Scientific evaluation of the chronic toxicity of the herbal medicine CGX in beagle dogs.

ABSTRACT

CGX is a potential hepatoprotective herbal medicine used to treat various chronic liver disorders. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the pharmaceutical safety of CGX via a systemic 13-week repeated dose toxicity test in beagle dogs. Male and female beagle dogs were divided into four groups and two animals each from the control and high-dose group (400 mg/kg) were allocated into recovery groups. The dogs were administered with CGX (0, 100, 200, 400 mg/kg) for 13 weeks. During the experimental period, the dogs were observed for signs of gross toxicity and for behavioral changes; body weight and food consumption were measured. An ophthalmologic examination and urinalysis were performed at 0 and 13th week and blood biochemistry and hematological parameters analyses were performed at 0, 6th, and 13th week. A histopathological examination was also performed at the end of the experiment. There were no CGX-induced abnormalities in clinical signs, organ weights, food consumption, hematological, urine, and blood biochemical parameters, or histopathological findings in any of the groups during or after the 13 weeks. We demonstrated the safety of CGX for 13-week repeated dose and considered that it is safe for chronic clinical use.