The Acute and Sub-Chronic Oral Toxicity Testing of Cordyceps militaris in Wistar Rats
Keywords:
Cordyceps militaris, Acute oral toxicity, Sub-chronic oral toxicity, OECD Guidelines 423, OECD Guidelines 408Abstract
Cordyceps militaris consists of Cordycepin, Adenosine, Polysaccharides and other compounds. For many countries including Thailand used C. militaris as an ingredient of a dietary supplement for many years. Whereas, toxicological testing data of C. militaris has less been to conduct. This study was conducted for the toxicity assessment of C. militaris by acute and sub-chronic oral toxicity testing in Wistar rats. The evaluation of C. militaris for acute oral toxicity in Wistar rats were performed at dose level 300 and 2,000 mg/kg body weight according to OECD Guidelines for the testing of chemicals 423, Acute Oral Toxicity–Acute Toxic Class Method. The results in all animals were not shown signs of toxic effects, moribund and mortality. Thus, Cordyceps militaris was classified in GHS (Globally Harmonised System for Classification and labeling of Chemicals) category 5 or unclassified, the LD50 cut off at 5,000 mg/kg body weight to infinity (∞). The sub-chronic oral toxicity of C. militaris was performed and the methodology was modified from OECD Guideline for testing of chemicals 408, Repeated Dose 90-Days Oral Toxicity Study in Rodent. The assessment and evaluation of toxic effects were investigated at the dose levels 5, 20 and 80 mg/kg body weight of C. militaris in Wistar rats and the result conclude that, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of C. militaris was considered to be 80 mg/kg body weight per day for Wistar rats.
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