A REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY FOLLOWING 28 DAYS REPEATED ORAL EXPOSURE OF LEAVES OF PTEROSPERMUM ACERIFOLIUM (L.) WILLD IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of repeated administration of methanolic leaf extract of Pterospermum acerifolium Linn. Willd. (MEPA) on the reproductive system of male and female Wistar albino rats and its developmental effects on subsequent generation. MEPA was administered to Wistar albino rats by gavage for 28 days repeatedly at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight, in accordance to OECD guidelines 414 (developmental study) and 416 (reproductive study). Male fertility was estimated by sperm count. Biochemical evaluations included estimation of glycogen content, superoxide dismutase activity and ascorbic acid. Body weight and food intake behavior was also monitored regularly. MEPA treated male and female rats were allowed to mate. After mating females were observed for signs of parturition and allowed to give birth to the F1 generation. The pups were clinically observed. At the dose levels tested MEPA does not significantly (p<0.01) alter sperm count of male rats. Female reproductive system tolerates MEPA well. Normal gestational period was observed. Normal birth rates of F1 pups showed absence of developmental toxicity of MEPA. The no observed effect level (NOEL) for maternal and development toxicity was 1000 mg/kg/bw/d, the highest dose evaluated (p<0.01). MEPA does not cause male or female toxicity in Wistar albino rats upon 28 day repeated oral administration upon repeated MEPA administration upto 1000 mg/kg/bw/d.