J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 1607-1612, Sep-Oct 2025.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2261_13.5.1607
Original Article
Prenatal yoga modulates endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in women at high risk of preeclampsia: A quasi-experimental study
[El yoga prenatal modula la endotelina-1 y el óxido nítrico en mujeres con alto riesgo de preeclampsia: Un estudio cuasiexperimental]
Hamimatus Zainiyah1,2, Bambang Purwanto3, Ernawati4, Raden Argarini3
1Doctoral Program of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.
2Department of Midwifery, University of Noor Huda Mustofa, Bangkalan, Madura, Indonesia.
3Department of Physiology and Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.
4Department of Obstetric Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia.
*E-mail: bambang-purwanto@fk.unair.ac.id
Abstract
Context: Preeclampsia is associated with endothelial dysfunction marked by imbalances in endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO).
Aims: To evaluate the effect of prenatal yoga on serum ET-1 and NO levels in pregnant women at high risk for preeclampsia.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted on 46 pregnant women (9–16 weeks gestation), assigned to yoga (n=23) and control (n=23) groups. Both groups received standard prenatal care; the intervention group additionally practiced 30-minute yoga sessions five times weekly for four weeks. Serum ET-1 and NO levels were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Results: The yoga group showed a significant decrease in ET-1 levels (p=0.039) and an increase in NO levels (p=0.031), whereas the control group showed opposite trends. Between-group comparisons were also significant for both biomarkers (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Prenatal yoga may improve endothelial function and reduce the risk of preeclampsia through modulation of ET-1 and NO levels.
Keywords: endothelin-1; nitric oxide; preeclampsia; women; yoga.

Resumen
Contexto: La preeclampsia se asocia con disfunción endotelial, caracterizada por desequilibrios en la endotelina-1 (ET-1) y el óxido nítrico (NO).
Objetivos: Evaluar el efecto del yoga prenatal sobre los niveles séricos de ET-1 y NO en mujeres embarazadas con alto riesgo de preeclampsia.
Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental pretest-postest en 46 mujeres embarazadas (9-16 semanas de gestación), asignadas a grupos de yoga (n=23) y control (n=23). Ambos grupos recibieron atención prenatal estándar; el grupo de intervención practicó adicionalmente sesiones de yoga de 30 minutos cinco veces por semana durante cuatro semanas. Se midieron los niveles séricos de ET-1 y NO antes y después de la intervención.
Resultados: El grupo de yoga mostró una disminución significativa en los niveles de ET-1 (p=0,039) y un aumento en los niveles de NO (p=0,031), mientras que el grupo control mostró tendencias opuestas. Las comparaciones entre grupos también fueron significativas para ambos biomarcadores (p<0,01).
Conclusiones: El yoga prenatal puede mejorar la función endotelial y reducir el riesgo de preeclampsia mediante la modulación de los niveles de ET-1 y NO.
Palabras Clave: endotelina-1; mujeres; óxido nítrico; preeclampsia; yoga.

Citation Format: Hamimatus Z, Bambang P, Ernawati, Raden A (2025) Prenatal yoga modulates endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in women at high risk of preeclampsia: A quasi-experimental study. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 13(5): 1607–1612. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2261_13.5.1607
References
Atallah A, Lecarpentier E, Goffinet F, Doret DM, Gaucherand P, Tsatsaris V (2017) Aspirin for prevention of preeclampsia. Drugs 77(17): 1819–1831. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-017-0823-0
Basu-Ray BI (2021) A mechanistic model for yoga as a preventive and therapeutic modality. Int J Yoga 14(2): 152–157. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_136_20
Boeldt DS, Bird IM (2017) Vascular adaptation in pregnancy and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. J Endocrinol 232(1): R27–R44. https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-16-0340
Bourque SL, Davidge ST, Adams MA (2011) The interaction between endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in the vasculature: new perspectives. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300 (6): 1288–1295. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00397.2010
Brennan LJ, Morton JS, Davidge ST (2014) Vascular dysfunction in preeclampsia. Microcirculation 21(1): 4–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/micc.12079
Fiore G, Florio P, Micheli L, Nencini C, Rossi M, Cerretani D, Ambrosini G, Giorgi G, Petraglia F (2005) Endothelin-1 triggers placental oxidative stress pathways: Putative role in preeclampsia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90(7): 4205–4210. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-1632
