Abstract

ABREU DA SILVA, Ana C  and  BOTELHO DE SANTANA, Lourenço L. The risks of the use of medicinal plants during the gestational period: A bibliographic review. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2018, vol.26, n.3, pp.118-123. ISSN 1851-3743.

This literature review had as main objective to identify the medicinal plants used by pregnant women capable of causing harmful effects to gestation, as well as to describe the main secondary metabolites responsible for these effects. Articles used in this review were written between the years 2011 and 2018 and are available in electronic databases such as Scielo, Periodical Capes, Lilacs, Medline and Science Direct. A total of 98 publications were selected, of which 52 were excluded because they presented methodological problems or did not fit the theme, with 46 articles being used. The medicinal plants frequently used by women during the gestational period were shown, which are believed not to cause pregnancy damage. Plants such as boldo, sene, camomile, carqueja, angelica, arruda and others are commonly used by the pregnant population to relieve the discomforts of this period, such as nausea, flatulence, insomnia, heartburn, depression, joint pain, weight loss, among others. However, medicinal plants have secondary metabolites that are considered to be toxic and capable of causing embryotoxic, teratogenic and abortive effects when used during pregnancy. In the light of the research, evaluating the risk / benefit relationship, where the studies point out many risks offered by the use of medicinal plants during pregnancy, it is suggested controlled use of these treatments during the gestational period with the appropriate medical follow-up.

Keywords : Abortive; Embryotoxic; Teratogenic; Medicinal plants.

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