Investigation of uterotonic properties of Ananas comosus extracts

Social Media and Nutritional Guidelines in Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition impacts health outcomes of pregnant people and their fetuses. Discussing nutrition with patients may be challenging for health care providers. In this vacuum, patients use social media for health information during pregnancy. Little is known about the type and quality of nutrition information that is available on social media. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore the pregnancy nutrition messages contained in social media videos for content and evaluate the information's concordance with evidence-based guidelines.

METHODS

A review of current social media video content for nutrition in pregnancy was conducted across 4 platforms: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Content analysis was used to descriptively and categorically analyze the social media video content.

RESULTS

In the 62 social media videos reviewed, most were not consistent with established guidelines, were inaccurate, or presented a homogenous and unrealistic image of the pregnant person. Four categories of nutrition in pregnancy social media information emerged: what to eat, what not to eat, what I ate: aspirational, and what I ate: rebellion. Few videos were produced by health care organizations. Some were produced by anonymous organizations, with the majority made by pregnant or postpartum people. Many were testimonial or confessional in style. Despite regulations requiring identification of paid posts and advertisements, it was difficult to discern if videos were authentic sharing of patient experiences or advertisements.

DISCUSSION

There is incorrect and incomplete information on social media surrounding nutrition in pregnancy. Professional guidelines for nutrition in pregnancy are available but are not as accessible to patients as social media videos. Social media use is associated with disordered eating and increased risk of anxiety and depression. However, targeted interventions by health care providers that use social media platforms have been successful in the distribution of credible health information. Midwives and other health care providers should share evidence-based nutrition recommendation with patients to facilitate meaningful conversations around nutrition in pregnancy during in person and online interactions.

Uterotonic Effects of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Lannea acida in Wistar Rats: An In Vitro Study

Lannea acida (Anacardiaceae), commonly called Kikié in the Noun division (West-Cameroon), is a tree whose bark is used locally to facilitate delivery. This study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro uterotonic effects of aqueous and methanol extracts of L. acida in Wistar rats. Uterine strips isolated from rats pretreated with 5 μg estradiol (48 h) were mounted in a single-organ bath containing aerated and thermostated De Jalon solution (37 °C). After equilibration, non-cumulative effects of L. acida extracts were recorded after application. The effect of the methanol extract (the most active extract) was monitored in the presence of atosiban (a competitive antagonist of oxytocin receptors), atropine (a specific type 3 muscarinic receptor antagonist), nifedipine (an L-type calcium channel antagonist), and 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-ADB, a specific antagonist of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors type 1), and in calcium-free medium containing EGTA to elucidate its mechanism of action. L. acida induced uterine contraction in a concentration-dependent manner with the methanol extract (1.506 ± 0.032 gf) being the most effective. Administration of atosiban (2 μmol/L) and atropine (1 μmol/L) reduced the contractile effect of L. acida. Complete inhibition was observed with nifedipine, 2-APB, and calcium-free medium containing EGTA. These results suggest that L. acida possesses uterotonic effects mediated through oxytocin receptors with mobilization of extracellular calcium.

High-fat diet-induced memory impairment and anxiety-like behavior in rats attenuated by peel extract of Ananas comosus fruit via atheroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions

BACKGROUND

Pineapple peel is a waste component of pineapple with valuable source of metabolites as phytoactive compounds in ameliorating metabolic-related disorders. This study investigated the atheroprotective and neuroprotective effects of peel extract of Ananas comosus fruit (PEAC) in normal diet (ND) and high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were fed ND or HFD for 9 weeks, and beginning from the 6th week animals were also orally treated with PEAC (200 mg/kg). Memory performance was assessed using Y-maze test (YMT) and novel object recognition test (NORT) while anxiolytic-like effect was assessed on the elevated plus maze (EPM). Serum cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-C were determined, while LDL-C and atherogenic risk calculated. Serum and brain tissue malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, catalase were determined. Brain acetylcholinesterase activity and interleukin-6 level were also determined.

