Mother behavioral and offspring’s brain oxidant/antioxidant status changes induced by stress during pregnancy in Wistar rats: The potential benefit of Eucalyptus alba (Myrtaceae)
TL;DR
It is demonstrated that E. alba has anti-depressive effect and prevent the neonate from neurological intoxication by free radicals in offsprings.
Abstract
Exposing a pregnant female to stress is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in the offsprings. This study aimed at evaluating the aqueous extract of Eucalyptus alba. Reinw.Ex Blume as treatment of depression in gestation and control of prenatal stress-induced neurological changes in offsprings in rat. Thirty female albino gravid rats (150 ± 4 g) were divided equally into different groups (n = 5). From day six of gestation until birth, animals were given the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg). After giving birth, the mothers underwent a behavioural test; a preference test for sucrose was performed, and a test to measure serum corticosterone levels using an ELISA kit was performed. Brain cell viability and oxidant/antioxidant status were examined in offsprings. Administration of aqueous extract during gestation significantly (P<0.05) improved the behavior and reduced corticosterone levels in female rat. Moreover, the extract prevented the loss of brain cell, increased the total antioxidant defense and caused a reduction in total oxidative stress, in litter of rat stressed during pregnancy. The findings demonstrate that E. alba has anti-depressive effect and prevent the neonate from neurological intoxication by free radicals.