Teratogenic Potential of Solenstemma argel Extract in Wistar Albino Rats

The majority of people in Africa receive their basic health care through herbal treatments. Herbal medicine may negatively impact fetal development irreparably. This study examined the teratogenic potential of Solenstemma argel extract in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats were treated with Solenstemma argel from 7th to 16th day of gestation. The dosage used was 250 mg/kg, intraperitoneal.Solenstemma argel extract treated group showed fetal abnormalities appeared as body hemorrhage, limbs abnormalities and resorption of fetuses. These appears in 25% of the fetuses (P-value = 0.01) which is significantly differed from control group. Furthermore, histopathological findings of liver sections from fetuses of Solenstemma argel - treated mothers showed loose liver texture and hepatocytes hemorrhage.In this study, we conclude that the use Solenstemma argel extract during the organogenesis period in pregnant rats has the potential to cause teratogenic effects, as well as abnormalities in liver histopathology.

Pregabalin Abuse During Pregnancy and Global Developmental Delay in Infants

Pregabalin is a medication licensed for the treatment of epilepsy and anxiety disorders. In addition, Pregabalin is increasingly recognised as a drug of abuse. Teratogenic effects have been demonstrated in animal models, however, there is a dearth of research relating to potential teratogenic effects in humans. This case highlights the potential role of intrauterine exposure to Pregabalin in contributing to Global Developmental Delay in two children.

Teratogenic Potential of Solenstemma Argel Extract in Wistar Albino Rats

The majority of people in Africa receive their basic health care through herbal treatments. Herbal medicine may negatively impact fetal development irreparably. This study examined the teratogenic potential of Solenstemma argel extract in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats were treated with Solenstemma argel from 7th to 16th day of gestation. The dosage used was 250 mg/kg, intraperitoneal.Solenstemma argel extract treated group showed fetal abnormalities appeared as body hemorrhage, limbs abnormalities and resorption of fetuses. These appears in 25% of the fetuses (P-value = 0.01) which is significantly differed from control group. Furthermore, histopathological findings of liver sections from fetuses of Solenstemma argel - treated mothers showed loose liver texture and hepatocytes hemorrhage.In this study, we conclude that the use Solenstemma argel extract during the organogenesis period in pregnant rats has the potential to cause teratogenic effects, as well as abnormalities in liver histopathology.

Quercetin Mitigates Oxidative Stress, Developmental Toxicity and Teratogenic Effects Induced by High-dose Vitamin D2 in Zebrafish Embryos

The aim of the study was to determine the developmental toxicity of high-dose administration of vitamin D2 (vit. D2) and the synergistic effect of vit. D2 inco-treatment with quercetin. Zebrafish embryos at 6 hpf were treated with either vit. D2 (1, 5, 10 μg/mL) or quercetin (5, 10 μg/mL) alone. The results from visual assessment and morphological feature scoring revealed, the occurrence of different morphological abnormalities spiked and aggravated with an increase in vit. D2 dose. The percentage of hatching, heartbeats/minute, velocity, body length, and survivability rate was downregulated in high dose vit. D2 groups. Subsequently, the production of proinflammatory cytokines and intracellular ROS was upregulated in high-dose vit. D2 groups. Contrastingly, in the co-treatment of vit. D2 (5 μg/mL) and quercetin (1, 5, 10 μg/mL), the occurrence of abnormal morphological characteristics was downregulated and the percentage of survivability rate was significantly increased. The production of inflammatory cytokines, intracellular ROS, and MDA was also observed to be inhibited in co-treatment groups. The important antioxidants such as glutathione and catalase were increased in co-treatment groups. The activity of S-A-β gal and apoptosis was downregulated in co-treatment groups. Collectively, quercetin ameliorated the developmental toxicity and teratogenic effects induced by high-dose vit. D2.

Estudo experimental in vivo e in vitro de plantas medicinais nos processos de embriotoxicidade e teratogenicidade

Este trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir na compilação de artigos científicos sobre as plantas medicinais que possuem efeitos embriotóxicos e teratogênicos comprovados através de testes experimentais in vivo e in vitro. Foi realizado um levantamento nas bases de dados Medline, Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Biblioteca virtual em saúde, Lilacs e Scielo com os descritores, “Medicinal plants, embryotoxicity”; “Medicinal plants, Teratogenic effects”; “Medicinal plants, teratogenicity” e seus correspondentes em português: “Plantas medicinais, embriotoxicidade”; “Plantas medicinais, efeitos Teratogênicos”; “Plantas Medicinais Teratogenicidade”. Oito artigos de ensaios in vivo e quatro de in vitro e um que apresenta os dois ensaios, preencheram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão e foram selecionados para esta revisão. Destes, cinco foram realizados na América, um na Europa, três na África e dois na Ásia. Na maioria dos estudos in vivo o extrato da planta foi injetado no animal, observando assim seus efeitos. A partir deste estudo, foi verificado que as plantas podem apresentar algum tipo de efeito no processo embrionário, portanto, o consumo durante o estado gravidico deve ser avaliado por um profissional da área. Palavras-chave: Gestação. Planta medicinal. Embriotoxicidade. Teratogênico.

Zebrafish toxicological screening could aid Leishmaniosis drug discovery

Background Recently a screen from a library of 1.8 million compounds identified in vitro a potent activity of the 2-aminobenzimidazoles series against Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent responsible by over 20.000 deaths each year. Several analogs were synthesized and in vitro tested through an optimization program, leading to a promising 2-aminobenzimidazoles derived compound (2amnbzl-d) that was progressed to in vivo mice studies. However, the not expected toxic effects prevented its progression to more advanced preclinical and clinical phases of drug development. Due to limitations of cell models in detecting whole organism complex interactions, 90% of the compounds submitted to pre-clinical tests are reproved. The use of Zebrafish embryo models could improve this rate, saving mammals, time and costs in the development of new drugs. To test this hypothesis, we compared 2amnbzl-d with two compounds with already established safety profile: carbamazepine and benznidazole, using an embryo Zebrafish platform based on acute toxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity assays (Pltf-AcHpNrCd). Results Tests were performed blindly, and the results demonstrated the presence of lethal and teratogenic effects (CL50%: 14.8 µM; EC50%: 8.6 µM), hepatotoxic in concentrations above 7.5 µM and neurotoxic in embryos exposed to 15 µM of 2amnbzl-d. Nevertheless, benznidazole exposition showed no toxicity and only the 100 µM of carbamazepine induced a bradycardia. Conclusions Results using Pltf-AcHpNrCd with zebrafish reproduced that found in the toxicological tests with mammals to a portion of the costs and time of experimentation.