title: Reproductive toxicity of brazilein in ICR mice.
abstract: Brazilein is an active small molecular compound extracted from Caesalpinia sappan L. with favorable pharmacological properties on immune system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. C. sappan has been used as a traditional medicine in China for hundreds of years for various diseases. However, the general reproductive toxicity of brazilein is still unknown. The purpose of the present study was to thoroughly evaluate the general reproductive toxicity of brazilein in ICR mice to support the future drug development and modernization of this potent traditional Chinese medicine. The results showed that, although no apparent toxicity on the reproducibility of the male was observed, brazilein might cause considerable risks to the fetuses and females as indicated by the ratios of dead fetuses and reabsorptions. In conclusion, our results from the present study provided some useful insights about the safety profile of brazilein, suggesting that brazilein should be used with caution in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Shuang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Gang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Shi
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: pharm@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dong-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address: lijundu@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: DU
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000633:toxicity*; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000633:toxicity*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007192:Indenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007192:Indenes; C050295:brazilein
keywords: Brazilein; General productive toxicity; Mice