Study of Embryotoxicity of Mentha piperita L. During Organogenesis in Balb/c Mice

mentha piperita (labiatae), commonly known as peppermint is a native iranian herb which is used in folk medicine for various purposes. this study was carried out to reveal the teratogenic effect of mentha piperita on mice fetuses. in this experimental study, pregnant balb/c mice divided to four groups. case group received 600 (treatment i) and 1200 (treatment ii) mg/kg/day the hydroalcoholic extract of mentha piperita during 6-15 of gestational days and one control group received normal saline during gd6-gd15 by gavages and other control group did not receive any matter during 6-15 of gestational days. mice sacrificed at gd18 and embryos were collected. macroscopic observation was done by stereomicroscope. 20 fetuses of each group were stained by alizarin red-s and alcian blue staining method. the mean weight of fetuses decreased in treatment groups rather than control (p<0.05) but crl there was no significant difference between treatments and controls groups. in the treatment i (600 mg/kg/day) and treatment ii (1200 mg/kg/day), normal saline and control group, no gross congenital malformations were observed in fetuses. treated fetuses also had no delayed bone ossification as determined by alizarin red-s and alcian blue staining method. this study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of mentha piperita (600 and 1200 mg/kg/day) has no teratogenic effect in mice fetuses if used continuously during embryonic period.