EFFECT OF RHAZYA-STRICTA ON THE DEVELOPING RAT FETUS

Rhazya stricta is a medicinal plant traditionally used in the treatmen t of diabetes mellitus, inflamation, and helminthiasis. Our objective was to determine if the plant extract has any effect on fetal developm ent in the rat. A lyophilized extract of the plant was administered da ily on three consecutive gestation days (GD) covering the period of pr eimplantation and organogenesis. The fetuses were examined on GD 20. H igher doses (5.0 or 8.0 g/kg) of R. stricta generally caused a reducti on in maternal weight gain, compared to controls, whereas the lower do ses (0.5 to 2.0 g/kg) did not. Treatment on GD 1, 2, 3, or 7, 8, 9 had no effect on the fetal weight. Treatment on later days GD 8, 9, 10, o r 10, 11, 12, or 13, 14, 15 reduced both the number of live fetuses an d their weight. Pronounced intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was observed in groups treated at later stages, particularly in the high d ose groups. Extreme resorption characterized R. stricta treatment on G D 10, 11, and 12. Examination of the conceptus 24 h after R. stricta t reatment indicated retarded placental development associated with hypo vascularity, which possibly contributed to the IUGR and fetal death. T he incidence of malformations such as micromelia, adactyly, maxillary- mandibular hypoplasia, protruding tongue, and edema, did not reach sta tistical significance. Except perhaps for a generalized growth retarda tion, no skeletal malformations were obvious. These observations are s uggestive of potential fetal toxicity of R. stricta if taken during pr egnancy. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.