[Toxicological characteristics of the antitussive preparation glaucine]

A toxicological study was made of the antitussive drug glaucinee hydrochloride, an alkaloid of the isoquinoline series (4,5,7,8-tetramethoxyaporphine hydrochloride) isolated from Glaucinum flavum Crantz. of the Papaveraceae family. Upon a single intraperitoneal injection to different laboratory animals the LD50 was found to be equal to 150--180 mg/kg whereas upon intragastric administration, to 510--620 mg/kg. Under the conditions of chronic experiments (intragastric administration to rats in doses of 5, 25 adn 75 mg/kg daily for 3 months) glaucin hydrochloride did not affect the general status of the animals, hematological characteristics, functions of the liver, cardiovascular and excretory systems, and the morphological indicators of the internal organs as shown by electron microscopy. The drug does not possess any allergizing, mutagenic, embryotoxic or teratogenic properties. The data obtained attest to the possibilities of a wide clinical application of glaucin hydrochloride as an antitussive drug.