Evaluation of Possible Teratogenic Effects of Leaves of Moringa Stenopetala in Rat Embryos and Fetuses.
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Date
2019-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Introduction: - Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) is a medicinally important plant, belonging to
family Moringaceae. This plant has been recently getting great popularity in Ethiopia due to its
multiple uses. The leaves of Moringa stenopetala are traditionally used for the treatment of
various ailments such as malaria, hypertension, and diabetes. The use of Moringa stenopetala is
known to be beneficial in different systems of the body. However, there have been no studies
conducted to investigate its effects on the developing embryo and fetuses.
Objective: - This study was conducted to evaluate the possible teratogenic effects of leaves of
Moringa stenopetala in wistar rat.
Methods: - The leaves of moringa stenopetala were collected in Arbaminch, Southern Ethiopia.
The leaves were dried and crushed to powder using mortar and pestle. The dried leaves were
extracted by maceration using 80% methanol. The 80% methanolic extract of Moringa leaf at
doses of 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg were orally administered to pregnant Wistar rats
from day 6 through day 12 of gestation. Embryos and fetuses were recovered on gestational day12
or
day-20,
respectively,
and
were
quantitatively
and
qualitatively
assessed
for
developmental
anomalies.
Histopathological examination was carried out on the placenta from both the
treatment and control groups.
Result: -Results of the present study showed that Moringa exposure during pregnancy might
have teratogenic effects in rat embryos and fetuses at a dose of 1000mg/kg. In the day-20
experiment, significant prenatal growth retardation such as reduced fetal weight and crown-rump
length (CRL) were observed in near term fetuses of 1000mg/kg (highest dose) Moringa treated
animals. This growth retardation was in excess of those in the pair-fed control and ad libitum
group (p<0.05). Fetal weight and CRL in the highest dose treated animals were 2.41±0.108 and
2.81±0.167, respectively. Fetal weight and CRL in the pair-fed control group were 3.11±0.078
and 3.08±0.122, respectively. Growth retardations such as delay in development of otic, optic
and olfactory system were also observed in day-12 embryos of 1000mg/kg Moringa treated rats.
However, in this study, the offspring's of moringa treated pregnant rats did not show gross
external malformations (neural tube defect missing tail, anencephaly, and polydactyly) at all
doses. Sections of the placenta in a high dose treated group whose mother received 1000mg/kg
of Moringa stenopetala extract showed multiple lesions such as decidual hypoplasia, atrophy and decidual necrosis in 25% of the placentas. The placenta weight at a high dose treatment and pairfed
control
group
were
0.459±0.031
and
0.527±0.049,
respectively.
Conclusion:
-The findings of present study have shown that administration of crude extract of
Moringa stenopetala at a higher dose was not safe in pregnant Wistar albino rats. Its toxic and
teratogenic effects were evidenced by the significant delay in embryonic and fetal development,
decrease in maternal weight gain during gestational periods and increase in fetal resorptions and
fetal death. Moreover, consumption of Moringa stenopetala leaf extract at a high dose had
adverse effect on the histology of the placenta as evidenced by intervillous thrombosis, decidual
necrosis, and decidual hypoplasia. Therefore, excessive intake of Moringa stenopetala leaf may
be unsafe.
Description
Keywords
Moringa stenopetala, teratogenicity, fetuses, embryo, gestation, Wistar rats.