Eucalyptus alba Reinw Ex. Blume (Myrtaceae) Regulates Reproductive Outcomes, Offspring’s Organs and Acetylcholinesterase Level in Prenatal Stress during Gestation in Rats

Abstract

Aim: Prenatal stress is associated with many disorders in both mother and offspring. This study evaluates the protective capacity of Eucalyptus alba extracts against prenatal stress induced maternal reproductive outcome, acetylcholinesterase activities and litters organ indices in post-prenatal stress in rats. Methodology: Forty-five gravid albino rats were divided into 9 groups, all except the normal group, were subjected to stress prior and treated during gestation with extracts at different doses. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of E. alba were administered at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively until delivery. After delivery, each mother and its litters were isolated and kept for 21 days. Five litters of each group were randomly selected and sacrificed to pursue the study. Results: Results showed a high miscarriage rate (66%), offspring mortality rate (76.6%) and low birth weight in the vehicle group compared to miscarriage rate (27.6%), offspring mortality rate (23.3%) and birth weight in E. alba treated groups (p<0.001). In addition, compared to prenatally stressed litters a decreased in brain (P=0.0080), kidney (P<0.001) and liver (P<0.001) indices and acetylcholinesterase activity (p<0.001) in litters prenatally stressed upon administration of E. alba leaf extracts to the mother during the gestation period. Conclusion: The obtained results give evidence that aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of E. alba have protective impact against prenatal stress induced maternal reproductive outcome, litters organ indices and acetylcholinesterase activity.