Repeated-Dose Toxicity Testing of Scolopendrid Pharmacopuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the safety and dosing of scolopendrid pharmacopuncture (SPP). Methods: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (males and 20 females 20) were selected following a 7-day inspection and acclimation period. SPP was administered via intramuscular injection, over a 2-week period using 3 doses including a high-dose [0.84 mg of scolopendrid per kg of body weight (BW)], a med-dose (0.42 mg/kg BW), and a low-dose (0.21 mg/kg BW). The control group was injected with sterile water into the muscles. Unusual changes caused by administration of the test substance were observed. Weight, feed intake, organ weight, and hematological examinations were compared among the groups. Using the SPSS statistical program, Levene's test was performed to evaluate the homogeneity of variances, and a one-way ANOVA test was subsequently performed to assess the significance between each test group. Results: During the experiment no animals died. Weight change, food consumption, organ weight, hematological test, and blood biochemical tests showed no significant differences in the treatment groups compared to controls. Conclusion: No toxicological changes related to the administration of test substances were observed. Therefore, the LD50 (lethal-dose that kills 50%) of scolopendrid pharmacoupuncture in rats was greater than 0.84 mg/kg.