Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemesphaerica Blume alters mercuric chloride teratogenicity during the post-implantation period in Mus musculus

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H) against the teratogenic effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) in mice (Mus musculus). Pregnant M. musculus were divided into four groups, each consisting of 10 dams, and received drink and food ad libitum. The first, second, and third, and fourth (control) groups were administered with LE3H, HgCl2, HgCl2 + LE3H, and double-distilled water alone, respectively. HgCl2 (5 mg/kg bw) was administered by injection on gestation day (GD) 9, and LE3H (0.39 mg/g bw) was administered by gavage on GD 10. Treated and control animals were killed by cervical dislocation on GD 18, dissected, and the fetuses were collected for evaluation of maternal, embryonic, and fetal toxicity. Eight parameters were measured: (a) embryo resorption or resorbed embryo, (b) dead fetus, (c) living fetus, (d) morphologically normal living fetus, (e) malformed living fetus, (f) number of MLF, (g) length of MNLF, and (h) weight of MNLF. LE3H caused 4 (50.00%), whereas HgCl2 resulted in 7 (87.50%) parameters that were significantly different from those of the control, indicating that the teratogenicity of HgCl2 was significantly higher than that of LE3H. HgCl2 + LE3H showed two effects of LE3H on the teratogenicity of HgCl2: increased 2 (25.00%), and decreased 6 (75.00%). Thus, LE3H decreased the teratogenic effects of HgCl2 in M. musculus.