The Ethanolic Extract of Piper glabratum Kunth Is Teratogenic and Interferes with the Ossification Process of Swiss Mice Fetuses

Piper glabratum Kunth is a plant traditionally used to treat pain and inflammation in the Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Even pregnant women consume this plant. Toxicology studies of the ethanolic extract from the leaves of P. glabratum (EEPg) could establish the safety of popular use of P. glabratrum. Thus, the effects of the ethanolic extract of leaves of P. glabratum (EEPg) on the reproductive performance and embryofetal development of Swiss mice were evaluated. Pregnant female mice were treated with 100, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg throughout the gestational period by gavage (p.o). The control group received the EEPg vehicle (Tween 80–1%) in the proportion of 0.1 mL/10 g (p.o.). The results demonstrated that EEPg has low maternal toxic potential and does not alter the reproductive performance of females. However, it altered embryofetal development and caused fetal weight reduction (increasing the frequency of small-for-gestational-age fetuses) at the two highest doses. In addition, it interfered with placental weight, placental index and placental efficiency. The frequency of visceral malformations increased by 2.8 times for the lowest dose of EEPg, and skeletal malformations increased by 2.48, 1.89 and 2.11 times for doses of 100, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg of EEPg, respectively. It is noteworthy that 100% of the offspring treated with EEPg showed changes in the ossification process. Thus, it is considered that the EEPg has low maternal toxic potential; it does not alter the reproductive performance of females. However, it is teratogenic and interferes, mainly, in the ossification process, and therefore its use is contraindicated in the gestational period.