Objective:To explore the characteristics and mechanism of Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity.Methods:Chinese herbs with reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity and genetic toxicity were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine System Toxicology Database. The property, taste, meridian tropism, toxicity classification and performance, and the toxic component and action target of each medicinal material were collected and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.Results:A total of 55 kinds of Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity were screened out. They were mostly warm [20 (36.4%)] or cold [15 (27.3%)] in property, and mostly bitter and pungent in taste [bitter-pungent, bitter, and pungent accounted for 30.9% (17/55), 23.6% (13/55) and 18.2% (10/55)]. The channel tropisms were mainly liver, lung, spleen, and kidney [58.2% (32/55), 38.2% (21/55), 38.2% (21/55) and 34.5% (19/55)], and the main manifestations of its reproductive toxicity were reproductive function damage in males and females, abnormal embryonic growth and development and genetic/cytotoxicity, which might lead to reduced pregnancy rate, miscarriage, abnormal fetal growth and development, etc. There were 29 kinds of Chinese herbs with 35 known fertility toxic components. Among them, 30 toxic components had 11 known toxic targets. The more common toxic targets included thyroid hormone receptor beta, cytochrome P450 1A1, sex hormone-binding globulin and interleukin-1 beta.Conclusions:Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity are mostly warm or cold in property, and bitter and pungent in taste; their channel tropisms are mainly liver, lung, spleen and kidney; they mainly affect fertility and embryonic development by changing the body′s endocrine and interfering with sex hormone metabolism.

Objective:To explore the characteristics and mechanism of Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity.Methods:Chinese herbs with reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity and genetic toxicity were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine System Toxicology Database. The property, taste, meridian tropism, toxicity classification and performance, and the toxic component and action target of each medicinal material were collected and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.Results:A total of 55 kinds of Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity were screened out. They were mostly warm [20 (36.4%)] or cold [15 (27.3%)] in property, and mostly bitter and pungent in taste [bitter-pungent, bitter, and pungent accounted for 30.9% (17/55), 23.6% (13/55) and 18.2% (10/55)]. The channel tropisms were mainly liver, lung, spleen, and kidney [58.2% (32/55), 38.2% (21/55), 38.2% (21/55) and 34.5% (19/55)], and the main manifestations of its reproductive toxicity were reproductive function damage in males and females, abnormal embryonic growth and development and genetic/cytotoxicity, which might lead to reduced pregnancy rate, miscarriage, abnormal fetal growth and development, etc. There were 29 kinds of Chinese herbs with 35 known fertility toxic components. Among them, 30 toxic components had 11 known toxic targets. The more common toxic targets included thyroid hormone receptor beta, cytochrome P450 1A1, sex hormone-binding globulin and interleukin-1 beta.Conclusions:Chinese herbs with fertility toxicity are mostly warm or cold in property, and bitter and pungent in taste; their channel tropisms are mainly liver, lung, spleen and kidney; they mainly affect fertility and embryonic development by changing the body′s endocrine and interfering with sex hormone metabolism.

OBJECTIVETo analysis the effects of water deficit on the transcript level of SOD, APX, DHAR and MDHAR genes in Scutellaria baicalensis.

METHODThree-month-old S. baicalensis was in glasshouse under water deficit stress, and the transcript level of SOD, APX, DHAR and MDHAR genes were analysis utilized semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTCompared with the control group, a significant decline of the transcriptional level of APX gene was observed at 70 days after water deficit. The transcript level of DHAR gene was reduced at 30 and 50 days after water deficit. And MDHARI gene was significant declined at 50 days.

CONCLUSIONAsA which is an important antioxidant plays a major role in hydrogen peroxide clear system under water deficit, and maybe have an antagonistic effect to the accumulation of baicalein.

Ascorbate Peroxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Water ; metabolism ; pharmacology