Liu Peng, Xu Yajun, Yin Huijun, Wang Junbo, Chen Keji, Li Yong
School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 2005 Apr;74(2):207-9. doi: 10.1002/bdrb.20038.
Ginseng has been widely used around the world for many years. Knowledge is limited, however, on its effects on embryonic development.
Whole embryo culture was used to explore the developmental toxicity of ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) on mouse embryos. All embryos were exposed to different concentrations of GRb1, and scored for their growth and differentiation at the end of the 48-hr culture period.
Total morphological score decreased significantly at the concentration of GRb1 of 30 microg/ml and was further reduced at 50 microg/ml. Yolk sac was affected at the lower concentration of 15 microg/ml. Developments of midbrain, forebrain, and optic system were relatively sensitive to GRb1 and were affected at the concentration of 30 microg/ml. Allantois, flexion, branchial arch, and limb buds were affected at 50 microg/ml. At this concentration, the embryonic crown-rump length, head length, and somite number were also reduced significantly compared to the control group.
These results suggest that GRb1 has teratogenic effect during the mouse organogenetic period. We suggest that before more data in humans is available, ginseng should be used with caution by pregnant women in the first trimester.
人参在全球已被广泛使用多年。然而，其对胚胎发育影响的相关知识有限。
采用全胚胎培养法探究人参皂苷Rb1（GRb1）对小鼠胚胎的发育毒性。所有胚胎均暴露于不同浓度的GRb1中，并在48小时培养期结束时对其生长和分化情况进行评分。
当GRb1浓度为30微克/毫升时，总形态学评分显著降低，在50微克/毫升时进一步降低。卵黄囊在15微克/毫升的较低浓度下即受到影响。中脑、前脑和视觉系统的发育对GRb1相对敏感，在30微克/毫升的浓度下受到影响。尿囊、屈曲、鳃弓和肢芽在50微克/毫升时受到影响。在此浓度下，与对照组相比，胚胎的冠臀长、头长和体节数也显著减少。
这些结果表明GRb1在小鼠器官发生期具有致畸作用。我们建议，在获得更多关于人类的相关数据之前，妊娠早期的孕妇应谨慎使用人参。
