GC-MS ANALYSIS OF VIBURNUM OPULUS (L) EXTRACT AND ITS TOXICITY STUDIES IN RATS

This study was aimed at establishing the antimicrobial and phytochemical profiles of Viburnum opulus (L) as well as the safety potential of the extract in albino Wistar rats. Ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions were prepared for both phytochemical assessment using gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis (GC-MS)1. Five groups of seven rats were used for the study. Group A received distilled water (control), while groups B to E were treated respectively with 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of V. opulus extract by abdominal canulisation for 28 days2. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses and the liver tissues were further processed for histological studies. The GC-MS spectra revealed the existence of various phytoconstituents such as neophytadiene, germaciene, caryophyllene among others. High density lipoprotein and albumin were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in animals administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw of the leaf extract. Ethanol, butanol and water fractions of the leaf of V. opulus showed antimicrobial action against most of the organisms used in this study. The result indicates the V. opulus leaf extract contains a wild range of fatty acids and heterocyclic compounds with antimicrobial efficacy and no hepatic damage

Protective Properties of Citrullus lanatus on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the leaf extract of Citrullus lanatus on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in rats. Methodology: Hepatoprotective study was conducted using five groups (A-E) of six male rats per group. Groups A and B served as the control groups and were respectively administered with distilled water and CCl4 in olive oil while groups C, D and E were administered respectively with 500, 1,000 and 1,500mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic leaf extract of C. lanatus for 7 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood samples were collected for alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein and albumin assays; liver organ was isolated and processed for biochemical and histopathological studies. Results: There were significant increases (P=0.05) in the serum levels of ALT and AST both in the plasma and liver homogenate in the group treated with CCl4 as compared to negative control group; while in the extract treated group, there was a decrease in the levels of the aminotransferases. Histopathological studies showed severe portal congestion and necrosis of hepatocytes in the group treated with CCl4 while the groups administered with the extract treated group showed a moderate venous congestion with absence of necrosis. Conclusion: These results highlight the ability of the leaf extract of C. lanatus to ameliorate damage in the liver of albino rat

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Viburnum Opulus (L) Extract and its Toxicity Studies in Rats

Objectives: This study was aimed at establishing the antimicrobial and phytochemical profiles of Viburnum opulus (L) as well as the safety potential of the extract in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions were prepared for both phytochemical assessments using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Five groups of seven rats were used for the study. Group A received distilled water (control), while Groups B to E were treated, respectively, with 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg body weight of V. opulus extract by abdominal canalization for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses, and the liver tissues were further processed for histological studies. Results: The GC-MS spectra revealed the existence of various phytoconstituents such as neophytadiene, germaciene, and caryophyllene among others. High-density lipoprotein and albumin were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in animals administered with 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg bw of the leaf extract. Ethanol, butanol, and water fractions of the leaf of V. opulus showed antimicrobial action against most of the organisms used in this study. Conclusion: The result indicate

Uptake, Metabolism and Toxicity of Selenium in Tropical Plants

Selenium is a mineral element that is essential for both animal and humans and can also serve as an environmental toxicant. A narrow margin exists between an ideal and toxic intake of selenium. It is a useful microelement existing in minute amounts in animals, plants, microorganisms and humans. Although it is beneficial to both animals and humans as an antioxidant, it can be toxic at high concentrations as a result of it competing and replacing sulfur in amino acids leading to inappropriate folding of protein and eventually creating a nonfunctional protein and enzymes. Selenium exists in organic forms as SeMet and SeCys and inorganic forms as selenide, selenite and selenite in the environment. It is translocated in plants via the sulfate transporters in the plasma membrane of the plant root. Its translocation and distribution however depends on the plant species, their different developmental phases, forms, concentration and other physiological conditions like pH. Inorganic selenium is first converted to selenite via the action of two different enzymes (ATP sulfurylase and APS reductase), selenite is further converted to selenide by sulfite reductase. Selenide eventually couples with O-acetyl serine via the action of cysteine synthase to form SeCys. SeCys can either be methylated to methyl-SeCys through the action of selenocysteine methyltransferase or to elemental selenium via SeCys lyase or converted by a series of enzymes to selenomethionine. Selenium toxicity or Selenosis can occur when the optimal concentration of selenium is exceeded. Two major mechanism of selenium toxicity exists; either by induction of oxidative stress or malformation of selenoproteins. Selenium uptake, metabolism and toxicity in tropical plants are hereby discussed in this chapter

