The Effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Embryonic Development: In-vivo and In-vitro Studies

The Effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Embryonic Development: In-vivo and In-vitro Studies

Author(s): 
Wei Xu - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Min Xu - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China (Corresponding author)
Zhong Zhen Zhao - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Chi I Chow - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Xiao Ying Tian - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Ting Ting Xiao - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Nan Ding - School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Quan Xia - Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, China
Xi Qiang Liu - NZ Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Society, New Zealand

Background: Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas (Paeonaceae). It was commonly used to treat miscarriages as a traditional herbal medicine in China and other countries.

Aim: Since there is no sufficient evidence about PRA safety, this study aims to examine the impact of PRA aqueous extract in embryonic development with mice and embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

Method: Pregnant mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups, i.e. mice were oral-treated with distilled water as negative control (G1), with PRA extract of 2/8/32g/kg/day (G2, G3 or G4), and with 3 doses of vitamin A of 200,00 IU/Kg as positive control (G5). Meanwhile, IC50 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 G1, G2, G3,G4 and G5; (3) there was no difference in IC50 values between ESCs and 3T3 cells among G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5.

Conclusion: Orally administering aqueous extract of PRA at the dose of 32g/kg/day (12 times of human daily dose) to mice did not cause significant embryonic toxicity, maternal toxicity or cytotoxicity in mice. (This project was supported by the UGC-HKBU Matching Grant (40-48-095) and Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2015) and Hong Kong Baptist University FRG2/13-14/066)

Keywords: Paeoniae Radix Alba; developmental toxicity; mouse; embryonic stem cell