Assessment of the embryotoxicity of four Chinese herbal extracts using the embryonic stem cell test

Mol Med Rep. 2015 Aug;12(2):2348-54. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3598. Epub 2015 Apr 7.

Abstract

Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala, Radix Isatidis, Coptis chinensis and Flos Genkwa are common herbal remedies used by pregnant woman in China. In this study, their potential embryotoxicity was assessed using the embryonic stem cell test (EST) and a prediction model. The potential embryotoxicity of the herbs was based on three endpoints: the concentrations of the compounds that inhibited the proliferation of 50% of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) (IC50ES), the concentrations that inhibited 50% of 3T3 cells (IC503T3), and the concentrations that inhibited the differentiation of 50% of ESCs (ID50ES). The results revealed that Rhizoma Atractylodes macrocephala and Radix Isatidis are non-embryotoxic compounds. Coptis chinensis extracts appeared to demonstrated weak embryotoxicity, and Flos Genkwa exhibited strong embryotoxicity. These results may be useful in guiding the clinical use of these herbs and in expanding the application of the EST to the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Atractylodes / chemistry*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Coptis / chemistry*
  • Daphne / chemistry*
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / chemistry
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Female
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Pregnancy
  • Rhizome / chemistry
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Plant Extracts
  • banlangen