Planta Med 2009; 75 - PI28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234792

The abortificant effects of different doses of saffron (Crocus sativus) decoction in mice

SM Hosseini 1, RMH Dashti 2, M Anvari 3, F Zeinali 4
  • 1Pharmaceutical school, Isfahan Medical University, Isfahan, Iran
  • 2Dept of physiology/Herbal Medicine Research Center, Shaheed Sadughi medical University, Yazd, Iran
  • 3Dept of Biology and Anatomical Sciences/Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shaheed Sadughi medical University, Yazd, Iran
  • 4Shaheed Sadughi medical University, Yazd, Iran

The aim of this study was to assess the evidences for the effects of saffron consumption on abortion and congenital disorders [1–3]. 65 female BALB/c mice, weighting 25–30 grams, were breed in animal house of medical college. The first day of pregnancy was the day on which the vaginal plaque was observed. The pregnant mice were divided into13 subgroups. Each pregnant animal was placed in a separate cages throughout the gestational period and were fed in the same conditions. Animals in control group received tape water but the test groups received different concentration (0.8, 0.4&0.2%) of aqueous saffron decoction in whole or only in1st, 2nd or 3rd trimesters of gestational period. In 18th day of pregnancy, animals were anesthetized and their fetuses were extracted through a cesarean section. The placenta was excised, weighed, and the number and placement of implantation sites, Live, dead and resorbed fetuses were recorded. All fetuses were stereo microscopically examined for any morphological abnormalities. According to our findings the mean number of live fetuses in animals receiving 0.8% saffron solution and mostly those who were received the decoction on 2nd trimester or whole gestational period were significantly less than control group while the mean numbers of resorbed and dead fetuses in test groups were dose dependently greater than control group (p<0.05). Maximum number of dead fetuses was for animals receiving saffron solution on 2nd trimester. Some developmental abnormalities were observed only in animals using solutions in whole gestational period. Saffron's components especially in high doses and in 2nd gestational trimester affect embryonic implantation, organogenesis and may lead to abortion.

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[2] Abdullaev, F.I. (1993) Biofactors 4:83–86.

[3] Rios, J.L. et al. (1996) Phytother. Res 10:189–193.