000 mg/kg/day in both genders, and no target organs were identified.

Acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity studies of hesperidin isolated from orange peel extract in Sprague Dawley rats

Citrus sinensis contains glycoside hesperetin-7-rhamnoglucoside (hesperidin) which harbor an array of therapeutic potentials including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory. However, a systematic examination of safety is needed before its utilization. Hence, the present investigation is aimed to evaluate acute and sub-chronic toxicity of hesperidin isolated from the citrus fruit. Hesperidin (73%) was isolated from a methanolic extract of dried peel of the citrus fruit, characterized using FTIR, and standardized by HPLC. Its acute oral toxicity (AOT) and sub-chronic toxicity studies were carried out in Sprague-Dawley rats. Hesperidin (5000 mg/kg) showed 10% mortality in AOT. In sub-chronic toxicity study, hesperidin (250 and 500 mg/kg) did not induce any abnormalities in body weight, food consumption, clinical signs, ophthalmological and neurological observations, urine analysis, hematology, clinical chemistry, organ weights, and gross pathology. However, hesperidin (1000 mg/kg) showed significant (p < 0.05) alterations in body and organ weights, hematology, clinical chemistry, and tissue histopathology. To conclude, hesperidin has median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 4837.5 mg/kg, and Low Observed Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) at 1000 mg/kg for both male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Thus, hesperidin isolated from citrus fruit showed a good safety profile in animal study.

A 13-week subchronic toxicity study of an Eriobotrya japonica leaf extract in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Eriobotrya japonica leaf is widely used in traditional medicine, and exhibits various beneficial effects such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. However, limited data are available on the potential adverse effects of E. japonica.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigated the potential subchronic toxicity of an E. japonica leaf extract (EJE) through a 13-week repeated oral dose experiment in Sprague-Dawley rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty male and 40 female rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: three treatment groups receiving 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day of EJE and a vehicle control group receiving sterile distilled water for 13 weeks.

RESULTS

Repeated oral administration of EJE for 13 weeks did not cause any treatment-related adverse effects with respect to clinical symptoms, body weight, food and water consumption, urinalysis, ophthalmology, necropsy findings, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and histopathological examination at any dose tested. Although some changes were observed in clinical symptoms, organ weight, hematology, and histopathology, these findings did not show a dose-response relationship and were within normal historical ranges for control rats.

CONCLUSION

Under the present experimental conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of EJE was > 1000 mg/kg/day in both sexes and no target organs were identified. The results suggest that the EJE is a safe traditional medicine for clinical applications at proper dose.

Safety assessment of Oryeong-san, a traditional herbal formula: Study of subacute toxicity and influence of cytochrome P450s and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases

Oryeong-san is a traditional herbal formula that is used for the treatment of common genitourinary diseases in Korea and other Asian countries. However, little is known about its safety and influence on drug metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the subacute toxicity of an Oryeong-san water extract (OSWE) in rats and its effects on activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Subacute toxicity was modeled in animals exposed to treatment with the extract at multiple doses. Rats were given OSWE by oral gavage at 0, 1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. We checked general observations and investigated any changes of body/organ weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, and urinalysis in vivo; and the activities of human microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isozymes in vitro. We found that OSWE caused no significant toxicological changes at the doses tested. Therefore, the no observed adverse effect level of OSWE was more than 5000 mg/kg/day for male and female rats. OSWE inhibited the activities of CYP2C19 (IC₅₀: 737.69 μg/mL) and CYP2E1 (IC₅₀: 177.77 μg/mL). These results indicate that OSWE may be safe with no drug-related toxicity for up to 4 weeks and provide useful information concerning its potential to interact with conventional drugs or other herbal medicines.

Repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity test of G-7% NANA in rats: An application of new criterion for toxicity determination to test article-induced changes

G-7% NANA is N-acetylneuraminic acid(NANA) containing 7% sialic acid isolated from glycomacropeptide (GMP), a compound of milk. Since NANA is likely to have immunotoxicity, the need to ensure safety for long-term administration has been raised. In this study, a 90-day repeated oral dose toxicity test was performed in rats using G-7% NANA in the dosages of 0, 1250, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg/day.A toxicity determination criterion based on the significant change caused by the administration of the substancewas developed for estimating NOEL, NOAEL and LOAELapplied to this study. When analyzing the immunological markers, no significant changes were observed, even if other significant changes were observed in the high dose group. In accordance with the toxicity determination criterion developed, the NOEL in male and female has been determined as 2500 mg/kg/day, and the NOAEL in females has been determined as 5000 mg/kg/day. The toxicity determination criterion, applied for the first time in the repeated dose toxicity tests, could provide a basis for distinguishing NOEL and NOAEL more clearly; nevertheless, the toxicity determination criterion needs to be supplemented by adding differentiating adverse effects and non-adverse effects based on more experiences of the repeated dose toxicity tests.

Blood-pressure lowering efficacy of winged bean seed hydrolysate in spontaneously hypertensive rats, peptide characterization and a toxicity study in Sprague-Dawley rats

Winged bean seed (WBS) is an underutilized tropical crop. The current study evaluates its potential to reduce blood pressure (BP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats and finds that it reduces BP significantly, in a dose-dependent manner. Five peptides with the sequences, RGVFPCLK, TQLDLPTQ, EPALVP, MRSVVT and DMKP, have been characterized in terms of their stability against ACE via in vitro and in silico modelling. All peptides exhibited IC₅₀ values between 0.019 and 6.885 mM and various inhibitory modes, including substrate, prodrug and true inhibitor modes. The toxicity status of non-Current Good Manufacturing Practice (non-CGMP) peptides is evaluated and the results show that such peptides are toxic, and thus are not suitable to be tested in animals, particularly in repeated-dose studies. In short, WBS hydrolysate demonstrated in vitro ACE inhibitory properties and in vivo blood pressure lowering efficacy in rat models, fostering its potential as a functional food ingredient. Non-CGMP grade peptides are toxic and unfit for testing in animal models.

Single, 14-Day, and 13-Week Repeated Dose Toxicity Studies of Daily Oral Gelidium elegans Extract Administration to Rats

Gelidium elegans extract (GEE) is derived from a red alga from the Asia-Pacific region, which has antioxidant, anti-adipogenic, and anti-hyperglycemic effects. However, detailed studies of the toxicology of GEE have not been performed. We evaluated the single oral dose toxicity of GEE in male and female Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats. GEE did not cause deaths or have toxic effects at dosages of 5000 mg/kg/day, although compound-colored stools and diarrhea were observed in both sexes, which lasted <2 days. Therefore, the LD50 of GEE is likely to be >5000 mg/kg. We next evaluated the repeated oral dose toxicity of GEE in CD rats over 14 days and 13 weeks. GEE did not induce any significant toxicological changes in either sex at 2000 mg/kg/day. Repeated oral dose toxicity studies showed no adverse effects, in terms of clinical signs, mortality, body mass, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy, organ masses, or histopathology, at dosages of 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg/day. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for GEE is thus likely to be >2000 mg/kg/day, and no pathology was identified in potential target organs. Therefore, this study indicates that repeated oral dosing with GEE is safe in CD rats.