Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) seed extract protects against maternal vascular dysfunction, hypertension, and fetal growth restriction in experimental preeclampsia

• Published in: Hypertension in pregnancy Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 211 - 219
• Main Authors: da Silva, Alexandre de Souza, Nunes, Douglas Val Quintans, Carvalho, Lenize Costa dos Reis Marins de, Santos, Izabelle Barcellos, de Menezes, Matheus Pontes, de Bem, Graziele Freitas, Costa, Cristiane Aguiar da, Moura, Roberto Soares de, Resende, Angela Castro, Ognibene, Dayane Teixeira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02-04-2020; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; endothelial dysfunction; Euterpe; Euterpe oleracea Mart; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - physiopathology; Fetal Growth Retardation - prevention & control; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced - physiopathology; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced - prevention & control; L-NAME; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Wistar; L-NAME; Euterpe oleracea Mart; endothelial dysfunction; Preeclampsia; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 1064-1955; 1525-6065
• DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2020.1754850

To investigate whether Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) seed extract (ASE) prevents maternal cardiovascular changes and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in experimental preeclampsia (PE).
ASE administration (200 mg/kg/day) during mid to late pregnancy in a rat model of L-NAME-induced PE.
ASE impaired the maternal hypertension and microalbuminuria as well as the lower fetal and placental weight in experimental PE. ASE also prevented the maternal vascular dysfunction and lipoperoxidation in this model.
ASE protected against maternal cardiovascular changes and IUGR in the L-NAME-induced PE. The protective effect of ASE may be partly explained by its antioxidant property.