Long-term toxicological studies on the Chinese medicine 2036 Specialty-Qiangxin recipe in rats

Abstract

Context The traditional medicine 2036 Specialty-Qiangxin recipe (2036S-QXR) has been widely used in China to improve cardiac function, prevent stroke, and strengthen the immune system. However, its long-term toxicity remains unknown. Objective The present study evaluates the long-term toxicity of 2036S-QXR in rats. Materials and methods 2036S-QXR (0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 g/kg body weight per day) was orally administered for 26 weeks to Wistar rats, while the rats in the control group received distilled water. The effects on urinary, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were investigated during the study period. Results No significant changes in all tested parameters were observed in the 0.6 and 1.2 g/kg groups, compared with the control group (p 0.05). Several cases displayed the presence of urine protein (3/7 males and 3/7 females) and mild lesions in the kidney (10/20) and thymus (5/20) in the 2.4 g/kg group, without significant changes compared with the control group (p > 0.05). Discussion and conclusions The present study shows that 2036S-QXR does not cause long-term toxicity, supporting its therapeutic use. To further determine the optimal doses, future studies should test more doses and include more animals in each group.

Keywords

• traditional medicine
• rhodiola rosea
• ganoderma lucidum spore
• grape seeds
• adverse effects