Abstract
Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with placental oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to poor pregnancy outcomes. Phyllanthus muellerianus is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds with reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the effects of Phyllanthus muellerianus extracts in a rat model of chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced IUGR.
Methods: Thirty-five pregnant rats were exposed to CRS (6h/day) and treated from pregnancy days 7 to 18 with distilled water (10 ml/kg), aqueous, or methanolic extract (372 mg/kg). Maternal (resorption, post-implantation loss) and fetal outcomes (fetal weight, placenta efficiency), lipid profile (HDL, LDL, triglycerides), reproductive hormones (estradiol, progesterone), placental oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) were assessed.
Results: CRS induced significant alterations, including decreased maternal body weight (30%), mean live fetuses (40%), progesterone (p< 0.05), HDL (56%), fetal growth indices (p< 0.05) and superoxide dismutase activity (41%), alongside increased LDL (47%), malondialdehyde (p< 0.01) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (p< 0.01-0.001). Treatment with P. muellerianus significantly reversed these changes, demonstrating materno-protective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and progesterone-enhancing effects. No adverse effects were observed in unstressed subjects.
Conclusion: Phyllanthus muellerianus improves maternal and fetal outcomes in CRS-induced IUGR, likely through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory pathways, and endocrine function. These findings support its potential as a therapeutic candidate for managing IUGR.
Keywords: Chronic stress; fetal growth; inflammation; oxidative stress; Phyllanthus muellerianus; placenta.
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