title: Study of Single-dose Toxicity of Aconitum Kusnezoffii Reichb. Pharmacopuncture in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to analyze the singledose toxicity of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. pharmacopuncture (AKRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  All experiments were conducted at the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTRI), an institute authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Twenty (20) Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen for the pilot study. The animals were divided into four groups of five animals per group: group 1 (G1) being the control group with each animal receiving an injection of 0.3 ml of saline and groups 2, 3, and 4 (G2, G3, and G4) being the experimental groups with each animal receiving an injection of 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 ml of AKRP, respectively. This study was conducted with the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No deaths occurred in any of the 4 groups, and the LD50 of AKRP administered via IV was higher than 1.77 ml/kg. Some changes in the weights of the male rates were observed between the control group and the experimental groups, but no significant differences were noted in the weights of the female rats. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we stained representative sections of each specified organ with Hematoxylin & Eosin for light microscopic examination. The results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above findings suggest that Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. pharmacopuncture is a relatively safe treatment. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: JaeKyoun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sangmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hohyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Manyong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Woung
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Keun
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University College of Korean Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Deok
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Wonkwang Gwangju Oriental Medical Hospital, Gwangju, Korea ; WUGOH ALS Center of Wonkwang University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungchul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Aconitum ciliare decne; Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. (AKR); Aconitum pseudo-proliferum; Aconitum triphyllum Nakai; pharmacopuncture; toxicity test