Description:
To investigate the effects of mint (Menthaspicata L.) tea consumed during pregnancy on prenatal maternal weight,length of pregnancy and morphometric development of pups in postnatal period.Twelve female (7 inmint tea group and 5 controls) and 6 male (used for mating) Wistar albino ratsweighing 190-210 gwere used in the study. Throughout the pregnancy, the mint tea group was given4 ml of mint (Mentha spicata L.) teaat the same time every day and the control group was given 4 ml of commercialdrinking water by gavage. Weights of pregnant rats in both groups were measuredthree times a week throughout the pregnancy. After the pups were born,morphometric growth parameters pertaining to the body, cranium, thorax andlimbs were measured during newborn and lactation periods and adulthood.Pregnant rats in the MT group gained less weight during gestation thanthe control rats. Morphometric parameters were measured on a total of 66 pupsborn to rats in both groups (46 pups in the MT group; 20 pups in the controlgroup and measurements of pups born to rats in the MT group were smaller thanthe control group (p<0.05). Morphometric parameters measured after six weeksshowed a significant difference between females in the MT and control groups,with the females in the MT group having smaller measurements (p<0.05). Therewas no significant difference in morphometric parameters between males in theMT and control groups.Mint tea consumption during pregnancy has a negative effect on maternalweight gain and certain postnatal morphometric parameters, more prominently infemale progenies. Therefore mint (Menthaspicata L.) tea consumption during pregnancy calls for caution.