Hae-Yun Choi

Ameliorative anti-diabetic activity of Dangnyosoko, a Chinese herbal medicine, in diabetic rats

The preventive anti-diabetic effect of dangnyosoko (DNSK), a Chinese herbal medicine, was evaluated in STZ-induced diabetic rats. DNSK was orally administered once a day from 3 d after STZ-induction at 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg for 4 weeks, and the results were compared to those for glibenclamide. Dramatic decreases in body weight and plasma insulin levels and increases in blood and urine glucose levels were detected in STZ-induced diabetic animals with disruption and disappearance of pancreatic islets and increases in glucagon- and decreases in insulin-producing cells. However, these diabetic changes were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with DNSK, and DNSK at 100 mg/kg showed more favorable effects than glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg. Based on these results, it is thought that DNSK has favorable effects in ameliorating changes in blood and urine glucose levels and body weight, and that histopathological changes in the pancreas in STZ induce diabetes.

28 Days repeated oral dose toxicity test of aqueous extracts of mahwangyounpae-tang, a polyherbal formula.

Mahwangyounpae-tang (MT), consisting of 22 types of herbal extracts has been used for thousands of years in Korean traditional medicine for the oral treatment of respiratory diseases including asthma. As part of a safety evaluation of MT extract for use in asthma, the 28 day repeat oral dose toxicity of an aqueous MT extract was evaluated at 800, 400 and 200mg/kg per day dose levels. The results showed that no significant toxicological changes were observed when 200 and 400mg/kg per day of MT extract was administered to rats. But when the dose was increased to 800 mg/kg per day, increases of body weights, food consumptions, and heart and kidney weights were observed with hypertrophy of heart and tubular necrosis of kidney. Besides this, no other signs of toxicity were observed. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the no observed adverse effect level of MT extract is 400mg/kg per day. Therefore, the use of MT is expected to be safe because 30 mg/kg was shown to be pharmacologically effective in mice and the high dose heart and kidney findings are not considered to represent any safety concern for humans.

Genotoxicity testing of aqueous extracts of Mahwangyounpae-tang, a polyherbal formula

Mahwangyounpae-tang (MT), consisting of 22 types of herbal extracts has been used for thousands of years in Korean traditional medicine for the oral treatment of respiratory diseases including asthma. As part of a safety evaluation of MT extracts for use in asthma, the potential genotoxicity of an aqueous MT extract was evaluated using the standard battery of tests (bacterial reverse mutation assay; chromosomal aberrations assay; mouse micronucleus assay) recommended by Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The MT extract was determined not to be genotoxic under the conditions of the reverse mutation assay, chromosomal aberrations assay and mouse micronucleus assay. Use of MT is presently expected to be safe, as anticipated intake is small compared to the doses administered in the genotoxicity assays and may, after further toxicity research, prove to be a useful anti-asthma agent.