Teratogenic Effect of Ethanol Extract of Yellow Root Stem (Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr) on Mice

http://www.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v8i1.8

Abstract

The yellow root (Coscinium Fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr) has several bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, inhibitors of intestinal parasites, antidiarrhea, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, anti-tumour, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer and anti-malarial properties. This study evaluated the phytoconstituents and the teratogenic effect of yellow root stem ethanol extract in mice during pregnancy. A total of 24 pregnant female mice divided into 4 groups were used for this study.   Group 1 served as negative control (NaCMC 1 %), and groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively, were given extracts at doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg bw. The extract was administered in the organogenesis phase (6th to 15th day of pregnancy). The mice were weighed during the experimentation period and sacrificed on the 18th day. The fetus was removed, and the number of fetuses was counted and weighed. The morphological, visceral and skeletal abnormalities were examined after staining with Bouin’s solution. The phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanol extract of yellow root stems contains alkaloids, saponins and terpenoids. The results showed that the administration of yellow root stem extract during pregnancy affected the weight of the mice (p<0.05). The plant extract did not affect the number and weight of the fetus significantly (p>0.05). Morphological examination of the fetus fixed with Bouin’s solution did not show disability in the gap of the sky of the mouth, but there were signs of bleeding in the head and stomach. Similarly, the staining results revealed abnormalities in the phalanx and caudal bone. The study concluded that the use of the yellow stem extract may impact teratogenic deformities in experimental animals.