Soursop Leaves (Annona muricata Folium) on Mice (Mus musculus) Fetus

Abstract

Background: Soursop leaf ethanol extract (Annona muricata (L) Folium) contains acetogenins which are cytotoxic and have the ability to halt cell growth. This study aimed to understand whether acetogenins have teratogenic effects on mice fetus (Mus musculus). Methods: This study was performed at the Pharmacology and Therapy Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, between October and November 2012. The study was an experimental laboratory study utilizing 27 pregnant mice which were divided into 3 groups. The first group was the negative control, the second was given soursop leaf ethanol extract at pre-implantation phase (day 1 to 5) and the third had the extract provided in the organogenesis phase (day 6 to 15). Laparotomy was performed on the 19th day of pregnancy. The parameters used were the number of implantation, the number of live and dead or resorbed fetus, the weight and length of the fetus, as well as the macroscopic external morphology abnormalities. The data gained from test subjects were compared to those of the control group. The statistical test used was the normality tes with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov method which was then followed by T-test or Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Results: The experiment exhibited significant differences in the weight and length of the fetus (p-value 0.000), proving that soursop leaf ethanol extract could inhibit intrauterine growth. Aside from that, external morphological abnormalities such as hemorrhage on the head, face, neck, back, forelimbs, hindlimbs, and microcephaly were also found. Conclusion: The soursop leaf ethanol extract (Annona muricata (L) Folium) has a teratogenic effect on mouse (Mus musculus) fetus. [AMJ.2014;1(1):48–53]

Keywords

• Acetogenins
• Soursop leaf ethanol extract
• Teratogenic