Silymarin is a phytotherapeutic agent derived from the species Silybum marianum (Asteraceae), commonly is known as milk thistle, and traditionally used as a hepatoprotective; however, recent studies have proposed its use in order to promote lactogenesis, but there are few reports of its effects on the development of offspring. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silymarin treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding on the sensory-somatic-motor development and adult behavior of F1-generation Swiss mice. The pregnant females of the parental generation were distributed in four experimental groups and treated orally with doses of 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg of silymarin, with a control group receiving vehicle - vegetable oil (VEH), to obtain the F1-generation. At the end of lactation, the parental generation were submitted to euthanasia. Body mass evolution was determined in both generations. The sensory-motor development of the offspring (F1-generation) was evaluated, and one male pup from each litter was followed up for an analysis of adult behavior. In the F1 analysis, no differences between the groups were observed in initial development from the sensory-somatic-motor analysis performed during the 1st to 21st postnatal days. In the behavioral evaluation of adults from the F1 generation, all the groups from dams treated with silymarin in open field (OF) analysis showed a decrease in the time spent in the periphery and an increase in the time spent in the center, but the ambulation observed by the number of quadrant crossed showed no difference. In addition, during OF, the 100 and 200 mg/kg groups presented an increase in fecal bolus compared with the VEH group. There was a decrease in immobility time in the forced swimming test in the 300 mg/kg group compared to the VEH group. Regarding the memory and learning test, the groups did not differ in their recognition scores. The results of this study using an animal model indicate that treatment with silymarin during pregnancy and breastfeeding does not promote significant morpho-functional changes in the offspring in their initial development and adult behavior, indicating the safety of its use during gestation and lactation.

中文翻译：

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妊娠和哺乳期水飞蓟素的给药：评估小鼠的初始发育和成年行为。

水飞蓟素是一种植物治疗剂，起源于水飞蓟科（菊科），通常被称为水飞蓟，传统上用作保肝剂。然而，最近的研究已经提出使用它来促进泌乳，但是很少有关于其对后代发育的影响的报道。因此，本研究的目的是评估妊娠和哺乳期水飞蓟素治疗对F1代瑞士小鼠的感觉躯体运动发育和成年行为的影响。将亲本代的怀孕雌性动物分为四个实验组，并以100、200或300 mg / kg水飞蓟素的剂量口服治疗，对照组则接受媒介物-植物油（VEH），以获得F1代。哺乳期结束时 父母一代被安乐死。在两代人中都确定了体重的演变。对后代（F1代）的感觉运动发育进行了评估，并对每只幼仔的一只雄性幼犬进行了随访，以分析其成年行为。在F1分析中，从出生后第1天到第21天进行的感觉-躯体运动分析，在初始发育过程中未观察到两组之间的差异。在F1代成年人的行为评估中，水飞蓟素处理过的大坝的所有群体在开放视野（OF）分析中均显示出外围时间减少，而在中心时间增加，但步行观察到的象限交叉数目没有显示差异。此外，在OF中，与VEH组相比，100和200 mg / kg组的粪便推注量增加。与VEH组相比，在300 mg / kg组的强迫游泳试验中，不动时间减少了。关于记忆和学习测试，各组的识别分数没有差异。使用动物模型进行的这项研究的结果表明，在怀孕和母乳喂养期间使用水飞蓟素治疗不会在后代的初始发育和成年行为中促进其显着的形态功能变化，这表明在妊娠和哺乳期使用它的安全性。各组的识别分数没有差异。使用动物模型进行的这项研究的结果表明，在怀孕和母乳喂养期间使用水飞蓟素治疗不会在后代的初始发育和成年行为中促进其显着的形态功能变化，这表明在妊娠和哺乳期使用它的安全性。各组的识别分数没有差异。使用动物模型进行的这项研究的结果表明，在怀孕和母乳喂养期间使用水飞蓟素治疗不会在后代的初始发育和成年行为中促进其显着的形态功能变化，这表明在妊娠和哺乳期使用它的安全性。