RESUMO
To investigate the effects of aqueous leave extract of Annona squamosa on gross congenital anomalies in diabetic albino rats. A randomized controlled trial [RCT] study. This study was conducted during the period of one year in the Anatomy department of University of Health Sciences [UHS] Lahore, Pakistan. Eighteen albino pregnant rats were randomly divided into three equal groups; Control [A], Diabetic [B] and Treated [C]. Diabetes was induced by single intra peritoneal injection of streptozocin [STZ, 45 mg/kg], in the rats of groups B and C on 8th gestational day. Group C rats were additionally given the Annona squamosa leave extract [350mg/kg/day] throughout the gestation after the confirmation of diabetes by checking blood glucose levels on 10 th gestational day. Fetuses were obtained by sacrificing the animals on 20 th gestational day; these were euthanized; their birth weight and crown rump length [CRL] were recorded and gross malformations were observed under stereomicroscope. After fixation with 10% formalin, the position of thoracic and abdominal viscera was also observed. Mean birth weight and CRL in group B fetuses were significantly low [3.2 +/- 0.9g and 3.3 +/- 0.5cm] as compared to group A [4.7 +/- 0.5g and 4.3 +/- 0.3cm] and group C [3.8 +/- 0.2g and 3.9 +/- 0.2cm, p<0.05]. Group B fetuses showed high frequency of craniofacial malformations and positional abnormalities of heart, diaphragm and kidneys. The group C fetuses did not show such malformations. It is concluded that gestational use of Annona squamosa tends to alleviate the diabetes induced fetal malformations