Acute and subacute toxicological evaluation of scutellarin in rodents

Acute and subacute investigations were carried out to evaluate the safety of scutellarin, an active flavone glycoside that has been used to treating cardiocerebral vascular diseases and cerebral infarction in rodents. For the acute study, scutellarin was administered to mice by gavage at different dose levels. Scutellarin caused dose-dependent general behavior adverse effects, but the LD50 values could not be detected, and the maximum tolerated dose was more than 10 g/kg. In the subacute study, scutellarin was administered orally at doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg daily for 30 days to rats. Body weight, heart rate, blood pressure, biochemical, hematological and urine parameters were determined at the end of the experimental day. Daily oral administration for up to 30 days did not result in death or significant changes in hematology, blood chemistries or urinalysis. However, a 30 day regimen of scutellarin at doses of 100 or 500 mg/kg led to non-dose related decreases in BUN and triglyceride levels. Scutellarin was found to be minimally toxic or non-toxic in rodents. In view of the doses of the components used, the results from acute and subacute toxicity studies suggest that this component has a sufficient margin of safety for therapeutic use.