Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the teratogenic toxicity of konjac mannan oligosaccharide，hydrolyzed by mannase，in SD rats during sensitive period of teratogenesis. METHODS：Pregnant rats were divided randomly into four groups (12 in each group). Three groups were fed with konjac mannan oligosaccharide solution (625，1 250，2 500 mg/kg) while the negative control group was given deionized water. During the sensitive period of teratogenesis (7th to 16th day of gestation)，pregnant rats of each group were given test sample orally once on day 20 and then sacrificed. Nidation sites，living and dead embryos，embryonic and fetal development were evaluated. Meanwhile the appearance and skeletal abnormalities were examined. RESULTS：In konjac mannan oligosaccharide treated groups，the indexes including the weight of pregnant rats and uteri including fetuses，living and dead fetus rates，body weight and length and tail of fetuses were not significantly different from negative control (P>0.05). No abnormality of appearance，skeleton or organ was identified in fetuses of treated groups. CONCLUTION：Under our exprimental conditions，konjac mannan oligosaccharide showed neither maternal toxicity nor teratogenicity in pregnant SD rats.

Key words: konjac mannan oligosaccharide, SD rat, teratogenicity, sensitive period of teratogenesis