title: Efficacy of Morus nigra L. on reproduction in female Wistar rats.
abstract: Morus nigra L. is a plant employed as a substitute for the conventional hormonal replacement therapy. This work analyzes the estrogenic effect of M. nigra on the reproductive system and embryonic development of Wistar rats. Female rats were orally treated with M. nigra hydroalcoholic extract (MnHE) at the dose levels of 25, 50, 75, 350 and 700 mg/kg of body weight over 15 days, and continued through mating until the 14th day of gestation. Vaginal smears were performed daily and the body weight of the females was recorded at 5 days intervals. On day 15 of gestation, the females were killed and their kidneys, liver, spleen and ovaries were removed and weighed. The number of implants, resorptions, and live and dead fetuses were evaluated. Histological sections of ovaries, measurement of the height of the uterine epithelium and vaginal smears were performed to assess the estrogenic activity. The results showed that the administration of MnHE did not significantly alter the analyzed variables. Therefore, considering the experimental model used in this study, the data obtained indicate that M. nigra did not exhibit any estrogenic activity nor did exert a toxic effect on the female reproductive system and on the embryonic development of rats.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas-Área de concentração em Comportamento e Biologia Animal/Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, CEP 36036-330, Brazil. grazielaufjf@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Graziela Tonioni
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: Tatianne Rosa
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Vera Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Magda Narciso
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Cássia da Silveira e Sá
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Guerra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts