title: Teratogenicity of Asparagus racemosus Willd. root, a herbal medicine.
abstract: Asparagus racemosus (AR) is a herb used as a rasayana in Ayurveda and is considered both general and female reproductive tonic. Methanolic extract of A. racemosus roots (ARM; 100 mg/kg/day for 60 days) showed teratological disorders in terms of increased resorption of fetuses, gross malformations e.g. swelling in legs and intrauterine growth retardation with a small placental size in Charles Foster rats. Pups born to mother exposed to ARM for full duration of gestation showed evidence of higher rate of resorption and therefore smaller litter size. The live pup showed significant decrease in body weight and length and delay of various developmental parameters when compared to respective control groups. AR therefore, should be used in pregnancy cautiously as its exposure during that period may cause damage to the offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu Univerisity, Varanasi 221 005, India. rkgoel_bhu@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prabha
authors.forename: M Mohan
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorababu
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000196:embryology / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D027761:Asparagus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D013723:Teratogens