[Effects of Radix Ophiopogonis decoction on embryo-fetal development in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential developmental toxicity of Radix Ophiopogonis decoction in SD rats.


METHODS
Timed-pregnant SD rats were given Radix Ophiopogonis decoction (26.9 g x kg(-1)) or vehicle (distilled water) by gavage on gestation days 6-17. Maternal clinical sign, abortions, premature deliveries, and body weight were monitored throughout gestation. At termination (gestation days 20) pregnant females were evaluated for clinical status and gestational outcome; live fetuses were examined for gender, external, visceral and skeletal malformation and variations.


RESULTS
No deaths, premature deliveries or dose-related clinical signs were attributed to Radix Ophiopogonis decoction. Maternal body weight and body weight gain were not affected. There were no effects on fetus weight and viability, incidences of fetal malformation and variation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated that Radix Ophiopogonis decoction had no detectable adverse effects in either the treated F0 female rats or the fetuses.
National Institute for Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, National Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, Beijing 100176, China. zhangmin@nicpbp.org.cn
Min
M
Zhang
Xiaomeng
X
Liu
Jie
J
Song
Yanping
Y
Hu
Xiuwen
X
Wang
Bo
B
Li
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D031441:Ophiopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal