Propolis improves pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Umar Zayyanu Usman,Ainul Bahiyah Abu Bakar,Mahaneem Mohamed

doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2391-6

Abstract

BackgroundThis study assessed the effects of propolis alone or combined with insulin on maternal status, pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.MethodsForty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks.ResultsFasting blood glucose, conception period, implantation losses, foetal blood glucose and placental oxidative stress markers such as malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while maternal weight gain, foetal body weight and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in DM group compared with non-DM group. These changes were significantly improved in rats treated with propolis or insulin alone with greater significant effects in rats treated with both propolis and insulin.ConclusionThis study may suggest the protective effects of propolis against DM-induced impaired pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress with greater effects when combined with insulin.

Highlights

This study assessed the effects of propolis alone or combined with insulin on maternal status, pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
The final fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in diabetes mellitus (DM) + Propolis, DM + Insulin and DM + Combined groups were significantly lower compared with DM group but significantly higher than non-DM group
It was significantly shorter in DM + Combined group compared with DM group

Summary

Introduction

This study assessed the effects of propolis alone or combined with insulin on maternal status, pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks. Diabetes-induced hyperglycaemic changes have been found to be potentially detrimental to intrauterine foetal development [2]. Maternal hyperglycaemia-exposed foetus has septal hypertrophy [3]. Previous study reveals that mothers with pre-gestational DM are more likely to have a baby with some congenital malformations compared with normal healthy women who never have diabetes [4].

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