title: Evaluation of embryotoxicity for major components of herbal extracts using the chick embryonic heart micromass and mouse D3 embryonic stem cell systems.
abstract: Herbal remedies are often used during the early stages of pregnancy, being considered 'harmless' and 'natural'. There are insufficient data regarding their potential embryotoxicity. The main components of selected herbs, including 6-gingerol from ginger, Ginkgolide A and Ginkgolide B from gingko biloba and Ginsenoside Rg1 from ginseng, have been investigated using chick embryonic heart micromass and Mouse D3 embryonic stem cells. The potential effects were evaluated via alteration in contractility, cell viability, and cell protein content. The myocytes in both systems were also demonstrated by immunocytochemistry using a specific cardiomyocyte marker (α-actinin). For 6-gingerol, Ginkgolide A, Ginkgolide B and Ginsenoside Rg1 in both methods, at moderate to high concentrations, there were alterations in the values for the endpoints. These data indicate that herbal remedies used in the first trimester of pregnancy might not be safe for fetal development.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, QMC, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Omar J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, QMC, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Muhammad Liaque
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Medical School, QMC, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: margaret.pratten@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Margaret K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pratten
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000185:Actinin
keywords: 6-gingerol; Chick embryonic cardiomyocytes; Ginkgolide A; Ginkgolide B; Ginsenoside Rg1; Herbal medicines; Micromass; Mouse D3 embryonic stem cells