Table 1. Summarized effects of Rhodiola, Echinacea, Ginseng, and Camellia, or its extracts, supplemented in pregnancy and/or lactation on mothers and offspring health.
| Herb or Extract | Key Substances | Pharmacological Action | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | Offspring | ||
| Rhodiola | phenylethanoid salidroside and tyrosol, phenolic acids (i.e., chlorogenic, ferulic, ellagic and p-coumaric), and flavonoids (i.e., fisetin, naringenin, kaempferol, epicatechin, luteolin, quercetin, epigallocatechin and (+)-catechin) | reduces the percentage of cells with a respiratory burst in granulocytes (supplementation with RKW) [28] increases in the percentage of granulocytes and monocytes in the blood with the respiratory burst (supplementation with RKW-A) [28] contributes to changes in spleen morphology and structure [29] increases the concentration of VEGF and bFGF [30] reduces the number of CD4 + and CD19 + cells and the total number of NK cells [31] | increases hemoglobin concentration (about 0.6 mg/dL) [32] decreases in the mean percentage of lymphocytes in peripheral blood, and an increase in the mean percentage of granulocytes [32] decreases in the percentage of CD3+ cells and CD4+ [32] increases the concentration of IL-10 in the serum [33] stimulate the phagocytosis process [32] significant difference in tissue localization and the number of CD8+ cells [34] contributes to a higher number of CD8+ cells in the central part of the spleen [34] influence cell proliferation in response to mitogen supplementation (LPS, PHA and ConA) [29] decreases the number of apoptotic cells [35] decreases the concentration of VEGF in the sera [30] |
| Echinacea | alkamides, ketoalkenes, caffeic acid derivatives, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and caftaric acid | does not affect hematological and reproductive parameters [36] no influences on the enzyme results [37] decreases the level of crude protein in colostrum [37] decreases the level of antibodies in the plasma [37] decreases the number of spleen lymphocytes and nucleated erythroid cells [38] contributes to more frequent miscarriages in the early stages of pregnancy [38] | decreases the number of embryos in litter and significantly diminished VEGF and bFGF content of embryos tissue [39] increases phagocytic activity in blood [40] increases bacterial diversity [40] non-teratogenic, does not increase the risk of malformations [41,42,43] |
| Ginseng | polysaccharides, flavonoids, fatty acids, peptides, and saponins (mainly ginsenosides) | increases the total IgG concentration in milk and serum of sows, which was associated with elevated levels of cytokines: IL-2, IL-6, TNF- α, and IFN-γ [44] stimulates the effect of isolated lymphocytes after pokeweed mitogen stimulation [45] stimulates the innate immunity in cows with Staphylococcus aureusinfection [46] increases phagocytosis, oxidative burst activity of blood neutrophils and number of monocytes [46] | increases IL-2 and TNF-α concentration in the piglets’ serum [44] reduces the incidence of schizophrenia in the offspring [47] alleviates the toxic effects of phthalates and bisphenol A [48] reverses the negative effect of dexamethasone on the synthesis of testosterone in Leydig cells [49] teratogenic effect [50] |
| Camellia | epigallocatechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate | increases the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α and IL-1β in mesenteric adipose tissue and causes a decrease in catalase in the liver [51] inhibits the penetration of macrophages and increases the expression of AMPK (during lactation) [52] contributes to alterations in urinary calcium, creatinine, and urea during the prenatal period, nephrotoxicity [53] increases levels of proinflammatory cytokines and decreases anti-inflammatory cytokines levels in serum [53] decreases of hemoglobin concentration and loss of the biconcave structure of erythrocytes [54] increases of WBC level in the mother’s blood and induced significant changes in the histology of liver and serum enzymes [54] decreases the level of folic acid [55] increases the efficacy of oral nifedipine treatment in severe pregnancy-induced preeclampsia [56] may be associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia [57] | increases the risk of premature birth [58] risk factor for low birth weight of offspring [59] protect against dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and fat accumulation [60] pro-inflammatory effect on the adipose tissue (not on a high-fat diet) [60] decreases the retroperitoneal adipose tissue relative weight and SOD activity but increases adiponectin, LPS, IL-10 and IL-6 content and IL-10/TNF-α ratio in retroperitoneal, IL-10 and TNF-α content in gonadal, and IL-6 content in mesenteric adipose tissues [51] improves the results of treatment of maternal gestational diabetes [61] reduces neonatal complications [61] can decreases the number of malformations in fetuses after exposure to cyclophosphamide, but too high dose increases the toxicity of cyclophosphamide [62] |
