Reproductive toxicity of Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Berg.) in female Wistar rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: There is no evidence in the literature that substantiates the safety of Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Berg.) use during pregnancy. Materials and methods: Thirty three female rats were randomly assigned to three groups. One group of animals received the Campomanesia xanthocarpa extract via gavage at a dose of 26.3 mg/kg/day from 6 to 15 days of pregnancy (organogenic period, T1) and another group received the same extract throughout the gestational period (from the 1st to the 20th day of pregnancy, T2). Control groups received distilled water. Euthanasia was done on 20th day, when the liver, kidney, spleen ovaries, fetuses and their respective placentas were removed. Implantations, reabsorptions, live and dead fetuses were recorded. Results and conclusions: Campomanesia xanthocarpa, in these experimental conditions, did not disturb the reproductive function of female rats and did not interrupt the progress of the embryofetal development. Moreover, our results provide further evidence that the Campomanesia xanthocarpa treatment reduces reabsorption sites, increases placenta weight and the number of live fetuses and may therefore have therapeutic applications. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.