The Effect of Ethanol Extracts of Vitex on Histomorphological Placenta in the Rat Model

Backgrounds & Vitexagnus-castus as an herbal medicine has been used for the treatment of female reproductive disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ethanol extracts of Vitexagnus-castus on placental histomorphology in rat models. In the present experimental study, fourty pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10). A control group received only distilled water and three experimental groups were treated with extract of Vitexagnus-castus at doses of 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg at days of six to the seventeenth of intraperitoneally administration. On day of18 of gestation, after anesthesia with chloroform half the animals in each group were killed and histomorphological study was calculated. After delivery the resulting offspring of the other half of animals in each group was counted and survival rates at days 5, 15, 25 and 42 after birth were decreased. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Treatment with 50 mg/kg VAC extract reduced the size and number of trophoblast giant cells, and significantly increased trophoblast cells glycogen. Treatment with 75 mg/kg extract induced massive hyperemia in the labyrinth interhemal membrane. In addition, in the all experimental groups the number of neonates was drastically decreased on days 5, 15, 25, and 42 after birth. Vitexagnus-castus extract alters the structure of the placenta and may be impaired its function. Cautious should be recommended for oral consumption or medicinal plants, especially in pregnant women.