title: [Toxicity of matrine in Kunming mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acute toxicity and assess the median lethal dose (LD50) of matrine in Kunming mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matrine at different doses were administered in Kunming mice via intraperitoneal injection, and the toxic reactions and LD50 of matrine was observed and determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute toxicity test of matrine indicated that the tolerable dose of matrine was above 80 mg/kg in Kunming mice, and the LD50 was 157.13 mg/kg (95%CI, 88.08-280.31 mg/kg). Morphological observation revealed degenerative changes of the nerve cells in the brain tissue of the mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nervous system is the main target organ by the toxicity of matrine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. wangxiaoyan639@163.com
authors.forename: Xiao-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jian-lan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Min-hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zu-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000633:toxicity*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D011807:Quinolizines; D000093842:Matrines