Effect of Artemisia herba-alba consumption during pregnancy on fertility, morphological and behaviors of mice offspring

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Pregnant women prefer herbal medicines more than pharmaceutical drugs due to the cultural belief that herbs are more suffer during pregnancy for an accurate foetus development. Artemisia herba-alba (Asteraceae) is one of the most used plants in the Mediterranean region to treat various diseases including diabetes, hypertension, spasmodic dysphonia and some bacterial infection. Aim of the study The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Artemisia herba-alba consumption during pregnancy on fertility, physical and behavior developments of mice offspring from birth-to-weaning days. Materials and methods Female pregnant mice were divided into three groups and orally administrated with 80 and 150 mg/kg/day of the methanol extract of Artemisia h.a respectively, during the entire period of gestation. At birth, total fertility rate was counted. Body development; neuromotor reflex and behavior were also examined in mice offspring Results Artemisia h.a (Aha) exposure significantly decreased the fertility ratio in both Aha-treated groups and increased the weight and length of mice offspring in 80 mg/kg/day Aha-exposed group. Moreover, Aha administration prolonged the time of completing the reflex response of surface righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance and jumping test of mice offspring in Aha-exposed groups. Conclusion The present study provides strong evidence that discourage the use of Artemisia h.a during gestation period.