Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemesphaerica Blume alters mercuric chloride teratogenicity during the post-implantation period in Mus musculus

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H) against the teratogenic effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) in mice (Mus musculus). Pregnant M. musculus were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 dams, and received drink and food ad libitum. The first, second, and third, and fourth (control) groups were administered with LE3H, HgCl₂, HgCl₂ + LE3H, and double-distilled water alone, respectively. HgCl₂ (5 mg/kg bw) was administered by injection on gestation day (GD) 9, and LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) was administered by gavage on GD 10. Treated and control animals were killed by cervical dislocation on GD 18, dissected, and the fetuses were collected for evaluation of maternal, embryonic, and fetal toxicity. Eight parameters were measured: (a) embryo resorption or resorbed embryo, (b) dead fetus, (c) living fetus, (d) morphologically normal living fetus, (e) malformed living fetus, (f) number of MLF, (g) length of MNLF, and (h) weight of MNLF. LE3H caused 4 (50.00%), whereas HgCl₂ resulted in 7 (87.50%) parameters that were significantly different from those of the control, indicating that the teratogenicity of HgCl₂ was significantly higher than that of LE3H. HgCl₂ + LE3H showed two effects of LE3H on the teratogenicity of HgCl₂: increased 2 (25.00%), and decreased 6 (75.00%). Thus, LE3H decreased the teratogenic effects of HgCl₂ in M. musculus.

Keywords: Etlingera hemisphaerica; Mercury chloride; Mus musculus; Teratogenic effects.

Fig. 1

Number of morphologically normal and malformed living fetuses on gestation day (GD) 18 of M. musculus (see also Tables 1 and 2), which were previously administered with 0.39 mg/kg bw LE3H through gavage on GD 10 (E1), injected intraperitoneally (ip) with 5 mg/kg bw HgCl₂ on GD 9 (E2), and administered ip 5 mg/kg bw HgCl₂ on GD 9 and then 0.39 mg/kg bw LE3H through gavage on GD 10 (E3). Meanwhile, the controls (E0) were administered with double-distilled water alone. Note: HgCl₂ = mercuric chloride; LE3H = leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica; χ² = 6.64; The number of normal and malformed fetuses among treatments was significantly different (p < 0.05) [21]

Fig. 2

Examples of morphologically normal living fetuses (MNLF) and malformed living fetuses (MLF) of M. musculus on gestation day 18 (see Table 2). Note: a normal; b crooked tail; c fat accumulation; d encephalocele and hemorrhagic; e hemorrhagic and dwarf; f: dwarf. Cro crooked tail, Enc encephalocele, Hem hemorrhagic, Fat fat accumulation, Dwa dwarf