Embryo and fetal toxicity of Mentha x villosa essential oil in Wistar rats

Figures & data

Table 1.  Parameters recorded to evaluate gestation impairment of pregnant rats treated, during organogenesis, with Mentha x villosa essential oil.

Parameters	Control	10 µg/kg	25 µg/kg	50 µg/kg
# of fetuses	8.75 ± 0.72	8.86 ± 0.83	8.67 ± 1.02	8.00 ± 1.12
# of dead fetuses	0 ± 0	0.14 ± 0.14	0 ± 0	0 ± 0
# of fetuses at right uterine horn	3.83 ± 0.60	5.00 ± 0.65	5.50 ± 0.76	5.17 ± 0.98
# of fetuses at left uterine horn	4.50 ± 0.72	4.00 ± 0.65	3.16 ± 0.65	2.83 ± 0.60
Right ovary weight (×10^−2) (g)	6.22 ± 0.20	6.20 ± 0.28	6.35 ± 0.37	8.00 ± 1.06
Left ovary weight (×10^−2) (g)	0.65 ± 0.04	0.68 ± 0.06	0.59 ± 0.06	0.67 ± 0.08
# of corpora lutea at right ovary	4.33 ± 0.56	5.28 ± 0.42	5.50 ± 0.76	5.67 ± 1.02
# of corpora lutea left ovary	4.66 ± 0.76	4.85 ± 0.67	3.16 ± 0.47	3.83 ± 0.48
Litter weight (g)	14.74 ± 1.05	17.54 ± 1.76	17.44 ± 1.62	19.08 ± 2.90
Utherus weight (g)	3.52 ± 0.20	4.00 ± 0.37	3.67 ± 0.36	3.71 ± 0.56
Placenta weight (g)	3.17 ± 0.29	2.71 ± 0.22	3.40 ± 0.49	2.72 ± 0.31
# implantations at right horn	4.16 ± 0.48	5.57 ± 0.53	5.50 ± 0.76	5.50 ± 1.09
# implantations at left horn	4.83 ± 0.65	4.57 ± 0.61	3.33 ± 0.61	3.50 ± 0.62
# reabsorptions right horn	0.16 ± 0.17	0.71 ± 0.71	0 ± 0	0 ± 0
# reabsorptions leflt horn	0 ± 0	0.57 ± 0.57	0 ± 0	0.33 ± 0.33
PreI loss (%)*	1.85 ± 1.85	1.30 ± 1.30	7.93 ± 3.84	6.02 ± 4.21
PostI loss (%)*	7.52 ± 2.52	11.32 ± 9.75	2.38 ± 2.38	11.92 ± 5.74
Implantation (%)	98.15 ± 1.85	98.70 ± 1.30	92.06 ± 3.85	93.98 ± 4.21
Live fetuses (%)	92.47 ± 2.52	88.68 ± 9.75	97.62 ± 2.38	91.11 ± 5.90

# = number Mean ± SED.

ANOVA (p > 0.05).

*PostI, post-implantation; PreI, pre-implantation.

Table 2.  External examination data of litters of rats exposed, during organogenesis, to Mentha x villosa essential oil.

Parameters	Control		10 µg/kg		25 µg/kg		50 µg/kg
	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters
M – Supernumerary digits	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
M – Fused digits	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
M – Hind limb malrotated	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
V – Skin hematoma	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
M – Fleshy tab on tail	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
M – Anal atresia	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Total N^o malformations	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Total N^o variatons	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6

# = number of findings/total number analyzed.

p > 0.05.

M, malformation, V, variation.

Table 3.  Visceral examination data of litters of rats exposed, during organogenesis, to Mentha x villosa essential oil.

Parameters	Control		10 µg/kg		25 µg/kg		50 µg/kg
	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters
Cerebral ventricle dilation	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Diencephalon absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Medulla oblongata absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Blood vessel supernumerary	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Hydrocephaly	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Cerebral hemorrhagic	0/50	0/6	1/62	1/7	0/52	0/6	1/48>	1/6
Palatosquese	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Biphid tongue	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Nasal septum alteration	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Retinocele	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Microphtalmia	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Anophtalmia	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Catarata	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Cristaline degeneration	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Aortic arc dilated	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Aortic arc turned for the right side	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Cardiomegaly	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Intra-atrial communication	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Intra-ventricular communication	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Dextrocardia	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Atrial chamber small	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Miocardium sept absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Blood vessels near heart hemorrhagic	0/50	0/6	4/62	4/7	7/52	4/6	2/48	1/6
Kidney hemorrhagic	0/50	0/6	6/62	3/7	>7/52>	3/6	4/48>	2/6
Liver hemorrhagic	0/50	0/6	8/62	4/7	7/52	3/6	6/48	3/6

# = number of findings/total number analyzed. Data in bold = statistical significant data compared with control group.

Table 4.  Skeletal examination data of litters of rats exposed, during organogenesis, to Mentha x villosa essential oil.

Parameters	Control		10 µg/kg		5 µg/kg		50 µg/kg
	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters	# fetuses	# litters
Skull bones fused	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Frontal/parietal reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra unossified	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra bipartite	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra fused	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra misshapen	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Sternebra supernumerary	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Vertebra absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Vertebra fused	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Vertebra reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Vertebra bipartite	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Vertebra asymmetric	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Rib absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Rib supernumerary	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Rib fused	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Rib unossified	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Rib lumbar	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
13th rib reduced size	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Squamosal reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Malar reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Phalanges absent	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Phalanges fused	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Front phalanges supernumerary	0/50	0/6	6/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Metacarpel reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	8/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Metatarso reduced ossification	0/50	0/6	0/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Metacarpel fusion	0/50	0/6	6/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6
Metatarsal fusion	0/50	0/6	8/62	0/7	0/52	0/6	0/48	0/6

#/# = number of findings/total number analyzed.

Figure 1.  Food and water intake of pregnant rats treated, during the organogenesis period, with Mentha x villosa essential oil.

Figure 2.  Body weight and body weight gain of pregnant rats treated, during the organogenesis period, with Mentha x villosa essential oil.