Fetotoxic potentials of Globularia arabica and Globularia alypum (Globulariaceae) in rats

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats received by intragastric application, etha nolic extracts of Globularia arabica and Globularia alypum dried leaves. Th e effect of the extracts was monitored on fertility. The ingestion by femal e rats of 800 mg/kg of ethanolic extracts of G. arabica and G. alypum, from day 1 to day 6 of pregnancy, did not cause pregnancy failure. However, the ingestion of ethanolic extracts of G. alypum significantly reduced the num ber of viable fetuses. The number of resorptions was significantly increase d in pregnant females administered ethanolic extracts of both G. arabica an d G. alypum. The ingestion of 800 mg/kg of ethnologic extracts of G. arabic a and G. alypum for 30 consecutive days by adult female rats had no signifi cant effect on the occurrence of pregnancy. However, the ingestion of extra cts of both species increased the number of resorptions and only G. alypum extract caused a significant reduction in the-number of viable fetuses. The se results indicate that ingestion of G. arabica and G. alypum could have s ome reproductive toxicity in female rats. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.