Teratogenic Effect of Usnic Acid fromCladonia substellataVainio during Organogenesis.
Studies about toxicological potential of usnic acid are limited. This way, the vast majority of data available in the literature are related only to biological activities. This is the first study that aimed to evaluate the oral toxicity of usnic acid during the period of organogenesis. Females rats were distributed in the control groups, treated I and II, at doses of 15 and 25 mg/kg, administered by gavage during the 6° to 15° days of pregnancy. After 20 days the fetuses were removed and analyzed. A reduction in weight gain during pregnancy, increased resorption, reduction in the number of viable fetuses, and their body weight were observed. Morphological changes in the litter were visualized as exposure of the eye and atrophy of the limbs at the dose of 25 mg/kg. Histological analysis of the liver of the fetus showed reduction in the number of megakaryocytes between experimental groups and increase in the number of hepatocytes in a dose of 25 mg/kg. The experimental model used in this study reveals teratogenic effect of usnic acid in the period of organogenesis. Since this achievement, the importance of evaluating the toxic effects of natural substances is imperative, in order to elucidate the care in their indication as drug.
Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
C R
0000-0002-3792-6312
CR
Silva
Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology, UFRPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
K S N
KS
Marinho
Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
T D S
0000-0001-7495-0621
TD
Silva
Laboratory Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Academic Center Academic of Vitória, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
D K S
0000-0002-4665-5497
DK
Ferreira
Laboratory Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Academic Center Academic of Vitória, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
G M
0000-0001-6310-7903
GM
Aguiar
Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
M C B
MC
Martins
Laboratory Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Academic Center Academic of Vitória, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
K R P
0000-0002-6737-0132
KR
Santos
Laboratory Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Academic Center Academic of Vitória, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
F C A
FC
Aguiar Júnior
Laboratory Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals, Academic Center Academic of Vitória, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
N P S
0000-0002-0960-6135
NP
Santos
Department of Geographical Sciences, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
E C
0000-0002-5821-0938
EC
Pereira
Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil.
N H
NH
Silva
D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D064793:Teratogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*
D001572:Benzofurans; C073339:usnic acid