Study of the embryofeto-toxicity of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii) latex, a natural molluscicide
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
30(11): 1325-32, Nov. 1997. tab
Artigo
em Inglês
| LILACS
| ID: lil-201678
ABSTRACT
The crude latex of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii var. Hislopii) is a potent plant molluscicide and a promising alternative to the synthetic molluscicides used in schistosomiasis control. The present study was undertaken to investigate the embryofeto-toxic potential of E. Milii latex. The study is part of a comprehensive safety evaluation of this plant molluscicide. Lyophilized latex (0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in corn oil was given by gavage to Wistar rats (N = 100) from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy and cesarean sections were performed on day 21 of pegnancy. The numbers of implantation sites, living and dead fetuses, resorptions and corpora lutea were recorded. Fetuses were weighed, examined for external malformations, and fixed for visceral examination, or cleared and stained with Alizarin red S for skeleton evaluation. A reduction of body weight minus uterine weight al term indicated that E. Milii latex was maternally toxic over the dose range tested. No latex-induced embryolethality was noted at the lowest dose (125 mg/kg) but the resorption rate was markedly increased at 250 mg/kg (62.5 percent) and 500 mg/kg (93.4 percent). A higher frequency of fetuses showing signs of delayed ossification (control: 17.4 percent; 125 mg/kg: 27.4 percent and 250 mg/kg: 62.8 percent; P<0.05 vs control) indicated that fetal growth was retarded at doses ³125 mg latex/kg body weight. No increase in the proportion of fetuses with skeletal anomalies was observed at the lowest dose but the incidence of minor skeletal malformations was higher at 250 mg/kg body weight (control: 13.7 percent; 125 mg/kg: 14.8 percent; 250 mg/kg: 45.7 percent; P<0.05 vs control). Since a higher frequency of minor malformations was noted only at very high doses of latex which are embryolethal and maternally toxic, it is reasonable to conclude that this plant molluscicide poses no teratogenic hazard or, at least, that this possibility is of a considerably low order of magnitude.
Texto completo:
DisponíveL
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Assunto principal:
Euphorbiaceae
/
Desenvolvimento Fetal
/
Látex
/
Moluscocidas
Limite:
Animais
Idioma:
Inglês
Revista:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Assunto da revista:
Biologia
/
Medicina
Ano de publicação:
1997
Tipo de documento:
Artigo
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