Toxicology Evaluation of Realgar-Containing Niu-Huang-Jie-Du Pian as Compared to Arsenicals in Cell Cultures and in Mice. (13th October 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miao, Jia-Wei; Liang, Shi-Xia; Wu, Qin; Liu, Jie; Sun, An-Sheng
• Other Names: Erikson K. M. Academic Editor.; Haza A. I. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN toxicology. Volume 2011(2011)
• Publication Date: 2011-10-13
• Subjects: Toxicology -- Periodicals; Toxicology; Pharmacology; Toxicology; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Periodical; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 571.95
• DOI: 10.5402/2011/250387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6188

Abstract

Abstract : Niu-Huang-Jie-Du Pian (NHJD) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine containing realgar (As4 S4 ). Realgar has been included in many traditional medicines, but is often taken as arsenite for risk assessment. To evaluate true risk of realgar and realgar-containing NHJD, their toxicity was compared with common arsenicals. In cultured cells, the LC50 for NHJD (1200 μM) and realgar (2000 μM) was much higher than arsenite(35 μM), arsenic trioxide (280 μM), and arsenate (400 μM). Acute toxicity in mice showed more severe liver and kidney injury after arsenite or arsenate, but was mild after realgar and NHJD, corresponding to cellular and tissue arsenic accumulation. The expressions of arsenic-sensitive stress gene metallothionein-1 were increased 3–7-folds after arsenite or arsenate, but were unaltered after NHJD and realgar. Thus, realgar and NHJD are much less toxic than arsenite and arsenate. The use of total arsenic to evaluate the safety of realgar and realgar-containing NHJD is inappropriate.