To Study The Effects On Physical Development/Sexual Maturity Of Wistar Rat Pups Exposed To Crocus Sativus (Saffron) During Gestation And Lactation

The effects of post natal saffron exposure on physical development milestones such as pinna unfolding, incisor eruption, ear/eye opening including the land mark signs of attainment of sexual maturity with reference to preputial separation in males and vaginal opening were studied in Wistar rat offspring’s whose dams received saffron administered as an oral gavage from implantation (day 5 post coitus) through lactation up to lactation day (LD) 20 at the doses of 50 (low dose), 250 (mid dose) and 1000 (high dose) mg/kg/day. A total of 23 litters (6 each in control, low and high doses and 5 in mid dose) born after 21 days of gestation were used. The results showed that the ages of pinna unfolding, incisor eruption, ear/eye opening including the land mark signs of attainment of sexual maturity were not affected by saffron exposure.