ANTI-OBESITY EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA FOETIDA (CUCURBITACEAE) IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the methanol extract of M. foetida (MEMf) on high fat diet-induced obese male rats. Results: HFD induced an increase (P<0.05) in the body and liver weights and the relative abdominal fat pad of the animals in the experimental groups as compared to those in the normal diet group. Also, HFD in the experimental groups reduced (P<0.05) superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, glutathione levels and increased lipid peroxidation in the liver, heart and kidney as well as altered lipid profile (increased serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-C), decreased high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), increased atherogenic index and coronary risk index), when compared to the normal diet animals. All altered parameters were subsequently normalized when obese rats received either MEMf (50 or100 mg/kg) or the reference drug Atorvastatin. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of MEMf to normalize hyperlipidemia, oxidative stress and animal visceral organ weights increased by HFD in rats. Thus, M. foetida is an interesting medicinal plant that could be exploited as sources of anti-obesity agents

Antileishmanial and Antiplasmodial Activities of Secondary Metabolites from the Root of Antrocaryon klaineanum Pierre (Anacardiaceae)

International audienceAntrocaryon klaineanum is traditionally used for the treatment of back pain, malaria, female sterility, chlamydiae infections, liver diseases, wounds, and hemorrhoid. This work aimed at investigating the bioactive compounds with antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activities from A. klaineanum. An unreported glucocerebroside antroklaicerebroside (1) together with five known compounds (2–6) were isolated from the root barks of Antrocaryon klaineanum using chromatographic techniques. The NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic data in association with previous literature were used for the characterization of all the isolated compounds. Compounds 1–4 are reported for the first time from A. klaineanum. The methanol crude extract (AK-MeOH), the n-hexane fraction (AK-Hex), the dichloromethane fraction (AK-DCM), the ethyl acetate fraction (AK-EtOAc), and compounds 1–6 were all evaluated for their antiparasitic effects against Plasmodium falciparum strains susceptible to chloroquine (3D7), resistant to chloroquine (Dd2), and promastigotes of Leishmania donovani (MHOM/SD/62/1S). The AK-Hex, AK-EtOAc, AK-MeOH, and compound 2 were strongly active against Dd2 strain with IC50 ranging from 2.78 ± 0.06 to 9.30 ± 0.29 µg/mL. Particularly, AK-MeOH was the most active—more than the reference drugs used—with an IC50 of 2.78 ± 0.06 µg/mL. The AK-EtOAc as well as all the tested compounds showed strong antileishmanial activities with IC50 ranging from 4.80 ± 0.13 to 9.14 ± 0.96 µg/mL