Background: As a medicinal herb,
Equisetum ramossisemum
has been utilized for centuries as a diuretic and has been
recommended for different disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal toxicity of aerial parts of
Equisetum
ramosissimum extract on pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats.
Methods: Females were mated and the coupling time was recorded at gestation day 0– E0. Four experimental groups I, II, III, and
IV, received daily gavage doses of 0 mg, 500 mg, 250 mg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively, of
Equisetum ramosissimum extract.
Pregnant rats were observed for mortality and toxicological effects during daily treatment. On day E20, samples of blood were
withdrawn from the retro-orbital sinus under light ether anaesthesia for haematological and clinical chemistry examinations.
Results: Data analyses detected significant differences in biochemical and haematological parameters between the control group and
other groups receiving extract.
Conclusion: This study constitutes a first approach to defining adverse effects of using
Equisetum ramosissimum as a medicinal
plant during pregnancy. Daily gavage doses of
Equisetum ramosissimum extract produced significant differences in biochemical and
haematological parameters in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats as compared to the control group.
