Maternal anxiety symptoms in the perinatal period might have long-term health effects on both the mother and the developing child. Valerian is a phytotherapeutic agent that is widely used for the treatment of anxiety. This study investigated the effects of valerian treatment in postpartum rats on maternal care, toxicity, and milk composition. Postnatal development, memory, and anxiety behavior in the offspring were also assessed. Postpartum Wistar rats received the valerian (500, 1000, or 2000 mg·kg–1·day–1) by oral gavage. Clinical and biochemical toxicity was evaluated with commercial kits. Maternal behavior was observed daily. Milk composition was analyzed by colorimetric methods. Physical and neuromotor tests were used to analyze postnatal development. Anxiolytic activity was assessed by the elevated plus maze, and memory was evaluated by the step-down inhibitory avoidance task. Maternal toxicity and care behavior were not altered by the treatment, while only the highest dose promoted a significant increase of lactose, and the doses 1000 and 2000 mg·kg–1·day–1 promoted a reduction of protein contents in milk. Postnatal development was similar in all offspring. Adult offspring did not display altered anxiety behavior, while long-term memory was impaired in the female adult offspring by maternal treatment with 1000 mg·kg–1·day–1. These results suggested that high doses of valerian had significant effects on important maternal milk components and can cause long-term alterations of offspring memory; thus, treatment with high doses of valerian is not safe for breastfeeding Wistar rat mothers.

O hipérico (Hypericum perforatum) é utilizado no tratamento alternativo da depressão, enfermidade que tem atingido mulheres, tanto no pós-parto quanto durante a gestação. Existem poucas informações sobre estudos experimentais quanto à toxicidade reprodutiva do hipérico. O presente trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar seu potencial embriotóxico. Ratas Wistar prenhes foram tratadas com 36 ou 360 mg/kg de extrato seco de Jarsin, por gavagem nos dias 5 e 7 pós-inseminação. Animais do grupo controle receberam 0,5 mL de água destilada pela mesma via e dias. Após eutanásia no 15(0) dia, as seguintes variáveis foram analisadas: peso corporal materno e fetal, consumo de ração, sinais clínicos de toxicidade, peso de ovários e placentas, número de corpos lúteos, de reabsorções, de fetos vivos e de fetos mortos e proporção de implantação e de reabsorção. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas em nenhuma dessas variáveis, levando a concluir que no modelo experimental utilizado, o Hypericum perforatum não parece apresentar toxicidade para a mãe, não interfere na implantação do blastocisto e nem parece ser tóxico para o embrião.

Hypericum perforatum is used as an alternative treatment of depression, which is a disease that has been affecting women during post-partum or gestation. There is little information in experimental studies regarding the reproductive toxicity of hiperic. The present paper aims at assessing Hypericum perforatum's embryotoxic potential. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with 36 or 360 mg/kg body weight of Jarsin dried extract, via oral gavage on days 5 and 7 post-insemination. Animals from the control group received 0.5 mL of distilled water through the same via and days. The animals were killed on the 15th day and the following variables were analyzed: maternal and fetal body weight, food intake, clinical signs of toxicity, weight of ovaries and placenta, number of corpora lutea, resorptions, live and dead fetuses, and the proportion of implantation and resorption. No significant differences were observed in any of these variables, leading to the conclusion that in the experimental model used, Hypericum perforatum does not seem to be toxic to the mother, does not interfere with blastocyst implantation nor does it seem to be toxic to the embryo.