Reproductive assessment of hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L. in Wistar rats.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the administration of a hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L. flowers (HAE) on the reproductive function of Wistar rats. Four groups of adult male rats were treated orally with HAE at doses of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 60 consecutive days. From day 53 to 60 of treatment, rats were mated with untreated and fertile female rats. Reproductive parameters including testicular morphology, reproductive organ weights, fertility index and offspring viability were evaluated. In another protocol, groups of pregnant rats were treated orally with the same doses of HAE from days 1 to 6 (preimplantation period), 7 to 14 (organogenic period) or 15 to 19 (fetal period) of pregnancy. On day 20 of pregnancy, rats were killed for evaluation of maternal and fetal parameters. The results showed that the treatment with HAE did not affect male reproductive parameters. Besides, it was non-toxic in the preimplantation and organogenic periods of pregnancy. However, the HAE induced a decrease of the maternal weight gain when administered during the fetal period. In conclusion, the HAE did not affect male fertility nor had toxic effects in early and middle periods of pregnancy. However, the HAE caused maternal toxicity when administered during the fetal period of pregnancy.

Toxicological studies on hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L.

The hydroalcohol extract (HAE) of Calendula officinalis L. was evaluated for its acute toxicity by the oral route in rats and mice and for the subacute effect on hematological, biochemical and morphologic parameters in rats. In the acute toxicity test, HAE failed to cause death in the animals after administration of oral doses up to 5.0 g/kg. Oral treatment with HAE at 0.025, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg did not induce hematological alterations when compared with the control group. In the biochemical parameters, there was an increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and in alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Morphological examination of the brain, kidney and heart did not show any alteration. However, inflammatory sites were found in the lung and liver, which were associated, respectively, with oral gavage and a possible hepatotoxic effect. HAE was non-toxic in rats, although there was evidence of renal and liver overload.

Processo cicatricial utilizando Staphisagria e Penicilina apos rumenotomia experimental em caprinos / Healing process employ of penicilin and Staphisagria in goat after experimental rumenotomy. (AU)

Com o objetivo de avaliar a evolucao do processo cicatricial em caprinos submetidos a rumenotomia experimental e, tratados nos pos operatorio com penicilina benzatina e Staphisagria, 30 cabras foram divididas em 3 grupos com 10 animais cada, e submetidas a intervencao cirurgica recebendo em seguida a terapeutica determinada para seu grupo. Avaliacoes clinicas foram feitas pelo periodo de 15 dias, sendo em seguida realizado biopsia da cicatriz da pele ao rumem. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram nao haver diferenca significativa no processo cicatricial dos animais que receberam diferentes tratamentos.(AU)