curcumin and Abnormalities--Drug-Induced

Embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of curcumin on the development of zebrafish embryo were investi-gated in this study. The LD(50) values of curcumin (24-h incubation) were estimated at 7.5 microM and 5 microM for embryos and larvae, respectively. The developmental defects caused by curcumin treatments include bent or hook-like tails, spinal column curving, edema in pericardial sac, retarded yolk sac resorption, and shorter body length. In curcumin-treated larvae, fluorescence signals of curcumin were found in edamae sac and some skin cells. Together, these results indicate that zebrafish are suitable model organisms to study the toxic effects of curcumin.

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Animals; Curcumin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Female; Larva; Lethal Dose 50; Zebrafish

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L) is a multi-purpose herb (Hobbs, 1990: Pharm Hist 32:79-82) widely used for its antibiotic properties. It is traditionally contraindicated in pregnancy based on in vivo data but this contraindication has not been confirmed by conventional studies that have been peer reviewed.. Female rats were dosed by gavage using 65 times the human dose of goldenseal daily on either gestation days (GD) 1-8 or GD 8-15. Controls received an equivalent dose of ethanol. On GD 20, fetuses were weighed and examined for signs of external, internal, or skeletal malformations. Rat fetuses were also explanted on GD 10.5 and cultured with decreasing concentrations of goldenseal for 26 hr. Embryos were examined for growth retardation and malformations.. There was no increase in pre- or post-implantation losses. There was no increase in fetal body weight in fetuses exposed to goldenseal. There was no difference in incidence of external or internal malformations. Goldenseal induced toxicity when GD10.5 embryos were cultured for 26 hr in rat serum to which extract was added.. It is likely that poor absorption of goldenseal from the small intestine could explain the discrepancy between the in vivo and in vitro results. It is unlikely that serum concentration from oral treatment could attain the LOEL achieved in vitro. The contrasting results highlight the continuing importance of in vivo work and the necessity of pharmacokinetic data when interpreting in vitro data. The data suggest that goldenseal, at the prescribed human dose, is unlikely to be absorbed to an extent to be unsafe to use in pregnancy despite the apparent cytotoxic effects in vitro. However, these results indicate that pharmacokinetic studies are required to confirm this conclusion.

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Administration, Oral; Animals; Body Weight; Bone Development; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fetus; Humans; Hydrastis; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reproduction