Beneficial effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. flower aqueous extract in pregnant rats with diabetes

Abstract Objectives Alcohol consumption causes several harmful effects on the organs, which is hugely understated. Many deformities occur in the fetus when pregnant mothers indulge in alcoholism. Alcohol is a known teratogen, hence organ formation, particularly development of parts brain critical for cognitive function may be affected. The oxidative brain damage also could contribute to reduced cognitive efficiency of brain exposed to alcohol. In this study, effect of Centella asiatica in relieving the oxidative brain damage in offspring of alcohol fed mother rats was evaluated. Methods In this study we fed alcohol (5 g/kg body weight, 30% w/v) to a group of pregnant Wistar rats during gestation period, and another group served as control. Four groups of rats (n = 6 each) were selected from the offspring of these mother rats. The groups were, control, positive (treated) control, untreated and treated from alcohol-fed mother. Their cognitive parameters were tested in water maze, shuttle box and compared. Further their oxidative status was evaluated by estimating malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, total antioxidants and glutathione reductase (GSH) in hippocampus. Results The results suggested that there was significantly high cognitive performance in maze test and shuttle box memory retention in rats treated with C. asiatica water extract and the antioxidant levels were high in their hippocampus. Conclusions The outcome of the study suggested that C. asiatica produced beneficial effects in reversing the alcohol induced brain damage in pregnancy.

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Impact of flaxseed intake upon metabolic syndrome indicators in female Wistar rats

Acta Cirurgica Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0102-86502012000800004 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 27 (8) ◽

pp. 537-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Lívia Hipólito Cardozo Brant ◽

Ludmila Ferreira Medeiros de França Cardozo ◽

Luís Guillermo Coca Velarde ◽

Gilson Teles Boaventura

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Body Weight ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Control Group ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Pregnant Rats ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Cholesterol Levels ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Glucose Profiles

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the prolonged consumption of flaxseed minimize the factors that trigger MS in healthy rats. METHODS: Pregnant rats were divided immediately after delivery into two groups during the lactation period, a control group (CG) receiving casein-based diet with 17% of protein, and a Flaxseed group (FG) with casein-based diet plus 25% of flaxseed. At weaning, 12 offspring of each group continued to receive the same feed but with 10% of protein up to 200 days old. RESULTS: FG showed a significant reduction in body weight (p=0.001), total cholesterol levels (p<0.0001), triglycerides (p=0.0001), and glucose (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The flaxseed alters the indicators related to development of metabolic syndrome, because it has beneficial effects on lipids and glucose profiles and prevents the excess of body weight gain.

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Placental protein 13 (PP13) shows beneficial effects on the maternal vasculature in pregnant rats: Potential benefits in preeclampsia and IUGR

Placenta ◽

10.1016/j.placenta.2014.06.273 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (9) ◽

pp. A85

Author(s):

Sveinbjorn Gizurarson ◽

Hamutal Meiri ◽

Berthold Huppertz ◽

Marei Sammar ◽

George Osol

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Rats ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Placental Protein

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Beneficial effects ofCentella asiatica aqueous extract against arsenic-induced oxidative stress and essential metal status in rats

Phytotherapy Research ◽

10.1002/ptr.2208 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 980-988 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

S. J. S. Flora ◽

Richa Gupta

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Aqueous Extract ◽

Essential Metal ◽

Beneficial Effects

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Astragaloside IV ameliorates preeclampsia-induced oxidative stress through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in a rat model

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00357.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 319 (5) ◽

pp. E904-E911 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shuangyan Yang ◽

Ruixue Zhang ◽

Baoheng Xing ◽

Ling Zhou ◽

Peipei Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Rat Model ◽

Target Genes ◽

Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽

Related Factor ◽

Astragaloside Iv ◽

Pregnant Rats ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Antioxidative Effects ◽

Protein Serum

Preeclampsia (PE) can cause serious health problems for pregnant women and their infants. Astragaloside IV has been shown to exert cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative effects on various disorders. We aimed to study the effects of Astragaloside IV on PE symptoms using an NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME)-induced rat model of PE. The pregnant rats’ physiological features, including blood pressure, urine protein, serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase- 1 ( sFlt - 1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, and weight of placenta, as well as the weight, length, and survival of pups, were documented. The expression levels of target genes were analyzed by Western blot and qRT-PCR assays. The levels of target secreted proteins were determined by ELISA. We demonstrated that the administration of Astragaloside IV might exert a multitude of beneficial effects on attenuated PE symptoms in a rat model of PE. We further revealed that the effects of Astragaloside IV on PE rats were achieved, at least partially, through elimination of oxidative stress and stimulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. Our study indicated that Astragaloside IV may serve as a promising candidate for the development of new therapeutic methods for patients with PE.

