title: Pharmacological evaluation of sedative-hypnotic activity and gastro-intestinal toxicity of Rhizoma Paridis saponins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) have been well studied for antimicrobial, anti-hemorrhagic, and anticancer effects. However, scientific information on RPS regarding the toxic and neuropharmacological effects is limited. In this study, the acute oral toxicity, sedative-hypnotic activity and gastro-intestinal toxicity of RPS were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acute toxicity was carried out by administering single doses (800-5000 mg/kg) of RPS to adult mice. Rotarod test and sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis activity were used to evaluate the neuropharmacological effects on mice. Gastric emptying and intestinal transit were used to investigate the gastric-intestinal system effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single oral administration of RPS dose-dependently caused adverse effects on the general behavior and mortality rate of mice. LD(50) value of oral acute toxicity was 2182.4 mg/kg, with 95% confidence limit of 1718.4-2807.8 mg/kg. In the test of sleeping mice, RPS acted in synergy with sodium pentobarbital at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg while motor coordination was not influenced within 120 min after treatment with RPS. Regarding the gastric-intestinal toxicity, RPS (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg) significantly inhibited gastric emptying but did not affect the intestinal transit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RPS, which is a hypotoxic anticancer drug, possesses the sedative-hypnotic activity and gastric stimulus side effect.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shuli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Jieyin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shuangshuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Changxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018517:Plant Roots; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D012503:Saponins