title: Evaluation of subchronic (13week) toxicity and genotoxicity potential of vinegar-processed Genkwa Flos.
abstract: Genkwa Flos (GF) is a well-known traditional medicine that is used to treat tumors and to relieve inflammation-related symptoms. GF tends to be taken in repeated doses for a long period of time, and although many reports on the toxicity of raw GF have led to a processing method to remove the toxicity, little information is currently available with regards to the toxic effects of subchronic exposure to processed GF (PGF). The aim of this study was to assess the possible genotoxicity and subchronic toxicity of PGF extract in accordance with the test guidelines published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. A 13-week repeat-dose oral toxicity study was carried out with rats, and the change in body weight observed in rats receiving PGF extract was normal. It is worth noting that the PGF extract groups exhibited an obvious increase in liver weight along with a significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity at doses of 667 and 2000mg/kg, providing evidence of hepatotoxic potential. More importantly, the results of the Ames test indicated that the PGF extract presented a mutagenic potential. Altogether, these results are the first to determine the subchronic toxicity and genotoxicity of the PGF extract, indicating that when GF is used for medicinal purposes, the period of use should be considered despite the manner in which the extract is processed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Ran
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Euna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ja-June
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Ae
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon Hoe
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Center for Animal Resource and Development, N-BIO, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: casache@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jeong-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Research, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Center for Animal Resource and Development, N-BIO, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Designed Animal and Transplantation Research Institute, Institute of GreenBio Science Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bckang@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Byeong-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D032364:Daphne; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D019342:Acetic Acid
keywords: Ames; Genotoxicity; Hepatotoxicity; Liver; Processed Genkwa Flos; Subchronic