Kenneth Atoe*, MacDonald Idu
Preeclampsia is known to cause an accumulation of free radicals, putting the cells in a state of oxidative stress. Antioxidants are produced by cells as a defense mechanism against these stressors. Antioxidants are natural chemicals that can prevent or postpone various types of cell damage by acting as oxidative process inhibitors. Food and medicinal plants are the primary sources of antioxidants. The goal of this study was to see how methanolic leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas, Alchonnea cordifolia, and Secamone afzelii affected the antioxidant state in induced preeclamptic Wistar rats. Age-matched female Wistar rats weighing 220 to 256 g were used for the study. Preeclampsia was induced using the Adriamycin Model. When preeclampsia was confirmed in the induced Wistar rats by an increase in blood pressure from 124/98 mmHg to 177/121 mmHg, as well as significant proteinuria, the preeclamptic and control rats were administered methanolic extracts of Jatropha curcas, Alchornea cordifolia, and Secamone afzelii. In Wistar rats, preclampsia resulted in a substantial decrease in gluthathione peroxidase activity (461.2 U/l). However, J. curcas administration considerably increased antioxidant activity (756.8 U/l), outperforming the reference medication (666.9 U/l). Malondialdehyde levels, which were elevated in preeclamptic rats (21.9 M), were considerably lowered when plant extracts (10.8 – 15.1 M, p0.05) were administered. Given that preeclampsia reduces antioxidant capacity in pregnant Wistar rats, treatment of plant extracts improved antioxidant status in preeclamptic Wistar rats, lowering oxidative stress in preeclamptic Wistar rats.
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