"Safety Evaluation of the Triterpenoid-Rich Extracts Derived from Poria Cocos"

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of the extracts of poria cocos, Tumulosic acid and Polyporenic Acid C, by acute oral toxicity test and micronucleus test for estimating the gene toxicity on ICR male mice. Our results revealed that there were no abnormal symptoms found in mice fed with Tumulosic acid (25 mg/ kg-BW) or Polyporenic Acid C (10 mg/ kg-BW) during the 14 day experimental period. The hematological analysis was within normal range and no obvious genotoxicity in micronucleus test of mice fed with indicated dosages of Tumulosic acid or Polyporenic Acid C compounds, and there was no significant difference among tissue weights of heart, liver, lung and kidney within each groups. However, we found that feeding of Tumulosic acid or Polyporenic Acid C resulted in decreased weight of immune organs, such as spleen and thymus. The histopathology demonstrated a mild lymphoid apoptosis in both the thymus and spleen. Collected data indicated that there were no toxic effect on murine fed with Tumulosic acid or Polyporenic Acid C compound in 14 days, but there might be immunotoxicity. Based on these findings, there seems to be a need for further studies.