Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Journal of Ethnopharmacology 117 (2008) 28–33 Baccharis trimera: Effect on hematological and biochemical parameters and hepatorenal evaluation in pregnant rats Simone Reschke Mendes Grance a,∗ , Maria Ara ´ ujo Teixeira b , Roseana Silveira Leite b , Eur´ ıpedes Batista Guimar˜ aes c , Jo˜ ao M´ aximo de Siqueira d , Wander Fernando de Oliveira Filiu d , Simone Bertozi de Souza Vasconcelos e , Maria do Carmo Vieira f a Program in Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Cx. Postal 549, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil b Central Animal Facilities, UFMS, Cx. Postal 649, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil c Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UFMS, Cx. Postal 549, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil d Department of Pharmacy-Biochemistry, UFMS, Cx. Postal 649, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil e Department of Morphophysiology, UFMS, Cx. Postal 649, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900, Brazil f Department of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil Received 2 July 2007; received in revised form 24 December 2007; accepted 31 December 2007 Available online 19 January 2008 Abstract Aim of the study: This investigation evaluated the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera on pregnant Wistar rats, once the plant is well-known consumed in pregnancy and little is known on its potentially toxic effects on pregnant women. Material and Methods: Thirty-five female rats were distributed into three groups. Those in treatments 1 and 2 were given 8.4 mg/kg of the extract orally from gestational day (GD) 1 to 19 and from GD 6 to 15, respectively, whereas those in the control group received distilled water orally from GD 1 to 19. Body weights were recorded on GD 1, 6, 15, and 20. On GD 20 animals were anesthetized, blood samples were collected and maternal livers, kidneys, and spleens were weighed and processed for histological studies. Results: No clinical signs of maternal toxicity and no changes in hematological parameters were observed. Urea levels and kidney weights differed significantly between animals receiving treatment 1 and controls. Histopathological alterations were found in kidneys and livers in both treatment groups. Conclusions: The hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera administered to pregnant rats at 8.4 mg/kg was toxic to maternal kidney and liver cells, although such alterations are reversible once administration is discontinued. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Hydroethanolic extract; Baccharis trimera; Carqueja; Asteraceae; Toxicity 1. Introduction Baccharis trimera (Less) DC, popularly known as ‘car- queja’ in Brazil, is widespread in South America. Infusions, decoctions, and tinctures of its aerial parts are used in Brazil- ian popular medicine. Diterpenic lactones, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolic compounds, and essen- tial oils have been described for the species, whose principal active constituent is carquejol (Sim˜ oes et al., 1998). Some of ∗ Corresponding author at: Rua Bar˜ ao de Itaparai, 168 Campo Grande, MS 79112-200, Brazil. Tel.: +55 67 9958 5282; fax: +55 67 3318 3000. E-mail address: simonermg@yahoo.com.br (S.R.M. Grance). its pharmacological properties have already been investigated, including those related to the treatment of liver and gastrointesti- nal tract illnesses (Soicke and Leng-Peschlow, 1987; Gamberini et al., 1991), inflammatory processes (Gen´ e et al., 1996), and diabetes (Oliveira et al., 2005). Its bitter-tasting compounds, of diuretic action, are reported to cleanse the blood, clearing it of toxins (Almeida, 1993). Although several investigations on Bac- charis trimera have demonstrated its efficacy, few are the studies available on its effects on pregnant women and fetuses—a gap in information that may compromise maternal and fetal health, since the plant is indiscriminately used during gestation and lactation, particularly by women of lower socioeconomic status. The evaluation of toxic effects of chemical compounds in pregnancy should take into account the fact that the gestational 0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.12.020