Study on toxicity of danshensu in beagle dogs after 3-month continuous intravenous infusion.

Abstract

Danshensu (3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid), a natural phenolic acid, is isolated from root of Salvia miltiorrhiza, and is widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, toxicity of danshensu was evaluated in male and female dogs after 3-month continuous intravenous infusion. Beagle dogs were treated with danshensu at doses of 17, 50, and 150 mg/kg/day, and observed for 90 days followed by recovery periods. Measurements included clinical observations, body weight, food consumption, temperature, electro-cardiography (EGC), hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, gross necropsy, organ weight, and histopathology. No significant adverse effects on these parameters were observed. The only treatment-related finding was a hard knot at injection site observed in the 150 mg/kg group after 2-3 weeks continuous administration, and returned to normal after 3-4 days withdrawal. From these results, it might be concluded that danshensu did not produce any significant cumulative toxicity at the doses administered, as reflected by the various parameters investigated.

• Authors: Guisheng Li, Yonglin Gao, Shenjun Li, Chunmei Li, Xiaoyin Zhu, Min Li, Zhifeng Liu
• Journal: Toxicology mechanisms and methods (Toxicol Mech Methods) Vol. 19 Issue 6-7 Pg. 441-6 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1537-6524 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19778246 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Lactates
• 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid

Topics

• Animals
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Dogs
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, chemistry, toxicity)
• Female
• Humans
• Lactates (administration & dosage, chemistry, toxicity)
• Lethal Dose 50
• Male
• Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Molecular Structure
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley