Therapeutic potential of Garcinia kola with reference to the restoration of inhibited acetylcholinesterase activities in induced Clarias gariepinus

This study was conducted to assess the antidotal prospect of Garcinia kola seeds extract in restoring the activity of inhibited Acetylcholinesterase. This was done by inducing Clarias gariepinus with the enzyme inhibitor (glyphosate pesticide formulation). The fish divided into six groups were exposed different treatments; the pesticide alone, the G. kola seed extract alone and different mixture of the pesticide and G. kola seeds extract. AChE activities in the brain, liver and serum of the fish were measured in the experimental and control fish on day −7, 14, 21 and 28th by the colorimetric method. The enzyme was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited in the glyphosate formulation test alone and in group IV treatment (0.16 mg/L glyphosate formulation with 150 mg/L of extract). The inhibition percentages of AChE ranged for the brain, liver and serum between 40.7–59.4%, 50–57% and 27.5–51.3%, respectively. The AChE activities were however, recovered in G. kola seeds extract treated aquaria, and were dose, time dependent and organ specific. Modifications of this enzyme may leads to increased perspiration, increased salivation, tearing, blurred vision, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and if severe enough, death from respiratory depression. This investigation had revealed the therapeutic significance of G. kola seeds extract, by stabilizing the enzyme activity in the investigated fish. Further investigation is required to measure the concentrations of acetylcholine at cholinergic synaptic junction in fish and mammals induced with ant-cholinesterase agent and the possibility of its restoration using G. kola seeds

In vitro

The in vitro antimicrobial and in vivo heavy metal abatement properties of aqueous extracts of Garcinia kola Heckel (bitter cola) were investigated using opportunistic pathogens and Wistar rats as experimental models. A marked inhibitory activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans was recorded at 100 mg/ml of the crude relative to ketoconozole and fluconazole drugs. Similarly, different concentrations (25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml) of the crude extracts of bitter cola inhibited species of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa almost as effectively as the control drug of streptomycine used. Chronic lead acetate poisoned wistar rats in groups B, C, D, E exposed to G. kola supplemented feed and water ad libitum showed variable decrease in the serum alkaline phosphatase level while aspartate and alanine aminotransferases level reduces in C and D groups compared to the negative control group. The kidney biomarkers; serum creatinine and urea concentrations were not significantly different at P â¤Â 0.05 for rat groups C, D, E when compared with the positive and negative control groups respectively. Mild infiltration and cell distortion were observed in the liver and kidney sections of the rats exposed to uncoated bitter cola supplemented feed while suggesting an overriding effect from the nut coats. The study reaffirms the medicinal potential of coated and uncoated bitter cola to act as abatement of lead toxicity and alternative antimicrobial. Furthermore, G. kola could be a double-edged drug for the spontaneous amelioration of lead toxicity and secondary infections due to lead poisoning. Keywords: Garcinia kola, Antimicrobial, Lead abatement, Histopathology, Opportunistic pathogen