Fetal Toxicity and Cytotoxicity of Lannea kerstingii Engl and Krause Stem Bark (Anacardiaceae)

Purpose: To evaluate the fetal toxicity and cytotoxicity of L. kerstingii in pregnant rats exposed in the organogenic period. Methods: Mated female rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of 8 animals each. Pregnant rats received orally 500 or 1000 mg/kg of 50 % hydroalcohol extract of L. kerstingii, daily from the 17th to the 20th day of gestation. On day 21 of pregnancy, the females were sacrificed. Laparotomy was performed and uterine horns were removed. The number of implants, resorptions, dead and live fetuses were then recorded. The ovaries were also observed and corpora lutea were counted. The cytotoxic effect of L. kerstingii hydroalcohol extract was evaluated on Caco-2 cell lines using MTT (3-(4, 5-dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and neutral red uptake assay. Results: No visible signs of toxicity were observed in the female rats and their pups through-out the study period. However, L. kerstingii (500 and 1000 mg/kg) caused a significant de-crease (p < 0.01) in fetal weight compared with control. With regard to implantation, resorption and mortality, there was no significant difference between groups. L. kerstingii hydroal-cohol extract (IC50, 29 mu g/mL) was more cytotoxic than the aqueous extract (IC50, 141 mu g/mL). Conclusion: The administration of hydroalcohol extract of L. kerstingii to female rats in late pregnancy is toxic to the fetus.