Abstract
Teratogenicity and developmental abnormalities in the offspring of female rats that ingested ethanol extract of Neem plants during pregnancy and lactation period were assessed. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly distributed in control group and in three experimental groups and treated during the 4 th , 5 th , and 6 th day of pregnancy. After birth, the lactating females received, by gavage, 65, 135 and 200 mg kg -1 of Neem ethanol extract, during 15 days. Results show, there was no significant difference in body mass index of neonatal rats in the 4 groups evaluated, whereas mean rate of offspring survival was 79.4%. Hair growth, incisor teeth eruption, ear detachment, eyelid opening, and spontaneous ambulation were similar for all groups. Likewise, physical development and development of motor activity, ambulation, and postural reflexes were similar for all groups. The administration of Neem ethanol extract did not cause any reproductive or systemic toxicity in animals. Results show that, Neem ethanol extract safe at doses 65, 135 and 200 mg kg -1 in pregnant or lactating rats.
Highlights
Since Neem has been focused in several studies on veterinary medicine and due to the possibility that it causes systemic and reproductive changes, current research investigates, signs of toxicity, teratogenicity and developmental changes in the offspring of female rats treated with the ethanol extract from Neem leaves during the gestational and lactation period
An analytic scale was used to obtain 200 mg of the Neem crude extract, to which five drops of cremophor, 1mL of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 10%, and distilled water were added until a volume of 10 mL was reached
Dallaqua et al (2013) evaluated the effects of neem on gestation in rats treated with 1.2 mL of Neem seed oil (G1), and on another group treated orally with 1 mg mL-1 of an azadirachtinbased product (G2)
Summary
Neem is a plant that belongs to the Meliaceae family and, possesses several important characteristics, including pesticide and therapeutic traits (KUMA; NAVARATNAM, 2013). Widely used in holistic medicine and herbal medicine, contains several components which include the insecticide azadirachtin (BOEKE et al, 2004). This oil is included in the composition of certain veterinary products for the treatment of flee infestations in cats and dogs (SUTTON et al, 2009). Non-water based Neem extracts seem to be more toxic, with a safe dose of 0.002 and 12.5 μg kg-1 of body weight per day in mammals. Since Neem has been focused in several studies on veterinary medicine and due to the possibility that it causes systemic and reproductive changes, current research investigates, signs of toxicity, teratogenicity and developmental changes in the offspring of female rats treated with the ethanol extract from Neem leaves during the gestational and lactation period
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