Toxicity Studies on Secretio Bufonis: A Traditional Supplement in Asia

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the toxicity of Secretio Bufonis (SB) on male mice and assess its no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL). Materials and Methods: After feeding an aqueous solution of SB extracts to mice for either 1 or 8 weeks, their blood and urine were assayed and their liver and kidney morphology examined. The numerical data was analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test and analysis of variance test. Results: Mice administered SB in 50 mg/kg/day for 1 week had higher heart weights and higher aspartate transaminase activities; those administered SB in 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks had lower creatinine concentrations; and those administered SB in 0.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks had higher brain weights and higher blood urea nitrogen. Conclusions: The extracts of SB had cardiac toxicity in the short term and hepatotoxicity in the long term. The NOAEL of the extract was under 5 mg/kg/day for 1 week and under 0.25 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks.