title: Acute oral toxicity of Insampaedok-san, a traditional herbal formula, in rats and its protective effects against ovalbumin-induced asthma via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insampaedok-san (ren-shen-bai-du-san in Chinese) is a traditional herbal formula widely used for the treatment of respiratory diseases in Korea and China. In this study, we investigated the acute oral toxicity of an Insampaedok-san water extract (ISSE) in rats and the antiasthmatic effects of ISSE and its mechanism in a model of asthma induced by ovalbumin (OVA) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a safety study, ISSE was administrated orally to rats of both sexes at single doses of 0 and 5000 mg/kg. We observed body weight changes, mortality, clinical signs, and gross pathological findings. In vitro antioxidant activity of ISSE was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging methods. A model of asthma was established in mice by sensitization and challenge with OVA. We assessed the levels of type 2 T-helper cytokines, chemokines, and immunoglobulin levels, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity using a kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No adverse effects were observed in the acute ISSE toxicity study. ISSE showed potent free radical scavenging activity and inhibited the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung and mucus hypersecretion in OVA-challenged mice. ISSE significantly decreased levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, eotaxin, and OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E, and increased SOD activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that ISSE is safe for human consumption and its antiasthmatic effect is associated with the ability of ISSE to attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress.
authors.forename: Yeji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ohn-Soon
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Herbal Medicine Formulation Research Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 483 Expo-ro, Yusung-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. cozy37@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hyeun-Kyoo
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010047:Ovalbumin