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Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Aqueous Extract on Vasodilator Function of Arteries from Hypertensive Rats

International Journal of Vascular Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/6657077 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Diva M. Villalpando ◽

Carlos M. Verdasco-Martín ◽

Ignacio Plaza ◽

Juan Gómez-Rivas ◽

Fermín R de Bethencourt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Peroxide ◽

Aqueous Extract ◽

Vascular Function ◽

Katp Channel ◽

Premature Death ◽

The Other ◽

Hypertensive Rats ◽

No Donor ◽

Spontaneously Hypertensive ◽

Beneficial Effects

Hypertension is a multifactorial disorder considered one of the major causes of premature death worldwide. This pathology is associated with vascular functional/structural alterations in which nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen reactive species participate. On the other hand, the use of microalgae extracts in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is increasing. Based on the antioxidant and antihypertensive properties of Spirulina, this study aims to investigate the effect of an aqueous extract of Spirulina on the vasodilator function of the aorta from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), analyzing the functional role of NO. For this, aortic segments from male SHR were divided into two groups, one control and the other exposed to an Spirulina aqueous extract (0.1% w/v, for 3 hours), to analyze (i) the production of NO, superoxide anion, and hydrogen peroxide; (ii) the vasodilator response induced by acetylcholine (ACh), by the NO donor and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and by the KATP channel opener and pinacidil; and (iii) the expression of the p-Akt, p-eNOS, and HO-1 proteins. The results showed that the aqueous Spirulina extract (i) increased the production of NO, did not significantly modify that of superoxide, while decreased that of hydrogen peroxide; (ii) increased the vasodilatory responses induced by ACh, NPS, and pinacidil; and (iii) increased the expression of p-Akt and HO-1. These results suggest that incubation with the aqueous Spirulina extract improves the vascular function of arteries from SHR by increasing the release/bioavailability/function of NO. Increased KATP channel activation and expression of pAkt and HO-1 appear to be participating in these actions.

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Assessment of Cytotoxicity, Fetotoxicity, and Teratogenicity ofPlathymenia reticulataBenth Barks Aqueous Extract

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/128594 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lia de Barros Leite Albuquerque ◽

Cháriston André Dal Belo ◽

Marcio Galdino dos Santos ◽

Patricia Santos Lopes ◽

Marli Gerenutti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Extract ◽

Reproductive Toxicity ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Control Group ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Pregnant Rats ◽

Skeletal Analysis ◽

Ld50 Test

Scientific assessment of harmful interactions of chemicals over the entire reproductive cycle are divided into three segments based on the period: from premating and mating to implantation (I), from implantation to major organogenesis (II), and late pregnancy and postnatal development (III). We combined the segments I and II to assessPlathymenia reticulataaqueous extract safety. In order to investigate reproductive toxicity (segment I), pregnant rats received orally 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg of extract, daily, during 18 days. These concentrations were determined by a preliminaryin vitroLD50 test in CHO-k1 cells. A control group received deionized water. The offspring was removed at the 19th day, by caesarean, and a teratology study (segment II) was carried out. The corpora lutea, implants, resorptions, live, and dead fetuses were then counted. Placenta and fetuses were weighted. External and visceral morphology were provided by the fixation of fetuses in Bouin, whereas skeletal analysis was carried out on the diaphanizated ones. The increase in the weights of placenta and fetuses was the only abnormality observed. Since there was no sign of alteration on reproduction parameters at our experimental conditions, we conclude thatP. reticulataaqueous extract is safe at 0.5 to 1.0 g/kg and is not considered teratogenic.

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