Efeito do extrato bruto de tuia (Thuja occidentalis) sobre parâmetros de leite de mães anêmicas

Abstract

Gestational anemia is a critical public health problem, especially in developing countries, where the incidence and prevalence rates are increasing. The implication of this pathology does not stem only from nutrient deficiency, but also from the changes caused by the physiological state of pregnancy. The practice of breastfeeding provides an ideal condition for healthy infant growth and development, and is known as an essential practice by mankind. Breast milk consists of biologically active compounds, such as micro and macro nutrients for correct infant nutrition, and it also has other compounds that play important roles in the child's structure. On the other hand, medicinal plants have been the target of several studies due to the effort in discovering new active principles for therapeutic use in the most diverse pathologies. Thuja occidentalis is a plant belonging to the Cupressaceae family, native to the North, popularly known as tree of life or white cedar, with its pharmacological properties that has been used as a tincture in numerous homeopathic preparations for the treatment of various diseases such as: carcinomas uterine disorders, amenorrhea, rheumatism, warts, bronchial catarrh, enuresis, cystitis, psoriasis and also as an immunostimulant and adjuvant antibiotic. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the rheological behavior of colostrum from anemic mothers in the presence of the ethanolic extract of Thuja occidentallis. The results showed the colostrum viscosity curves showed considerable differences in shear rate values between the groups of anemic and non-anemic mothers. The ethanolic extract of Thuja occidentalis was efficient in correcting the rheological parameters of viscosity and deformation of colostrum from anemic mothers.