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| English name | Latin name | Efficacy based on TCM theory | Mechanism of action | Adverse events | References |
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| Baikal skullcap root | Radix Scutellariae | Clearing heat and stopping bleeding to prevent miscarriage | It can have an antiabortive effect through inhibition of maternal-fetal interface immunity, and it contains baicalein, which has anti-inflammatory effects and elevates progesterone levels to prevent miscarriage. | Treatment with 32 g/kg/day led to potential maternal toxicity and major limb abnormalities in mice. | [56–59, 75] |
| Chinese Angelica | Radix Angelicae Sinensis | Replenishing and promoting blood circulation, regulating menstruation, relieving pain, and acting as a laxative | The water-based extracts can restrain the mobility of uterine smooth muscle and rectify the excitation of oxytocin. | Inhibited embryonic growth and development in rats and mice. | [60, 75] |
| Chinese Dodder seed | Semen Cuscutae | Tonifying the kidney to prevent miscarriage, benefiting essence, and nourishing yin | It promotes progesterone secretion, improves trophoblast function, regulates decidual proliferation and apoptosis, and acts as an antioxidant. | It increased antepartum and postpartum maternal mortality, decreased embryonic development, and minor limb abnormalities, mainly polydactyly and oligodactyly, in mice. | [61–63, 75] |
| Chinese Taxillus twig | Herba Taxilli | Nourishing the liver and kidney, strengthening the waist and knees to prevent miscarriage, dispelling wind, and removing dampness | It is rich in elements such as zinc and manganese that promote fetal development, inhibits uterine contraction, and reduces platelet aggregation. | It had embryotoxic effects with high dose in rats, reduced maternal weight gain and increased early fetal resorption rate, shortened pregnancy duration, increased congenital malformation and postnatal mortality rate, and reduced postnatal weight gain in mice. | [64, 65, 75] |
| Donkey-hide glue | Colla Corii Asini | Nourishing and regulating the blood to prevent miscarriage, and relieving pain | It contains iron, zinc, and other essential trace elements and thus can also stop vaginal bleeding, increase circulating calcium levels, and contribute to embryonic development. | Not reported. | [66] |
| Eucommia bark | Cortex Eucommiae | Replenishing the liver and kidney and strengthening bones and muscles to prevent miscarriage | It can weaken pituitrin secretion and suppress uterine contraction. | It impacted embryonic growth and development. | [67, 68, 75] |
| Himalayan Teasel root | Radix Dipsaci | Nourishing the liver and kidney, regulating blood vessels, and strengthening bones and muscles | It suppresses uterine contraction during pregnancy, improves ovarian function, and promotes uterine and embryonic development. | Aqueous extracts at the dosage of 8 or 32 g/kg/d might cause adverse impacts on maternal health and embryonic/fetal development, including maternal death before delivery. | [69, 70, 75] |
| Largehead Atractylodes rhizome | Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Tonifying Qi and strengthening the spleen | It contains volatile oils that can promote fetal development and maturity, inhibit uterine contraction, and maintain pregnancy. | Potential reproductive toxicity in pregnant animals within the clinical dose equivalent to that used by humans, such as postpartum maternal mortality, embryonic developmental delay, and major fetal limb abnormalities. | [56, 71, 75, 76] |
| Licorice root | Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae | Tonifying and regulating Qi and the blood and relieving urgency and pain | It is anti-inflammatory and antioxidative and enhances endogenous steroids. It is also used to relieve abdominal pain and muscle spasms. | It can increase blood pressure in pregnant women, and it contains glycyrrhizin (≥500 mg/week) that may result in lower gestational age, increased postpartum maternal mortality, reduced maternal weight gain, and increased early fetal resorption rate in mice. | [10, 17, 75, 77] |
| Milkvetch root | Radix Astragali | Tonifying Qi and yin, promoting body fluid production, and lifting depression | It elevates placental blood supply and restrains the placental immune response in order to prevent pregnancy complications, and it has benefits for embryonic development. | Not reported. | [72] |
| Szechwon Tangshen root/Pilose Asiabell root | Radix Codonopsis | Enriching blood and promoting fluid production, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lung | Its polysaccharide component can strengthen immunity and promote compensatory hematopoiesis of the spleen. | Antepartum maternal mortality increased in mice. | [73, 75] |
| White Peony root | Radix Paeoniae Alba | Enriching blood, astringing yin, and relieving pain | It might downregulate fetal Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines and receptors, which might benefit embryonic survival and development. | Antepartum maternal mortality and perinatal mortality increased in mice. | [74, 75] |
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