RESULTS

PEAC significantly attenuated HFD-induced reduction in correct alternation in YMT, and discrimination index in NORT. Also, PEAC demonstrated anxiolytic-like activity in EPM test. PEAC significantly improved lipid profile and decreased risk of atherogenicity in ND and HFD-fed rats. In addition, PEAC improves serum and brain antioxidant status by decreasing malondialdehyde and increasing GSH and catalase. PEAC significantly impaired HFD-induced brain acetylcholinesterase activity and IL-6 levels.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that peel extract of Ananas comosus fruit may protect against diet-induced behavioral disturbances via atheroprotective, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities.

Role of the serotonergic pathway in uterotonic activity of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. - An in vitro and in vivo study

BACKGROUND

Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. has been used as a traditional medicine in inducing abortion in many countries. Our previous in vitro experiments showed that the aqueous fraction (F4) of A. comosus extract stimulated the rat and human uterine contractions.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to identify the bioactive compound and further investigate the molecular mechanism of F4 induced contraction and the in vivo uterotonic effect of F4.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Organ bath studies were employed to compare the stimulatory effect of F4 in non and late pregnant uterine tissue followed by isolation of protein from late pregnant uterine tissue for the western blot analysis. The PhysioTel transmitter was implanted in pregnant SD rats to measure the changes in intrauterine pressure (IUP). Analyses of the crude extract and active principle in F4 was performed using LC-HRMS.

RESULTS

Ripe F4 in a similar manner as serotonin produced a greater stimulatory response in late pregnant than non-pregnant uterine tissue without significant change in potency; ripe F4 also increased ERK phosphorylation which eventually led to a significant increase of the final product, MMP-13. In pregnant rats (E18), oral ripe F4 (1.5 g.100 g^-1 body weight) and ergometrine (1 mg) did not stimulate the uterine contraction probably due to the low level of estradiol and as a consequence low 5-HT receptors at the time of administration. In contrast, in postpartum rats, oral administration of F4 and ergometrine produced a significant increase in maximal IUP to 4.3 and 4.9 folds of basal IUP respectively. Contrary to the folklore use, unripe F4 did not stimulate the uterine activity during pregnancy and postpartum. Bioassay guided fractionation identified serotonin as a major bioactive compound in ripe F4.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data clearly indicate that the uterotonic effect of ripe F4 is mediated via the serotonergic pathway and suggest that serotonin rich diet may increase the peripheral serotonin and implicate in diverse physiological functions, including uterine motility.

Potent tocolytic activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Ananas comosus on rat and human uteri

The aim of this study was to investigate the tocolytic properties of Ananas comosus extract in rat and human uterine tissue in vitro and in the rat in vivo. Organ bath technique was employed to perform functional studies in vitro. The PhysioTel transmitter was implanted in SD rats to measure the changes in intrauterine pressure (IUP) in vivo. Analyses of F2 was performed using LC-HRMS. F2 produced a non-selective inhibitory response on oxytocin, prostaglandin F2α, acetylcholine and KCl. The inhibitory activity of F2 on oxytocin-induced contraction was not attenuated by propranolol, TEA, glibenclamide and indomethacin. Nω-Nitro-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, suppressed the maximal tocolytic activity of F2 by 25%. DIDS, an inhibitor of chloride channels, appeared to suppress the relaxant effect of F2. F2 suppressed the oxytocin-induced contraction in Ca²⁺ free solution. The in vivo tocolytic activity of F2 and ritodrine were observed in non-pregnant rats during the estrous stage by suppressing the frequency and amplitude of IUP peaks following intrauterine administration. Chemical analysis confirmed the involvement of citric acid in the tocolytic activity of F2. However, another less polar fraction is essential to accompany citric acid to produce such potent inhibitory response of F2. It is likely that F2 exerted tocolytic activity by multiple mechanisms, including antagonizing L-type Ca²⁺ channels, interfering with the intracellular Ca²⁺ release mechanism and releasing nitric oxide. F2 would be a promising candidate to develop as a tocolytic agent.