Medicinal plants with teratogenic potential: current considerations

The aim of this study was to present the implications of the use of herbs during pregnancy, pointing out those that should be avoided during this condition because of their abortifacient and/or teratogenic potential. We carried out searches in the databases ScienceDirect, Scielo and Google Scholar, adopting as criteria for inclusion: book chapters and/or complete articles (with abstract), available in English, Portuguese or Spanish, published from 1996 to in 2011. After a pre-selection of 83 articles, 49 bibliographies were used in the manufacturing end of the article, where 25 were from the Scielo database, 18 from ScienceDirect and 6 from Google Scholar. From the articles studied, we identified the four most commonly used plants as emmenagogue/abortifacient agents by patients of the Department of Prenatal SUS: senne, arruda, boldo and buchinha-do-norte or cabacinha. Thus, we conclude that people often adhere to the maxim "if it's natural, it does no harm" in their rational use of natural products, without the right guidance, believing that these products are safe to use. This usage is even more worrisome among the elderly, pregnant women and children. Regarding the safety of these products, some information and reliable data are scarce or contradictory.

Este trabalho busca as implicações atuais sobre o uso de plantas medicinais durante a gravidez, alertando sobre aquelas que devem ser evitadas nesse período por serem potencialmente abortivas e/ou teratogênicas. Para tanto, foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados Sciencedirect, Scielo e Google scholar, adotando-se como critérios de inclusão capítulos de livros e/ou artigos completos (com abstract) e disponíveis, em português, inglês ou espanhol, publicados de 1996 a 2011. Após uma pré-seleção de 83 artigos, 49 bibliografias foram utilizadas na confecção final do artigo, sendo 25 provenientes da base de dados Scielo, 18 do Sciencedirect e 06 do Google scholar. A partir dos artigos estudados, identificaram-se as quatro plantas mais utilizadas como emenagogas/abortivas por pacientes do Serviço de Pré-Natal do SUS: senne, arruda, boldo e buchinha-do-norte ou cabacinha. Assim, é possível concluir que, muitas vezes, a população se utiliza da máxima "se é natural, não faz mal" para fazer uso irracional de produtos naturais, sem a correta orientação, acreditando que esses produtos sejam incapazes de provocar qualquer dano. Esse uso é ainda mais preocupante quando realizado por idosos, gestantes e crianças. Em relação à segurança do uso desses produtos, algumas informações e dados confiáveis ainda são escassos ou contraditórios.

Antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of ocimum gratissimum gel: a randomized double-blinded clinical trial

Gingivitis is an inflammation of dental protective tissues and biofilm accumulation is the main etiologic factor of this disease. Due to the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions shown by Ocimum gratissimum (OCG), this study aimed at evaluating the antiplaque and antigingivitis effect of 3% OCG gel in human gingivitis. Thirty volunteers were selected and subdivided in 2 groups (n=15): control (placebo gel+brushing), and test (3% OCG gel+brushing). All participants received mouth guards to apply the gel 3 times/day during 15 days. Visible Plaque Index (VPI= mean±sd %), Turesky Index (TUR= mean scores±sd) and Gingival bleeding Index (GI= mean±sd %) were performed on days 0 and 15. All the individuals, with mean age of 21.8 years, being 50% females, completed the study. In both groups, control and test, there was a reduction (p<0.05) on VPI of 51.9% and 65.1%, respectively, when compared to each respective baseline. Test showed lower VPI (p<0.05) when compared to control. TUR index corroborated VPI findings. Both experimental groups presented a decrease by 68.4% when compared to its respective baseline. Control and test groups showed reduction on GI of 59.38% and 80.9%, respectively, when compared to baseline. A greater reduction was observed in the use of 3% gel when compared to control (p<0.05). The present study indicates that 3% OCG gel associated to brushing showed antiplaque and antigingivitis effect, being important as an adjuvant to plaque-induced gingivitis treatment