Combined Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphys poggeana Extract (CESH) Protect against Oxidative Stress and Enhances Haematological Parameters in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-induced Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effect of a combined extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphys poggeana (CESH) on oxidative markers and haematological parameters in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced rats. The study adopted five groups containing equal numbers of rats (n = 6), including normal control, BPH control, Finasteride control, BPH-induced rats treated with 200 mg/kg CESH, and BPH-induced rats treated with 600 mg/kg CESH. The rats were induced BPH by the subcutaneous administration of a 5 mg/kg testosterone propionate injection. At the same time, treatment finasteride and CESH to the respective groups were given orally 60 minutes after the BPH induction for 28 uninterrupted days. The induction of BPH with testosterone propionate injection caused a significant reduction in the serum levels of haematological parameters, including haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), and platelet counts of the BPH control compared with normal control. The glutathione (GSH) concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase, and catalase activities decreased significantly in the BPH control relative to the normal control. The BPH control had elevated white blood cell (WBC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations contrary to the high WBC and MDA in the normal control and CESH treated BPH induced rats, respectively. Conversely, the Hb, PCV, platelet count, GPx, SOD, catalase, GST, and GSH increased significantly in the finasteride and CESH-treated BPH-induced rats, respectively, compared to the BPH control. These findings show that CESH attenuates adverse effects of BPH on antioxidant parameters and oxidative markers, which may prevent BPH progression

Evaluation of phytochemicals, antioxidant contents and in vitro antioxidant activities of a combined ethanol extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphys poggeana leaves

Background & Aim: Oxidative stress causes lipid peroxidation, damages various macromolecules, tissues and organs, and is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Antioxidant supplementation could help scavenge free radicals and prevent oxidative stress. This study evaluated the phytochemicals, antioxidant compositions and in vitro antioxidant activities of a combined extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphy spoggeana leaves (CEESH). Experimental: This study determined phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins contained in CEESH. The in vitro antioxidant activities of CEESH comprising DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assayed. Results: The phytochemical results indicated substantial amounts of total phenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids, along with moderate amounts of tannins, flavonoids, and steroids in CEESH with a low glycoside concentration, but saponin was not detected. The plant extract also showed substantial concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E.The DPPH, nitric oxide, FRAP, TAC and TBARS for the CEESH indicated that the extract has substantial free radical scavenging activities. The CEESH demonstrated a dose-dependent significant increase in the nitric oxide, TAC, and TBARS scavenging activities, while the CEESH showed dose-dependent marked increase in FRAP within a concentration range of 40–640 µg/mL. The half-optimal effective concentration (EC50) values of the CEESH for DPPH, nitric oxide, and TBARS were 7.23, 39.40, and 63.41 µg/mL, respectively. Recommended applications/industries: These findings suggest that CEESH contains abundant phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins and possesses high free radical scavenging potential. Therefore, CEESH could be a viable therapeutic agent for managing oxidative stress

Cannabis sativa in ethanol (Monkey Tail) and tramadol induced similar degrees of toxicity in adult female Wistar rats

Background & Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of Cannabis sativa local gin formulation (CSLGF) and tramadol in adult female Wistar rats. Experimental: Cannabis sativa local gin formulation (CSLGF) was prepared and was subjected to acute toxicity tests together with tramadol. In the main study, 25 rats were assigned into 5 groups (n = 5) in which the group 1 received no treatment, groups 2 and 3 received 25 and 50 mg/kg of tramadol, respectively while groups 4 and 5 received 25 and 50 mg/kg of CSLGF, respectively, for 21 days before the rats were sacrificed. Results: Acute toxicity results indicated narrow margins of safety for CSLGF and tramadol with LD50 values of 123.0 and 133.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The rats treated with CSLGF lost weight significantly while that administered tramadol had lower weight gains when compared with the control (P0.05). Treatment with CSLGF and tramadol also significantly lowered glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities but increased malondialdehyde concentrations when compared with control. Recommended applications/industries: The findings show that although the toxic effects of CSLGF and tramadol in rats are similar, CSLGF appears to have higher toxicity potentials. Extending the current control on tramadol to CSLGF (monkey tail) is urgently needed in Nigeria to protect human lives

Ameliorative potentials of Aju Mbaise extract (AME) on Dutasteride induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rats

Background & Aim: Aju Mbaise is a polyherbal extract with nutraceutical properties that helps to replenish the volume of blood lost during childbirth and improves breast milk secretion and the general wellbeing of the mother. This study evaluated the ameliorative potentials of Aju Mbaise extract (AME) on Dutasteride-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rats. Twenty-one rats were used to assess the acute toxicity of AME. Experimental: The study for the hepatoprotective effects of AME had five groups of rats, including normal control, Dutasteride only, AME only, Dutasteride + AME (500 mg/kg) and Dutasteride+ AME (1000 mg/kg). Results: The acute toxicity result showed that AME is relatively safe for consumption. Dutasteride caused significant elevation of liver marker enzymes, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels in the rats received only Dutasteride. In contrast, Dutasteride induced rats treated with AME showed a significant decline in the AST, ALT, ALP, MDA, and bilirubin and significantly increased SOD, GSH, GPx, total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels compared to Dutasteride induced untreated rats. The AME-treated rats showed normal liver histo-architecture, unlike the Dutasteride-induced untreated rats that showed mild to moderate vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes. Recommended applications/industries: The findings show that AME ameliorates Dutasteride caused rats oxidative stress and hepatic injury

Combined Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei Stem Barks Extract Alleviates Hyperlipidaemia and Renal Malfunctions in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia-Induced Rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a urological disease prevalent among the ageing male population, which impairs the quality of life, including hyperlipidaemia and a decline in renal functions. Combining Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei stem bark extract has effectively managed BPH and its associated complications. This study evaluated the effects of a combined Anthocleista vogelii and Alstonia boonei stem bark extract (CAASBE) on the lipid profile and renal functions of rats induced benign prostatic hyperplasia with testosterone propionate injection. The study comprised five treatment groups, with groups 1 5 being the normal control, BPH control, standard control, BPH+200 mg/kg CAASBE, and BPH+400 mg/kg CAASBE, respectively. BPH was induced in the groups 2 4 rats by subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate injection (5 mg/kg) for 28 days, and treatment with Finasteride and CAASBE were administered orally. The BPH control rats exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urea, creatinine and significant (p < 0.05) decline in the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) compared to the normal control. Conversely, treatment of the BPH rats with 200 and 400 mg/kg of CAASBE significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the altered total serum cholesterol, TAG, LDL-C, HDL-C, urea and creatinine to normal levels comparable to that of the normal control and standard control respectively. These findings show that CAASBE alleviates hyperlipidaemia and renal malfunctions in the BPH rats suggesting it could be effective in managing BPH complication

Phytochemical Compositions and Antioxidant Properties of Combined Funtumia africana and Abutilon mauritianum Extract (CFAE)

Medically active compounds in plants confer biological effects including antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the phytochemical content and in vitro antioxidant properties of combined Funtumia africana leaves and Abutilon mauritianum extract (CFAE). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and nitric oxide radical (NO.) scavenging capabilities were used as antioxidant assay models. The results of the phytochemical analysis showed that CFAE is rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols and cardiac glycosides. The extract contains antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, vitamin E being the most abundant. The CFAE showed a dose-dependent TAC based on the observed FRAP, TBARS, and DPPH scavenging activity which could be attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds and vitamins E. These strongly suggest that CFAE is a potential source of phytochemicals and antioxidants which could be exploited in the food and pharmaceutical industries in production of potent nutraceuticals or therapeutically-important products