George EM, Granger JP (2011) Endothelin: Key mediator of hypertension in preeclampsia. Am J Hypertens 24(9): 964–969. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajh.2011.99
Guerby P, Tasta O, Swiader A, Pont F, Bujold E, Parant O, Vayssiere C, Salvayre R, Negre-Salvayre A (2021) Role of oxidative stress in the dysfunction of the placental endothelial nitric oxide synthase in preeclampsia. Redox Biol 40 (19): 101861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2021.101861
Jain A, Jain I (2023) ET-traps: Potential therapeutics for preeclampsia. Drug Discov Today 28(11): 103787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103787
Karthiga K, Pal GK, Dasari P, Nanda N, Velkumary S, Chinnakali P, Renugasundari M, Harichandrakumar KT (2022) Effects of yoga on cardiometabolic risks and fetomaternal outcomes are associated with serum nitric oxide in gestational hypertension: A randomized control trial. Sci Rep 12(1): 11732. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15216-4
Kinshella MLW, Omar S, Scherbinsky K, Vidler M, Magee LA, von Dadelszen P, Moore SE, Elango R (2021) Effects of maternal nutritional supplements and dietary interventions on placental complications: An umbrella review, meta-analysis and evidence map. Nutrients 13(2): 472. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020472
Mawardi S, Ganie RA, Lumbanraja SN (2019) levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in pregnant patients with preeclampsia and patients with normal pregnancy. Indones J Clin Pathol Med Lab 25(2): 199–201. https://doi.org/10.24293/ijcpml.v25i2.1171
Metri K, Pradhan B, Singh A, Nagendra H (2018) Effect of 1-week yoga-based residential program on cardiovascular variables of hypertensive patients: A comparative study. Int J Yoga 11(2): 170–174. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_77_16
Opichka MA, Rappelt MW, Gutterman DD, Grobe JL, McIntosh JJ (2021) Review vascular dysfunction in preeclampsia. Cells 10(11): 3055. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10113055
Osol G, Ko NL, Mandalà M (2017) Altered endothelial nitric oxide signaling as a paradigm for maternal vascular maladaptation in preeclampsia. Curr Hypertens Rep 19(10): 82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-017-0774-6
Pais M, Pai M, Kamath A, Lewis L, Nambiar J (2025) Effects of yoga on stress in pregnant women. Holist Nurs Pract 39(2): 86–95. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000676
Pais M, Pai MV, Kamath A, Bhat R, Bhat P, Joisa GH (2021) A Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of integrated yoga on pregnancy outcome. Holist Nurs Pract 35(5): 273–280. https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000472
Patil SG, Sobitharaj EC, Chandrasekaran AM, Patil SS, Singh K, Gupta R, Deepak KK, Jaryal AK, Chandran DS, Kinra S, Roy A, Prabhakaran D (2024) Effect of yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation program on endothelial function, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers in acute myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga 17(1): 20–28. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_40_24
Perry A, Stephanou A, Rayman MP (2022) Dietary factors that affect the risk of pre-eclampsia. BMJ Nutr Prev Health 5(1): 118–133. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000399
Possomato-Vieira JS, Khalil RA (2016) Mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive pregnancy and preeclampsia. Adv Pharmacol 77: 361–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apha.2016.04.008
Prather H, Spitznagle T, Hunt D (2012) Benefits of exercise during pregnancy. PM R 4(11): 845–850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.07.012
Rana S, Lemoine E, Granger J, Karumanchi SA (2019) Preeclampsia: pathophysiology, challenges, and perspectives. Circ Res 124(7): 1094–1112. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313276
Sánchez-Aranguren ALC, Prada CE, Riaño-Medina CE, Lopez M (2014) Endothelial dysfunction and preeclampsia: Role of oxidative stress. Front Physiol 10(5): 372. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2014.00372
Sutton EF, Gemmel M, Powers RW (2020) Nitric oxide signaling in pregnancy and preeclampsia. Nitric Oxide 95(1): 55–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2019.11.006
Vinutha HT, Raghavendra BR, Manjunath NK (2015) Effect of integrated approach of yoga therapy on autonomic functions in patients with type 2 diabetes. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 19(5): 653–657. https://doi.org/10.4103/2230-8210.163194
Yılmaz ZV, Akkaş E, Türkmen GG, Kara Ö, Yücel A, Uygur D (2017) Dietary sodium and potassium intake were associated with hypertension, kidney damage and adverse perinatal outcome in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Hypertensi Pregnancy 36(1): 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/10641955.2016.1239734
Zullino S, Buzzella F, Simoncini T (2018) Nitric oxide and the biology of pregnancy. Vasc Pharmacol 110: 71–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vph.2018.07.004
© 2025 Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research