Subchronic toxicity of herbal compound “Jiedu Huayu” granules in rats

Animal experiments were approved by The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Male and female Wistar rats weighing 100 g–120 g were purchased from the Animal Experimental Center of Guangxi Medical University (Nanning, China, License No. SCXK Gui 2009–0002). All rats were fed a Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) diet.

“Jiedu Huayu” (JDHY) granules were prepared in our laboratory from six herbs (Table 1): 667 g of Artemisia capillaries, 1000 g of Radix paeoniae rubrathe, 333 g of Rheum officinale, 500 g of Oldenlandia diffusa, 333 g of Radix curcumae, and 333 g of Acorus gramineus. The Chinese herbs were purchased from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The herbal mixture underwent combined decoction. It was extracted twice in distilled water at 100 °C for 2 h. Following filtration, the resulting mixture was concentrated to a cream with a relative density between 1.05–1.10 (70 °C). Next, 60% ethanol was added for 24 h, and following filtration, the resulting mixture was then concentrated to a cream with a relative density of 1.30–1.35 (80 °C). Dextrins were added to make the final weight 1000 g, and the equivalent dose was 3.2 g/g (total raw materials/ weight after concentration). Quality control was performed as previously reported [5]. Prior to usage, JDHY granules were configured into three concentrations (6.5 g/ml, 5.0 g/ml, and 4.0 g/ml) by distilled water.

Forty-eight rats were randomized into four groups: control group (gavaged with distilled water,a low dose group (gavaged with JDHY granules 80 g/kg/d), a middle dose group (gavaged with JDHY granules 100 g/kg/d),and a high dose group (gavaged with JDHY granules 130 g/kg/d). Each experimental group consisted of 6 males and 6 females. Following an environmental adaptation period of 1 week, all rats were fed the SPF diet, and their initial weight was recorded. Rats were administered an amount of 20 ml/kg, which was adjusted once a week to accommodate changes in weight. Each group was gavaged for 6 days and rested for 1 day each week for a total duration of 13 weeks.

Clinical signs were observed twice daily for all rats. Clinical signs included changes in fur, mucous membrane, eyes, physical activity, behavior, fecal excretion, and mortality. Bodyweight and food consumption were recorded once a week [6].

Blood samples were collected and analyzed for white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte cell count (LYM), percentage of lymphocyte cell count (LYM%), reticulocyte cell count (RC), mononuclear cell count (MID), percentage of lymphocyte cell count (MID%), platelet count (PLT), granulocyte cell count (GRAN), percentage of granulocyte cell count (GRAN%), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), corpuscular volume (MCV), concentration (HGB), hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration (MCHC). All samples were measured using automatic blood cell analyzer (mindray, China).

The following serum biochemistry parameters were also detected: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total bilirubin (TBIL), total cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TG), glucose (GLU), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), creatine kinase (CK), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl). All samples were measured using automatic biochemical analyzer (mindray, China).

We measured the absolute weight of heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, thymus, renicapsule, testis (male), epididymis (male), uterus (female), and ovaries (female). Relative organ weight was calculated as a percentage of body weight [7].

At the conclusion of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed using ether anesthesia. Tissues and organs were harvested and preserved in 10% formalin solution. All samples were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin [8]. We used a biological microscope and dp-20 digital imaging system (OLYMPUS, Japan) to conduct histopathological examination.

We did not observe any death or adverse clinical signs in the JDHY groups during the 13-week experiment. There were no statistically significant changes observed in food consumption (Tables 2 and 3, Fig. 1a) and body weight (Table 4 and 5, Fig. 1b) between control and JDHF groups.

The results of the hematological detection and serum chemistry examination are shown in Tables 6, 7, 8, and 9. There were no statistically significant changes in hematological detection and serum chemistry examination between the control and JDHY groups in male or female rats.

As shown in Tables 10 and 11, JDHY groups did not generate any statistically significant changes in organ coefficients in either male or female rats when compared with the control group.

Following a 13-week treatment with JDHY granules, there were no treatment-related changes in histopathology detected between the control and JDHY groups. In fact, histopathological analysis of liver, lung, and kidney showed normal structure in all groups (Fig. 2).