Efeitos do extrato aquoso de quebra-pedra (Phyllanthus niruri L.) na gestação e lactação de ratas e no desenvolvimento somático de sua prole.

Abstract

Phyllanthus niruri, a herbaceous species belonging to the family Phyllanthaceae, popularly known as quebra-pedra, has a wide medicinal use mainly for the treatment of renal lithiasis and is contraindicated during gestation and lactation. Although present in some official databases, being considered a plant with abortive potential, we do not find in the researched literature scientific data that evaluate and confirm this potential, as well as its effects on the health of the offspring. In this context, this work investigated the effects of the aqueous extract of P. niruri on gestation and lactation of rats and on the somatic and physical development of offspring. Primiparous females were used to obtain offspring. The animals were divided into two groups: Control group (CG) (n=6) treated with distilled water and the experimental group (GEA-PN) (n=5) treated with 150 mg/kg of the crude aqueous extract of P niruri. The weight of the progenitors and clinical signs of maternal toxicity were assessed daily throughout the experiment. For the evaluation of the development of neonates were analyzed the indicators of somatic maturation: Pinna Opening, Opening of the Auditory Canal, Opening of the Eyes, Eruption of Upper and Lower Incisors Teeth and Appearance of Epidermal Pelage. The parameters of the physical growth measured were: body weight, tail length and length of the anteroposterior axis. Treatment with EAPN caused clinical signs of systemic maternal toxicity, in which the animals presented vocal thrill, tremors, aggression, nose bleeding and vaginal bleeding, including a death on the 20th day of treatment. However, the body weight gain of the progenitors was not altered. As to the evaluation of the somatic maturation of the neonates, it was observed an anticipation of opening of the auditory canal, opening of the eyes and appearance of epidermal pelage in the animals of the experimental group when compared to the CG animals. In relation to the physical development, the animals of the experimental group had a longer tail length at the 1st and 21st day of life, when compared to the animals of the control group. Regarding the naso-anal length, a statistical difference was observed only in the 1st day of life when we compared the animals of the GEA-PN group to the CG animals. The GEA-PN body weight was higher in relation to CG, at the 7th, 14th and 21st day of life (p <0.05). From these results, it can be inferred that P. niruri caused maternal toxicity during gestation and lactation, but the administration of the extract was not able to cause harm to the health of the offspring, on the contrary, it promoted the acceleration of the parameters of physical maturation and somatic.