Absence of adverse effects of Blutaparon portulacoides (A.St.-Hil.) Mears in mice exposed during pregnancy

Abstract

Blutaparon portulacoides (A.St.-Hil.), also known as capotirguá, pirrixu, and bredo-de-praia, is a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent used in folk medicine to treat leukorrhea. The present study evaluated the effects of an ethanolic extract of B. portulacoides (EEBp) on the reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development, and chromosomal stability of mice of pregnant female mice treated during the gestational period with oral EEBp (500 or 1000 mg/kg) or vehicle (1% Tween 80). EEBp did not alter biometric parameters, placental index, placental efficiency, or other parameters related to reproductive performance, neither embryo-fetal development and DNA integrity, but 500 and 1000 mg/kg EEBp decreased fetal and placental weight, respectively. Although the frequency of external and skeletal malformations did not differ between these groups and the control group, EEBp increased the frequency of reduced ossification of the presphenoid and xiphoid, which can be considered variants of normality. These findings indicate that EEBp is a safe and cost-effective treatment for leukorrhea during pregnancy, although caution should be exercised in its use.