مرکز تحقیقات بیولوژی کاربردی تکوین جانوری

 Introduction: In many countries, the use of plants and natural products is popular as an alternative to classic medical care. Lack of information about the toxic effects of such plants allows them to be used for medical treatment. MATRICARIA CHAMMOMILLA, with the Persian name of “Baboune”, belongs to the family Compositae and has been known for hundreds of years. The aim of this study was evaluation of tratogenic effects of matericavia ehammomillio in BALB/C MOUSE.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was done in Mashhad in 2004-2005. Chammomilla is a herbal medicine and has unwanted effects on embryos. For this study the flowers of MATRICARIA CHAMMOMILLA were used which contain numerous constituents including: terpenoids, biosabolo oxidase, chamazulene, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, apigenin, luteoline, quercetin, anthemic acid, choline, tannin, ploysaccharides.In this study, the embryo Toxicity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of chammomilla was evaluated, applying the standard method for this purpose. Maximum tolerated doses of the two extracts were determined and appropriate doses were administered intraperitonely to pregnant mice on day 7-9 of gestation. Embryos were then harvested by caesarian section on 15.5 day of gestation and examined for morphologic and histologic characteristics.Results: Aqueous and methanolic extracts of chammomilla caused significant decrease in weight and crown – rump (CR) measurments of embryos (P<0.05). Also uterus weight of mice in the treatment group showed significant decrease (P<0.05).Conclusion: The results of this investigation showed that many compounds of aqueous and methanolic extracts of M.chammomilla have effects on development of Mice embryo. The results of this study suggest that the pregnant women should not use formulations containing this plant.