Abstract

Aglaia loheri Blanco and Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers are both endemic plant species with a variety of bioactive compounds, but remain largely untested for their toxicity, and their effects on maternal reproductive performance and fetal morphology. Inbred ICR mice were orally administered with 10 and 5 mg/ml concentrations for A. loheri, and 10 and 1 mg/ml concentrations for A. pyramidalis from the 8th to the 15th day of pregnancy. Dissection at 16 days post coitum (dpc) showed significant differences in maternal reproductive performance, as estimated by gestation index, % dead implants, % females with resorption, % resorption and % fetus with morphological abnormalities. For A. pyramidalis, the 1 mg/ml extract + vitamin A treatment reduced maternal reproductive performance most significantly, while, for A. loheri, treatment with 10 mg/ml extract, with or without vitamin A, as well as with 5 mg/ml extract only resulted to a 100% resorption. Additionally, maternal hepatotoxicity was observed in mice treated with A. pyramidalis, while significant weight losses among mice treated with higher doses of A. loheri + vitamin A suggests toxicity and synergism with vitamin A. These results suggest that caution must be taken when taking these extracts during pregnancy due to their possible toxicity and teratogenicity.

Key words: Aglaia loheri Blanco, Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers, Meliaceae, Myrsinaceae, teratogenicity, hypervitaminosis A, reproductive performance, embryo morphology.