Single Oral Dose Toxicity Study of Cheongmokpye in Mice

Background: Acute oral safety studies of herbal medicines are needed not only to identify dose ranges but also to reveal any possible side effects. Although Cheongmokpye has shown greater therapeutic effects than the individual herbs, the toxicological profile of Cheongmokpye is not available. Objectives: To assess the acute single oral dose toxicity of Cheongmokpye, a poly herbal complex, in female and male ICR mice, which represents a crucial step in the development of health-related functional food ingredients. Materials and Methods: The experiment evaluated the toxicity of Cheongmokpye orally administered to mice at doses of 5,000, 2,500, 1,250 and 0 (vehicle control) mg/kg in a 10 mL/kg volume of distilled water. The maximum dosage was set to 5,000 mg/kg based on preliminary tests and substance solubility. The study aimed to identify the potential toxicity and target organs susceptible to toxicity under the maximum dose after a single oral administration of Cheongmokpye. Results: The result of this study showed no treatment-related changes in mortality, clinical parameters, body weight, organ weight, hematological parameters, or gross necropsy findings. These results demonstrated the non-toxic nature of Cheongmokpye in rodents and indicated that it is safe even at the highest tested dose. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that Cheongmokpye is non-toxic for rodents at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg. This implies its potential safety for use as a functional health food ingredient. These findings may be significant in the development of health-related functional foods and can provide valuable insights for research and related industries.