• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.55-65
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of CP pharmacopunture using bacterial reverse mutation test. Methods: To determine the mutagenic potential of CP pharmacopunture, histidine requiring Salmonella typhimurium (TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537) and tryptophan requiring Escherichia coli (WP2uvrA, pKM101) strains were used. The negative (normal saline solution) and positive (Sodium azide, 2-Nitrofluorene, 2-Aminoanthracene, 9-Aminoacridine, and 4-Nitroquinoline N-oxide) control groups were used. To determine the dose levels of the main study, a dose range-finding study was conducted. Results: As a results of the dose range-finding study, the growth inhibition by CP pharmacopunture was not evident at any dose levels in the absence and presence of metabolic activation. As a results of the main study, the mean number of revertant colonies was less than twice when compared to the negative control values at all dose levels of the CP pharmacopuncture in the presence and absence of metabolic activation, showing no dose-related increase. In the positive control group, the number of revertant colonies was markedly increased by more than twice when compared to the negative control group. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, CP pharmacopunture did not show any signs of mutagenic potential.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2022

Medicinal herb demonstrated in many pharmacological effects and recognized to be safe has been used for a long time. However, side effects including safety of medicinal herb have not been identified yet. The aim of the study was to estimate safety evaluation of Magnoliae Flos used for the treatment of pain, rhinitis, and pneumonia in Korea, China and Japan through four-week dose range finding toxicity test in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Magnoliae Flos was orally administered to male and female SD rats once a day for 28 days at 1,500 and 3,000 mg/kg. The safety evaluation was determined to examine clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food intake, hematology, serum biochemistry and relative organ weights and there were no significant changes related toxicity. Consequently, these findings indicates that Magnoliae Flos did not show any side effects including toxicity in dose range finding toxicity test and the no observed adverse effect level for Magnoliae Flos was estimated as more than 3,000 mg/kg.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.101-106
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• 2012

Objectives : To evaluate the toxicity of KOB03, polyherbal medicine for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, we performed the dose-range finding test of KOB03 by oral supplementation for 4 weeks in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : The water extract of KOB03 consisting of five different herbs was supplied from GLP company. KOB03 was supplemented by gavage at 0, 500, 2,500 and 5,000 mg/kg/day for 4-week consecutive days. We recorded the clinical signs of toxicity, body weight, organ weights, hematology, gross and histological changes in target organs of rats, and clinical chemistry analysis. Results : KOB03 at all doses was shown no mortality or abnormal clinical signs in rats during at the observation period. Furthermore, there was no difference in body weight and food-take consumption, organ weight, gross pathological findings, and urine analysis among the groups of rats treated with different doses of KOB03. The hematological analysis and clinical blood chemistry data were revealed no toxic effects from KOB03-supplemented rats. Conclusions : The results suggest that KOB03 is a wide margin of safety on dose-range toxicity in rats. The no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the test, KOB03 in rats is no less than 5,000 mg/kg/day.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.159-173
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• 2016

Crickets have been attracting considerable interest in the field of nutrition and toxicology due to the global exhaustion of food resulting from a growing population. The cricket is normally eaten in several countries after roasting, similar to the grasshopper; however, safety evaluation data on cricket powder is limited. Here, we performed general toxicity studies of cricket powder including a single, 2-week repeated dose range evaluation test, a 13-week repeated oral dose toxicity test in Sprague-Dawley rats, a single oral dose toxicity test in Beagle dogs, and a skin sensitization test in guinea pigs following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development test guidelines 406 and 408 in addition to Good Laboratory Practice. To investigate the NOAEL and target organs of cricket powder, Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to 4 groups: vehicle control, 1,250 mg/kg, 2,500 mg/kg, 5,000 mg/kg dose test groups and cricket powder was administered over 13 weeks after single dose and dose range finding studies in rats based on the results of the single oral administration toxicity study in rats and Beagle dogs. The results of the study showed that the NOAEL of cricket powder was over 5,000 mg/kg for both sexes of rats without adverse effects in a 13-week repeated oral toxicity study and there was no skin hypersensitivity reaction. Therefore, our results reveal that crickets can be widely used as a new substitute food or nutrient resource.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.468-479
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• 2018

