Effects of (Jacq.) Gaertn. leaf extract on general toxicity and pubertal development of rats.

(Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae), popularly known as "major gomes," is a Brazilian Cerrado plant used in traditional medicine and as a food source. Recent studies have demonstrated its diuretic effects. However, no studies have been performed on its effects on the reproductive system. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of the ethanol-soluble fraction of leaves (ESTP) on general toxicity and on the pubertal development of male and female Wistar rats. For this purpose, the uterotrophic and the pubertal assays were performed. In the uterotrophic test, female immature rats were treated for three consecutive days with 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg of ESTP. Uterus without luminal fluid was weighed and the relative weight calculated. For the pubertal assay, male and female immature rats were submitted to 30-day treatment with 30 or 300 mg/kg of ESTP. Clinical signs of toxicity, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were evaluated. ESTP treatment did not promote estrogenic effects in female rats. In the pubertal test, no daily signs of toxicity or weight loss were observed. Moreover, ESTP did not affect the onset of vaginal opening and preputial separation and did not cause significant changes in biochemical parameters as well as in organ weight and histopathological analyses of animals.