The Toxicology Study Of Indole-2, 3-dione

Objective Indole-2,3-dione is a kind of bioactive substance, which has been proved existing in human body as an endogenous substance, and also in the classical traditional Chinese medicine-indole-2,3-dione is indigotica Fort, or, Indigo Naturalis. indole-2,3-dione has certain therapeutic effects on Parkinson's disease, aging, hyperlipemia, tumor and epilepsy. We studied the long time side-effects of indole-2,3-dione on rats. During the experimental period, the general status, body weight, blood cells, various indexes of blood biochemistry and the histological changes taking place during the period of indole-2,3-dione taking.Methods Healthy rats were randomly divided into four groups: one control group, which is defined as rats which are gastrogavage-administered with 1.25% west gum tragacanth. Three indole-2,3-dione treatment groups, which are defined as rats with three distinct doses(30, 150, 300mgkg-1) of indole-2,3-dione gastrogavage. Rats in these groups were administered tow times a day (lml/100g) for a continuous 180 days period. On the 90th days, hematological or biochemical indexeswere tested, after dissection pathology were investigated in 12 rats of each groups. On the 180th days, we do the same test in 16 rats of each groups. After finishing giving drug 28 days, do the tests again.Results (1)The rats were feeded with indole-2,3-dione for 210 days, no apparent effects on the dejection , general behavior of rats were found. There were no significant differences in the weight increase of each groups. With the increase of every groups' weight, diet descend, there weren't significant differences among each groups. The organ outline(hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, kidneys) were not found abnormally changed. (2) The blood samples of the rats were examined. The content of MAO-B in tested rats reduced significantly (P<0.01).(3)The rats were feeded with indole-2, 3-dione for 90 days. Parameters of blood biochemistry were in the range of normal value. The ALT of female high-dosage, intermediate-dosage group rats in reversible convalescence less than the blank control group (P<0.05). (4)There was no abnormal change in the drug groups in the EKG examination. (5)The organ coefficient in drug groups had no significant difference compared with those in the control groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion The previous and present findings show thatindole-2,3-dione has no obviously side- effect, it has low toxicity.