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. 2012 Summer;2(3):146-52.

The effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. on placental histomorphology and survival of the neonates in mice

Ali Louei Monfared  1 , Amir Parviz Salati  2
Affiliations

The effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. on placental histomorphology and survival of the neonates in mice

Ali Louei Monfared et al. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2012 Summer.

Abstract

Objective: Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower) is a member of the asteraceae family which is used as a food additive but also has medicinal applications. This study investigated its effects on placental histomorphology and survival of mice neonates.

Materials and methods: Eighty Balb/C pregnant mice were randomly distributed into one control and three experimental groups (n=20). The control group received only distilled water, whereas experimental groups were administered intraperitoneally C. tinctorius extract at doses of 0.7, 1.4, and 2.8 mg/kg during the organogenesis period (6(th) to 16(th) day of gestation). On the 17(th) day of gestation, half of the animals were euthanized; their fetuses and placentas were removed and histomorphological study was performed. In the rest of the animals after parturition, the number of neonates was counted. Survival rates were periodically calculated for neonates within days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth. The results were evaluated by one-way ANOVA.

Results: The results showed that treatment with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract caused reduction in the trophoblastic giant cells ratio and increasing in the proportion of labyrinthine interhemal membrane (LIM). Moreover, the size of the labyrinthine zone per whole placenta, weight, diameter, and thickness of the placenta in the mice administered with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract became lower than those of controls (p<0.05). In addition, in the treated mice with 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg C. tinctorius extract, the number of neonate was drastically decreased on days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth.

Conclusion: It is concluded that treatment with C. tinctorius extract in doses of 1.4 and 2.8 mg/kg induces toxic changes in the placental structure so caution should be paid to popular consumption of this plant both as an alternative medicine and as a food additive.

Keywords: Carthamus tinctorius; Histomorphology; Mice; Placenta; Prenatal toxicity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A): Transverse section through the placenta of control mice. This part shows normal proportion of the trophoblastic giant cells (TG) in the placenta. (B): Transverse sections through the placenta of the mice treated with C. tinctorius extract at dose of 1.4 mg/kg/day. This part shows a decrease in the trophoblastic giant cells (TG) ratio in the placenta. (C): Transverse section through the placenta of the control animals. This part shows normal thin diameter of labyrinth interhemal membrane (LIM) in the placenta. (D): Transverse section through the placenta of the mice treated with C. tinctorius extract at dose of 1.4 mg/kg/day. This part shows an increase in the diameter of the labyrinth interhemal membrane (LIM) in the placenta. (Haematoxylin and Eosine stain) (A, B: × 100 and C, D: × 400).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A): Transverse section through the placenta of control animals. This part shows the normal proportions of the labyrinth (LZ) and junctional zones (JZ) of placenta. (B): Transverse section through the placenta of the mice treated with C. tinctorius extract at dose of 2.8 mg/kg/day. This part shows decreasing in the size of the labyrinthine zone (LZ) and increasing in the size of the junctional zones (JZ) per whole placenta. (Haematoxylin and Eosine stain) (A, B: × 100).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Survival rates profile of the neonate after birth. In the mice treated with C. tinctorius extract, a drastic decrease was recognized in these rates on days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth
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