title: Single Intramuscular-dose Toxicity of Anti-inflammatory Pharmacopuncture in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to analyze the toxicity of the test substance, anti-inflammatory pharmacopuncture (AIP), when used as a single intramuscular-dose in 6-week-old, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and to find the lethal dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiment was conducted at Biotoxtech according to Good Laboratory Practices. Twenty (20) female and 20 male Spague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of five 5 female and 5 male animals per group. The rats in the three experimental groups received single intramuscular injections with 0.1-㎖, 0.5-㎖ and 1.0-㎖/animal doses of AIP, Groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and the control group, Group 1, received a single intramuscular injection with a 1.0-㎖ dose of normal saline. Clinical signs were observed and body weight measurements were carried out for 14 days following the injections. At the end of the observation period, hematology, clinical chemistry, histopathological tests and necropsy were performed on the injected parts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No deaths occurred in any of the groups. Also, histopathological tests showed that AIP had no effect on the injected parts in terms of clinical signs, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, and necropsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of single intramuscular-dose tests of the test substance AIP in 4 groups of rats, the lethal dose for both males and females exceeded 1.0㎖/animal. Therefore, AIP is a relatively safe pharmacopuncture that can be used for treatment, but further studies should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Da-Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Geol
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Seop
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sin
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: MyungGa Oriental Medical Clinic, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Beom-Yong
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Uk
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Woosuk University Hospital of Korean Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Yook
keywords: anti-inflammatory pharmacopuncture; eight-principle pharmacopuncture; intramuscular toxicity test