Safety profile in pregnant rats of a natural antidiabetic agent extracted from Mormodica charantia

We have examined the effects of an unripe fruit extract of Mormodica charan tia Linn, on pregnancy outcome of rats when given during early- (days 1-7), mid- (days 8-16) and late- (days 15-21) gestation. The extract was adminis tered orally in two different concentrations (1 ml/100 g/day or 2 ml/100 g/ day). Several parameters of reproduction and neonatal development were dete rmined and computed. The extract did not have deleterious effects on pregna ncy outcome during early pregnancy (in terms of vaginal bleeding and pre- a nd post-implantation losses), late pregnancy (in terms of vaginal bleeding, number of pups born and day of partus) or neonatal development (in terms o f body weight, time taken for the appearance of fur and opening eyes of pup s). In contrast, during mid-pregnancy, the extract induced vaginal bleeding , resorption of fetuses, post-implantation losses, small for dates fetuses and retardation of fetal growth. However, the number of uterine implants re mained unimpaired. Further, the extract had no effect on the duration or st age of the oestrous cycle in normally cycling rats. The fetal growth retard ation is likely to have been mediated via the hypoglycaemic activity of the extract. We conclude that M. charantia should not be recommended as a natu ral antidiabetic drug in diabetes complicating pregnancy and that its heavy consumption is best avoided in normal pregnancy (especially during midgest ation). Med Sci Res 27:663-665 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.