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

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.