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The Teratogenic Mechanism of Echinochrome as a Hypoglycemic Agent on Wistar Rats
Eman Y. Salah EL Din2
Neveen A. Farag2
Abdel Rahman A. Tawfik2
Authors Info & Affiliations
Abstract
Background:
Echinochrome (Ech) is the active ingredient in the Histochrome drug, which possesses strong antioxidant, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activity.
Objective:
The present work aimed to characterize the malformations induced by moderate and high dose of Ech during pregnancy.
Methods:
In this study, eighteen (18) female pregnant rats were assigned into 3 groups (6 rats/ group); control group, low dose Ech (0.1 mg/kg) and high dose Ech (1 mg/kg).
Results:
The high dose of Ech caused a significant decrease in the number of embryos, uteri weight, body weight gain, placenta weight, and embryo weight and length. Also, the high dose led to a significant increase in serum AST, ALT, ALP, urea and uric acid of mothers.
Conclusion:
Our findings revealed the first teratogenic effects of high dose Ech. The teratogenic mechanism of Ech works through induction of the hypoglycemic condition in pregnant rats.
