title: Evaluation of the Subchronic Toxicity of Dietary Administered Equisetum arvense in F344 Rats.
abstract: Equisetum arvense, commonly known as the field horsetail, has potential as a new functional food ingredient. However, little information is available on its side effects, and the general toxicity of Equisetum arvense has yet to be examined in detail. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of administration in diet at doses of 0, 0.3, 1 and 3% for 13 weeks in male and female F344 rats. No toxicity was detected with reference to clinical signs, body weight, urinalysis, hematology and serum biochemistry data and organ weights. Microscopic examination revealed no histopathological lesions associated with treatment. In conclusion, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for Equisetum arvense was determined to be greater than 3% in both sexes of F344 rat (males and females: >1.79 g/kg BW/day and >1.85 g/kg BW/day, respectively) under the conditions of the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tago
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakehashi
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wanibuchi