Introduction: Teratogens from plants are naturally occurring compounds—often alkaloids, glycosides or pyrrolizidine derivatives—that can disrupt embryogenesis and cause congenital malformations, fetal death, or growth restriction. B. Pharm students must recognize plant teratogens such as cyclopamine (Veratrum), anagyrine (Lupinus), coniine (Conium) and swainsonine (locoweed), understand placental transfer, dose‑response relationships, critical windows of organogenesis, and molecular mechanisms (e.g., Sonic hedgehog inhibition, teratogenic bioactivation by CYPs). Knowledge of veterinary and human examples, detection methods (LC‑MS/MS), and counseling on herbal safety is essential for clinical practice and pharmacovigilance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What best defines a plant teratogen?
- A naturally occurring plant compound that induces congenital malformations during fetal development
- A plant nutrient that improves fetal growth
- A synthetic drug derived from plants
- An infectious agent transmitted by plants
Correct Answer: A naturally occurring plant compound that induces congenital malformations during fetal development
Q2. Which plant is classically associated with cyclopia and holoprosencephaly in sheep?
- Lupinus spp. (lupine)
- Veratrum californicum (false hellebore)
- Conium maculatum (poison hemlock)
- Senecio jacobaea (ragwort)
Correct Answer: Veratrum californicum (false hellebore)
Q3. What is the primary molecular mechanism by which cyclopamine causes severe midline defects?
- Inhibition of folate metabolism
- Antagonism of Smoothened in the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway
- Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
- Direct DNA intercalation
Correct Answer: Antagonism of Smoothened in the Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway
Q4. Anagyrine, an alkaloid from Lupinus species, most commonly produces which fetal syndrome?
- Cyclopia in lambs
- Cardiac septal defects in humans
- Renal agenesis
Correct Answer: “Crooked calf disease” with arthrogryposis and cleft palate
Q5. How does coniine from Conium maculatum contribute to fetal malformations?
- Causes maternal hyperthermia damaging the embryo
- Produces neuromuscular blockade reducing fetal movement and causing arthrogryposis
- Acts as a folate antagonist leading to neural tube defects
- Induces placental infection
Correct Answer: Produces neuromuscular blockade reducing fetal movement and causing arthrogryposis
Q6. Swainsonine toxicity from locoweed primarily disrupts which cellular process relevant to teratogenicity?
- Microtubule polymerization
- Lysosomal glycoprotein processing by inhibiting alpha‑mannosidase
- DNA methylation by inhibiting DNMTs
- Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport chain
Correct Answer: Lysosomal glycoprotein processing by inhibiting alpha‑mannosidase
Q7. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in some plants pose fetal risk mainly because they:
- Are harmless to the liver but teratogenic to bone
- Are bioactivated in the liver to reactive metabolites causing hepatic veno‑occlusive disease and fetal liver damage
- Act as omega‑3 fatty acids beneficial for fetal brain
- Block placental glucose transport without causing organ damage
Correct Answer: Are bioactivated in the liver to reactive metabolites causing hepatic veno‑occlusive disease and fetal liver damage
Q8. During which gestational window are structural malformations from plant teratogens most likely to occur in humans?
- Pre‑implantation (week 1)
- Embryonic period / organogenesis (weeks 3–8)
- Fetal period (after week 12)
- Only during labor
Correct Answer: Embryonic period / organogenesis (weeks 3–8)
Q9. Which statement correctly describes dose‑response in plant teratogenicity?
- All plant teratogens cause defects at any dose
- Teratogenic effects are typically dose‑dependent with thresholds influenced by maternal metabolism
- Lower doses always cause more severe defects
- Dose is irrelevant if exposure is only once
Correct Answer: Teratogenic effects are typically dose‑dependent with thresholds influenced by maternal metabolism
Q10. Which physicochemical property most facilitates placental transfer of plant teratogens?
- Large molecular weight and high polarity
- Small size, lipophilicity, and low ionization at physiological pH
- Protein binding greater than 99%
- Exclusive sequestration in maternal red blood cells
Correct Answer: Small size, lipophilicity, and low ionization at physiological pH
Q11. A cluster of similar congenital defects in a herd after grazing on a particular pasture most strongly suggests:
- A viral epidemic unrelated to plants
- Exposure to a teratogenic plant present in the pasture
- Genetic mutation in a single animal
- Improper vaccination
Correct Answer: Exposure to a teratogenic plant present in the pasture
Q12. Which alkaloid is directly implicated in causing cyclopia when pregnant ewes ingest the plant during a specific gestational day?
- Nicotine
- Cyclopamine
- Anagyrine
- Swainsonine
Correct Answer: Cyclopamine
Q13. Which plant exposure is historically associated with “crooked calf disease” in cattle?
- Ragwort (Senecio spp.) ingestion
- Lupine (Lupinus spp.) ingestion containing anagyrine
- Chamomile tea in late pregnancy
- Ginger supplements
Correct Answer: Lupine (Lupinus spp.) ingestion containing anagyrine
Q14. Interference with Sonic hedgehog signaling by plant teratogens primarily disrupts development of which embryonic structures?
- Limbs only
- Midline craniofacial structures and brain patterning
- Urogenital sinus exclusively
- Fetal skin pigmentation only
Correct Answer: Midline craniofacial structures and brain patterning
Q15. Which common herbal product is contraindicated in pregnancy because it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids?
- Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
- Peppermint tea
- Ginger root in culinary amounts
- Chamomile in moderate amounts
Correct Answer: Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Q16. The most effective public health measure to prevent plant‑induced teratogenicity in agricultural communities is:
- Mandating spaying/neutering of livestock
- Education on plant identification, pasture management, and avoiding exposure during critical gestational windows
- Providing all pregnant women with vitamin C supplements
- Using pesticides to eliminate all wild plants
Correct Answer: Education on plant identification, pasture management, and avoiding exposure during critical gestational windows
Q17. Which animal model was pivotal in elucidating cyclopamine teratogenicity?
- Mice given oral anagyrine
- Sheep grazing Veratrum californicum
- Cattle fed comfrey
Correct Answer: Sheep grazing Veratrum californicum
Q18. A pregnant woman with known ingestion of pyrrolizidine alkaloids should be monitored primarily for which maternal complication that can affect the fetus?
- Maternal renal failure
- Hepatic veno‑occlusive disease and liver failure
- Severe maternal hypoglycemia only
- Exclusive pulmonary fibrosis
Correct Answer: Hepatic veno‑occlusive disease and liver failure
Q19. Which plant alkaloid causes fetal movement reduction through action at nicotinic receptors?
- Swainsonine
- Coniine
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
- Cyclopamine
Correct Answer: Coniine
Q20. Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy primarily increases risk of:
- Fetal growth restriction, placental insufficiency, and low birth weight
- Exclusive limb malformations like phocomelia
- Maternal hyperthyroidism
- Hydrops fetalis due to alloimmunization
Correct Answer: Fetal growth restriction, placental insufficiency, and low birth weight
Q21. Regarding herbal supplements and pregnancy, which statement is most accurate?
- All herbal products are rigorously tested for teratogenicity
- Many herbal products lack adequate safety data and may contain teratogenic alkaloids
- Herbal teas never contain biologically active compounds
- Label claims always guarantee safety in pregnancy
Correct Answer: Many herbal products lack adequate safety data and may contain teratogenic alkaloids
Q22. Disruption of which signaling pathway by plant teratogens is directly linked to holoprosencephaly?
- Wnt/beta‑catenin
- Sonic hedgehog
- Notch
- TGF‑beta exclusively
Correct Answer: Sonic hedgehog
Q23. Which maternal factor can modify susceptibility to plant teratogens?
- Genetic polymorphisms in drug‑metabolizing enzymes and nutritional status
- Eye color
- Height only
- Time of day of exposure only
Correct Answer: Genetic polymorphisms in drug‑metabolizing enzymes and nutritional status
Q24. Which of the following is NOT a plant-derived teratogen?
- Cyclopamine
- Anagyrine
- Thalidomide
- Swainsonine
Correct Answer: Thalidomide
Q25. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for detecting low‑level plant alkaloids in maternal plasma?
- Light microscopy of blood
- LC‑MS/MS (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry)
- Standard urine dipstick
- X‑ray imaging
Correct Answer: LC‑MS/MS (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry)
Q26. The hallmark fetal deformity associated with lupine (anagyrine) exposure is:
- Neural tube defect
- Arthrogryposis and limb contractures
- Polydactyly only
- Micrognathia without limb involvement
Correct Answer: Arthrogryposis and limb contractures
Q27. What is the safest counseling advice for pregnant patients regarding traditional herbal teas?
- Recommend unlimited consumption of all herbal teas
- Avoid herbal teas with unknown composition and consult a healthcare provider before use
- Assume “natural” equals safe and encourage use
- Only avoid herbal teas during the first week of pregnancy
Correct Answer: Avoid herbal teas with unknown composition and consult a healthcare provider before use
Q28. Bioactivation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids into toxic metabolites is primarily mediated by which enzyme system?
- CYP450 hepatic enzymes producing reactive pyrrolic metabolites
- Monoamine oxidase in the brain
- Alkaline phosphatase in bone
- Pancreatic amylase
Correct Answer: CYP450 hepatic enzymes producing reactive pyrrolic metabolites
Q29. Lupinus species (lupines) belong to which botanical family relevant to pharmacognosy?
- Solanaceae
- Fabaceae (legume family)
- Asteraceae
- Poaceae
Correct Answer: Fabaceae (legume family)
Q30. As future pharmacists, which role best describes your responsibility regarding plant teratogens?
- Ignore herbal exposures because they are outside pharmacy scope
- Provide evidence‑based counseling, report adverse events, and participate in pharmacovigilance for herbal teratogens
- Automatically ban all herbal products in the community
- Recommend unregulated herbal mixtures to pregnant clients
Correct Answer: Provide evidence‑based counseling, report adverse events, and participate in pharmacovigilance for herbal teratogens
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com