Beneficial effects of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. flower aqueous extract in pregnant rats with diabetes.

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower is widely used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and has shown antifertility activity in female Wistar rats. However, there is no scientific confirmation of its effect on diabetes and pregnancy. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of H. rosa-sinensis flowers on maternal-fetal outcome in pregnant rats with diabetes.Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) in virgin, adult, female Wistar rats. After diabetes induction, the rats were mated. The pregnant rats were distributed into four groups (n minimum = 11 animals/group): non-diabetic, non-diabetic treated, diabetic, and diabetic treated. Oral aqueous extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was administered to rats in the treatment groups during pregnancy. At term pregnancy, maternal reproductive outcomes, fetal parameters, and biochemical parameters were analyzed.The non-diabetic treated group showed decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased atherogenic index (AI) and coronary artery risk index (CRI), and increased preimplantation loss rate compared to the non-diabetic group. Although treatment with H. rosa-sinensis led to no toxicity, it showed deleterious effects on cardiac and reproductive functions. However, the diabetic treated group showed increased maternal and fetal weights, reduced AI and CRI, and reduced preimplantation loss rate compared to the untreated diabetic group.Our results demonstrate beneficial effects of this flower only in pregnant rats with diabetes and their offspring. Although these findings cannot be extrapolated to human clinical use, they show that the indiscriminate intake of H. rosa-sinensis may be harmful to healthy individuals and its use should be completely avoided in pregnancy

Biochemical profile at 21 days of pregnancy in non-diabetic and diabetic rats not treated or treated with <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> aqueous extract during pregnancy.

<p>Biochemical profile at 21 days of pregnancy in non-diabetic and diabetic rats not treated or treated with <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> aqueous extract during pregnancy.</p

Beneficial effects of <i>Hibiscus rosa-sinensis</i> L. flower aqueous extract in pregnant rats with diabetes - Fig 4

<p><b>Percentage of fetuses classified as small (SPA), adequate (APA), or large (LPA) for pregnancy age (A) and percentage of fetal anomalies (B) at 21 days of pregnancy in pregnant non-diabetic and diabetic rats not treated or treated with <i>H</i>. <i>rosa-sinensis</i> aqueous extract during pregnancy.</b><i>Non-diabetic (n fetuses = 134); Non-diabetic Treated (n fetuses = 134); Diabetic (n fetuses = 93); Diabetic Treated (n fetuses = 117)</i>. <i>*p < 0</i>.<i>05 compared to non-diabetic group;</i>^<i>#</i><i>p < 0</i>.<i>05 compared to diabetic group;</i>^<i>$</i><i>p < 0</i>.<i>05 compared to non-diabetic treated group (Fisher exact test)</i>.</p