Abstract
Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus (ADVA) is one of not well-documented traditional medical herb, and it has been used to treat tetraplegia, fracture, contusion, and edema and to strengthen muscle and bone. Therefore the present study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of ADVA in rats to determine the safe use of it. The toxicity of ADVA was examined in a single, 4-week range finding study and 13-week toxicity study by oral gavage in Fischer 344 rats. In the single dose study, ADVA was administered to groups at dose levels of 0, 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg. In 4-week study, ADVA was administered to groups at dose levels of 0, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 and 3,000 mg/kg. In the 13-week study, groups of rats received with 0, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500 and 3,000 mg/kg of ADVA. ADVA related changes were not noted in single study. Salivation was observed in both sexes in 4-week and 13-week study after dosing. The absolute and relative liver weights were significantly elevated in female rats in 13-week study. However, salivation and the liver weight changes were not considered to be toxicological significance since morphological changes was not accompanied and/or it was temporal change after dosing. On the basis of these results, approximate lethal dose is over 5,000 mg/kg in single study. No observed adverse effect level of ADVA is determined to be over 3,000 mg/kg for rats in 13-week study. Taken together, we confirmed that toxicity of ADVA was not revealed until 5,000 mg/kg in single study and 3,000 mg/kg in 13-week study. It may be helpful to secure reliability of ADVA-treatment by offering objective safety profile.
