Translating preclinical data into a meaningful human dosage is one of the foundational tasks in drug development and dietary supplement research. Dose conversion helps in deriving the maximum recommended starting dose (MRSD) for first-in-human clinical trials of new herbal ingredients or drugs in adult healthy volunteers based on animal studies is crucial.
At Mythreya Herbal Research Institute, we’ve created a free, web-based Dose Conversion Tool grounded in the US FDA’s body surface area (BSA)-based dose conversion guidance. This tool allows researchers to instantly convert animal doses to human equivalents and download a PDF report for documentation.
Why Accurate Dose Conversion Matters in Research
Preclinical animal studies are essential for characterizing the safety and efficacy of bioactive substances, including those derived from herbal sources. But bridging the gap between animal data and human application requires robust, scientifically accepted dose scaling methods.
Relying on body weight alone (simple mg/kg conversions) is not always reasonable and may result in unsafe recommendations. That’s why regulatory agencies including the U.S. FDA recommends BSA-based dose extrapolation using standard km values. This method accounts for physiological differences in metabolic rate, blood flow, and organ surface area between species, and is considered more predictive of actual human pharmacodynamics.
How the Dose Converter Tool Works
Our tool implements the exact calculation framework described in the US FDA’s 2005 guidance, using standard km factors for the most commonly used laboratory animals:
| Species | km factor |
| Human | 37 |
| Mouse | 3 |
| Hamster | 5 |
| Rat | 6 |
| Ferrat | 7 |
| Guinea pig | 8 |
| Rabbit | 12 |
| Dog | 20 |
| Monkeys | 12 |
| Marmoset | 6 |
| Squirrel monkey | 7 |
| Baboon | 20 |
| Micro-pig | 27 |
| Mini-pig | 35 |
To estimate Human Equivalent Dose (HED), the below formula is used.
HED (mg/kg) = Animal Dose (mg/kg) × (Animal km / Human km)
Steps to Use the Dose Conversion Tool
- Enter the Substance Name
- Type the name of the test substance or compound in the field labeled “Substance Name”.
- Select the Source Species
- Use the dropdown under “From Species” to select the animal species for which you have the dose (e.g., Rat, Mouse, Dog, etc.).
- Select the Target Species
- Use the dropdown under “To Species” to select the species for which you want the equivalent dose (e.g., Human).
- Enter the Original Dose
- In the “Dose (mg/kg)” field, enter the dose from the source species in milligrams per kilogram.
- Enter Target Body Weight (Optional)
- In the “Target Body Weight (kg)” field, optionally enter the target species’ body weight (e.g., 60 for 60 kg human).
- Click Convert
- Hit the green “Convert” button.
- The tool will calculate and display the converted dose based on standard body surface area (BSA) normalization.
- An option to download the pdf of Dose conversion report will be available.
Key tool features include:
- BSA-based conversion for multiple species
- Instant calculation of HED (mg/kg and total mg for adult human)
- Downloadable PDF report summarizing inputs and results
- Fully web-based — no login or installation required
Common Research Applications
This tool is especially useful for researchers involved in:
- Toxicology studies: Evaluating NOAEL and applying uncertainty factors
- Dose justification in NDI-N or GRAS submissions
- Clinical study design: Selecting starting doses for human trials
- Pharmacological evaluation of botanicals
- Translational research bridging lab findings to clinical settings
- Comparative safety assessments in regulatory or academic work
The ability to download a PDF report also makes it easier to:
- Include results in internal reviews
- Maintain data traceability in research archives
Built for Researchers and Regulatory professionals.
This tool was developed by Mythreya Herbal Research Institute. By creating this tool, we aimed to:
- Eliminate the repetitive manual work in dose conversion
- Reduce calculation errors
- Encourage standardized, regulator-aligned dose extrapolation
- Support research transparency and reproducibility
Scientific Foundation
The methodology is directly based on Guidance for Industry: Estimating the Maximum Safe Starting Dose in Initial Clinical Trials for Therapeutics in Adult Healthy Volunteers. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, July 2005
🔗 Try the Free Dose Converter Tool Today
Our tool is freely available to the research community. No sign-up required. Whether you’re planning your next animal study or finalizing a GRAS dossier, this tool helps you make your case with clarity and compliance.
👉 Access the Dose Converter Tool
Questions? Feedback? Collaboration ideas?
Reach us at info@mythreyaherbal.com
Disclaimer: The Dose Conversion Tool is intended solely for use by researchers, regulatory affairs professionals, and product developers. It must not be used by consumers to determine personal dosing or to assume safety of any ingredient or product. The Dose Conversion tool does not account for required safety factors, target population considerations, intended use, or regulatory toxicology standards. For any clinical, therapeutic, or consumer use, appropriate safety assessment, expert review, and regulatory compliance are essential.