Haematopoietic induction and hepatic protective roles of Hepacare® in CCl4-induced hepatic damaged rats

Herbal formulations are plant parts used as raw materials for self-administered pharmaceutical remedies, and many of them are being sold without any scientific validation for their potency and efficacy. This research work was aimed at evaluating the haematopoietic, biochemical, and histological effects of Hepacare®, a popularly sold herbal formulation in Nigeria against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-mediated liver dam- age in rats. Haematological analysis showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in haemoglobin, red blood cell, packed cell volume, and platelet counts in CCl4-treated group when com- pared with the untreated group. These parameters were however reversed across the groups treated with the herbal formulation. Levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after treatment of rats with the formulation which were previously elevated (p < 0.05) in the CCl4-treated group when compared with the untreated group. The CCl4-treated group exhibited significantly different activities in liver SOD and GSH enzymes. The level of MDA was lowered in the liver tissue samples of treated rats when compared with the CCl4-exposed untreated rats. The groups treated with the formulation showed signs of protection against this toxicant as evidenced by the absence of necrosis. Hepacare® showed reversal effects on the previously increased haematological parameters and damaged liver tissues with a potential to ameliorate oxidative stress in hepatic dysfunction

BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF COADMINISTRATION OF AMODIAQUINE, ARTESUNATE, AND SELENIUM ON PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE

Objective: The effect of coadministering artesunate (ART), amodiaquine (AMO), and selenium were studied on mice induced with Plasmodium berghei.Methods: The study was conducted using 6 groups of 6 male mice each. Group A constitutes the negative control (unparasitized) while Group B represents the parasite control (parasitized) group. Mice in Groups C, D, E and F, respectively, received 2 mg/kg bw of ART, 6.12 mg/kg bw of AMO, combination of AMO and ART, and 0.945 mg/kg bw of selenium in addition to ART and AMO for 3 days. Thereafter, animals were anesthetized, and the organs were excised. Liver homogenate was prepared and used for analysis of for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein (TP), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde).Results: The results showed no significant alteration in AST and ALT, but ALP was significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased in Group D. In addition, a significant drop (p&lt;0.05) in GSH and SOD activities and significant (p&lt;0.05) increase in TP was observed in group E. Histopathological studies revealed no degenerative change in the morphology of the hepatocytes of mice in Group F whereas Groups D and E showed mild inflammatory cells.Conclusion: Conclusively, the combination of ART-AMO therapy with selenium increases the efficacy and reduces potential toxicity of combined antimalarial drugs

The Utilization of Glyphosate by Bacteria Isolated from Soil

Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used herbicides worldwide. It is primarily applied to agricultural lands. This study examined the utilization of glyphosate by bacteria isolated from soil. Five bacteria were isolated, namely; Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Actinomyces sp. Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis were selected for the studies based on their rapid degradation of the herbicides. The ability of the isolates to degrade different concentrations of glyphosate were tested in minimal salt medium (MSM) and incubated on a rotary shaker at 120 rpm at 30oC for 28 days. The effects of Pb2+ and Cd2+ on degradation of the isolates were also determined at concentrations of 200 µg/ml, 300  µg/ml and 400 µg/ml in 150 ml of the MSM. The bacteria were isolated using pour plate method and identified based on their cultural and biochemical characteristics. The two isolates were identified as Bacillus cereus BFM4 and Bacillus subtilis H184 using polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the percentage utilization of the herbicides by the test organisms in all the treatments at day 28. Bacillus cereus BFM4 had the highest percentage utilization of 97.04 % and 90.49 % of glyphosate at the lowest concentration 20 mg/ml and 400 µg/ml of Pb2+. The results of this study showed that the isolates were able to utilize varying concentration of glyphosate with an increased utilization on addition of Pb2+ and Cd2+