[Evaluation of Hypericum perforatum toxicity when administered to pregnant rats].

BACKGROUND

Saint John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a medicinal plant used in the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVE

In the present paper, the toxicity of H. perforatum administered to female rats during organogenesis (9th to 15th day of pregnancy) was evaluated.

METHODS

Thirty inseminated Wistar rats were randomly distributed into Control and Treated groups, which received by gavage, respectively, 0.5 ml of saline and 36 mg/Kg body weight of Jarsin dried extract diluted into 0.5 ml of saline. Maternal toxicity was evaluated by means of: water and food intake, body weight, piloerection, walking activity, diarrhea and death. Animals were killed on the 21st day of pregnancy, when kidneys, liver and ovaries were weighed. Implantation and reabsorption indices were calculated, as well as the average number of fetuses per mother.

RESULTS

Clinical signs of maternal toxicity were not observed and none of the variables analyzed showed statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

At the dose administered in the experimental model used, H. perforatum does not seem to be toxic to the mother.