Ananas comosus: is the unripe fruit juice an abortifacient in pregnant Wistar rats?

OBJECTIVE

The juice of unripe pineapple (Ananas comosus) was investigated for abortifacient activity in pregnant Wistar rats.

METHODS

Animals in Groups A, B, C and D received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the juice, respectively, once daily from day 7 until day 14 of pregnancy.

RESULTS

The juice contained tannins, cardenolides, dienolides, cardiac glycoside and flavonoids. The number and weights of live fetuses, number of implantation sites, corpora lutea, computed percent implantation index, resorption index, pre- and post-implantation losses were not significantly (p > 0.05) altered. Neither fetal death, nor provoked vaginal bleeding was observed in the pregnant rats. The maternal weight increased in all the experimental animals with that of the control augmenting least. The 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight dosages increased (p < 0.05) the serum concentrations of progesterone and oestrogen in the pregnant rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The fruit juice of Ananas comosus does not exhibit abortifacient activity in pregnant Wistar rats.