Maternal, Embryofetal and Teratogenic Toxicity of Gel-Forming Galactomannan from Cassia grandis in Wistar Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the potential maternal and developmental toxicity of orally administered galactomannan extracted from Cassia grandis seeds during the pre-implantation and organogenesis periods in Wistar rats. Considering the promising biotechnological potential of this gel-forming polysaccharide, its safety evaluation during pregnancy is essential. In vitro analysis using the MTT assay demonstrated that galactomannan (1–10 µg/mL) was not cytotoxic to L929 fibroblasts. In vivo, pregnant rats treated with 0.1, 1.0, or 10 mg/kg showed no clinical signs of maternal toxicity, including alterations in behavior, body weight gain, or food or water intake. Additionally, no alterations were observed in the absolute or relative weights of maternal organs. During the pre-implantation phase, no differences were observed in the number of corpora lutea, implantation sites, or pre-implantation losses. Histological analyses of implantation sites and placentas revealed normal morphology in all groups. Exposure during organogenesis did not induce external, visceral, or skeletal malformations, and no significant changes were detected in reproductive parameters. A significant overall difference in fetal body weight was observed with a significant pairwise difference only between the 0.1 and 10 mg/kg groups; however, neither group differed significantly from the control. In conclusion, the oral administration of C. grandis galactomannan at the tested doses did not produce maternal, embryotoxic, or teratogenic effects in Wistar rats. However, further studies involving broader dose ranges, larger sample sizes, and formulation-specific assessments are necessary before conclusions regarding reproductive safety in biomedical applications can be established.