title: Assessment of the toxicity of the Brazilian pepper trees Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Aroeira-da-praia) and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Aroeira-do-sertão).
abstract: The present study aimed to assess the preclinical toxicity of two plants commonly used to treat "stomach ailments" in Brazil: Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (S) and Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (M). In male rats, chronic treatment (83 days) with both pepper trees (17.6 and 13.8 mg/kg, S and M, respectively) has been shown to decrease hematocrit. However, a reduction in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin was only seen following administration of S. terebinthifolius. None of the plants caused anatomopathological alterations following chronic treatment, and mating ability and fertility were not affected. Both pepper trees showed moderate toxicity following acute and chronic treatment by gavage, particularly S. terebinthifolius. Moreover, bone malformations were induced in fetuses, and a slight delay in recovery time of the postural reflex was observed in pups from female animals treated (18 days) with S. terebinthifolius. Given these results, a better assessment of the risks and benefits of the internal use of these plants is necessary, especially when used by women of childbearing age.
authors: CEBRID (Centro Brasileiro de Informações sobre Drogas Psicotrópicas), Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. eacarlini@gmail.com
authors: Elisaldo Araujo
authors: EA
authors: Carlini
authors: Joaquim Maurício
authors: JM
authors: Duarte-Almeida
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Tabach
mesh_terms: D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D051379:Mice; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic; D014197:Trees / Q000633:toxicity; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D010936:Plant Extracts