Wiku Andonotopo, Muhammad Adrianes Bachnas, Julian Dewantiningrum, Mochammad Besari Adi Pramono, Theresia Monica Rahardjo, Aloysius Suryawan, Bambang Rahardjo, I Nyoman Hariyasa Sanjaya, Sri Sulistyowati, Milan Stanojevic, Asim Kurjak
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. © 2025 the author(s)
Fetomaternal Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women Health Center, Ekahospital BSD City, Serpong, Banten, Tangerang, Indonesia; Fetomaternal Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty of Sebelas Maret University, Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Solo, Surakarta, Indonesia; Fetomaternal Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty of Diponegoro University, Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Central Java, Semarang, Indonesia; Maranatha Christian University, Faculty of Medicine, West Java, Bandung, Indonesia; Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Dr. Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Malang, Indonesia; Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia; Department of Neonatology and Rare Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
