Ethanolic extract of Spondias tuberosa inner bark administration during pregnancy reduces body weight in Wistar rat dams submitted to a low-protein diet

Abstract

Maternal low-protein diet can lead to hyperglycemia and the ethanolic extract from the inner bark of Spondias tuberosa Arruda (umbu) can be an alternative to mitigate this effect. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal low-protein diet with ethanolic extract of umbu inner bark during pregnancy. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed control or low-protein diet until lactation. Animals were randomly assigned on one of three groups: control diet containing 19% of protein (n=6); low-protein diet containing 9% of protein (n=6); or low-protein diet and umbu extract (n=6), 500mg via gavage for 21 days. Body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose and organs weight were measured. The intake of a low-protein diet during pregnancy caused a lower protein consumption (p= 0,0001), an increase in food (p=0,03), caloric (p=0,008), carbohydrate (p=0,002 and 0,01), and lipidic (p=0,008) intake associated with an increase in fasting blood glucose (p=0,05). However, the body weight was not affected. During lactation, it was found a reduction in food (p=0,02), protein (p=0,0001), and lipidic intake (p=0,009). The administration of umbu extract was able to reduce body weight during pregnancy (p=0,001). The maternal low-protein diet caused greater changes while the ethanolic extract of umbu produced limited effects on most maternal parameters within the short treatment window.