Effects of Aqueous Extract of Blighia sapida Leaves on Ethanol- Induced Gastric Ulcer in Male Wistar Rats.

Blighia sapida have shown promising ameliorative effect in folkloric treatment of gastric ulcer with little or no scientific basis. This study investigated the effect of Aqueous Extract of Blighia sapida Leaves (AEBSL) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in male Wistar rats. Sixty-four male Wistar rats, weighing averagely 200g, were randomly selected into eight groups; Group I (Control) received  distilled water, Group II received 200 mg/kg body weight of AEBSL only, Group III  received cimetidine 50 mg/kg.b.w, Group IV (ulcerated untreated) orally pretreated with 50% absolute ethanol for gastric ulceration. Groups V, VI and VII were ulcerated groups treated with AEBSL at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w and Group VIII, ulcerated group treated with cimetidine at 50 mg/kg b.w. Ulcer index, hematological and antioxidant parameters were determined using   standard  methods after 21 days of treatments.Results showed that  pH level of gastric secretion, total protein, bicarbonate, Red Blood Cell and  Hemoglobin concentrations were  significantly (p<0.05) decreased in ulcerated untreated animals (Group IV) compared with control and extract only group. However, the effects were reversed in a concentration dependent manner in treated Groups (V, VI, VII and VIII). Also, Superoxide dismutase and Catalase activities as well as Reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration   were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in ulcerated untreated animals, while treatment Groups V, VI, VII and VIII  significantly (p<0.05) elevated the enzymes activities and GSH concentrations in a concentration dependent manner.  Alkaline phosphatase and Pepsin activities  as well as ulcer Index (UI), Free  and Total acidity, White Blood Cell, Platelet, Nitric oxide and Malondialdehyde  concentrations were  significantly (p<0.05) increased in ulcerated untreated animals, while they were restored near to  control level in the treated Groups (V, VI, VII and VIII) at different concentrations .Cimetidine, at 50 mg/kg b. w exhibits similar ameliorative effect  comparably with  AEBSL at 200 mg/kg b. w, while the extract showed  antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ameliorative effects on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Keywords: Ameliorative, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Blighia sapida, Cimetidine, Gastric ulcer.

Ameliorative potential of Betulinic Acid against Atrazine-induced Hepatic and Testicular Damage in Wistar rats

Atrazine (ATZ) is a selective pre- and post-emergentherbicide for combatingweeds, which however causes endocrine disruption and delays or changes in pubertal development in experimental animals. Since a paucity of information on the effects of Betulinic acid (BA), a triterpene antioxidant on ATZ toxicity was noted in literature, the present work was designed to study the effects of BA on the antioxidant profile and histopathology of liver and testes of rats treated with ATZ. The ATZ significantly increased protein levels in serum (46.2%) and liver (94.8%), while that of testes (55.9%) was significantly decreased, relative to controls. Pretreatment with BA ameliorated the effect in serum and liver compared with ATZ group. The ATZ treatment significantly lowered Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities by 52.8% and 89.3%, and Catalase (CAT) activities by 56.9% and 53.6% in liver and testes, respectively, relative to controls, whereas the activities were significantly elevated on BA pre treatment. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated by 84.65 and 85.8%, while reduced glutathione (GSH) was decreased by 51.2% and 64.2% in liver and testes, respectively when compared with controls. However, BA ameliorated the effect compared with ATZ group. In the ATZ –treated rats, liver was noted to develop mild hepatocyte degeneration and periportal cell infiltration, while foci tubular distortion and capsular congestion were observed in the testicular tissue, effects which BA pretreatment was able to ameliorate. In conclusion, Betulinic acid improved the antioxidative status of hepatic and testicular tissues against Atrazine intoxication in rats. Keywords: Atrazine, Betulinic acid, Antioxidant profile, Tissue histolog

Synergistic interaction between two linear inhibitors on a single enzyme: Vanadate and L-phenylalanine inhibition of rat liver alkaline phosphatase

The combined effect of two linear inhibitors of rat liver alkaline phosphatase (ALP). vanadate (Van) and L-phenylalanine (L-phe) were studied using a modification of the common Yonetani-Theorell procedure proposed for studying synergistic inhibition. The modes of inhibition of ALP by Van and L-phe as analysed using the double reciprocal plots of the Michaelis-Menten equation were mixed and uncompetitive inhibition respectively. Analysis of the combined effect of the two inhibitors showed that their inhibitory effects were mutually enhanced. The mechanistic aspects and practical applications of the procedure are discussed.Key words: alkaline phosphatase, synergistic inhibitio

