Single Oral Dose Toxicity Test of Choweseuncheng-tang, a Polyherbal Formula in ICR Mice

Abstract

The object of this study was to evaluate the single dose toxicity of Choweseuncheng-tang (CWS), a polyherbal formula have been traditionally used as prevention or treatment agent for various diseases as Tae-eumin prescription on Korean medicinal theory, Sasang-euihak, in male and female mice. Aqueous extracts of CWS (yield = 11.00%) was administered to female and male mice as an oral dose of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg (body weight) according to the recommendation of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) Guidelines. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy; organ weight and histopathology of 14 principle organs were also examined. As results, we could not find any CWS treatment related mortality and clinical signs, changes in the body and organ weights, gross findings and changes in histopathology of principle organs, except for some dose-independent accidental findings. The results obtained in this study suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximate lethal dose of CWS aqueous extracts in both female and male mice were considered as over 2,000 mg/kg, the limited highest dosage recommended by KFDA Guidelines, and can be safety used in clinics.