Articles

Biochemical profile of albino rats with experimentally induced metabolic syndrome fed diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera leaves

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Biochemical profile of albino rats with experimentally induced metabolic syndrome fed diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera leaves Ezeanyika, Lawrence Uchenna Sunday; Uchendu, Nene Orizu Metabolic syndrome (MS) has become a globally prevalent disease state, leading to mortality. Plants are a reservoir of compounds that have therapeutic potential and have been proven to be effective in management of a wide range of human and animal diseases. This study therefore, evaluated the effect of diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf (CAL), Gongronema latifolium leaf (GLL), and Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) on some biochemical parameters of experimentally-induced MS in male albino rats. Forty-eight (48) adult male rats of 180-210 g body weight, were separated randomly into eight groups (1 – 8) comprising six rats each. Group 1 was maintained on normal diet. MS was induced in Groups 2 – 8 rats for eight weeks by high fat high carbohydrate (HFHC) diet. Afterwards, group 2 was fed normal rat diet (untreated), while groups 3 to 8 received diets formulated with GLL, CAL, MOL (100g per kg of diet) for eight weeks. Obesity indices, serum lipid profile, liver marker enzymes and antioxidant status were evaluated using standard methods. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in body weight gain, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols of the treated rats were observed, while high density lipoprotein significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the untreated group. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the treatment groups. Treatment with the herbs showed mild Kupffer cell activation reversing periportal hepatitis induced by the HFHC diet. Results from the study indicate that CAL, GLL and MOL have therapeutic potentials that could be useful in managing components of MS.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of The Chloroform Extract of Annona muricate Leaves on Phospholipase A2 and Prostaglandin Synthase Activities

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of The Chloroform Extract of Annona muricate Leaves on Phospholipase A2 and Prostaglandin Synthase Activities Oyekachukwu, A. R.; Elijah, J. P.; Eshu, O. V.; Nwodo, O. F. C. This study ascertained the mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory activity of the total lipid (chloroform) extract of Annona muricata leaves. The plant material was extracted with a mixture of chloroform and methanol (2:1) and partitioned with 0.2 volume water. The chloroform extract was investigated for its effect on the in vitro activities of phospholipase A2, prostaglandin synthase and membrane stabilization. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited phospholipase A2 activity in a concentration-related manner compared to the control, with a range of 0.2 - 0.6 mg/ml inhibiting the enzyme activity by 23.91 - 43.48%. Effect of the extract on prostaglandin synthase activity showed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of enzyme activity at the doses 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml compared to the control. The highest percentage inhibition (87.46%) attained at 0.5 mg/ml was comparable to that of 1.0 mg/ml indomethacin. At various concentrations (0.1-0.8 mg/ml), the chloroform extract also significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited heat and hypotonicityinduced haemolysis of human red blood cells (HRBCs) compared to the control. The highest percentage inhibition of heat-induced haemolysis (53.03%) was obtained at 0.4 mg/ml of the extract while the highest percentage inhibition of hypotonicity-induced haemolysis (77.91%) was obtained at 0.8 mg/ml. This study thus confirmed that the mode of action of this extract of Annona muricate leaves on inflammation could be through the inhibition of phospholipase A2 and prostaglandin synthase activities and by membrane stabilization.

Anti-Microbial Studies and the Effect of the Aqueous Extract of Cyphostemma Glaucophilla Leaves on the Concentration of Total Plasma Proteins and Albumin in Corn-Meal Induced Kwashiorkor Rats

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Anti-Microbial Studies and the Effect of the Aqueous Extract of Cyphostemma Glaucophilla Leaves on the Concentration of Total Plasma Proteins and Albumin in Corn-Meal Induced Kwashiorkor Rats Ojogbane, Eleojo; Nwodo, O. F. C.; Omale, James; Yakubu, O. E. Cyphostemma glaucophilla is used in the treatment of kwashiorkor in ethno-medicine in Kogi and Kwara States of Nigeria. The aqueous extract of pulverised dried leaves of C.glaucophilla, administered at various concentrations on some microorganism were evaluated in cultured plates of nutrient Agar. Three different antibiotics; ampiclox, lincomycin and chloramphenicol were used as synthetic drugs to evaluate their comparative efficacy with the extract. Five Groups A, B, C, D and E of rats weighing 100-110g of either sex were served with rat feed and water (control, A). Kwashiorkor was induced in Groups B, C, D and E by given protein deficient diet (corn meal) for 14 days. After 14 days, the malnourished Groups were served oral daily doses of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg b.w of the extract for 14 days respectively while Group A recieved (0.85g NaCl; 5ml/kg). The blood samples were obtained via occular puncture into heparinised centrifuge tubes and spun at 1000rpm for five minutes to obtain the plasma on day 0 (start of treatment) and day 14 (end of treatment) for the determination of the concentration of total protein and albumin by standard methods. Data were analysed by oneway ANOVA and student independent t-test and presented as mean ± standard deviation values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. Cyphostemma glaucophilla leaves extract exhibited anti-microbial properties comparable with the antibiotics and produced dose dependent significant (p < 0.05) increases in the concentration of plasma total protiens and albumin in kwashiorkor induced rats.

Antibacterial and Toxicity Studies of Aqueous Extract of Morinda Lucida

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Antibacterial and Toxicity Studies of Aqueous Extract of Morinda Lucida Musa, A. D.; Nwodo, O. F. C.; Musa, A.; Ojogbane, E. B. The aqueous extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida which is used Igala traditional folk medicine in Nigeria for several febrile ailments was investigated for its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhi, and for its acute toxicity in albino rats. The antibacterial activity was determined by the zone of inhibition using agar well diffusion method and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration. The toxicity screening was done by randomising 28 healthy albino rats into seven groups of 4 animals each and treated them p.o. with a various doses of the crude extract in 5 ml of normal saline, the control group received equal aliquot of the normal saline. Investigation showed that the water extract of M. lucida was very active against all the test organisms with antibacterial activities equal to those of the most active standard antibiotic against each of the test organisms, gentamicin for S. Typhi , chloramphenicol for S. aureus and gentamicin for E. coli. The LD50 of M. lucida is >5000mg/kg b. wt. using albino rats. There were no apparent pharmacotoxic signs observed in animals that received p.o. doses of M. lucida. There were no macroscopic changes in the internal organs of any of the treated rats. The investigation also showed that the PCV and blood chemistry parameters of animals treated with the extract of M. lucida were within the reference range. Aqueous extract of M. lucida thus has potential for the development of a safe broad spectrum antibiotic.