Chemical analysis of Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceace) seed kernel extract and its in-vitro toxicity in two Podagrica Species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Since synthetic pesticides are associated with many toxicological problems against untargeted subjects, pesticides from botanical sources become a better option. This study obtained R. communis seed kernel extract (RCSKE) through acidified aqueous extraction. The extract was screened using Infra red (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Cass Chromatography (GC) for bioactive agents. In-vitro effects of RCSKE, chlorpyrifos (CPF) and cypermethrin (CYPER-M) on superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Carboxylesterase (CE) activities in Podagrica sjosdteti and Podagrica uniforma were determined spectrophotometrically. The IR and UV of RCSKE majorly depict the presence of aromatic ring, ethylenic bond, carbonyl bond, hydroxyl and carboxylic groups. The HPLC and GC majorly show the presence of ricinoleic acid, ricinine and ricin. The RCSKE, CYPER-M and CPF increased CAT activity in P. sjosdteti, but reduced it in P. uniforma. The RCSKE and CYPER-M significantly reduced SOD, and elevated AChE activities in P. sjosdteti. The IC50 values of RCSKE, CYPER-M and CPF against CE activity in P. sjosdteti were IC50 = 2.66 µg/ml, IC50 = 2.37µg/ml and IC50 = 2.65 µg/ml), respectively, while that of RCSKE against P. uniforma was IC50 = 2.49 µg/ml. This study suggests that the extract of Ricinus communis seed kernel contains bioactive substances, capable to inhibit the antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase enzymes in Podagrica species flea beetles, comparable to commercial pesticides, Cypermethrin and Chlorpyrifos. Key words: Ricinus communis, Chemical screening, Podagrica sjosdteti, Podagrica uniforma, antioxidant enzymes, hydrolytic enzymes DOI: 10.7176/ALST/75-05 Publication date:June 30th 2019

Effect of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn) Leaves on Sodium Arsenite-induced Toxicity in Rats

Natural plant products are considered as possible protective agents against arsenite induced toxicity. Effects of methanolic leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum were investigated in sodium arsenite exposed rats. Animals were randomly divided into four groups of five per group. Group A (control), Group B (sodium arsenite alone), Group C (extract and sodium arsenite) and Group D (extract only). Rats were orally pretreated with 100 mg kg-1 b.wt. extract for 14 days while 2.5 mg kg-1 b.wt. arsenite was administered intraperitoneally on the 14th day and animals were sacrificed after 24 h. Plasma Alanine Amino Transferase (AL T), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) were evaluated. Hepatic lipid peroxidation as Malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced Glutathione (GSH) levels were also assessed. Introduction of sodium arsenite in rats triggered significant increases in plasma ALT, ALP and GGT (p<0.05) levels. Significant increase (p<0.05) in hepatic MDA concentration and depletion in GSH level were obtained. The methanolic leaf extract with arsenite modulated the activities of ALT, ALP and GGT to their normal levels. The extract reversed sodium arsenite-induced decrease in hepatic GSH to their normal levels while significant effect on hepatic MDA level was not observed. Group treated with the extract alone showed no adverse effects on the parameters. The properties exhibited by the extract may be due to the presence of certain bioactive compounds in it. The results obtained from this study underpin the importance offurther research to obtain bioactive substance from the leaf of Ocimum gratissimum

Aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa calyx modulates gentamicin activity in rats

Gentamicin have been shown to generate free radicals .This study investigated modulatory potential of aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa calyx with gentamicin in rats. Thirty rats weighing between 150-200g were randomly selected into 6 groups: Group A( control), group B received 200mg/kg body weight of extract, group C received 80mg/ kg body weight of gentamicin intra peritoneally for six days while group D, E and F received 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg body weight of extract for six days before and eight days following administration of 80mg/kg gentamicin. Antioxidants and biochemical indices were determined using standardized methods . Rats treated with extracts at 200mg/kg elicit significant (p&lt;0.05) decreases in total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (C.BIL), urea, creatinine, Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotansferase (ALT) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as significant( p&lt;0.05) increases in Superoxide Dismutate (SOD) activity , levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) ,albumin and total protein (TP). Gentamicin treated rats however showed significant (p&lt;0.05) decreases in GSH, TP, albumin and SOD activities with elevated levels of MDA, TB,C.BIL, urea, creatinine and AST, ALT and ALP activities . Furthermore , animals treated with various concentrations of extract after gentamicin administration showed significant increases (p&lt;0.05) in concentrations of TP, ALB, GSH and SOD activities with corresponding decreases in TB, C.BIL, urea, creatinine and MDA concentrations as well as AST,ALT and ALP activities compared with gentamicin group in a dose dependent manner. Properties exhibited by extract is antioxidative suggestive of its modulatory effects on gentamicin activity

Chemical constituents of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) methanol leaf extract and its effect on selected enzymes of Periplaneta americana

Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) possesses several biological properties. Periplaneta americana (cockroach) is a household insect pest that can disseminate pathogens. The present study analyses the chemical constituents of water hyacinth leaf methanol extract and its in vitro effects on antioxidant and esterase enzymes in cockroaches. Water hyacinth methanol extract (WHME) was subjected to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Crude enzyme preparations were obtained from nymph and adult cockroaches. In vitro effects of different concentrations (10–80 μg/ml) of WHME on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CE) in crude enzyme preparations were spectrophotometrically measured using cypermethrin (CYP) and chlorpyrifos (CPF) as reference insecticides. The GC-FID chromatogram of WHME showed the presence of gallic acid, para-hydroxybenzoic acid, eritosin, gentisic acid, catechin, protocatechuric acid, quercetin, and eugenol. The WHME and CPF reduced catalase in adults and SOD in nymphs, while CYP and CPF reduced SOD activity in the adults of P. americana. GST was significantly increased by WHME in both nymph and adult cockroaches. AChE was reduced by WHME, CYP, and CPF in nymphs, while CE was increased by WHME in nymphs and adults as compared to the control. In conclusion, our study indicates a high phenolic content in the water hyacinth leaf methanol extract, which increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes AChE and CE in P. americana. The results also show that the efficacy and the mode by which the extracts could induce toxicity depend on the growth stage of the cockroach