Toxicological Assessment of a Standardized Dry Extract of Zea mays L. (Poaceae) Stigmas During Gestation: Effects on Maternal Parameters and Fetal Outcomes in Wistar Rats

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q4 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Birth Defects Research Pub Date : 2025-09-23 DOI:10.1002/bdr2.2526

Graziele Alícia Batista Caixeta, Diego dos Santos Reis, Kássya Inácio Soares, Isabella de Brito Ramos, Giovanna Helen Lopes Mendes, Pabline Silva Gasparoti, Monatha Nayara Guimarães Teófilo, Jamira Dias Rocha, Luiz Fernando Fróes Fleury, Elisa Flávia Luiz Cardoso Bailão, Clayson Moura Gomes, Wilson de Melo Cruvinel, Joelma Abadia Marciano de Paula, Vanessa Cristiane Santana Amaral

{"title":"Toxicological Assessment of a Standardized Dry Extract of Zea mays L. (Poaceae) Stigmas During Gestation: Effects on Maternal Parameters and Fetal Outcomes in Wistar Rats","authors":"Graziele Alícia Batista Caixeta, Diego dos Santos Reis, Kássya Inácio Soares, Isabella de Brito Ramos, Giovanna Helen Lopes Mendes, Pabline Silva Gasparoti, Monatha Nayara Guimarães Teófilo, Jamira Dias Rocha, Luiz Fernando Fróes Fleury, Elisa Flávia Luiz Cardoso Bailão, Clayson Moura Gomes, Wilson de Melo Cruvinel, Joelma Abadia Marciano de Paula, Vanessa Cristiane Santana Amaral","doi":"10.1002/bdr2.2526","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Background</h3>\n \n <p>Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L., Poaceae) stigmas, popularly known as corn silk, have been traditionally used for their diuretic properties and to treat urinary tract disorders and hypertension. Although several studies have reported beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, data on their safety during pregnancy remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prenatal treatment with a standardized dry corn silk extract on maternal and fetal toxicity parameters in Wistar rats.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Corn silk was extracted with 41% (v/v) ethanol, concentrated, and spray-dried. The total flavonoid content was determined by spectrophotometry, and phenolic compounds, including maysin, were analyzed using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Pregnant Wistar rats (<i>n</i> = 10/group) received the vehicle or extract doses of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/kg from gestational Day (GD) 0–20. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight gain, and food and water intake were monitored. On GD 21, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Reproductive performance and genotoxicity were assessed, along with histopathological examinations of selected organs.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>The extract contained 1.698% flavonoids, including maysin as the predominant one. No clinical signs of toxicity, changes in body weight gain, water and food intake, genotoxicity, histopathological alterations, or biochemical disturbances were observed. However, the 1200 mg/kg dose increased pre-implantation losses. No external, skeletal, or visceral malformations were detected in fetuses.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>Under these experimental conditions, the extract did not induce maternal or fetal toxicity. Nevertheless, the 1200 mg/kg dose may interfere with early pregnancy in Wistar rats.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":9121,"journal":{"name":"Birth Defects Research","volume":"117 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Birth Defects Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bdr2.2526","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Corn (Zea mays L., Poaceae) stigmas, popularly known as corn silk, have been traditionally used for their diuretic properties and to treat urinary tract disorders and hypertension. Although several studies have reported beneficial effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, data on their safety during pregnancy remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prenatal treatment with a standardized dry corn silk extract on maternal and fetal toxicity parameters in Wistar rats.

Methods

Corn silk was extracted with 41% (v/v) ethanol, concentrated, and spray-dried. The total flavonoid content was determined by spectrophotometry, and phenolic compounds, including maysin, were analyzed using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Pregnant Wistar rats (n = 10/group) received the vehicle or extract doses of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/kg from gestational Day (GD) 0–20. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight gain, and food and water intake were monitored. On GD 21, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Reproductive performance and genotoxicity were assessed, along with histopathological examinations of selected organs.

Results

The extract contained 1.698% flavonoids, including maysin as the predominant one. No clinical signs of toxicity, changes in body weight gain, water and food intake, genotoxicity, histopathological alterations, or biochemical disturbances were observed. However, the 1200 mg/kg dose increased pre-implantation losses. No external, skeletal, or visceral malformations were detected in fetuses.

Conclusions

Under these experimental conditions, the extract did not induce maternal or fetal toxicity. Nevertheless, the 1200 mg/kg dose may interfere with early pregnancy in Wistar rats.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

玉米柱头标准化干提取物妊娠期毒理学评价：对Wistar大鼠母体参数和胎儿结局的影响。

背景：玉米（Zea mays L.，禾本科）柱头，俗称玉米丝，传统上因其利尿特性和治疗尿路疾病和高血压而被使用。尽管有几项研究报告了其有益作用，如抗炎和抗氧化活性，但有关其在怀孕期间安全性的数据仍然有限。本研究旨在评价标准干玉米丝提取物产前处理对Wistar大鼠母胎毒性参数的影响。方法：用41% （v/v）乙醇提取玉米丝，浓缩后喷雾干燥。采用分光光度法测定总黄酮含量，采用HPLC-DAD和HPLC-ESI-MS/MS分析酚类化合物，包括梅姨素。妊娠Wistar大鼠（n = 10/组）从妊娠日（GD） 0-20开始，分别接受300、600、1200 mg/kg的药体或提取物剂量。监测中毒的临床症状、体重增加、食物和水的摄入量。GD 21采集血样进行生化分析。评估生殖性能和遗传毒性，并对选定的器官进行组织病理学检查。结果：黄酮类化合物含量为1.698%，以豆蔻苷为主。没有观察到毒性的临床症状、体重增加、水和食物摄入量的变化、遗传毒性、组织病理学改变或生化紊乱。然而，1200mg /kg剂量增加了植入前损失。胎儿未发现外部、骨骼或内脏畸形。结论：在上述实验条件下，黄芪提取物对母体和胎儿均无毒性作用。然而，1200mg /kg剂量可能会干扰Wistar大鼠的早期妊娠。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Birth Defects Research Medicine-Embryology

CiteScore

3.60

自引率

9.50%

发文量

153

期刊介绍： The journal Birth Defects Research publishes original research and reviews in areas related to the etiology of adverse developmental and reproductive outcome. In particular the journal is devoted to the publication of original scientific research that contributes to the understanding of the biology of embryonic development and the prenatal causative factors and mechanisms leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes, namely structural and functional birth defects, pregnancy loss, postnatal functional defects in the human population, and to the identification of prenatal factors and biological mechanisms that reduce these risks. Adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes may have genetic, environmental, nutritional or epigenetic causes. Accordingly, the journal Birth Defects Research takes an integrated, multidisciplinary approach in its organization and publication strategy. The journal Birth Defects Research contains separate sections for clinical and molecular teratology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, and reviews in developmental biology to acknowledge and accommodate the integrative nature of research in this field. Each section has a dedicated editor who is a leader in his/her field and who has full editorial authority in his/her area.