Avaliação da atividade estrogênica do extrato hidroalcoolico de Morus nigra L. em ratas wistar (Rattus novergicus Berkenhout, 1769)

Abstract

The use of plants for treatment and prevention of diseases is one the oldest medicinal practices. Because of its rich chemistry and pharmacology, it has been investigated in the quest to prove the activities attributed by popular belief. Morus nigra L. is a specie belonging to the family of the Moraceae usually known as a black mulberry tree. In popular medicine it has been used in replacement of conventional therapy of hormonal replacement and also for relieving symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. The species has a high concentration of phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins in their fruits as well as steroids and terpenoids in the leaves, these being attributed to antioxidant, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory activities. No studies related to estrogenic activity in whole animals, and reproductive toxicity was found in embryonic development, this being the aim of this work. Female wistar rats, obtained from the colony of the Center of Reproductive Biology - University Federal of Juiz de Fora, were distributed in the control groups (1 ml of distilled water) and treated with 25, 50, 75, 350 and 700mg/kg of the extract hidroalcoolic of Morus nigra L. (EHMn) by gavage for 15 consecutive days, maintaining during mating and until the 14th day of gestation. Clinical signs of toxicity were observed 60 minutes after treatment and thereafter once a day. The estrous cycle was evaluated daily until the meeting of sperm (day 1 post-coitus) and body mass of females recorded every five days. On the 15th day of gestation, females were euthanized by exsanguination through cardiac puncture under anesthesia. Analyzed variables: hematology and blood biochemistry, weight of kidney, liver, spleen and ovaries; identification and counting of implants, resorptions, live and dead fetuses; body weight of fetuses and placental weight. Using histological sections of ovaries and measuring the height of the uterine epithelium was evaluated estrogenic activity. There were no significant differences in any of the variables studied, except for ALT, concluding that the treatment with EHMn in the present experimental model, showed no reproductive toxicity and embryo development, showed no estrogenic activity.