Toxicological effects of polyherbal formulations for malaria, yellow fever and haemorrhoids in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria, on male Wistar rats: A comparative biochemical and histological study

This study evaluated the toxicological effects of polyherbal formulations used for the treatment of malaria (Agbo iba, AI), yellow fever (Agbo kojupon, AK) and haemorrhoids (Agbo jedi, AJ) on the function indices and histoarchitecture of liver and kidney of male Wistar rats. Forty rats were randomised into two groups (A and B) of twenty animals each such that the 20 rats in group A were further reassigned into A1, A2, A3 and A4 and administered distilled water (0.5 ml), and AI, AK and AJ at 21 mg/kg body weight respectively for 4 days. Animals in group B were correspondingly assigned and treated like those of group A except that the administration lasted for 10 days. The results revealed that AI, AK and AJ contained alkaloids, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids whilst anthraquinones were not detected. The AI and AK contained tannins whereas AK and AJ contained cardiac glycosides. The AI, AK and AJ reduced the liver- and kidney-body weight ratios, activities of both the liver alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase, levels of serum total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin, and increased the activities of liver alanine aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, Na+ and Cl- on days 4 and 10. The AK and AJ significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activity of serum alanine aminotransferase and increased K+. The AK, AI and AJ increased serum creatinine content on day 4 whereas only AK increased it by day 10. Serum uric acid was not altered by all the treatment on days 4 and 10. The administration of AK and AJ induced moderately swollen hepatocytes, congested and dilated blood vessels in the liver as well as imposed glomeruli and renal tubules in the kidney whereas the lobules, glomeruli and tubules were within normal liver and kidney histology after the administration of AI. Overall, the AK and AJ exhibited both functional and structural toxicities whilst the AI displayed only functional toxicity at 21 mg/kg body weight and during the 10 days of administration. The Agbo jedi exhibited the highest degree of toxicity whilst the Agbo iba was the least toxic with respect to the dose and duration of the study

Phytochemical analysis and in vivo anti-malarial activities of aqueous extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens leaves in mice

This study was carried out to assess the acclaimed anti-malarial potentials of aqueous extracts of leaf of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrescens (PN) in mice. The phytochemical constituents and in vivo anti-malarial activities of individual and combined of aqueous leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) were investigated. Fifteen albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inocula (5 7 106) of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 3 mice. Group I served as the control while group II received 5mg/kg body weight per oral of chloroquine diphosphate. Groups III \u2013 V were orally treated with 150mg/kg body weight extracts of TD, TD+PN and PN respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids and tannins in the aqueous extracts of TD and PN. There were 100, 90, 86 and 77 percent parasite inhibition in groups treated with Chloroquine, combination of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens (TD+PN), Parquetina nigrescens (PN) and Tithonia diversifolia (TN) respectively on day 5. The mean survival time (MST) for the control animals was 7 days and chloroquine 25 days, while the TD+PN, PN and TD aqueous extracts recorded 19, 18 and 11 days respectively. The results indicated that the combined aqueous (TD+PN) extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens produced the best antimalarial activity, which provides a justification for their use in folklore medicine and may be promising alternative anti-malarial drug

Antipyretic and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica root

This study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for the use of Acacia nilotica root extract for treatment of fever and pain in traditional medical practice. Anti-Pyretic study was carried out using Brewer\u2019s yeast suspension to induce pyrexia. The hot plate, tail immersion and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were the nociceptive models used for analgesic study. Anti-pyretic and analgesic activity of the extract was compared with acetaminophen that was used as control drug. Five groups comprising five animals per group were used for each study. Group 1 was administered 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water, Group 2 was administered 150 mg/kg body weight of acetaminophen while groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of extract respectively as single oral dose. The extract produced significant dose-dependent reduction in rectal temperature of rats at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Significant analgesic activities were also observed in the hot plate, tail immersion and acetic acid induced writhing, after administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w of extract which is comparable to the control drug, acetaminophen. The results from this study showed that aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica root at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight possess significant antipyretic and analgesic activities. This provides scientific support for its traditional medical use in the treatment of fever and pain

Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Musa paradisiaca

The folkloric claim of Musa paradisiaca sap in the management of diarrhoea is yet to be substantiated or refuted with scientific data. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to screen the sap of M. paradisiaca for both its secondary metabolites and antidiarrhoeal activity at 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mL in rats. Secondary metabolites were screened using standard methods while the antidiarrhoeal activity was done by adopting the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, castor oil-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility models. The sap contained flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids while cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, triterpenes, cardenolides, and dienolides were not detected. In the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, the sap significantly (P<0.05) prolonged the onset time of diarrhoea, decreased the number, fresh weight, and water content of feaces, and increased the inhibition of defecations. Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the small intestine increased significantly whereas nitric oxide content decreased. The decreases in the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid by the sap were accompanied by increase in inhibition of intestinal fluid content in the enteropooling model. The sap decreased the charcoal meal transit in the gastrointestinal motility model. In all the models, the 1.00 mL of the sap produced changes that compared well with the reference drugs. Overall, the antidiarrhoeal activity of Musa paradisiaca sap attributed to the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, and/or saponins which may involve, among others, enhancing fluid and electrolyte absorption through de novo synthesis of the sodium potassium ATPase and/or reduced nitric oxide levels

An International Journal of the Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology Original Article

Phytochemical analysis and in vivo anti-malarial activities of aqueous extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens leaves in mic

Studies on Ameliorative Effects of Polyphenolic Extract from Paullinia pinnata L. (Sapindaceae) on Carbon Tetrachloride - Induced Hepatotoxicity and Oxidative Stress: an in vivo Assessment

The current study investigates the effects of polyphenolic extract from the leaf of Paullinia pinnata against CCl4 – induced oxidative stress and liver damage in female albino rats. Thirty albino rats were randomly distributed into six groups (A-F). Rats in group A were given 1 ml normal saline orally to serve as control. The rats in groups B, C, D, E, and F were respectively induced intraperitoneally with single administration of 1 ml/kg body weight (b. wt) CCl4 dissolved in liquid paraffin (1:1). Thirty minutes after induction, the rats in the respective groups were orally treated with normal saline, 50 mg/kg b. wt. Silymarin, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b. wt. polyphenolic extract from P. pinnata respectively, once daily for 7 days.  Levels of liver function indices and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined. Administration of polyphenolic extract from P. pinnata significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CCl4- induced hepatotoxicity with respect to liver function indices, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation parameters. The biochemical changes observed were also consistent with histopathological observations on the rat liver, as architectural degeneration and severe cellular necrosis were restored after the administration of polyphenolic extract from P. pinnata in the treated groups. The study suggests that polyphenolic extract from P. pinnata is a potential hepatoprotective agent against CCl4-mediated hepatic injury through fortification of antioxidant defense mechanisms