Tea made with the fruits of Buchinha-do-norte (BDN), or Luffa operculata, is popularly used in sinusitis, as a direct instillation in the nostrils, or as abortifacient, once is drunk. Previous work has shown that the administration of the BDN tea impaired behavior in adult male rats [1]. The aim of the present study was to verify the alterations caused by the prenatal exposition to 1,0 mg/kg/five days, during a late period of gestation, GD17 to GD21, that are related to weight gain of the offspring. Female and male pups were weighed at post-natal day 2 (PND2) and at PND60, and the pup weight and pup weigh gain were obtained. It was observed that weight at PND2 showed no alterations in the female or male pups (p<0.05). Weight gain was not observed in female pups (p<0.05), while the male pups showed weight gain (t=2.206, df=33; p=0.0344). Previous work [1] stated that BDN oral administration to adult male rats did not cause weight gain, while the young male pups which received a prenatal exposition to BDN showed weight gain. Present findings may suggest that BDN compounds, such as cucurbitacins, may have a pivotal role in the pup uterine late development, causing a predisposition to weight gain. The consumption of BDN tea during pregnancy affects the offspring, in terms of weigh gain predisposition, although the causes are not established up to today.
