Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. R. canina significantly reduced the occurrence of urinary tract infections in the 200 participating postpartum women who underwent cesarean sections compared to the control group of women.

pregnancy - women's healthIn developing countries, the use of herbal medicine as part of primary health care is prevalent 1. One of the most commonly used herbs is known as the “Dog rose”, referring to the fruit of the Rosa canina shrub 2. R. canina is not only rich in various minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum 3, but is also noteworthy for its high concentration of vitamin C and quercetin (a phytonutrient with anti-inflammatory effects), which afford the herb unique antioxidant and antibacterial properties 4,5. Studies indicate that R. canina can be used to successfully inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, a bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) 6. For women undergoing cesarean section (CS) vs. natural childbirth, the risk of UTI is increased due to the catheterization process 7. Therefore, the potential application of R. canina as a treatment for post-partum UTI carries great significance in relation to the reproductive health of women. At the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, researchers conducted an investigation to determine how R. canina might affect the incidence and recurrence of UTI in women who have undergone CS.

The randomized, controlled, triple-blind clinical trial involved a total of 400 women who underwent CS within the last 48 hours and did not present with any symptoms of UTI. Patients were randomized to receive a twice daily dose of 500 mg capsules containing either R. canina or placebo for 20 days, beginning with the second day following CS. On two occasions (once on the 7th-10th day following CS and again on the 20th day following CS), urine samples were collected from patients and analyzed for the presence of positive urine culture, indicative of UTI.

Prior to the intervention, the urine cultures of all women were negative. On Days 7-10 following the intervention, four patients from the R. canina group and 13 from placebo demonstrated positive asymptomatic cultures (Odds Ratio = 3.37; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.08 to 10.54; p < 0.001). On Day 20, three women from the R. canina group and 19 from placebo showed positive urine cultures (OR = 6.74; 95% CI: 1.96 to 23.19; p < 0.001). UTI was found to be significantly lower in the herbal group vs. placebo on both the 7th-10th days (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.67; p = 0.006) and the 20th day (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.75; p = 0.008).

Present findings indicate that administration of R. canina fruit capsules as medication can successfully reduce the incidence of UTI in women who have undergone CS. Thus far, the clinical effects of R. canina extract have only been proven in the context of irritable bowel syndrome 8 and osteoarthritis 9, but current evidence suggests that the antibacterial properties of this fruit have therapeutic benefits for maternal health also. Given its positive effect in preventing postcesarian UTI, R. canina can be a useful, inexpensive, and cost-effective herb for promoting maternal health. It is recommended that future studies replicate findings using a full post-partum follow-up rather than the 20-day post-partum follow-up period employed in the present study.

Source: Seifi M, Abbasalizadeh S, Mohammad‐Alizadeh‐Charandabi S, Khodaie L, Mirghafourvand M. The effect of Rosa (L. Rosa canina) on the incidence of urinary tract infection in the puerperium: A randomized placebo‐controlledtrial. Phytotherapy Research. 2017;1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5950

© 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

 Posted December 28, 2017.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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