Potential chronic liver toxicity in rats orally administered an ethanol extract of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential chronic liver toxicity of oral administration of ethanol extract of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis) (SBE) in Wistar rats.

METHODS

SBE was administered to rats by gavage for 26 weeks, at doses of 300, 1250, or 2500 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹ respectively. The rats were euthanized at the end of 13 and 26 weeks daily oral dosing and following 4 weeks of recovery time. The changes of hematology, urinary, blood biochemistry and histomorphology were examined at each time point and focus on liver function and histological changes.

RESULTS

When SBE at a dose of up to 2500 mg•kg⁻¹•d⁻¹ was fed to male and female rats for 26 weeks, the liver tissue showed some inflammatory change that predominated by leukocyte infiltration but returned to normal after withdrawal. In addition, high-dose SBE treatment of 26 weeks in rats, glucose, electrolyte and lipid levels also have some changes. In addition, there are no other functional or organic lesions related to SBE treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term and high-dose SBE may cause liver damage, however, the structural damage of the liver can be restored after the ethanol extract stopping. SBE will be well-tolerated for long-term use as a drug or health food, but in order to ensure drug safety, liver function, and serum glucose, electrolyte and lipid levels should be monitored when using SBE long term.