Histological changes in fetal liver after maternal treatment with panax ginseng

ABSTRACT

It is generally believed that 'natural' herbal medicines are better and safer than conventional medicines. Various in vitro studies have proved that Ginsenosides exert direct teratogenic affects on rat and mouse embryos and there is a significant variability in embryotoxic effects of different Ginsenosides. Histological examination revealed signs of hepatocyte degeneration, sinusoidal congestion and erythrocyte infiltration in the sections of liver. The changes encountered in the treated groups were dose dependant; these were marked in the high dose treated group. Ginsenosides present in the commercially available Ginseng products have teratogenic effects in vivo, although results from animal teratogenicity may not reflect the circumstances in humans. Our investigation indicates that Ginseng products have teratogenic effects in vivo and suggest that further investigations and monitoring of effects of Ginsenosides on human embryoes are warranted