calendula and Weight-Gain

This study assessed the potential of topical Calendula officinalis extract on the healing of oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in hamsters.. Oral mucositis was induced in 60 male hamsters by 5-FU (60 mg/kg) on days 0, 5, and 10 of the study. The cheek pouch was scratched with a sterile needle on days 1 and 2. On days 12-17, 5% and 10% C. officinalis gel and gel base groups were treated and then compared with a control group. Macroscopic and microscopic scores and weights were evaluated.. Microscopic and macroscopic scores of mucositis were lower in the 5% and 10% C. officinalis gel groups than in the gel base and control groups (P < .05). Weight gain was noted in the treatment groups compared with the gel base and control groups (P < .05).. Calendula officinalis extract accelerated the healing of oral mucositis in hamsters.

Topics: Abscess; Animals; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Calendula; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Cricetinae; Drug Carriers; Erythema; Fluorouracil; Gels; Hyperemia; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Male; Mesocricetus; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Mucosa; Oral Hemorrhage; Oral Ulcer; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Re-Epithelialization; Single-Blind Method; Stomatitis; Time Factors; Weight Gain; Wound Healing

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the administration of a hydroalcohol extract of Calendula officinalis L. flowers (HAE) on the reproductive function of Wistar rats. Four groups of adult male rats were treated orally with HAE at doses of 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg for 60 consecutive days. From day 53 to 60 of treatment, rats were mated with untreated and fertile female rats. Reproductive parameters including testicular morphology, reproductive organ weights, fertility index and offspring viability were evaluated. In another protocol, groups of pregnant rats were treated orally with the same doses of HAE from days 1 to 6 (preimplantation period), 7 to 14 (organogenic period) or 15 to 19 (fetal period) of pregnancy. On day 20 of pregnancy, rats were killed for evaluation of maternal and fetal parameters. The results showed that the treatment with HAE did not affect male reproductive parameters. Besides, it was non-toxic in the preimplantation and organogenic periods of pregnancy. However, the HAE induced a decrease of the maternal weight gain when administered during the fetal period. In conclusion, the HAE did not affect male fertility nor had toxic effects in early and middle periods of pregnancy. However, the HAE caused maternal toxicity when administered during the fetal period of pregnancy.

Topics: Animals; Calendula; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fertility; Flowers; Male; Organ Size; Plant Extracts; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Animal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reproduction; Testis; Weight Gain