Effect of extracts from selected Kenyan plants on traits of metabolic syndrom in Wistar rats fed a high-fat high fructose diet

Purpose: To examine the potential of extracts from selected herbs used in African traditional medicine in diabetes patients, and to determine their effect on traits of metabolic syndrome in rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet.Methods: Ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared from Mangifera indica (MI), Lonchocarpus eriocalyx (LE), Urtica massaica (UM), Schkuhria pinnata (SP) and Launaea cornuta (LC). Ethanol extracts (1:100 dilution) were examined for inhibition of pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase activity invitro. Furthermore, aqueous extracts were administered for 74 days to male Wistar rats fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet to assess their effect on traits of metabolic syndrome.Results: Ethanol extracts showed at least 30 % inhibition of pancreatic lipase in vitro but no effect on α- glucosidase activity. Administration of the aqueous extracts caused significant reduction in liver triglycerides (except for LE). Muscle triglycerides and fat were also reduced, with the most pronounced effect elicited by LE. Urinary glucose excretion and plasma triglycerides, but not hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, were reduced by UM compared to control.Conclusion: This exploratory study indicates that UM may be considered a candidate for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Kenyan traditional medicine, High-fat diet, High fructose, Insulin resistance, Triglycerides, Diabetes, Liver steatosi

Phytochemical and antimicrobial evaluation of selected medicinal plants in Meru community of Kenya

Background: Increased resistance against antimicrobial medication used to combat bacterial infection necessitates the need for alternative medication.   Objective: This study seeks to evaluate the antimicrobial potential and phytochemical profiles of 10 medicinal plants collected from Chuka, Tharaka-Nithi County of Kenya. Plant samples were collected, dried, pulverised into fine powders and extracted with distilled water.   Methodology: Qualitative phytochemical screening and disc-agar diffusion methods were used according to standard method to determine phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activity of the aqueous extracts against four bacterial strains and a fungus.   Results: Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins and reducing sugars in all the plants except one. Saponins were found to be present in Albizia anthelmintica, Entada leptostachya, Raponae rhododendroides and Warbugia ugandensis. Steroids were present in seven plants while alkaloids were present in five. Albizia anthelmintica, E. leptostachya and W. ugandensis extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Escherichia coli was the most susceptible bacteria against all the plant extracts tested, except Harrisonia abyssinica. Vernonia lasiopus and Uvariodendron anisatum were the least active extracts. Susceptibility against E. coli and C. albicans was significantly comparable to benzathine penicillin and streptomycin.   Conclusion: The type of ailments the plants are claimed to treat can be attributed to the presence of various classes of phytochemicals. In conclusion, the plants evaluated were found to be active against the microorganisms tested

Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties of <i>Entada leptostachya</i> and <i>Prosopis juliflora</i> extracts

Background: Natural phytoconstituents produced by plants for their sustenance have been reported to reduce disease. Objectives: This study determined the phytoconstituents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of crude methanolic extracts of Entada leptostachya and Prosopis juliflora extracts. Methodology: Antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and β-carotene assays; the total phenolic and flavonoid were estimated using Folin–Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride, whereas antimicrobial activity was determined using the zone of inhibition method. Results: Screening of the extracts revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and phenols. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the extracts revealed presence of hydrogen bonded –OH functional group. E. leptostachya barks had the highest antioxidant activity followed by P. juliflora roots, E. leptostachya roots and P. juliflora leaves [μg/mL]. Prosopis juliflora (roots) had the highest bleaching effect, whereas E. leptostachya (barks) had the lowest bleaching effect. The total flavonoids were determined to be 0.15 ± 0.02 mg/g, 1.18 ± 0.18 mg/g, 0.39 ± 0.05 mg/g and 0.64 ± 0.03 mg/g for E. leptostachya roots, E. leptostachya barks, P. juliflora leaves and P. juliflora roots extracts, respectively. The total phenols were determined to be 0.93 ± 0.18 mg/g, 2.69 ± 0.41 mg/g, 0.62 ± 0.08 mg/g and 0.62 ± 0.08 mg/g for E. leptostachya roots, E. leptostachya barks, P. juliflora roots and P. juliflora leaves extracts. All plant extracts exhibited moderate activity against the growth of selected microorganisms. Conclusion: Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the two plants was as a result of secondary metabolites found in the crude extracts

In-vitro antihelmintic effects of two Kenyan plant extracts against Heamonchus contortus adult worms

This study was on evidence based information that Entada leptostachya Harms and Rapanea rhododendroides (Gil) Mez were used by the herbalists in Mbeere County, Kenya, for the treatment of gastrointestinal worms. The plants aqueous and solvent extracts were tested for their in-vitro antihelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus adult worms. Of the eight plant extracts investigated, four extracts exhibited adult worm mortality greater than 50% while the other four afforded mortality ranging between 60-77%. E. leptostachya methanol extract was the most active (77%). Albendazole was used as a positive control drug while Goodwins physiological solution was used as negative control. Methanol extracts for both plants exhibited the highest anthelmintic activity at the test concentrations of 25mg/ml. Although R. rhododendroides was ranked third in general usage by the herbalists, E. leptostachya was solely used for the treatment of intestinal worms. The present results demonstrated that E. leptostachya and R. rhododendroides plant extracts had antihelmintic agents, and justified their traditional use as alternative drugs for the treatment of heamonchosis in ruminants

Characteristics of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Coir Fibers

This work aimed to extract and characterize microcrystalline cellulose from coir fibers. Extraction was achieved in a two-step process in which the coir fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide for 3 h at 100°C followed by bleaching with peracetic acid to remove residual lignin and hemicellulose. The microcrystalline cellulose powder characteristics such as the bulk density, tapped density, angle of repose and swelling ratio were found to be 0.08 ± 0.00 g/cm3, 0.12 ± 0.0 g/cm3, 38° and 8.15 ± 0.14 g/g, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy exhibited characteristic microcrystalline cellulose peaks. The degree of crystallinity microcrystalline cellulose was found to be 39.5% as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Differential scanning calorimetry and Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the glass transition and onset of degradation temperature for microcrystalline cellulose were 206°C and 196°C, respectively. From the results, it was concluded that the coir fibers could be a good source of microcrystalline cellulose for applications in the binder, pharmaceutical, and paper making industries due to its powder properties, good swelling, and compressibility

Profile of Trace Elements in Selected Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes in Eritrea

This study was designed to investigate the profile of certain trace elements having therapeutic properties related to diabetes mellitus. The investigated plants were Aloe camperi, Meriandra dianthera, Lepidium sativum, Brassica nigra, and Nigella sativa. These plants are traditionally used in the management of diabetes in Eritrea. The elemental analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) techniques. The accuracy of the methods was verified using in-house reference materials (CRMs) and no significant differences were observed between the measured and certified values. The analysis displayed variable concentrations of the different trace elements including Zn, Cr, V, Mn, and Se in the plants. Moreover, the levels of major elements, such as Mg, Ca, K, Na, and Ba, and heavy metals, such as Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, As, and Pb, were determined and found to be in the permissible limit defined by WHO. Among the plants, Meriandra dianthera showed the highest levels of Mn, Cr, V, and other elements and the values were significantly different (P<0.05)

Assessment of Molluscicidal, Cercericidal and Miracicidal Activities of Crude Extracts of Azadirachta indica and Entada leptostachya

