Ameliorative potentials of aqueous extracts of leaf and stem of Ipomoea involucrata on selected biochemicals in experimental diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by derangements in carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolisms, due to deficiency in insulin secretion and action. This research evaluates the ameliorative potentials of aqueous extracts of leaves and stem of Ipomoea involucorata on selected biochemicals in experimental diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan and the animals were orally administered with gilanil (4 mg/kg) for positive control, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw aqueous extract of leaves (groups 4-6) and stem (groups 7-9) of Ipomoea involucrata once daily for 21 days. Biochemical parameters were analysed using standard methods.Results: The median lethal dose was established at 648 mg/kg (leaves) and 547 mg/kg (stem). The negative group (untreated) showed significant increase in glucose concentration compared to the other groups. After 2 to 3 weeks there was significant (p<0.05) decrease in glucose concentration of the extract and glibenclamide (positive group) treated groups when compared with the negative group. Diabetes control rats showed significant (p<0.05) high serum lipid profile (except for high density lipoprotein), liver enzymes/ indices and renal indices when compared with non-diabetic control rats. However, these alternations were reversed with the positive group and the groups treated with aqueous extracts of both samples. The differences observed in the electrolytes were not significant in all groups.Conclusions: The results suggest that aqueous extract of leaves and stem of I. involucrata is considerably safe and a potential therapy for management of complications associated with diabetes mellitus

Ameliorative Potentials of Camellia sinensis on Petrol Fumes- induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Volatile organic compounds found in petrol include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). Extract of Camellia sinensis (tea plant) leaf contains some secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids saponins, anthraquinones, and tannins. Polyphenols in Camellia sinensis possess anti-atherosclerosis and cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-hypertensive, and hepato-protective effects. The study aimed to investigate the potential of Camellia sinensis in ameliorating lung damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation caused by petrol fumes. Forty-eight Wistar albino rats weighing between 140g-230g  were randomized into 8 groups of 6 rats each consisting of control, petrol fumes only group, three aqueous drink groups of different doses, and three methanol extract groups of different doses respectively. The oxido-inflammatory responses and histopathological alterations in rat lungs following 6 hours of daily exposure for 30 and 60 days were recorded. Oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT)) and inflammatory biomarkers namely: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) were evaluated. The biochemical analyses showed that petrol fumes exposure resulted in significant (P<.05) increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, pro-inflammation cytokines, and reduced GSH levels in rats as well histopathological alteration in lungs. The treated groups showed anti-oxidant properties by the elevation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD) and non-enzymatic antioxidant (gluthathione) and reduction of MDA levels as well as reversal of alterations in the lungs after histopathological analysis. This study showed that Camellia sinensis leaf aqueous and methanol extract have the potential to attenuate petrol fumes-induced oxidative stress due to its natural bioactive constituents

Aqueous extracts of processed Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds attenuate haemolytic anaemia in Wistar albino rats

Anaemia is a haematological disorder characterized by reduced red blood cells (RBCs) or haemoglobin (HB) or lowered ability of blood to carry oxygen leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The anti-anaemic potential of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds (HSS) was evaluated in this study. One-hundred and eighty (180) adult albino rats were divided into twelve groups with three replicates of 5 rats each (n =15) and designated as Group 1 (normal control), Group 2 (positive control, treated with standard drug), Group 3 (negative control, untreated) and Groups 4 – 6 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of raw, HSS respectively), Groups 7 – 9 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of boiled HSS respectively) and Groups 10 – 12 (treated with 200, 400 and 600 mg.kg -1 of aqueous extracts of fermented HSS respectively). The acute toxicity test revealed no toxic effect of HSS at 5000 mg.kg -1 and haemolytic anaemia was induced with 350 mg.kg -1 b.w of Zidovudine. After 28 days of extract administration, the animals were humanely sacrificed and blood samples collected for haematological analysis using Automated Haematology Analyzer. RBC count, HB concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (p&lt;0.05) after Zidovudine&nbsp; induction, but the aqueous extracts of raw, boiled and fermented HSS significantly (p&lt;0.05) increased HB, RBC, PCV, white blood cells&nbsp; (WBC) and neutrophil levels when compared with negative control. The results suggest that aqueous extracts of HSS attenuated&nbsp; hematological indices by increasing RBC and haemoglobin production and could be utilized in management of anaemia. Keywords: Anti-anaemia, Haematology, Haemoglobin, Hibiscus sabdariffa seeds, Red blood cells, Zidovudin

