Effect of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonnerat (Strelitziaceae) Administration During Pregnancy on Fetal Growth and Development

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of administering an ethanolic extract from the leaves of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonnerat (Strelitziaceae) on fetal growth and development during gestation in Wistar rats, through external, skeletal, and visceral morphological analyses. Pregnant rats were divided into two groups (n=10 per group): a control group (water) and a treatment group (dry ethanolic extract of R. madagascariensis, 400 mg/kg), administered in drinking water from gestational day 5 to 15. On gestational day 20, cesarean section and euthanasia under anesthesia were performed. The fetuses and placentas were removed for immediate external morphological examination. Selected fetuses were subjected to skeletal and visceral examinations. The extract did not alter fetal glycemia levels. Although the fetal size was not changed in the treatment group, fetal weight and placental efficiency were increased. No small-for-gestational-age fetuses were identified, and an increase in adequate and large-for-gestational-age fetuses was observed. The skeletal examination showed increased ossification of the parietal bones and the first phalanx of the forelimbs. No skeletal or visceral malformations were detected in any of the regions studied. While these findings indicate a favorable safety profile for R. madagascariensis under specific experimental conditions, further research is needed to confirm its safety and therapeutic applications.