Hesperidin improves physiological outcomes in an arginine vasopressin rat model of pre-eclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Hesperidin, a flavanone commonly found in citrus fruits and herbal formulations, has emerged as a potential new therapeutic agent for modulating several diseases. Since pre-eclampsia is a growing public health threat, it may negatively impact the economy and increase the disease burden of South Africa. Phytocompounds are easily accessible, demonstrate minimal side effects, and may confer novel medicinal options as a treatment and preventive preference. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physiological, biochemical, and hematological outcomes of hesperidin in an arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced rodent model of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were surgically implanted with mini-osmotic pumps to deliver AVP (200 ng/h) subcutaneously. Animals were treated with hesperidin at 200 mg/kg.b.w via oral gavage for 14 days. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured on GD 7, 14, and 18 using a non-invasive tail-cuff method and were euthanized on GD 21. RESULTS: The findings showed that hesperidin administration significantly decreased blood pressure (P < 0.05) and urinary protein levels in pregnant rats (P < 0.001). Placental and individual pup weight also increased significantly in the pregnant hesperidin-treated groups compared to AVP untreated groups (P < 0.001). Biochemical and hematological markers such as white blood cell count and lymphocyte levels differed significantly (P < 0.05) in AVP groups treated with and without hesperidin. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hesperidin is an antihypertensive agent with modes of action associated with its diuretic and blood pressure lowering effects and reduction of proteinuria in AVP-induced pre-eclamptic rats.

Mating success of timed pregnancies in Sprague Dawley rats: Considerations for execution.

This study compares three different mating techniques in Sprague-Dawley rats, using the pregnancy rate as the main indicator of success. It provides recommendations for timed-pregnancy experiments to achieve an appropriate sample size for the study of human pregnancy disorders. The implementation of a preconditioning phase, determination of the estrous cycle, the use of two mating strategies (Lee-Boot and Whitten effect), female: male mating ratios, and cohabitation duration should be considered as they improve the mating success rate.

South African medicinal plants displaying angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition: Potential use in the management of preeclampsia.

In resource-limited settings, such as South Africa, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia, is the most common direct cause of maternal deaths. Current management strategies of preeclampsia primarily involve the use of pharmaceutical drugs, which are frequently associated with undesirable side-effects. Moreover, these drugs are often not easily accessible due to financial and economic constraints. Consequently, many patients rely on traditional medicine obtained from medicinal plants to manage health-related conditions. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are widely used drugs for the management of preeclampsia. This narrative review aims to highlight the use of indigenous medicinal plants from South Africa with Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activity whilst also evaluating their potential use in the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy. This information will influence traditional healers and sangomas in their patient management. Furthermore, the antihypertensive potential of these plants will be unraveled thus facilitating the development of new naturally occurring pharmaceutical products to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity.

Transforming growth factor-beta and liver injury in an arginine vasopressin-induced pregnant rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 30% of preeclamptic pregnancies exhibit abnormal liver function tests. We assessed liver injury-associated enzyme levels and circulating transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) levels in an arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced pregnant Sprague-Dawley rat model. METHODS: Pregnant and non-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) received AVP (150 ng/hr) subcutaneously via mini-osmotic pumps for 18 days. Blood pressure was measured, urine samples were collected, and all animals were euthanized via isoflurane. Blood was collected to measure circulating levels of TGF-ß1-3 isomers and liver injury enzymes in pregnant AVP (PAVP), pregnant saline (PS), non-pregnant AVP (NAVP), and non-pregnant saline (NS) rats. RESULTS: The PAVP group showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure than both saline-treated groups. The weight per pup was significantly lower in the AVP-treated group than in the saline group (p<0.05). Circulating TGF-ß1-3 isomer levels were significantly higher in the PAVP rats than in the NS rats. However, similar TGF-ß1 and TGF-ß3 levels were noted in the PS and PAVP rats, while TGF-ß2 levels were significantly higher in the PAVP rats. Circulating liver-type arginase-1 and 5'-nucleotidase levels were higher in the PAVP rats than in the saline group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate higher levels of TGF-ß2, arginase, and 5'-nucleotidase activity in PAVP than in PS rats. AVP may cause vasoconstriction and increase peripheral resistance and blood pressure, thereby elevating TGF-ß and inducing the preeclampsia-associated inflammatory response. Future studies should explore the mechanisms through which AVP dysregulates liver injury enzymes and TGF-ß in pregnant rats.

Raffia palm (Raphia hookeri) wine extenuates redox imbalance and modulates activities of glycolytic and cholinergic enzymes in hyperglycemia-induced testicular injury in type 2 diabetic rats.

This study investigated the effects of Raffia palm wine (RPW) on redox imbalance, glycolytic and cholinergic enzymes, and ATPase activities in hyperglycemia-induced oxidative testicular injury. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) was induced in male albino rats (Sprague-Dawley) by first administering 10% fructose solution for 14 days, before injecting with an intraperitoneal injection (40 mg/kg body weight) of streptozotocin. Raffia palm wine was administered to two diabetic groups at 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw), when untreated diabetic group was used as a negative control, and metformin-fed group was served as a positive control. The rats were sacrificed after 5 weeks of treatment, and testes were harvested. Treatment with RPW led to lower levels of nitric oxide, malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase activity, with concomitant elevation of reduced glutathione level, superoxide dismutase, catalase and ATPase activities. Raffia palm wine also inhibited glycogen phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, and acetylcholinesterase, while restoring the altered testicular morphology to near-normal. The results of this study suggest the therapeutic potentials of RPW against the effects of T2D on testicular functions and morphology. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Diabetes mellitus is one of the fastest growing global epidemy, with most developing countries being at the receiving end owing to the cost of treatment. Testicular damage has been recognized as one of the complications of diabetes, and if left untreated will lead to erectile dysfunction followed by infertility. Raffia palm wine is among the common natural beverage in West Africa, which is utilized for both social and medicinal purposes. In this study, for the first time we showed its ability to protect diabetes-induced testicular injury in type 2 diabetic rats. This may be of great benefit in managing diabetes associated erectly dysfunction and male infertility, as Raffia palm wine is readily available in all seasons. This study will also improve the medicinal use of this wine, which may also indirectly improve its commercial benefit.