OBJECTIVEThe pulmonary toxicity of water extract of Siegesbeckia pubescens has been studied an mice following subchronic oral administration route.

METHODMice were randomly grouped and administered with the water extract of S. pubescens at dosages of 3.0, 1.0, 0.3 g x kg(-1) and saline respectively. 10 mice of each group were sacrificed on the day of 7 th, 14 th, 21 th, and 2 weeks after stopping administration, histological changes of the lung were examined.

RESULTThe water extract of S. pubescens at dosage of 3.0 g x kg(-1) increased the lung index on the of day 14 th and 21 th, significant histopathological damages were observed. The histopathological changes were disappeared after stopping administration for 2 weeks.

CONCLUSIONThe water extract of S. pubescens has a pulmonary toxic effect on mice, and the toxic effect is reversible.