1. The effects of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. on embryonic development: In vivo and in vitro studies
- Author
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Tian, Xiao Ying, Xu, Min, Deng, Bin, Leung, Kelvin Sze-Yin, Cheng, King Fai, Zhao, Zhong Zhen, Zhang, Shi Ping, Yang, Zhi Jun, Deng, Ping Xiang, Xu, Dong Ying, Xu, Xiao Ping, Koo, Irene, and Wong, Michael
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ANALYSIS of variance , *ANIMAL experimentation , *ANTHROPOMETRY , *BIOLOGICAL assay , *BIOPHYSICS , *CHI-squared test , *COMPUTER software , *DOSE-effect relationship in pharmacology , *DRUG toxicity , *HISTOLOGICAL techniques , *MATHEMATICS , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICINAL plants , *MICE , *MISCARRIAGE , *RESEARCH funding , *STATISTICAL sampling , *STATISTICS , *T-test (Statistics) , *VITAMIN A , *PLANT extracts , *DATA analysis , *EMBRYOS , *STATISTICAL significance , *FETAL development - Abstract
Abstract: Aim of the study: Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. was commonly used to treat miscarriages clinically. The aim of this study was to examine its safety for embryonic development. Materials and methods: Pregnant mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups, i.e. mice were oral-treated with distilled water (G1), with Boehmeria nivea extract of 2, 8 or 32g/kg/day (G2, G3 or G4), and with 3 doses of vitamin A of 200,000IU/kg as positive controls (G5). Meanwhile, IC50 values for both embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and 3T3 cells were detected by cytotoxicity assays. Results: (1) The resorptions and malformed fetuses in G5 were significantly higher than G1 (P <0.001), whereas the maternal body-weight and uterus-weight were lower than G1 (P <0.05); (2) there was no difference in the fetal body-weight, maternal relative body-weight gain, liver-, kidney- or heart-weight, relative organ-weight, and histological examination among five groups; (3) there was no difference in IC50 values between ESCs and 3T3 cells, but high concentration of Boehmeria nivea extract might significantly lower ESCs’ viability (P <0.05). Conclusion: Boehmeria nivea extract at 32g/kg/day did not cause significant embryotoxicity or maternal toxicity in mice, although it might cause cytotoxicity in cultured ESCs at a high dose. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2011
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