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Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...

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Inducing Acute Liver Injury in Rats via Carbon Tetrachloride CCl4 Exposure Through an Orogastric Tube

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Subacute Oral Toxicity Study of Astragalus Root Water Extract in Rats.

Wei Du¹, Ping Zhang¹, Xiaoxian Song¹

¹Chongqing Academy of Chinese Materia Medica, Chongqing, China, cqacmm.com.

Journal of Toxicology

|January 7, 2026

Summary

Astragalus membranaceus water extract (AWE) showed no significant toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats during a 90-day study. This supports the safety of AWE within a specific dosage range for medicinal use.

Keywords:

Astragalus membranaceus repeated-dose toxicity safety profile

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Area of Science:

Pharmacology and Toxicology
Natural Product Research
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Background:

Astragalus membranaceus is a key herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Scientific evidence supports its medicinal value, but safety data, especially subchronic toxicity, is limited.
This study addresses the safety characterization of Astragalus root water extract (AWE).

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the subchronic toxicity and safety profile of Astragalus root water extract (AWE).
To assess the effects of a 90-day repeated-dose administration of AWE in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Main Methods:

A 90-day repeated-dose toxicity study was performed on Sprague-Dawley rats.
A daily dose of 47g crude drug/kg body weight of AWE was administered.
Comprehensive assessments included body weight, food intake, rectal temperature, rotarod performance, hematology, clinical biochemistry, bone marrow, immune parameters, and histopathology.

Main Results:

No treatment-related mortality or adverse clinical/histopathological findings were observed.
Hematological, biochemical, bone marrow, and immune parameters remained unaffected.
Transient decreases in food intake and rectal temperature, along with reduced rotarod latency, were noted but resolved during the recovery phase.

Conclusions:

High-dose administration of AWE did not induce significant toxic effects in Sprague-Dawley rats.
The findings support the safety of Astragalus membranaceus water extract within the tested dose range.
Further research can build upon these safety findings for AWE applications.