Protective effects of vitamin B12, ginseng saponin, and folic acid against murine fetal deformities caused by hyperthermia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects of vitamin B(12), ginseng saponin, and folic acid on mouse embryos subjected to high heat.

METHODS

Mice were used for the experiment.

RESULTS

After exposure of pregnant mice to high heat, the rates of teratism, stillbirth, and fetal absorption were markedly lower in mice treated with ginseng saponin and folic acid following heat exposure than in untreated mice. There were no significant differences in these rates when comparing mice treated with vitamin B(12) with the untreated mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Ginseng saponin and folic acid can lessen injuries to murine embryos caused by high heat, while vitamin B(12) has little protective effect against high temperature except for promoting overall embryonic growth.