Abstract:

Water extract of Sonchus arvensis and Anredera cordifolia leaves as a combination has been proven for their antihypertensive activity, but there is no information about its safety for pregnant women yet. This experiment aimed to evaluate the teratogenic effect of water extract of S. arvensis and A. cordifolia leaves as a combination (1:1) at doses of 100 mg/kg bw, 400 mg/kg bw, and 1000 mg/kg bw in Wistar rats. The extract was made into suspension in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) 0.5% and given orally to pregnant rats on gestation day 6-15 as much as 1 mL/100 gram bw. Pregnant rats were sacrificed at gestation day 19. All parameters related to fetuses included the number of fetuses, fetal weight, skeletal and organ malformation were evaluated. The percentage of skeletal and organ malformation of each treatment groups was compared to the control group and analyzed with one-way ANOVA method using IBM SPSS 28. There was no significant difference in both average number and fetal weight from all treatment groups compared to the control group (P>0.05). Skeletal malformation was not found, but there were undeveloped fetuses (resorption) and some fetuses with small brains in all groups. The percentage of each treatment groups for those two conditions was not significantly different compared to the control group. Therefore, water extract of S. arvensis and A. cordifolia leaves as a combination at doses of 100 mg/kg bw, 400 mg/kg bw, and 1000 mg/kg bw contraindicated for pregnant women and those who are planning on pregnancy.

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