Objectives: Recently, a report was published that the humidifier disinfectant CMIT/MIT did not cause developmental toxicity and was not detected in systemic circulation as a result of an inhalation toxicity test. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate any associations between CMIT/MIT exposure and developmental toxicity using the in vivo apical toxicity test method. Methods: Groups of pregnant ICR mice were instilled in the trachea with chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT) using a visual instillobot over a period of seven days from days 11 to 17 days post-coitum. For the in vivo apical toxicity test method, an $LD_{50}$-based dose-range finding model was applied to decide the dose range for inducing developmental toxicity. Results: Among the groups of 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg ai/kg/day CMIT/MIT, the exposure groups of 0.5 mg and 1.0 ai/kg/day CMIT/MIT were estimated to reflect the thresholds for the stillbirth and death of pregnant mice, respectively. The groups of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg ai/kg/day CMIT/MIT induced stillbirth rates of 2.57, 10, and 53.8%, respectively. Another exposure group of 0.75 mg ai/kg/day CMIT/MIT did not induce any deaths of pregnant mice and resulted in a stillbirth rate of 8% in only one of six pregnant mice. Conclusions: CMIT/MIT can induce stillbirth in pregnant mice. It was also concluded that CMIT/MIT moves through the pulmonary circulation system and then continues on through systemic circulation and the placenta. There is a possibility of stillbirth and other health causalities in humans beyond the lungs caused by CMIT/MIT exposure.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-224
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• 2016

Objectives: Ginseng Rh2+ is enzyme-treated ginseng extract containing high amounts of converted ginsenosides, such as compound k, Rh2, Rg3, which have potent anticancer activity. We conducted general and genetic toxicity tests to evaluate the safety of ginseng Rh2+. Methods: An acute oral toxicity test was performed at a high-level dose of 4,000 mg/kg/day in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A 14-day range-finding study was also conducted to set dose levels for the 90-day study. A subchronic 90-day toxicity study was performed at dose levels of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to investigate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of ginseng Rh2+ and target organs. To identify the mutagenic potential of ginseng Rh2+, we conducted a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) using amino-acid-requiring strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, and an in vivo micronucleus test using ICR mice bone marrow as recommended by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Results: According to the results of the acute oral toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of ginseng Rh2+ was estimated to be higher than 4,000 mg/kg. For the 90-day study, no toxicological effect of ginseng Rh2+ was observed in body-weight changes, food consumption, clinical signs, organ weights, histopathology, ophthalmology, and clinical pathology. The NOAEL of ginseng Rh2+ was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day, and no target organ was found in this test. In addition, no evidence of mutagenicity was found either on the in vitro genotoxicity tests, including the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test, or on the in vivo in mice bone marrow micronucleus test. Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, ginseng Rh2+ is a non-toxic material with no genotoxicity. We expect that ginseng Rh2+ may be used as a novel adjuvant anticancer agent that is safe for long-term administration.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.102-114
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• 2009

Objectives: HMCO5 is an extract obtained from 8 different herbal mixtures. We undertook a safety evaluation of HMCO5 for a dose range finding (DRF) toxicity test in specific pathogen free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley (SD) male and female rats. Methods: The male and female rats were divided into 4 groups, respectively; G(0), treated with distilled water: G(1), treated with 222 mg/kg HMC05: G(2), treated with 667 mg/kg HMC05, and G(3), treated with 2,000 mg/kg HMC05; HMC05 was administered orally for 4 weeks. The safety evaluation examined clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, ophthalmic findings, urinalysis, hematological values, absolute & relative organ weights, and necropsy findings during the tests. Results: There were no changes in clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, water consumption, and ophthalmic findings examined during the test periods. In serum biochemical values, triglyceride was increased in male group G(3) and Na$^+$ decreased significantly in male groups G(2), G(3) and G(4). In male group G(4), spleen weight decreased relatively and increases of absolute & relative left ovary weights were found. In addition, an adhesion of liver to diaphragm was found in male group G(2). However, we could not find any dose-interrelationships in these changes. Conclusions: These results indicate that HMC05 extract did not show any toxicity in the DRF toxicity study. Therefore, it suggests that establishment of 1,000, 333 and 111 mg/kg dosages are moderate in a repeated dose 26-week oral toxicity study of HMC05.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.190-205
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the repeated dose toxicity of DA-125, a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, in rats. Before the 13-week main study, a 4-week dose-range finding (DRF) study was carried out. The administration of DA-125 intravenously at dosage levels of 0, 0.125, 0.5, 2.0, and 8.0 mg/kg/day to rats for 4 weeks resulted in premature deaths of all animals in the 8.0 mg/kg/day group and in the deaths of 4 males and 4 females at 2.0 mg/kg/day. Body weights were markedly reduced in the 8.0 mg/kg/day group and showed dose-related decreases in all treatment groups when compared with the control group. Reductions in weight gain were slight and not significantly different at 0.125 mg/kg/day but animals receiving 0.5 mg/kg/day showed more marked decreases in gain in a clear dose-related manner Based On the results of the above DRF study, a 13-week repeated dose intravenous toxicity study in rats with DA-125 was performed at a dose level of 0, 0.012, 0.08 and 0.3 mg/kg/day. No treatment related effects were noted in behavior or body weight in all treatment groups. One male at the highest dose level died on study day 26, but the death could not be related to test article toxicity. Swelling and scabbing of the ears was present in all of the groups, including the control group. There were no treatment related changes in the hematological, biochemical or urinalysis values in all treatment groups. Thymus weights were significantly reduced ill males receiving 0.3 mg/kg/day and they were sligltly, and not significantly, reduced in females of the same group. While there were no associated histological changes. Treatment related necrosis was found in the tail vein (injection site) at 0.08 and 0.3 mg/kg/day. On the basis of these results, the no observed effect level (NOEL) was 0.012 mg/kg/day and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was estimated to be more than 0.3 mg/kg/day under the conditions tested.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 1998

