Reproductive toxicity of Rhizoma Sparganii (Sparganium stoloniferum Buch.-Ham.) in mice: mechanisms of anti-angiogenesis and anti-estrogen pharmacologic activities.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Indications and preliminary studies of Rhizoma Sparganii (RS) suggest its pharmacological mechanism is involved with endocrine/angiogenesis functions. We therefore studied its potential toxicity on reproduction in mice.

Materials And Methods: Reproductive toxicity of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg RS extract were studied in pregnant ICR mice and its offspring. The embryos' fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) were evaluated as targets of endocrine/angiogenesis by immunohistochemical test.

Results: The offspring of treated mice (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg RS extract) during their pregnancy had various pathological conditions, suggesting an abnormal FGF signaling phenomenon during pregnancy. Embryos from the 400 mg/kg group had significantly depressed levels of FGF-1 (P < 0.01) and VEGF (P < 0.05) expression levels as compared to controls by immunohistochemical test. Dysplasia in the heart (12.9%), craniofacial region (18.3%) and vertebrae (32.5%) presented in embryos of the 400 mg/kg group. Furthermore, the ER-α expression was inversely proportional to FGF-1 levels in the same embryo (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: These results implicate a FGF signaling abnormality in vivo and indicate that RS has anti-angiogenesis and anti-estrogen toxicity effects in pregnant rodents.