Water and ethanol extracts from leaf and stem-rhizome of Acanthopanax senticosus were administered to rats, and their effects on serum biochemical parameters, organ weights and histochemistry were investigated. The mutagenicity was also examined. The results obtained may be summarized as follows:
1) The extracts were not mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98.
2) The micronucleus test in mice was negative.
3) No significant difference in body weight was observed between the treated groups and the control group.
4) The serum biochemical examination in rats showed the following significant differences from the control (p>0.01): ALP, γ-GTP, Ch-E, T. G, T. P, Cl and IP for the group given leaf extract with ethanol (40mg/kg), T. G and Na for the group given stem-rhizome extract with ethanol (40mg/kg), T. G, ALB and IP for the group given stem-rhizome extract with ethanol (400mg/kg), T-BIL, T. G, CREAT, BUN, K and Cl for the group given stem-rhizome extract with water (40mg/kg) and T. G, ALB, Cl and IP for the group given stem-rhizome extract with water (400mg/kg).
5) The liver and kidney weights in the group given leaf extract with ethanol were different from the control values (p<0.01).
6) The histological findings after administration of leaf extract with ethanol showed no pathological change.