PADMINI EKAMBARAM, USHA RANI MUNUSWAMY AND LAVANYA SRINIVASAN
Abstract
Antioxidant defenses appear to be depleted during preeclampsia due to oxidative stress. Various alternative medicines are employed to increase the endogenous antioxidant level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mint and tea infusions on the antioxidant capacity of endothelial cells prepared from placenta of preeclamptic and normotertsive pregnant women. The lipid peroxidation end product malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and the glutathione redox ratio (GRR) were measured in the endothelial cells before and after incubation with tea, mint and tea enriched with mint extracts. LPO levels were increased; SOD and catalase activities, GRR and TAC levels were decreased significantly in preeclamptic condition. However, the condition reverted with a decrease in LPO levels and increase in antioxidant enzymes activities, GRR and TAC upon incubation of endothelial cells with tea, mint and mint tea extracts. Our study results suggest the protective effect of plant extracts against oxidative stress. Since treatment of the disease like preeclampsia with modern medicine is often associated with serious side effects that affect both mother and fetus, antioxidant potential rich mint tea extracts can be recommended as an alternative herbal remedy for such patients.