Baicalein, a flavonoid, causes prolonged estrus and suppressed fertility output upon prenatal exposure in female mice.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Baicalein (BC), a phytoestrogen of the flavonoid family shows beneficiary and adverse effects. Effect of BC on reproduction is still not understood. Reproductive toxic effects on female mice were tested in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inseminated Wistar mice were divided into four groups and administered IP with 30, 60, and 90 mg/Kg body weight of BC on gestation days 11, 13, 15, and 17, and controls treated with DMSO. They were allowed to deliver pups and offspring were separated gender-wise on day 21. The stages of the estrus cycle and its lengthlengths of three successive cycles were measured from day 38 of young females. The mature female offspring of at 60 days age havewere cohabited with control males and the female reproductive endpoints and body weights of dams were measured. RESULTS: <0.0001) were found in BC exposed dams in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Prenatal BC exposure prolonged the estrus cycle due to the augmented length of metestrus and diestrus phase, and is reportingreported for the first time. Female fertility output in mice is affected severely by prenatal BC exposure.