Reproductive toxic effects of Artemisia herba alba ingestion in female Spague-Dawley rats.

The objectives of this study is to investigate the toxic effects of Artemisia herba Alba (300 mg/kg/ body wight) on the reproductive system after administration to female Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 250-300 g for two time periods 4 and 12 weeks. Twenty adult female rats were divided into two groups and exposed to Topiramate diet at a concentration of 300 mg/kg/body weight for two periods of time. First group containing 10 rats received treatment for 4 weeks and a second group of 10 rats received the same dose of treatment for a period of 12 weeks and compared with twenty non-exposed female rats received vehicle treatment. Female rats were allowed mating with males after 10 days prior to the last administration dose. Animals were autopsied under light anesthesia after mating and several parameters were determined including: Number of pregnant rats, body and reproductive organ weight, number of implantation sites, viable fetuses and resorption sites. Assessment of pregnancies in females was measured and the significance of these results was calculated using student's t and Chi-square tests. The effect of Artemisia herba alba exposure on fertility was assessed in terms of pregnant rats number, implantation sites, viable fetuses and resorption sites. Exposure to Artemisia herba alba for 4 weeks did not have much effect on fertility. Significant decrease in the relative ovarian weights and embryo weights in rats exposed to Artemisia herba alba were observed. Exposure to Artemisia herba alba for a 12 weeks resulted in a reduction in the percentage of pregnancies and in the number of implantation sites when compared with controls in both treatment periods. Rats receiving 12 weeks treatment showed an increase in ovarian weights and a decrease in viable fetus's number. These results indicate that long-term exposure of female rats to Artemisia herba Alba causes adverse effects on the reproductive system and fertility. The results of the current study suggest that ingestion of Artemisia herba alba by adult female rats causes adverse effects on fertility and reproduction.