Schistosomiasis infections in humans depend absolutely on the presence of intermediate host. Control of the intermediate host disrupts the cycle of schistosomes stopping transmission of schistosomiasis. Synthetic molluscicides used today are expensive and toxic to non-target organisms. Herbal preparations which do not affect non-target organisms would be a key in controlling schistosomiasis. This study was done to determine if plant extracts of Entada leptostachya and Azadirachta indica exhibit molluscicidal, cercericidal and miracicidal activities. Biomphalaria pfeifferi adult snails and juveniles, Schistosoma mansoni cerceriae and miracidia were used in the study. Groups of uninfected snails were exposed to different concentrations of water, methanol and ethyl acetate crude extracts obtained from the two plants. Controls were also set; positive control (Niclosamide) and negative control (Distilled water). Miracidia and cerceriae were exposed to the most active plant extract on juvenile and adult snails. Data analysis was done using Finney probit analysis to estimate the LD50 values of the crude extracts on snails and LT50values of the crude extracts on cerceriae and miracidia. Only methanol extract of E. leptostachya was found to exhibit the highest molluscicidal activity on juveniles and adults with a LD50 value of 30.21 mg/l and 40.93 mg/l respectively (P ? 0.05). Methanol extract of A. indica, aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of A. indica and E. leptostachya were nontoxic to both adult and juvenile snails. On the other hand, methanol extract of E. leptostachya were found to have cercericidal and miracicidal activity. The LT50 of miracidia and cerceriae was 7.69 minutes and 4.25 minutes respectively at a concentration 80 mg/l (P ? 0.05). Phytochemical screening of the methanol, aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate extracts of A. indica and E. leptostachya confirmed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, triterpenes and sterols. Results suggest that methanolic root extract of E. leptostachya has molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria pfeifferi. The results also indicate that methanolic root extract of E. leptostachya have cercaricidal and miracicidal activity against the schistosome larval stages. Keywords: Azadirachta indica,  Entada leptostachya, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Crude extracts, Phytochemical screening, Molluscicidal activity, Cercericidal activity and Miracicidal activit

Advances in green nanotechnology: Data for green synthesis and characterization of iron nanoparticles synthesized using Galinsoga parviflora, Conyza bonariensis and Bidens pilosa leaf extracts, and their application in degradation of methylene blue dye and rifampicin antibiotic

This data article reports contents of the information derived from an efficient, environmentally friendly, and low-cost method of synthesis and recovery of iron nanoparticles using Galinsoga parviflora, Conyza bonariensis and Bidens pilosa aqueous leaf extracts as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents, and applications of the nanoparticles in degradation of organic dyes and antibiotics. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to collect the data. Data is displayed in the form of .raw files, graphs, images, Microsoft Excel sheets, .data point files, and PDF files, along with other formats. Data analysis and interpretation methods have also been presented. Researchers, research students, academicians, and industrialists can benefit greatly from the data in order to gain knowledge about the green synthesis of iron nanoparticles and related applications such as degradation organic pollutants. The data is deposited in the mendeley data repository as two independent datasets at https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/rxkv6j7hrx

In vitro anti-diabetic activities and phytochemical analysis of bioactive fractions present in <em>Meriandra dianthera</em>, <em>Aloe camperi</em> and a Polyherb

This paper reports the in vitro anti-diabetic profile of certain medicinal plants traditionally used in Eritrea for the management of type 2 diabetes. The crude methanolic extracts and fractions of Meriandra dianthera, Aloe camperi, a Polyherb and their fractions were investigated. The in vitro screening of the crude extracts has generally elicited a dose dependent α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activities. M. dianthera displayed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50: 0.074 ± 0.032 mg/mL) at the highest concentration tested (0.800 mg/mL) relative to A. camperi, the Polyherb and Acarbose (IC50: 0.37 ± 0.052, 0.56 ± 0.024 and 0.55 ± 0.029 respectively). The α-glucosidase inhibition activities of A. camperi and M. dianthera, except for the Polyherb and Acarbose, were significantly different (P &lt; 0.05) at various ranges of concentrations (0.025 - 0.800 mg/mL). The percentage α-amylase inhibitions of M. dianthera, A. camperi, the Polyherb and Acarbose, at the highest concentrations (0.800 mg/mL), were 78.3%, 15.9%, 16.4%, and 82.9% respectively. A. camperi and the Polyherb displayed lower α-amylase inhibitory activities (IC50: 1.72 ± 0.06 and 2.57 ± 0.07 mg/mL respectively) compared to Acarbose and M. dianthera (IC50: 0.31 ± 0.01 and 0.43 ± 0.02 mg/mL respectively). For the α-amylase inhibition activity, even at lower concentrations (0.025 mg/mL), there were statistically significant differences (P &lt; 0.01) among the values generated for all the extracts. The in vitro anti-diabetic screening of the fractions, at 0.800 mg/ml, displayed characteristic enzyme inhibition activities. Generally, the non-polar fractions showed higher enzyme inhibitory activities compared to the polar fractions. The most bioactive non-polar fractions, thus, were subjected to GC-MS analysis and presented various essential oils, fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and benzoic acid derivatives in those plants