Effect of Anthocyanin Extracts in Reproductive and Metabolic Parameters in Pregnant Rats

Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS), commonly known in Mexico as “jamaica”, is an annual plant of the Malvaceae family, which has been utilized in traditional medicine for its antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and hypoglucemic properties, as well as a diuretic. This paper aims to analyze metabolic parameters during pregnancy and somatometric characteristics of the offspring of rats treated with anthocyanin extract or HS infusion during gestation to establish if any risk occurs from the consumption of phytochemical compounds or from the fraction of elements that constitute HS during pregnancy. An extract of the anthocyanin fraction or an infusion from the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa was administered to pregnant and non-pregnant female rats. Body weight, food intake, and serum levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured, as well as somatometric data of 21-day-old fetuses. The results showed that the administration of the extract and the HS infusion modified body weight, food intake and blood glucose concentration of pregnant female rats; on the other hand, blood lipid levels were not modified. In the offspring, a reduction in body weight and size was observed due to the consumption of HS infusion during pregnancy; likewise, the anthocyanin extracts significantly reduced their head circumference. HS consumption alters food intake, induces metabolic changes in pregnant female rats, and reduces somatometric proportions of their fetuses. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the mechanisms associated with these somatometric changes and determine whether there are long-term functional effects in neonates.