Abstract
The effects of Taheebo on the diabetic-piegnant rats and their fetus was investigated. It has been reported that diabetic condition of the pregnant rats can affect the process of liver formation and damage the respiratory function in the fetus. Therefore we investigated the effects of Taheebo on the prevention of liver damage and respiratory failure in the fetus and those results were compared with that of dexamethasone (DXM). In pregnant rats, streptozotocin(STZ, 45 mg/kg, 0.01 M citrate buffer) was injected into the pregnant rats on the third day of pregnancy. Methanol extracts of Taheebo(500 mg/kg p.o.) was administered once daily during pregnancy. DXM (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g i.p.) was injected into the pregnant rats in 16th and 18th days of pregnancy. Body weights were measured and fetal number and abortion rate in pregnancy rats were determined. Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid and malondialdehyde, glycogen, triglyceride, protein and cholesterol levels in the liver homogenate were determined. Also blood glucose level was analyzed. Body weights of maternal rats were increased in the all groups except the DXM group. Fetal number of the Taheebo treated group was similar to the control group, and a significant increase in the body weights of fetus was observed in the STZ treated group and the Taheebo treated group compared with the control group. Blood glucose of fetus produced hypoglycemia in the control group and hyperglycemia in the diabetic-pregnant rats. The protein and cholesterol levels in fetus liver were significantly increased in the DXM treated group compared with the control group. Triglyceride content was significantly increased in all groups compared with the control group. Liver malondialdehyde level of fetus in the STZ treated group was similar to the control group. Glycogen level was significantly increased in the all groups compared with the control group. Methanol extract of Taheebo showed hypoglycemic effect on the pregnant rats. However, we could not observe any hypoglycemic effect on the fetus. There's no difference between the control and Taheebo treated group in terms of the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, protein and glycogen in the fetus liver. Further study to identify the effect of Taheebo on the fetus is under investigation.
