Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used in The Management of Peptic Ulcer Diseases in Wukari Metropolis

Peptic ulcer diseases (PUD) are sores formed in soft tissues present in the lining of the digestive tract as a result of excessive stomach acid or inability of the alimentary tract or stomach to protect itself. The increasing surge for plant based drugs in the management of PUD has increased scientific investigation of herbs and recipes from traditional medicinal practitioners (TMP) to ascertain their efficacy through pharmacological studies. Ethnobotanical survey of plants and recipes from TMP used in the management of PUD in Wukari metropolis, Taraba State, Northeastern Nigeria were documented. A total of twenty (20) TMP located in ten (10) different area of the town were interviewed using a semi structured questioner. Twenty-four (24) plant species from twenty (20) different families and sixteen (16) recipes were documented from the survey. It was observed that plant leaves were mostly used while C. longa (Zingberaceae), M. paradisiaca (Musaceae) had the highest frequency of occurrence in recipes formulation. Therefore, due to the proven efficacy of these herbal recipes as reported from correspondents, there is need for proper documentation, conservation, cultivation and use of these medicinal plants in the management of PUD to avoid them being endangered or going into extinction

Enhancements of Bcl-2/mTOR/ERK1/2 activities by antioxidant mechanisms confer cardioprotection on Ginkgo biloba supplement against isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Background: Myocyte necrosis and apoptosis can be severely induced by acute adrenergic stimulation due to the activation of several cell signalling pathways. However, uncertainty exists regarding the potential cardioprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba (GBS), a Chinese herbal supplement rich with antioxidants, on isoprenaline (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction. Therefore, this work was designed to investigate the cardioprotective mechanisms of GBS on ISO-induced myocardial infarction. Methods: Animals were selected into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 were pre-treated with normal saline (10 mL/kg i.p) for 28 days. Groups 3 and 4 received GBS (50 mg/kg, i.p) for 28 days. However, groups 2 and 4 were administered ISO (150 mg/kg, s.c) on days 27 and 28 respectively. Following the end of 28-day experiment, animals were euthanised and serum as well as heart tissue were harvested and processed for biochemical and histological examinations. Results: Our results showed that ISO induced cardiac necrosis, evidenced by increased levels of cardiac injury enzymes (LDH, GGT, CK-MB and cT-1), oxidative stress markers such as GSH, SOD, and CAT levels were significantly reduced while MDA and nitrite concntration were significantly increased. Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were significantly increased while decreasing Bcl-2, mTOR and ERK1/2 cardiac immuno-expressions. Moreso, histological investigation revealed degeneration of cardiomyofibres together with patchy necrosis. However, pre-treatment with GBS significantly inhibited apoptotic processes evidenced by increased antioxidant-mediated activation of Bcl-2, mTOR and ERK1/2. GBS also suppressed the release of cardiac injury enzymes and histological changes were significantly improved. Conclusion: GBS protects myocardium against ISO-induced infarction by mechanisms related to antioxidant-mediated by enhancement of Bcl-2/mTOR/ERK1/2 activities