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In traditional medicine practice among the Bassa people of central Nigeria, the seeds of Ricinus communis (Var. minor) are widely used as anticonceptive agents. This study purposes to evaluate the effect of fetal in-utero exposure to extract of Ricinus communis (var. minor) on postnatal growth in rats. Eighteen (18) adult female rats in proestrous phase of the estrous cycle were divided into 3 groups and allowed to mate with males of proven fertility using a male: female ratio 1:3. Group 1 rats were injected subcutaneously on day 2 of pregnancy with 0.2ml of olive oil and served as control, while group 2 animals received 20mg/kg of the extract on day 2 of conception. The rats in group 3 were similarly administered 20mg/kg of the extract subcutaneously on days 2 and 5 of pregnancy. At birth, body weights of pups were taken on days 0, 7, 14 and 28. The results showed that in utero exposure to Ricinus communis var. minor (RICOM-1013-J) significantly decreased postpartum birth weight (p < 0.05) in the first week of life only, while Days 14 and 28 were normal compared to control. The study showed that in utero exposure to therapeutic doses of Ricinus communis var. minor do not have may have no adverse or deleterious effects on foetal development and postpartum growth in rats. Keywords: Ricinus communis ; In-utero ; n-Hexane; Postnatal; Foetal; Weight changes |
