Long-term supplementation of Rhodiola kirilowii extracts during pregnancy and lactation does not affect mother health status.

Antibiotics treatment during pregnancy and lactation is problematic. The alternative to the antibiotic treatment is the use of plant-derived supplements, which stimulate immune system to prevent and eliminate bacterial infection. Here, we evaluated the effect of long-term use of Rhodiola kirilowii on the health of mouse mothers. Pregnant mice were fed daily, for whole pregnancy and for 28 days after giving birth, with Rhodiola kirilowii water (RKW) or hydroalcoholic extract (RKW-A) (at 20 mg of extracts/kg). The control group received sterile water. There was no significant change in the total body weight and selected organs weight and in the status of macroscopically evaluated liver, spleen, kidney, brain, and eyes, between the Rhodiola kirilowii groups and the control group. There was also no change in hematological parameters and components of adaptive immunity (level of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD335+ cells). Mice fed with RKW extracts exhibited lower percentage of oxidative burst in the granulocytes. In contrast, the supplementation with RKW-A extract caused increase in the percentage of granulocytes in the blood and the percentage of monocytes with oxidative burst. Other studied components of innate immunity were unaffected. Minor effect on the innate immunity and lack of side effects on hematological parameters and components of immunological system of mouse mothers indicates that both water and 50% hydroalcoholic extracts of Rhodiola kirilowii (in concentration 20 mg/kg per day) could be used as an immunostimulators during pregnancy and nursing. However, to fully assess the effects of Rhodiola kirilowii extracts on the mother and offspring health, further studies in mouse and large animal models and clinical studies in humans are necessary.