Single- and repeated-dose oral toxicity tests of deep sea water mineral extracts in ICR mice

Deep sea water (DSW) is located 100 to 500 m below the sea surface. DSW is widely used in various fields, and is an important source of minerals that can be used to treat mineral deficiency. In the present study, the oral toxicity of DSW-mineral extracts was determined using single-dose and 14-day repeated dose oral toxicity tests in ICR mice. For the single-dose oral toxicity tests, mineral extracts of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) at doses of 0, 6, 270, 810, and 1,350 mg/kg, respectively, were orally administered to mice once at the beginning of the experiment, and the mice were observed for 14 days. For the 14-day repeated dose oral toxicity tests, Mg and Ca mineral extracts at doses of 0, 3, 135, 405, 675 mg/kg, respectively, were orally administered to mice daily, and the mice were observed for 14 days. Various tests were performed including visual observation; analysis of relative organ weight, food intake, and organ weight; biochemical analysis, and histopathology. The results indicated that mortality and changes in appearance were not observed among differentially administered groups of male and female ICR mice during the experimental period. Differences in body weight gain, food intake, organ weight, and histopathology parameters were not significant between the control and mineral-administered groups. Some results of the biochemical analyses were significantly different, but showed no specific tendencies. Overall, no evidence of toxicity was observed from the oral administration of DSW extracts of Ca and Mg in ICR mice.