title: The effects of Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. on embryonic development: in vivo and in vitro studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. was commonly used to treat miscarriages clinically. The aim of this study was to examine its safety for embryonic development.
  
  
  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 32 g/kg/day (G2, G3 or G4), and with 3 doses of vitamin A of 200,000 IU/kg as positive controls (G5). Meanwhile, IC(50) 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 IC(50) values between ESCs and 3T3 cells, but high concentration of Boehmeria nivea extract might significantly lower ESCs' viability (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Boehmeria nivea extract at 32 g/kg/day did not cause significant embryotoxicity or maternal toxicity in mice, although it might cause cytotoxicity in cultured ESCs at a high dose.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiao Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Kelvin Sze-Yin
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: King Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhong Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shi Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ping Xiang
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Dong Ying
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D032402:Boehmeria; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009035:Mothers; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts