The Influence of Methanol Extracts of Some Plant Species Used in the Management of Pregnancy-Related Symptoms on the Reproductive Parameters of Pregnant Wistar Rats http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnp/rv7i12.43
Main Article Content
Abstract
Herbal medicines are increasingly being used during pregnancy and little is known of their potential teratogenic effect. The present study is therefore designed to investigate the teratogenic effects of methanol extracts ofthree medicinal plants; Jatropha curcas, Alchornea cordifolia, and Secamone afzelii in Wistar rats. The animals were administered the extractsat doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg.Morphometry of the placenta and foetus were recorded, the weight, crown-rump length, head circumference and anogenital distance were measured. Acute toxicity of the extracts was also evaluated. Embryo resorptions in some treated rats as well as foetal malformation were observed. In the acute toxicity test, at the maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg, the methanol extracts of the three plants; Jatropha curcas, Alchornea cordifolia, and Secamone afzelii showed no harmful effects on the pregnant rats. However, strong teratogenic effects were noted. At doses higher than 50mg/kg, Alchornea cordifolia extract-exposed pregnant rats produced 7 dead foetuses out of 9 implantations; the live foetuses were deformed, particularly in their limbs. Animals administered with Secamone afzelii had 11% foetal mortality at 100 and 200mg/kg dose. No dead foetus or foetal deformity wasobserved in the rats administered with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg Jatropha curcasextract. Although the methanolextracts of the plants used in this study were not acutely toxic to pregnant Wistar rats at the doses tested, they caused some teratogenic effects, especially with Alchornea cordifolia extracts.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Ernst E. Herbal medicinal products during pregnancy: are they safe? Br J Obs Gyn. 2002; 109:227–235.
World Health Organization (WHO). Traditional Medicine Fact Sheet No.134, 2008. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/2003/fs134/en/. Accessed 29 June, 2016.
Kennedy DA, Lupattelli A, Koren G, Nordeng H. Herbal medicine use in pregnancy: results of a multinational study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013; 13:355.
Gharoro EP and Igbafe AA. Pattern of drug use amongst antenatal patients in Benin City, Nigeria. Med SciMonit. 2000; 6:84–87.
Yolan B, Victoria C, Robert LG, Jeffrey SAS, Jennier FC, Moses S. Use of traditional medicine among pregnant women in Lusaka, Zambia. J Altern Complement Med. 2007; 13(1):123–128.
Mudonhi N and Nunu WN. Traditional Medicine Utilisation Among Pregnant Women in Sub-saharan African Countries: A Systematic Review of Literature. Inquiry.2022; 59:469580221088618.
Chan LY, Chiu PY, Lau TK. An in-vitro study of guisenoside Rb1-induced teratogenicity using a whole rat embryo culture model. Hum Reprod. 2003; 18(10):2166–2168.
Gruber CW and O’Brien M. Uterotonic plants and their bioactive constituents. Planta Med. 2011; 77(3):207–220.
Osamor PE and Owumi BE. Complementary and alternative medicine in the management of hypertension in an urban Nigerian community. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010; 10-36.
Kaingu CK, Oduma JA, Kanui TI. Practices of traditional birth attendants in Machakos District, Kenya. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011; 137(1):495–502.
Nath P and Yadav AK. Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the methanolic extract from leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. in mice. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2015; 4:70–73.
Kilonzo M, Ndakidemi PA, Chacha M. In vitro antifungal and cytotoxicity activities of selected Tanzanian medicinal plants. Trop J Pharm Res. 2016; 15:2121–2130.
Jatsa HB, Fassi J, Kenfack MMC, Feussom NG, Kameni M, Simo NND, Nkondo ET, Dongmo AB, Tchuente LT. Acute and sub chronic oral toxicity studies of the leaves aqueous extract of Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir. On mice. Am J Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 2018; 7:75–85.
Bello I, Bakkouri AS, Tabana YM, Al-hindi B, Al-Mansoub MA, Mahmud R, AsmawiMZ. Acute and sub-acute toxicity evaluation of the methanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris stem bark. Med Sci. 2016; 4:1–14.
Toghueo RMK. Bioprospecting endophytic fungi from Fusarium genus assources of bioactive metabolites metabolites. Mycol. 2019; 91:1–21.
Mendes CC, Marinho CM, Moreira-Junior VF, Danta GL, Macedo MF, Oliveira CN, Schwarz A. Evaluation of Bauhinia monandra aqueous and ethanol extracts in pregnant rats. Pharm Biol. 2010;48(7):780-785.
Roulet M, Laurini R, Rivier L, Calame A, Hepatic veno-occlusive disease in newborn infant of a woman drinking herbal tea.J Pediatr1988; 112:433-436.
Holcberg G, Tsadkin-Tamir M, Sapir O, Mahmoud H, Moshe M, Ben Z. New Aspects in Placental Drug Transfer. Israel Med Assoc J. 2003; 5:873-876.
Adeyemo-Salami OA and Makinde JM. Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies of the methanol extract of the leaves of Paullinia pinnata (Linn.) in Wistar albino mice and rats. Afr J Med Med Sci. 2013; 42(1):81-90.
Alcala M, Bolado, VE, Sánchez-Vera I, Clapés S, Dasí F, Sáez G, Carrera E, Alvarez-Gallego F, Loeken MR, Viana M. Prevention of Teratogenesis in Pregnancies of Obese Rats by Vitamin E Supplementation. Antioxid. 2021; 10:1173.
Najdi N, Safi F, Hashemi-Dizaji S, Sahraian G, Jand Y. First trimester determination of fetal gender by ultrasonographic measurement of anogenital distance: A cross-sectional study. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2019; 17(1):51-56.
Flores LE, Hildebrandt TB, Kühl AA, Drews B. Early detection and staging of spontaneous embryo resorption by ultrasound biomicroscopy in murine pregnancy. ReprodBiolEndocrinol. 2014; 12:38.
Nascimento-Antman EM and Braunwald E. ST-elevation myocardial infarction: pathology, pathophysiology, and clinical features. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL,Tomaselli GF, and Braunward E. eds. Braunwald’s Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. 2008. 1207-1232 p.
Priya G, Saravanan K, Renuka C. Medicinal plants with potential antifertility activity- A review of sixteen years of herbal medicine research (1994-2010). Int J Pharm Tech Res. 2012; 4:481-494.
Almeida FCG and Lemonica IP. The toxic effects of Coleus barbatus B. on the different periods of pregnancy in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007; 73:53–60.
Butte NF, Wong WW, Treuth MS, Ellis KJ, Smith EOA. Energy requirements during pregnancy based on total energy expenditure and energy deposition. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004; 76(6):1078–1087.
Guerra M, Mazoni ASB, Brandao MAF, Peters VM. Toxicology of lapachol in rats: Embryo lethality. Rev Braz Biol. 2000; 61:71-174.
Ekhator CN and Shelu JO. An Experimental Study on the Abortificient Potentials of Unripe Seed Extract of Carica papaya in Adult Female Wister Rats, Open Sci J Pharm Pharmacol.2015; 3(6):61-65.
Loebstein R, Lalkin A, Oren GK. Pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy and their clinical relevance. ClinPharmacokin.1997; 33(5):328-343.
Yakubu MT and Bukoye BB. Abortifacient Potential of the Aqueous Extract of Bambusa vulgaris Leaves in Pregnant Dutch Rabbits. Contraception. 2009; 80:308-313.
Yakubu MT, Olawepo OJ, Fasoranti GA. Ananascomosus: Is the Unripe Fruit Juice an Abortifacient in Pregnant Wistar Rats? Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2011; 16:397-402.
Goonasekera MM, Gunawardana VK, Jayasena K, Mohammed, SG, Balasubramaniam, S. Pregnancy Terminating Effect of Jatropha curcasin Rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1995; 47:117-123.
Elbetieha A, Oran SA, Alkofahi A, Darmani H, Raies AM. Fetotoxic Potentials of Globularia arabica and Globularia alypum (Globulariaceae) in Rats. JEthnopharmacol. 2000; 72:215-219.
Chen Q, Zhang Y, Lu J, Wang Q, Wang S, Cao Y. Embryo-Uterine Cross-Talk during Implantation: The Role of Wnt Signaling. Molecul Hum Reprod. 2009; 15:215-221.
Elderfied RC. Biographical Memoir for Walter Abraham Jacobs, 51. National Academy of Science, Washington DC.1980. 247-278 p.
Spencer TE, Johnson GA, Burghardt RC, Bazer FW. Progesterone and Placental Hormone Actions on the Uterus: Insights from Domestic Animals. BiolReprod.2004; 71:2-10.
Pooja S, Prashanth S, Suchetha K, Vidya V, Krishna B. Evaluation of acute and sub acute toxicity of the leaf extract of Tanacetum parthenium (Asteraceae) and synthetic parthenolide. World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2016; 5(8):703-713.
Azadeh M, Maryam P, Mozafar K,Rostam G. Anti-Fertility Effects of Physalis alkekengi Alcoholic Extract in Female Rat. Iran J Reprod Med. 2007; 5:13-16.
Titilayo OK, Rasaq A, Ismail EM. Attitude and use of herbal medicines among pregnant women in Nigeria. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009; 9:53.
Hiremath SP, Rudresh K, Badami S, Patil SB, PatilRS. Post-Coital Antifertility Activity of Acalypha indica L. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 67:253-258.
Ravichandra V, Suresh B, Satishkumar MN, Elango K, Srinivasan R. Antifertility Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ailanthus excels (Roxb): An Ethno Medicine Used by Tribes of Nilgiris Region in Tamilnadu. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007; 112:189-191.
Zanwar AA, Aswar UM, Hegde MV, Bodhankar SL. Estrogenic and Embryo-Fetotoxic Effects of Ethanol Extract of Linum usitatissimumin Rats. J Complement Integr Med.2010; 7:1-17.
Uchendu CN, Kamalu TN, Asuzu IU. A Preliminary Evaluation of Antifertility Activity of a Triterpenoid Glycoside (DSS) from Dalbergia saxatilis in Female Wistar Rats. Pharmacol Res. 2000; 41:521-525.