Abortive and/or embryofetotoxic effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum leaf extracts in pregnant rats

Abstract

Female Wistar rats received by gavage 70 mg/kg of aqueous and chloroform extracts of C. zeylanicum during pregnancy. The results showed that the females treated with both the extracts presented an increased number of resorptions, which explains their use as an abortive infusion by Brazilian people. A non significant number of abnormalities was observed in live fetuses, the same occurring with fetal weight and number of dead fetuses.