Pharmacological and safety evaluation of fibrous root of Rhizoma Coptidis

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2015 Jan;39(1):53-69. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.11.006. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigated the pharmacological activities and safety of fibrous root of Rhizoma Coptidis (FRC). FRC not only protected Kunming mice from the minimal lethal dose of Escherichia coli, but also protected rabbits from hyperpyrexia induced by lipopolysaccharid (LPS). The acute toxicity study showed that oral medial lethal dose (LD50) of FRC was greater than 7000mg/kg body weight in Kunming mice. The sub-chronic toxicity study showed that the no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL) of FRC was 1.88g/kg body weight in Sprague-Dawley rats, whereas FRC at higher dose (3.76g/kg body weight) resulted in damage to liver and lung. Negative results were present in Ames test, mouse micronucleus test and mouse sperm abnormality test. These finding support the use of FRC in veterinary medicine.

Keywords: Acute toxicity; Fibrous root; Mutagenicity; Pharmacological activities; Rhizoma Coptidis; Sub-chronic toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / toxicity
  • Antipyretics* / therapeutic use
  • Antipyretics* / toxicity
  • Coptis*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Fever / drug therapy
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mutagenicity Tests
  • No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level
  • Phytotherapy
  • Plant Extracts* / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts* / toxicity
  • Plant Roots
  • Rabbits
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Toxicity Tests, Subchronic

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antipyretics
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Plant Extracts