Plant-based antioxidant strategies with potential for preeclampsia prevention: clinical and mechanistic insights

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not applicable for narrative review

• Effect Size: Not quantified - narrative synthesis only

• Primary Outcome: Oxidative stress markers and vascular health parameters

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not calculable due to lack of quantitative synthesis

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

Low feasibility for immediate clinical implementation due to lack of standardized formulations and pregnancy-specific safety data Would require TGA evaluation for therapeutic goods regulation; not currently supported by RACGP guidelines for preeclampsia prevention; complementary medicine regulations would apply Limited applicability to pregnant women due to most studies being conducted in non-pregnant populations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, driven by oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation. Current preventive strategies, such as low-dose aspirin, offer modest benefit, highlighting the need for alternative approaches. Medicinal plants with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, long used in maternal health traditions, may provide biological pathways relevant to preeclampsia prevention. SUMMARY: This review synthesizes human clinical and mechanistic evidence on four medicinal plants with documented antioxidant activity - Curcuma longa, Moringa oleifera, Orthosiphon aristatus, and Centella asiatica. These botanicals demonstrate potential mechanisms of action including redox modulation, preservation of endothelial function, and suppression of pro-inflammatory pathways, all of which are implicated in preeclampsia pathophysiology. CONTENT: A PRISMA-guided systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library (2000-2025) identified human studies evaluating these plants' effects on oxidative stress and vascular health. Evidence was synthesized narratively due to heterogeneous study designs and outcomes. Most studies were small, often not pregnancy-specific, and used non-standardized botanical formulations. OUTLOOK: These medicinal plants offer biologically plausible pathways to reduce preeclampsia risk. However, pregnancy-focused randomized trials, dose optimization, pharmacokinetic profiling, and safety evaluations are essential before clinical integration into maternal care.

References

1. 1.Andonotopo, W., Bachnas, M. A., Dewantiningrum, J., Pramono, M. A., Rahardjo, T. M., Suryawan, A., Rahardjo, B., Sanjaya, I. N. H., Sulistyowati, S., Stanojevic, M., & Kurjak, A. (2026). Plant-based antioxidant strategies with potential for preeclampsia prevention: clinical and mechanistic insights. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70227-X