In vitro and in vivo anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant activities of methanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum canum

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with a highly complex, multifaceted and intricate etiologies and thus may require management options that proffers multimodal mechanism of action. This present study evaluated the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract/fractions of leaves of Ocimum canum. Methods: The antidiabetic potential was evaluated and using STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rat model (in vivo) and inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity (in vitro).  Antioxidant activity was assessed in vitro by free radical scavenging and reducing power assays and in vivo via monitoring SOD and CAT activities; GSH and MDA levels. Results: The total phenolic content (221.0±3.0 mg catechol/g of sample) and tannins (146.0±4.0 mg tannic acid/g of sample) of the crude extract; and flavonoid of the aqueous-methanol fraction (216.0.0±1.0 mg of rutin/g of sample) were found to be significantly higher relative to others. The crude extract and the aqueous-methanol fraction exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage reduction in fasting blood glucose and a concomitant increase in serum insulin level relative to the diabetic control group. The highest radical scavenging activity and reducing power were observed in the aqueous-methanol fraction. The aqueous-methanol solvent fraction also significantly reversed the alterations in oxidative stress markers occasioned by the diabetic condition. Conclusion: In conclusion, the result of the present study has demonstrated evidently that extracts of Ocimum canum leaves ameliorates hyperglycemia and the associated oxidative stress in STZ-induced rats

Cytotoxic and Hepatocurative Effect of Aqueous Fraction of Against Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Medicinal plants over time have proven to have potential to manage a huge number of diseases and disorders and thus have become a great source of pharmaceutical drugs. One of such plants is Tapinanthus bangwensis (African mistletoe). It is a semiparasitic and epiphytic plant growing on citrus tree, obtaining its food photosynthetically while its nutrient and water is got from the host plant. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicological and hepatocurative effect of aqueous fraction of T bangwensis in acetaminophen (paracetamol)-induced Wistar rats. The antioxidant potential of the plant was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine scavenging and ferric reducing power assays. The cytotoxic effect was determined using Allium cepa test while the liver biochemical indices were determined by standard protocols. Data obtained were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance at 95% confidence level and reported as mean ± standard deviation. The concentrated aqueous fraction of T bangwensis was found to be 23.3 g (58.25%). Quantitative determination of some vital phytochemicals revealed the following: flavonoid (84.6 ± 0.41 mg/100 g), phenol (147.5 ± 1.07 mg/100 g), tannin (31 ± 0.85 mg/ 100 g), alkaloid (23.45 ± 0.09 mg/100 g), and saponin (0.146 ± 0.0 mg/100 g). Treatment of rats with the aqueous extract of T bangwensis significantly decreased paracetamol-induced elevation of activities of liver function indices, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol level and increased the albumin, total protein, and high-density lipoprotein levels. The plant extract also attenuated the paracetamol elevated lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde. The research findings suggest that aqueous extract of T bangwensis is slightly cytotoxic, possesses appreciable antioxidant property and exhibited hepatocurative effect against paracetamol-induced hepatoxicity

Methanol-Extract/Fractions of Leaves Ameliorate Hyperglycemia and Associated Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Wistar Rats

The present study evaluated the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract/solvent fractions of the leaves of Dacryodes edulis using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Albino Wistar rat model. The fasting blood glucose/insulin levels and inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase were determined. Antioxidant activity was assessed in vitro by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl, superoxide scavenging, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity assays and in vivo by monitoring catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The aqueous-methanol fraction exhibited the highest and significant ( P < .05) reduction in fasting blood glucose (FBG; 54.03%) with a concomitant inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. The ethyl acetate fraction also exhibited a significant ( P < .05) reduction in FBG and an increase in insulin levels in the treated diabetic Wistar rats. A significantly ( P < .05) higher reducing power and radical scavenging activity was observed in the aqueous-methanol and ethyl acetate fractions. The aqueous-methanol and ethyl acetate fractions also significantly ( P < .05) reversed the alterations in oxidative stress markers (GSH, MDA, CAT, and SOD) observed in the diabetic control group. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the methanol extract of Dacryodes edulis ameliorates hyperglycemia and the associated oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic Wistar rats. These observed activities are largely due to the compounds that partitions into the aqueous-methanol (55:45) solvent fraction. This provides scientific evidence for the use of this plant extract in folk medicine and also a baseline data for its further characterization. Further work should be carried out to characterize the aqueous-methanol solvent fractions for the active compounds