Single-Dose Oral Toxicity Test of Woohwangchungshim-won in Mice

Abstract

The object of this study was to obtain acute toxicity information (single-dose oral toxicity) of Woohwangchungshim-won (WHCSW), a pill type herbal medicine used in Korean Medicine (KM) for treating stroke. In order to obtain the 50% lethal dose (LD50), approximate lethal dosage (ALD) and target organs, WHCSW powders were once orally administered to female and male ICR mice at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (control) mg/kg (body weight.) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines (Notification No. 2009-116). The mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored for 14 days after single-dose oral administration of WHCSW according to KFDA Guidelines with organ weights and histopathological changes were observed in 12 principle organs. After single-dose oral administration of WHCSW, we could not find any mortality and toxicological evidences up to 2,000 mg/kg-administered group, except for some accidental findings and dose-independent increases of body weight gains in female 1,000 and 500 mg/kg -administered female mice. The results obtained in this study suggest that the LD50 and ALD of WHCSW in both female and male mice after single-dose oral administration were considered as over 2,000 mg/kg because no mortalities were detected up to 2,000 mg/kg that was the highest dose recommended by KFDA and Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), and can be safely used in clinics. 