Abstract
The current health requirements set the direction in pharmacological research, especially as regards diseases that require improvement of existing therapeutic regimens. Such diseases include preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy during which there occurs progressive increasing activation of the immune system through elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antiangiogenic factors, which is dangerous for the mother and fetus. A promising field of research for new drugs to treat this disease is the study of natural phenolic compounds of plant origin and herbal extracts, which are complex matrices of chemical compounds with broad biological activities. Many plant substances with anti‑inflammatory and anti‑hypertensive properties are known, but studies in animal models of preeclampsia and clinical trials concerning this disease constitute a new and developing research trend of significant medical importance. The aim of our research review was to identify and analyze the results of already available studies on baicalin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, punicalagin, quercetin, resveratrol, salvianolic acid A (danshensu), silibinin, and vitexin, as well as plant extracts from Brassica oleracea L., Euterpe oleracea Mart., Moringa oleifera Lam., Punica granatum L., Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, Thymus schimperi Ronniger, Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil., and Vitis vinifera L., which are potential and promising candidates for further research and for potential new therapies.
Highlights
Phenolic compounds with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-hypertensive effects in relation to preeclampsia, include the following: baicalin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, punicalagin, quercetin, resveratrol, salvianolic acid A, silibinin, and vitexin
Li et al [45] observed that quercetin (2 mg/kg b.w.) administered to pregnant rats with LPS-induced preeclampsia significantly reduced systolic blood pressure, rescued abnormal uteroplacental angiogenic status, decreased the elevated changes of tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, suppressed the production of cytokine production in the placenta (TNF α, IL-6 and MCP-1), reduced lipid peroxidation by reduction of the MDA level, and ameliorated adverse pregnancy outcomes
The results showed that polyphenolic acid at high and low doses exerted significant effects in reduction of thrombin time, similar to heparin, and increased the plasma antithrombin III activity as did acetylsalicylic acid
Summary
A potential route to the development of a new drug or drug combination is to elucidate the pathogenesis of preeclampsia This has been discussed in many research papers that emphasize the fundamental role of the inflammatory process [2,3,4,5,6]. A promising source of available materials for chemical modifications in searching for new medicinal drugs may be plant phenolic compounds and extracts as multi-component mixtures, Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14, 269. Assessment of the effects of plant phenolic compounds in animal models relevant to preeclampsia have been insufficiently reported, but the first studies which raise hope for new optional medicines for the treatment of preeclampsia have been published. We carried out an analysis of 30 studies published only in English These studies are very much needed because drug treatment options in mild and severe preeclampsia are limited. The analysis of their results can build future solutions and open up new pharmacological possibilities
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