랫드를 이용한 황기의 지상부 추출물에 대한 90일 반복경구투여 독성시험

Abstract

*GLP Center, Catholic University of Daegu, Keongsan 712-702, Korea. **Jeongseon Agricultural Extension Center, Jeongseon 233-852, Korea.***Department of Applied Plant Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea.****Department of Applied BioScience, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.*****Food Policy Cordination Division, Ministry of Korea Food & Drug Safety, Cheongwon 363-951, Korea.******Forest Practice Research Center, Korea Forest Reserach Institute, Pocheon 487-821, Korea.*******Department of Herbal Medicine Resource, Kangwon National University, Samcheok 245-905, Korea.ABSTRACT : Pharmacological studies and clinical practices have indicated that Radix Astragali, a dried root of Astragalusmembranaceus possesses a lot of biological activities, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, tonic, diuretic,antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunological activities. These biological activities approved by the modern pharmacologicalstudies are mainly due to the constituents of Astragalus membranaceus including polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids,amino acids, and trace elements. In resent, the main constituents in the root part showing a lot of biological activities hasbeen isolated also from the aboveground parts such as leaves and sprouts in our laboratory. However, the safety evaluationfor the aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus should be checked before expanding their application as one of food.In the study, a 90-day rat oral gavage study has been conducted with the extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-above-ground parts at doses of 1000, 3000, and 5000 ㎎/㎏/day. The following endpoints were evaluated: clinical observations, bodyweight, gross and microscopic pathology, clinical chemistry, and hematology. Based on the analysis of these endpoints, it wasestimated that NOEL (no observed effect level) for male rats and NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for female ratsare 5000 ㎎/㎏/day of the water-extracts from Astragalus membranaceus- aboveground parts. Key Words : Astragalus membranaceus, Aboveground Parts, NOAEL, Toxicity