Phytochemical Composition and Nutritive Value of Unripe and Ripe Dennettia tripetala (DT) Fruits

Phytochemical composition and nutritive value of unripe and ripe pepper fruits (Dennettia tripetala-DT) were investigated. Phytochemical, proximate, minerals and vitamin composition were carried out using standard methods. The unripe fruit of DT had significant (P&lt;0.05) higher concentrations of terpenes, phytosterol, steroid, oxalate, saponin, alkaloid and phytate when compared to the ripe fruit; while tannins, phenol, flavonoid, coumarin, cardiac and cyanogenic glycosides were higher in the ripe fruit compared to the unripe fruit. The ash and lipid content of DT fruits were significantly (p&lt; 0.05) higher in the ripe DT fruit than unripe DT fruit; while the carbohydrate and the crude fibre content were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the unripe than the ripe DT fruit. The energy value (kcal/100 g sample) calculated from Atwater factors of 4, 9, 4 for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins was 347.2 for unripe and 331.4 for ripe DT fruits. Potassium composition of DT fruits were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the ripe fruit than the unripe fruit, while zinc was higher in the unripe fruit than the ripe fruit. The concentration of Na, Se, Pb, Ca, Fe and Cu did not differ significantly (p&lt;0.05) between the two fruits. DT fruits possessed a significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher concentrations of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B7, B9, B12 and C than the ripe fruit; while the unripe fruits showed a significantly higher concentrations of Vitamin B6 and K than the ripe fruit. Therefore, unripe and ripe DT fruits may be consumed as potential sources of nutrients and phytochemicals which may be significant as dietary supplements

Characterization of oils from Duranta repens leaf and seed

The knowledge of the chemical composition of unpopular sources of edible oils has become paramount to supplement the usage of widely known vegetable oils. In this study, the gas chromatographic quantification of fatty acids and phytochemicals was carried out, and the physicochemical and micronutrient composition of Duranta repens leaf and seed oil were evaluated using standard methods. The leaf oils contained significantly higher (p  oleic > myristic > stearic > capric > linoleic > lauric > palmitoleic for the seed oil, while for the leaf oil linoleic > palmitoleic > oleic > stearic > palmitic > myristic > capric > lauric > myristoleic. The major phytochemical constituents of the seed oils were catechin (68.12 ug/ml), saponin (44.03 ug/ml), rutin (32.89 ug/ml), linamarin (22.66 ug/ml) and tannins (19.62 ug/ml), while kaempherol (84.05 ug/ml), rutin (62.26 ug/ml) and saponins (45.63 ug/ml) were mostly predominant in the leaf oil. Spartein, anthocyanins and phytates were among the least phytochemicals in composition, for both samples. These chemical properties evaluated, suggest that Duranta repens seed oil is more suitable for industrial and therapeutic purposes

Characterization of oils from

The knowledge of the chemical composition of unpopular sources of edible oils has become paramount to supplement the usage of widely known vegetable oils. In this study, the gas chromatographic quantification of fatty acids and phytochemicals was carried out, and the physicochemical and micronutrient composition of Duranta repens leaf and seed oil were evaluated using standard methods. The leaf oils contained significantly higher (p  oleic > myristic > stearic > capric > linoleic > lauric > palmitoleic for the seed oil, while for the leaf oil linoleic > palmitoleic > oleic > stearic > palmitic > myristic > capric > lauric > myristoleic. The major phytochemical constituents of the seed oils were catechin (68.12 ug/ml), saponin (44.03 ug/ml), rutin (32.89 ug/ml), linamarin (22.66 ug/ml) and tannins (19.62 ug/ml), while kaempherol (84.05 ug/ml), rutin (62.26 ug/ml) and saponins (45.63 ug/ml) were mostly predominant in the leaf oil. Spartein, anthocyanins and phytates were among the least phytochemicals in composition, for both samples. These chemical properties evaluated, suggest that Duranta repens seed oil is more suitable for industrial and therapeutic purposes