Investigation into the toxicity of traditional Uyghur medicine Quercus infectoria galls water extract.

OBJECTIVE

Quercus infectoria galls (QIG) is being widely used in Traditional Uyghur Medicine. To gather preclinical safety information for the aqueous extract of QIG, a toxicity study was performed.

METHODS

Subject animals were randomized, and divided into exposure and control groups. In the acute toxicity phase, three different doses--5, 7.5, and 10 g/kg, respectively--were administered via enema to imprinting control region (ICR) mice. An experiment using the maximum tolerance dose (MTD) i.e.10 g/kg was also performed. Data were gathered for 14 days, and study parameters were clinical signs, body weight, general behavior, adverse effects and mortality. At the day 14, major organs of the subjects were examined histologically. Chronic toxicity was also evaluated in Wistar rats for over 180 consecutive days. The rats were divided into three groups with different doses of 0.2 g/kg, 0.8 g/kg, and 2 g/kg, QIG. Furthermore, observations were carried out in rabbits to investigate if there were signs of irritation.

RESULTS

In comparison to control group, acute, chronic toxicity and mortality were not significantly increased in exposure group.

CONCLUSION

Study result suggests that the aqueous extract of QIG is unlikely to have significant toxicity and that clinical trials may proceed safely.