Unveiling Safety Profile of Pereskia Bleo Leaf Extract: A Comprehensive Study on Female Toxicity and Teratogenicity in Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Pereskia bleo (P. bleo), renowned for its traditional medicinal use in various countries, is valued for its therapeutic potential. While medicinal plants hold immense promise, concerns regarding potential adverse effects on normal cells and teratogenicity remain. This study evaluated the influence of methanol extract of Pereskia bleo (MEPB) leaves on female toxicity and teratogenicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Female rats (n=40) were divided into four groups receiving MEPB doses (0, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day) during pre-mating, mating, and gestation periods. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis exhibited that MEPB leaves contains phenolic compounds, terpenoids, phytosterols, and fatty acids. Remarkably, all the animals exhibited regular oestrous cycles, maintained body weight, and showed no signs of toxicity or abnormal behaviour. Visceral organ weights and histological analysis revealed no significant alterations, attesting to the extract's safety. Pregnancy outcomes, including corpora lutea, implantation sites, percentages of pre- and post-implantation death, gravid uterine weight, number of live and dead foetuses, foetal body weight, and foetal sex ratio, remained unaffected. Furthermore, MEPB did not impact foetal parameters or induce deformities, as confirmed by meticulous foetal examinations. Importantly, daily MEPB consumption (250-1000 mg/kg) from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy did not compromise maternal or foetal well-being. These results underscore the lack of embryotoxic or teratogenic effects of MEPB, highlighting its potential for safe therapeutic applications.