Abortive and/or embryofetotoxic effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum leaf extracts in pregnant rats.

Abstract

The leaves of C. zeylanicum have been used in folk medicine to stimulate menstruation and to induce abortion. The number of resorptions in pregnant Wistar rats significantly increased after the daily administration (70 mg/kg by gavage) throughout pregnancy of the aqueous or chloroform extracts of C. zeylanicum leaves, collected from Botucatu, Saõ Paulo. Compared with control rats, no significant changes were observed for a number of other parameters, including body weight, foetal weight, number of live and dead foetuses, and foetal abnormalities.