Background: Gestational hyperglycemia is a state of high blood glucose which is diagnosed during pregnancy. Maternal hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of several complications in offspring such as renal disorders. Launaea acanthodes is used as a common medicinal plant in central regions of Iran. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the beneficial effects of Luna acconthodes administration on the outcomes of gestational hyperglycemia on fetal kidney. Materials & Methods: Female pregnant rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: intact control without treatment, hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia treated orally with hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes leave (150 mg/kg daily from 9th day of pregnancy). Hyperglycemia was induced at 7th post mating day by a single injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body). On 18th day of pregnancy, fetuses were excluded and processed for histological preparation and then the renal volume was measured by Cavalieri’s technique. Results: The average body weight of fetus in STZ and control groups was not significantly different but in the hyperglycemic group treatment with launea extract significantly decreased. The result showed significant decrease in the kidney volume of fetus in hyperglycemia group but this decrease was improved in hyperglycemic rats treated received extract. Conclusions: it seems that hydro-alcoholic extract of Launaea acanthodes may improve the kidney volume of fetus in Gestational hyperglycemia.

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