Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods

Background: Qinzhi Zhudan Formula (QZZD), optimized from Angong Niuhuang Wan, consists of Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae and Pulvis Fellis Suis. We had investigated the neuroprotective effects of QZZD and its active components, and demonstrated that it could treat cerebral ischemia and dement...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenxiu Xu, Dan Chen, Zehan Zhang, Shuling Liu, Congai Chen, Chunyan Sun, Wenchao Ni, Xiangdong Kang, Guojiao Shang, Xueqian Wang, Fafeng Cheng, Qingguo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.987997/full
_version_ 1798036675948969984
author Wenxiu Xu
Dan Chen
Zehan Zhang
Shuling Liu
Congai Chen
Chunyan Sun
Wenchao Ni
Xiangdong Kang
Guojiao Shang
Xueqian Wang
Fafeng Cheng
Qingguo Wang
author_facet Wenxiu Xu
Dan Chen
Zehan Zhang
Shuling Liu
Congai Chen
Chunyan Sun
Wenchao Ni
Xiangdong Kang
Guojiao Shang
Xueqian Wang
Fafeng Cheng
Qingguo Wang
author_sort Wenxiu Xu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Qinzhi Zhudan Formula (QZZD), optimized from Angong Niuhuang Wan, consists of Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae and Pulvis Fellis Suis. We had investigated the neuroprotective effects of QZZD and its active components, and demonstrated that it could treat cerebral ischemia and dementia through multiple pathways and mechanisms. Nevertheless, toxicological data on this formula still remains limited. In the study, we sought to examine the toxicological effects of QZZD during the treatment and recovery periods.Methods: We investigated potential toxicities of QZZD in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats via 28-day gavage administration. SD rats were randomly divided into control group and treatment groups of A (0.5 g/kg/d QZZD), B (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD), and C (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD). The 56-day course includes treatment period (administration with water or QZZD once a day for 28 consecutive days) and recovery period (28 days). The rats received daily monitoring of general signs of toxicity and mortality, as well as weekly determination of body weight and food consumption. Moreover, the complete blood cell count, biochemistry, coagulation, and urine indicators, organ weights, and histopathological report were analyzed respectively at the end of the treatment and recovery periods.Results: There was no death related to the active pharmaceutical ingredients of QZZD during the treatment period. The maximum no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 0.5 g/kg/d, which is approximately 16.7 times of the equivalent dose of clinical dose in rats. In group TB (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD) and TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), there were adverse effects of blue coloring of tail skin, weight loss, a significant increase of total bilirubin (TBIL), blackening of liver and kidney in gross examination, hyperplasia of bile duct and karyomegaly of hepatocytes in histopathological examination. Besides, in females rats, the food consumption was reduced, while in male rats, there was decrease in triglycerides (TG) and slight increase in white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophils. In group TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), the indicators of red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) were decreased slightly, while the platelet count (PLT) was increased. However, these changes were not considered to be toxicologically significant because they resolved during the recovery period.Conclusion: Overall, QZZD exhibited a good safety profile. The maximum no observed adverse effect level was 0.5 g/kg/d, and no target organs toxicity were identified. The present findings might confirm the safety of QZZD in clinical practices.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T21:16:12Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e2ab45ca30ca4f368fbbde193792ec8d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1663-9812
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T21:16:12Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj.art-e2ab45ca30ca4f368fbbde193792ec8d2022-12-22T04:02:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122022-08-011310.3389/fphar.2022.987997987997Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periodsWenxiu Xu0Dan Chen1Zehan Zhang2Shuling Liu3Congai Chen4Chunyan Sun5Wenchao Ni6Xiangdong Kang7Guojiao Shang8Xueqian Wang9Fafeng Cheng10Qingguo Wang11School of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaDongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, ChinaBackground: Qinzhi Zhudan Formula (QZZD), optimized from Angong Niuhuang Wan, consists of Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae and Pulvis Fellis Suis. We had investigated the neuroprotective effects of QZZD and its active components, and demonstrated that it could treat cerebral ischemia and dementia through multiple pathways and mechanisms. Nevertheless, toxicological data on this formula still remains limited. In the study, we sought to examine the toxicological effects of QZZD during the treatment and recovery periods.Methods: We investigated potential toxicities of QZZD in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats via 28-day gavage administration. SD rats were randomly divided into control group and treatment groups of A (0.5 g/kg/d QZZD), B (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD), and C (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD). The 56-day course includes treatment period (administration with water or QZZD once a day for 28 consecutive days) and recovery period (28 days). The rats received daily monitoring of general signs of toxicity and mortality, as well as weekly determination of body weight and food consumption. Moreover, the complete blood cell count, biochemistry, coagulation, and urine indicators, organ weights, and histopathological report were analyzed respectively at the end of the treatment and recovery periods.Results: There was no death related to the active pharmaceutical ingredients of QZZD during the treatment period. The maximum no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 0.5 g/kg/d, which is approximately 16.7 times of the equivalent dose of clinical dose in rats. In group TB (1.5 g/kg/d QZZD) and TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), there were adverse effects of blue coloring of tail skin, weight loss, a significant increase of total bilirubin (TBIL), blackening of liver and kidney in gross examination, hyperplasia of bile duct and karyomegaly of hepatocytes in histopathological examination. Besides, in females rats, the food consumption was reduced, while in male rats, there was decrease in triglycerides (TG) and slight increase in white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophils. In group TC (5.0 g/kg/d QZZD), the indicators of red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) were decreased slightly, while the platelet count (PLT) was increased. However, these changes were not considered to be toxicologically significant because they resolved during the recovery period.Conclusion: Overall, QZZD exhibited a good safety profile. The maximum no observed adverse effect level was 0.5 g/kg/d, and no target organs toxicity were identified. The present findings might confirm the safety of QZZD in clinical practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.987997/fullsub-chronic toxicityscutellaria baicalensis extractgardenia extractpulvis fellis suisreversibility studyorgan coefficient
spellingShingle Wenxiu Xu
Dan Chen
Zehan Zhang
Shuling Liu
Congai Chen
Chunyan Sun
Wenchao Ni
Xiangdong Kang
Guojiao Shang
Xueqian Wang
Fafeng Cheng
Qingguo Wang
Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
Frontiers in Pharmacology
sub-chronic toxicity
scutellaria baicalensis extract
gardenia extract
pulvis fellis suis
reversibility study
organ coefficient
title Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
title_full Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
title_fullStr Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
title_full_unstemmed Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
title_short Toxicological safety evaluation of Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
title_sort toxicological safety evaluation of qin zhi zhu dan formula in rats during the treatment and recovery periods
topic sub-chronic toxicity
scutellaria baicalensis extract
gardenia extract
pulvis fellis suis
reversibility study
organ coefficient
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.987997/full
work_keys_str_mv AT wenxiuxu toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT danchen toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT zehanzhang toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT shulingliu toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT congaichen toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT chunyansun toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT wenchaoni toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT xiangdongkang toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT guojiaoshang toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT xueqianwang toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT fafengcheng toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods
AT qingguowang toxicologicalsafetyevaluationofqinzhizhudanformulainratsduringthetreatmentandrecoveryperiods