Abstract
Achyrocline satureioides (AS, family Asteraceae) is a plant widely used in traditional medicine for stomach, digestive, and gastrointestinal disorders during pregnancy. Studies regarding the indiscriminate use of plant infusions during pregnancy are limited. Recent reports have shown that chronic flavonoid supplementation induces toxicity in vivo and raises the mortality rates of healthy subjects. Therefore, we investigated whether supplementation of pregnant and lactating Wistar rats with two AS inflorescence extracts, consisting of an aqueous (AQ) extract similar to a tea (47 mg·kg−1·day) and a hydroethanolic (HA) extract (35 mg·kg−1·day−1) with a higher flavonoid content, could induce redox-related side effects. Total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), thiobarbituric reactive species (TBARS), and total reduced thiol (SH) content were evaluated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were additionally quantified. Our data suggest that both AQ and HA of AS inflorescence extracts may induce symptoms of toxicity in concentrations of (47 mg·kg−1·day) and (35 mg·kg−1·day−1), respectively, in mothers regarding the delivery index and further decrease of neonatal survival. Of note, significant tissue-specific changes in maternal (liver, kidney, heart, and hippocampus) and pups (liver and kidney) biochemical oxidative parameters were observed. Our findings provide evidence that may support the need to control supplementation with the AQ of AS inflorescence extracts during gestation due to potential toxicity in vivo, which might be related, at least in part, to changes in tissue-specific redox homeostasis and enzymatic activity.
Highlights
Medicinal plants, which have contributed extensively to the development of modern medicine, have been used for centuries to treat several diseases and continue to play a significant role in Biomedicines 2017, 5, 53; doi:10.3390/biomedicines5030053 www.mdpi.com/journal/biomedicinesBiomedicines 2017, 5, 53 drug discovery [1]
The body weights of the dams were assessed on gestation day 0 (GD0), 7, 14, and 20 and lactation day (LD) 0, 7, 14, and 21, and the body weight gain was calculated
Rats that died during lactation day (LD) 0, 7, 14, and 21, and the body weight gain was calculated
Summary
Medicinal plants, which have contributed extensively to the development of modern medicine, have been used for centuries to treat several diseases and continue to play a significant role in Biomedicines 2017, 5, 53; doi:10.3390/biomedicines5030053 www.mdpi.com/journal/biomedicinesBiomedicines 2017, 5, 53 drug discovery [1]. Interest in identifying metabolites from plants that exert beneficial effects on human health has increased. Among these metabolites, antioxidants or free radical scavengers have received particular attention for their pharmacological potential [2]. Achyrocline satureioides (AS, family Asteraceae), popularly known as “marcela”, is one of the 25. Achyrocline spp. described in the Brazilian territory [2]. AS is a medium-sized aromatic annual herb, commonly found in tropical and subtropical America [3]. This plant is collected before sunrise, and the naturally dried flowers are used throughout the year to treat several gastrointestinal disorders [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
