Objective: To investigate the toxicity and toxicity reversibility of non-lethal dose of vinegar-preparing Kansui Radix on zebrafish larvae

and validate the feasibility of zebrafish model for rapid assessment of drug toxicity. Method: Samples were continuously extracted with soxhlet extractor in different polar solvents to prepare different extracts. Healthy adult zebrafish were paired for spawning. The 72 hour-post-fertilization(hpf) zebrafish larvae were chosen as models to investigate their mortality rate after 72 h treatment with different extracts of processed Kansui. The toxicity and reversibility of the most toxic extraction part was evaluated on zebrafish cardiovascular system

liver

nervous system

gastrointestinal system

kidneys and other organs and systems. Result: The order of toxicities for different extraction parts of processed Kansui Radix on zebrafish larvae was as follows: petroleum ether extract > ethyl acetate extract > dichloromethane extract > ethanol extract. In the petroleum ether extract treated group

the liver intensity of the zebrafish larvae was significantly changed with the drug concentration

and the color the liver became dark as compared with blank group (P<0.01). Minor liver injury was found in the 0.054 mg·L-1 petroleum ether extract group by hematoxylin-eosin staining

but it was significantly improved in the recovery group. The residual was decreased significantly in 0.012

0.036

0.054 mg·L-1 petroleum ether extract groups as compared to blank control group and 0.004 mg·L-1 petroleum ether extract group (P<0.01)

and their gastrointestinal tract was promoted to empty. Other systems had no obvious toxicity characteristics

with no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: In the petroleum ether

dichloromethane

ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of vinegar-preparing Kansui

petroleum ether extract had the greatest toxicity

mainly in hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal irritation on zebrafish larvae. Hepatotoxicity caused liver degeneration and showed high reversibility. What's more

zebrafish as a reliable mammal model for screening acute toxic agents has good application prospects.