title: Effect of Morus nigra aqueous extract treatment on the maternal-fetal outcome, oxidative stress status and lipid profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Morus nigra, commonly known as black mulberry, is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine for the diabetes treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of Morus nigra aqueous extract treatment on maternal lipid and oxidative stress profile, reproductive outcomes, and also fetal anomaly incidence from diabetic and non-diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) in virgin female Wistar rats. Morus nigra leaf aqueous extract (400 mg/kg) was administered from day 0 to 20 of pregnancy. At day 21 of pregnancy, all rats were anesthetized and killed to obtain blood samples and maternal-fetal data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After treatment with Morus nigra extract, non-diabetic and diabetic rats presented no glycemic changes. Fetuses from diabetic dams, regardless of Morus nigra treatment, were small for pregnancy age. In diabetic dams, plant treatment caused reduced MDA, cholesterol, triglycerides and VLDL levels, and decreased placental index and weight as compared to diabetic group. The fetuses from diabetic rats treated with Morus nigra extract had lower frequency of skeletal and visceral anomalies as compared to diabetic group. Thus, Morus nigra leaf aqueous extract failed to control hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. However, Morus nigra treatment had antioxidant effect, contributing to reduce incidence of internal anomalies in offspring from diabetic dams.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Research on Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, University Estadual Paulista_Unesp, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: G T
authors: GT
authors: Volpato
authors: I M P
authors: IM
authors: Calderon
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sinzato
authors: K E
authors: KE
authors: Campos
authors: M V C
authors: MV
authors: Rudge
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: Damasceno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D031625:Morus; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase