Teratogenic effects of ethanol extract of Curcuma mangga Val. rhizomes in wistar rats.

We have recently highlighted the immunomodulatory effect of ethanol extract of Curcuma mangga Val. rhizomes. The current study was performed to investigate the teratogenic effects of C. mangga extract in Wistar rats. The C. mangga extract at doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw were administered to pregnant rats on day 6-15 of gestation. The litter size, length and birth weight as well as body weight of pregnant rats were determined to evaluate the teratogenic effects of C. mangga extract. External and skeletal malformations were also examined. The extract reduced the litter length compared to normal control (p < 0.05). The average body weight gain of the pregnant rats also decreased. Resorption was observed after treatment with extract at the dose of 1000 mg/kg bw. The extract at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw reduced litter birth weight and induced external and skeletal malformations. This demonstrates that ethanol extract of C. mangga has teratogenic effects in Wistar rats and should be used with caution in pregnancy.