Teratogenic effects of HESA-A, a natural anticancer product from Iran, in mice.
Summary of "Teratogenic effects of HESA-A, a natural anticancer product from Iran, in mice."
HESA-A is a natural product containing herbal and marine animal substances, which has been patented in Iran. It has shown antioxidant, cytotoxic and anticancer effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of HESA-A in mice. HESA-A (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) was administered orally to pregnant mice on days 6 to 14 of gestation. Mouse reproductive developmental toxicity study was performed according to the ICH guideline. Embryos from the treated dam were sectioned and studied for external morphological abnormalities and skeletal malformations. HESA-A at two doses (400 and 800 mg/kg) slowed weight gain of pregnant mice. These two doses of HESA-A led to reduction in uterus weight (17% and 20% for the 400 and 800 mg/kg doses, respectively), increase in post-implantation resorption (150% and 200%, respectively), reduction in fetus weight (22% and 32%, respectively) and crown-lump length (15% and 19%, respectively). HESA-A at 400 and 800 mg/kg doses caused mild external and skeletal malformation significantly higher than the normal saline group. However, higher doses caused embryo malformations such as short limbs, spinal abnormalities, dermal cysts, microphtalmia and cleft palate. According to this study, only higher doses of HESA-A, which are 20 to 40 times higher than the usual therapeutic doses based on body surface conversion, may cause embryonic toxicity. This provides a reasonable safety margin for the use of HESA-A in pregnancy. Mechanisms of these abnormalities are not clear and need to be determined.
Affiliation
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Human & experimental toxicology
ISSN: 1477-0903
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20682579
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327110379521
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
6-aminonicotinamide
A vitamin antagonist which has teratogenic effects.
Isotretinoin
A topical dermatologic agent that is used in the treatment of ACNE VULGARIS and several other skin diseases. The drug has teratogenic and other adverse effects.
T-2 Toxin
A potent mycotoxin produced in feedstuffs by several species of the genus FUSARIUM. It elicits a severe inflammatory reaction in animals and has teratogenic effects.
Etretinate
An oral retinoid used in the treatment of keratotic genodermatosis, lichen planus, and psoriasis. Beneficial effects have also been claimed in the prophylaxis of epithelial neoplasia. The compound may be teratogenic.
Biopterin
A natural product that has been considered as a growth factor for some insects.
PubMed Articles
Anticancer effects of HESA-A: An herbal marine compound.
Synthesis of (-)-arctigenin derivatives and their anticancer activity.
The natural dibenzylbutyrolactone type lignanolide (-)-arctigenin, which was prepared from fructus arctii, showed obvious anticancer activity. The synthesis of four new (-)-arctigenin derivatives and...
Ursane-type pentacyclic triterpenoids as useful platforms to discover anticancer drugs.
Covering: up to December 2011This review highlights the potential of natural and semisynthetic ursane-type triterpenoids as candidates for the design of multi-target bioactive compounds, with focus on...
Anticancer steroids: linking natural and semi-synthetic compounds.
Covering: up to 2012Steroids, a widespread class of natural organic compounds occurring in animals, plants and fungi, have shown great therapeutic value for a broad array of pathologies. The present o...
Analogues of the tripyrrolic natural product prodigiosin bearing an additional methyl and a carbonyl group at the C-ring were synthesised and evaluated. In vitro anticancer activity screening (NCI) an...
Clinical Trials
Effects of Cocoa Products on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of optimized composition chocolates that include natural ingredients with demonstrated biological activity are observed cardioprotector...
The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of a natural health product, as compared to placebo (an inactive substance), in managing the symptoms of ADHD. The natural health produ...
Electronic Notification of Teratogenic Risks
This study will use a factorial design randomized controlled trial to (1)compare multi-faceted decision support (intervention) to streamlined clinical alerts (control) and (2) evaluate whe...
HIV Risk Reduction and Drug Abuse Treatment in Iran
A randomized, double blind clinical trial comparing buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance treatment when combined with drug abuse and HIV risk reduction counseling (DC-HIV) for heroin a...
Deep Brain Stimulation Effects Study
The purpose of this study is to provide proof-of-concept that the test product can perform as intended in an intra-operative setting and the responses to the test product are perceivable i...