The subchronic toxicity of a combined preparation of ticlopidine and ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) mixed in a ratio of 10: 4 was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with the test substance at a dose of 52 mg/kg, 156 mg/kg, or 467 mg/kg intragastrically for 30 consecutive days. Control rats were treated with vehicle only. Each group consisted of 10 rats. No death or abnormal clinical signs were observed throughout the administration period. A transient decrease in body weight gain and food intake was observed in the rats treated with the high dose (467 mg/kg), which was recovered to normal in a week. There were no drug-related differences in urinalysis and hematological results. A significant increase in serum total cholesterol and total protein was observed in both sexes of the rats treated with a dose of 467 mg/kg daily, but all the other values obtained in serum chemistry appeared to be within normal range. A dose dependent increase in liver weight was observed in both male and female rats. Relative kidney weight was also increased in the high dose groups. There was no gross pathological finding at terminal sacrifice. Microscopic histopathological examination did not show any lesion in terms of correlation with administration of the test substance. The results suggest that under the conditions employed in this study no observable effect level (NOEL) of the test substance be 52 mg/kg/day.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2003

Single and 28-day repeated dose toxicity studies of botulimnn toxin type A were carried out in ICR mice and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. In the single dose toxicity study, botulinwn toxin was injected intraperitoneally to male and female mice at a single dose of 40, 59, 89 133 and 200 ng/10 ml saline/kg. All animals died from 59 ng/kg group. Some clinical signs, such as decrease in locomotor activity, dyspnea, prone position and ptosis, were observed in most of both sexes from 59 ng/kg group, but no signs were seen in all animals at 40 ng/kg group. The results showed that the median lethal dose of botulinum toxin might be in the range of 40-59 ng/kg in both sexes. In the repeated dose toxicity study, the test material was administered intradermally for 28 days at doses of 0 (vehicle-treated control), 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 and $10.0ng/head/50{\mu}{\ell}$ saline in male and female rats. No test material-related changes were noted in survivals, clinical signs, food and water consumptions and gross finding in any group. Botulinum toxin treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain rate in male of 5.0 ng/head group and over and in female of 10.0 ng/head group compared to vehicle-treated control. One or more relative organ weights (i.e., spleen, thymus, liver and kidney) were increased significantly from 5.0 ng/head group compared to vehicle-treated control in both sexes. Serum biochemistry revealed increases in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine phosphokinase, total protein and albumin in male, and increases in AST and ALT and decreases in $K^+$ and $Cl^-$ in female without dose-pendent manners. In the histopathological study, physical stimulation by needle caused slight inflammations of dennis. In addition, botulinum toxin treatment induced denervation of nerve cell and disuse of muscle, resulting in atrophy of skeletal muscle in both sexes from 2.5 ng/head group. When the antibodies to toxin were determined in all animals, a significant increase in serum antibodies was observed from 5.0 ng/head group. The results showed that the NOAEL of botulinum toxin might be 1.25 ng/head for 28-day repeated dose toxicity in rats.