Toxicity evaluation of schisandra chinensis / Norul Izza Ab Rahman

Schisandra chinensis was famously used in the Chinese traditional medicines as hepatoprotective, antioxidant, physical performance improvement and anticarcinogenic. This study was designed to determine the toxic fraction of Schisandra chinensis. In an acute toxicity test, the single dose of 200, 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 mg/kg were administered to the out-bred Mus musculus male mice. The oral LD50 value of the hexane extract in mice was 1420 mg/kg. Sedation, high respiration rate, urination, eye secretion, defecation and tremors were observed in mice between 6 to 72 hours. The first fraction of hexane extract with the least polar compound have the lowest IC50 and IC1o values (2.5 mg/ml and 0.75 mg/ml, respectively) followed by the second fraction (IC50 = 50 mg/ml, IC10 = 4.5 mg/ml).