Evaluation of toxic effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaf aqueous extract on development of long bone tissue in rat fetus.

Abstract

In the present study, the adverse effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves aqueous extract (TGLE) on the organogenesis stage of Sprague-Dawley rat fetus was investigated; particularly, the effect on fetal development of the hind limb long bone. TGLE was administered in pregnant rats by intra peritoneal (i.p) injection at the dose levels of 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 g/kg/day on the 10th day of gestation. Then all rats were sacrificed on the 20th day of gestation and fetuses were removed from their uterus. The fetuses were assayed for histopathological signs of long bone. The results indicated that the treatment with TGLE 3.2 g/kg/day were significantly different in long bone structure and growth histology details disorder in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). The treated group showed a correlation with the histopathological changes of long bone tissue in their fetuses. As a consequence, if only TGLE is used without consumption of any herbal plant concurrently, TGLE has toxic potential on pregnant rats at the highest dose level 3.2 g/kg/day. It showed that the extract has adverse effects on the development of hind limb long bone by disorder in the histology details of cell structure and growth into long bone during endochondral ossification. Thus TGLE at the highest dose level, may cause severe adverse alterations in rat fetus. Proper clinical research should be carried out to confirm the same activity in humans. Key words: Trigonella foenum-graecum extract, toxicology, long bone of rat fetus.