Teratogenic Effect of High Dose of Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae) Leaves on Wistar Albino Rat Embryos and Fetuses

Abstract

Syzygium guineense is an important medicinal plant effective against hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer but with no evidence of its teratogenicity. This study was planned to investigate the teratogenic potential of S. guineense leaves on rat embryos and fetuses. Five groups of Wistar albino rats, each consisting of ten pregnant rats, were used as experimental animals. Groups I-III rats were treated with 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves, and groups IV and V were control and ad libitum control, respectively. Rats were treated during day 6–12 of gestation. Embryos and fetuses were retrieved at day 12 and day 20 of gestation, respectively. The embryos were assessed for developmental delays and growth retardation. The fetuses were examined for gross external, skeletal, and visceral anomalies. In 12-day old rat embryos, crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores were significantly reduced by the treatment of 1000 mg/kg of the extract. The external morphological and visceral examinations of rat fetuses did not reveal any detectable structural malformations in the cranial, nasal, oral cavities, and visceral organs. The ossification centers of fetal skull, vertebrae, hyoid, forelimb, and hindlimb bones were not significantly varied across all groups. However, even if not statistically significant, high-dose treated rat fetuses had a reduced number of ossification centers in the sternum, caudal vertebrae, metatarsal, metacarpal, and phalanges. Treatment with the hydroethanolic extract of S. guineense leaves produced no significant skeletal and soft tissue malformations. The plant extract did not produce significant teratogenic effects on rat embryos/fetuses up to 500 mg/kg doses but retarded the growth of embryos at high dose (1000 mg/kg) as evidenced by decreased crown-rump length, number of somites, and morphological scores. Therefore, it is not advisable to take large doses of the plant during pregnancy.

Prenatal Developmental Toxicity and Histopathological Changes of the Placenta Induced by Syzygium guineense Leaf Extract in Rats

“…In addition, there was a reduction in fetal and placental weights. This finding is in line with the previous study [ 16 ]. The leaves of S. guineense possess secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, triterpenes, and phenols that pass through the placental membrane and hurt fetal development [ 7 , 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Investigating the hurtful effect of plant products on intrauterine development is one of the most pompous investigations to be performed [ 15 ]. In our previous study conducted to evaluate the effect of S. guineense on skeletal and soft tissue development, there was no significant developmental delay observed in the genital or other organs [ 16 ]. On the other hand, another study reported that consumption of S. guineense extract did not produce significant developmental anomalies in the reproductive organs, including anogenital distance and nipple retention [ 17 ].…”

The Developmental Toxicity of Thymus schimperi Essential Oil in Rat Embryos and Fetuses

“…In the current study, all these parameters were significantly lower at the high doses of the essential oil extract as compared to the control groups. In line with this study, studies conducted in Ethiopia found that high doses of Syzygium guineense (Myrtaceae), Moringa stenopetala , and Acrylamide were significantly lower the number of somites, morphological score, litter weight, and CRL of rat embryos and fetuses as compared to the controls [ 36 – 38 ]. This could be because the plants contain alkaloids, and exposing a developing embryo or fetus to alkaloids from plants, plant products, or plant extracts has shown developmental defects in an animal study [ 39 ].…”

In utero exposure of green coffee extract alters rat fetal neurodevelopment in a dose dependent manner

“…However, various natural products gained their popularity owing to their significant therapeutic effects without any sufficient data regarding their toxic side effects (Alafiatayo et al, 2019). These plant products, used daily, are rich in different phytochemicals which may have a possible teratogenic effect (Seukep et al, 2014;Abebe et al, 2021). These chemicals can cross the placenta and may alter the placental functions and thus imposing great risk on the developing fetus (Dugershaw et al, 2020).…”