Non-clinical safety evaluation of salvianolic acid A: acute, 4-week intravenous toxicities and genotoxicity evaluations

BACKGROUND: Toxicological problem associated with herbal medicine is a significant public health problem. Hence, it is necessary to elaborate on the safety of herbal medicine. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a major active compound isolated from Danshen, a popular herbal drug and medicinal food plant in China. The aim of the present study was to explore the toxicological profile of SAA. METHODS: The acute toxicity studies were performed in mice and Beagle dogs with single administration with SAA. A 4-week subchronic toxicity was test in dogs. SAA was intravenously administered at doses of 20, 80 and 300 mg/kg. Clinical observation, laboratory testing and necropsy and histopathological examination were performed. The genotoxic potential of SAA was evaluated by 2 types of genotoxicity tests: a reverse mutation test in bacteria and bone marrow micronucleus test in mice. RESULTS: In acute toxicities, the LD50 of SAA is 1161.2 mg/kg in mice. The minimum lethal dose (MLD) and maximal non-lethal dose (MNLD) of SAA were 682 mg/kg and 455 mg/kg in dogs, respectively. The approximate lethal dose range was 455–682 mg/kg. In the study of 4-week repeated-dose toxicity in dogs, focal necrosis in liver and renal tubular epithelial cell, the decrease in relative thymus weight, as well as abnormal changes in biochemical parameters, were observed in SAA 80 or 300 mg/kg group. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of SAA was 20 mg/kg. Thymus, liver and kidneys were the toxic targets. These toxic effects were transient and reversible. These results indicated that it should note examination of liver and kidney function during the administration of SAA in clinic. Furthermore, SAA had no mutagenic effect at any tested doses. CONCLUSION: These results provide new toxicological information of SAA for its clinical application and functional food consumption. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40360-022-00622-1.