Effect of Astragaloside IV on the General and Peripartum Reproductive Toxicity in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Fertility and early embryonic developmental toxicity in rats were evaluated by intravenously administering astragaloside IV (AS-IV) daily at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg for 4 weeks before mating, throughout the mating period, and continuing to day 6 of gestation period in females. Perinatal toxicity in rats was evaluated on gestational days (GD) 15 to 21 and lactational days LD (LD) 1 to 21. Astragaloside IV had no maternal toxicity at 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg in rats. Although it has an inhibitory effect on female fertility in F0/F1 rats, AS-IV was devoid of early embryonic developmental toxicity in F0/F1 rats and in the survival parameters of F1 postnatal rats. Maternal AS-IV exposure at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg per d resulted in a significant delay in time for fur development, eye opening, and cliff parry reflex of pups compared to control group (P < .05), whereas it did not affect the memory and learning of F1 pups.

Inhibition of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through the suppression of the ERK signaling pathway by astragaloside IV and attenuation of titanium-particle-induced osteolysis

“…Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) ( Fig. 1) is a saponin purified from Astragalus membranaceus Bge., one of the most widely used Chinese herbs (19). AS-IV has been reported to have a wide range of treatment effects, with no toxicity (20).…”

Research review on the pharmacological effects of astragaloside IV

“…administration of AS‐IV (0.5–1.0 mg/kg) during pregnancy in SD rat and New Zealand rabbits, maternal toxicity and fetotoxicity are noticed, while teratogenicity is not observed . Further studies indicated that maternal exposure to AS‐IV (1.0 mg/kg, 4 weeks) directly leads to the delay of fur formation, eye opening, and cliff parry reflex (neurodevelopmental marker), while it has no effect on memory and learning of newborn rats . Based on the existing researches, we speculate that AS‐IV should be administered with caution to all pregnant women.…”

Accelerated Bone Regeneration by Astragaloside IV through Stimulating the Coupling of Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis

“…To date, very few side effects of AS-IV have been reported, except for mild maternal toxicity and fetotoxicity [52,53]. However, according to our in vitro results, a high concentration (80 μM) of AS-IV failed to further promote osteogenic differentiation, but relatively inhibited the proliferation of BMSCs.…”