Dietary supplementation with Ipomoea aquatica (whole leaf powder) attenuates maternal and fetal oxidative stress in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Background: The rate of congenital anomalies, as well as morbidity and
mortality of both the mother and fetus, is increased in diabetic pregnancy.
Oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in these effects because of the
beneficial effects of several antioxidants in diabetic embryopathy. In the
present study, we assessed attenuation of maternal and fetal OS and diabetic
embryopathy by Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. (Convolvulaceae).
Methods: Pregnant rats were divided into four groups: Group I, untreated
non-diabetic control; Group II, rats fed a 2% I. aquatica (IA)-supplemented
diet; Group III, streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats fed a normal
diet; Group IV, STZ-diabetic rats fed an IA-supplemented diet. Rats were
rendered diabetic with a single injection of STZ (40 mg⁄ kg) on gestational
day (GD) 4. Dams were killed on GD20 and markers of OS were determined
in the maternal liver and fetal brain and liver.
Results: Embryopathy increased significantly in STZ-diabetic rats (by 40%
versus control), but IA supplementation provided significant protection
(36% reduction in embryopathy in the IA group versus the STZ-diabetic
group). Interestingly, IA supplementation significantly offset diabetes-associated
OS in the maternal liver, as evidenced by reductions in malondialdehyde
(MDA; 25% reduction versus STZ-diabetes) and reactive oxygen species
(ROS; 72% reduction) and increases in glutathione (53% reduction) and
total thiols (45% reduction). In addition, IA supplementation offered significant
protection against diabetes-induced OS in the fetal brain and liver, as
evidenced by increased levels of antioxidant molecules and enzymes and
reductions in ROS and MDA compared with fetuses from STZ-diabetic rats.
Conclusions: The data suggest that IA supplementation during pregnancy
provides considerable protection against diabetes-induced OS in the mother
and fetus. Thus, I. aquatica may be an effective therapeutic supplement.