title: Pre-clinical toxicity of a combination of berberine and 5-aminosalicylic acid in mice.
abstract: Our previous study demonstrated that a combination of alternative medicine berberine and conventional 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) showed promise to be a novel therapeutic strategy for ulcerative colitis (UC). This present study aims to sketch the pre-clinical toxicity profile of this combination (1:10 dose ratio) on mice. In acute toxicity test, the determined median lethal dose (LD50) was 278.7 mg/kg berberine plus 2787 mg/kg 5-ASA. The results from subacute toxicity test demonstrated that no toxic signs of clinical symptoms, no significant changes in hematological or biochemical parameters were detected in mice treated with 14 + 140, 28 + 280 or 56 + 560 mg/kg of berberine plus 5-ASA treatment. Histological examinations revealed that accompanied with an increase in spleen weight, frequently recorded enlargement and white pulp hyperplasia of spleen were detected in mice when exposed to three doses of combination treatments. Further in vitro assessment suggested that the spleen toxicity was originated from berberine by its inhibition in cell viability and cell proliferation of lymphocytes. The results of this study indicate that the combination of berberine and 5-ASA shows a slight toxic effect on spleen, suggesting that this combination should be used with caution for patients.
authors: Lab of Brain and Gut Research, Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Research Center, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Baptist University Shenzhen Research Institute and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China; School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yan-Hong
authors: YH
authors: Li
authors: Lab of Brain and Gut Research, Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Research Center, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Baptist University Shenzhen Research Institute and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Man
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Hong Kong Baptist University Shenzhen Research Institute and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China.
authors: Hai-Bo
authors: HB
authors: Fu
authors: Lab of Brain and Gut Research, Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Research Center, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Hai-Tao
authors: HT
authors: Xiao
authors: Lab of Brain and Gut Research, Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Research Center, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Baptist University Shenzhen Research Institute and Continuing Education, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: bzxiang@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors: Zhao-Xiang
authors: ZX
authors: Bian
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001599:Berberine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D001599:Berberine; D019804:Mesalamine
keywords: 5-ASA; Acute toxicity; Berberine; Lymphocyte; Spleen toxicity; Subacute toxicity