Herbal products are frequently regarded as “safe” by the general public, but not without side effects. The aim of this study was to assess the probable teratogenic effects of Lerhacacig on the developing wistar rat foetuses. Lerhacacig, a local herbal concoction, made up of five different plant products (CP, GL, RB, CL, LC), is consumed mostly by the south western (yoruba) women in Nigeria during pregnancy. 25 adult female Wistar rats weighing between 150-200g were randomly assigned to three (3) experimental groups and a control group. The experimental groups consisted of three groups viz: group 1 (CP + GL + RB – T1); Group 2 (LC + CL- T2); Group 3 (RB + CP + CL + LC +GL- T3). All animals were given 0.8ml/kg body weight of their respective extract daily by oral administration for 21days. They were sacrificed on the 21st day of pregnancy using light anesthesia. The Neonatal weight, litter size, crown rump length, head circumference, femur length and humeral length anthropometric measurements were taken for both experimental and control groups respectively. The kidney and liver were harvested, weighed and processedfor routine and special histological analyses. The results from this present study revealed that 1fetus from group 3 mothers presented with unilateral renal agenesis. Another mother in the same group also presented a case of foetal resorption in which up to six resorption sites were observed. There was no significant difference in the crown rump length, femur length, humeral length and head circumference across the groups. However, the neonatal weight was significantly different across the groups. The photomicrographs of organs harvested from the experimental groups of Lerhacarcig also showed some pathologic changes while those of the control appeared normal. In conclusion, the combined extract of lerhacacig could be considered teratogenic as observed in this study. For further study, it is pertinent to isolate each plant in order to elucidate which root was responsible for the teratogenic effects as this present study only suggested a combinatorial effect of the extracts as against individualizing the plant.

Keywords : Teratogenicity, Lerhacacig, Resorption and unilateral Renal Agenesis.