Antidepressant effect of methanol root bark extract of Acacia seyal Del. (Fabaceae): Possible involvement of the inflammatory pathway

Purpose: To study the involvement of inflammatory pathways in the antidepressant activity of Acacia seyal in mice.Methods: The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract Acacia seyal (AS) was determined using OECD guideline 425. The antidepressant activity of AS was assessed against BCG (0.2 mg/kg, ip)-induced depression in mice using Tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT) at 4, 24 and 48  hours post BCG administration.Results: The median lethal dose (LD50) for the extract was > 5000 mg/kg orally. The extract AS at all tested doses (250 – 1000 mg/kg) significantly (p ≤ 0.001) decreased the duration of immobility in TST but increased the number of line crossing in OFT post-BCG.Conclusion: The antidepressant activity of the methanol root bark extract of Acacia seyal in mice may involve an inflammatory mechanism. Thus, the extract of Acacia seyal may be suitable for the management of depression in humans resistant to other conventional antidepressant agents. However, further studies are required to ascertain this Keywords: Depression, Acacia seyal, Tail suspension test, Open field test, Bacillus Calmette-Gueri

Anticonvulsant studies on the isolated compounds from the leaves of Scurrula parasitica L (Loranthaceae)

The leaves of Scurrula parasitica were effectively extracted by means of cold extraction method. Fractionation and purification of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol crude extracts yielded eight compounds. These compounds were identified as quercetin (1), quercitrin (2), kaempferol 3-O--L-rhamnoside (3), (+)-catechin (4), lupeol (5), lupeol palmitate (6), -sitosterol (7), and squalene(8). Compounds 1, 4, 5, and 6 were investigated for anticonvulsant potentials using maximalelectroshock test (MEST) in chicks and pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure test in mice while theeffect of the compounds on motor coordination was investigated using beam walking assay. Thecompounds did not completely protect the mice against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure, butincreased the mean onset of myoclonic jerks and spasms in the animals. Quercetin (1) significantly (p< 0.05) increased the mean onset of spasm in the unprotected animals. The compounds alsodifferentially protected the mice against mortality. Conversely, the compounds did not protect thechick against the MEST. Similarly, they did not significantly reduce the recovery time. In the beamwalking assay, the increase in the number of foot slips observed in the study may be associated withthe interaction of quercetin (1) and (+)-catechin (4) with the GABA system to produce clinicalsedation. The findings of the present study suggest that the isolated compounds possess some mildanticonvulsant potential and may be beneficial in the management of petit mal epilepsy

IL35 modulation altered survival, cytokine environment and histopathological consequences during malaria infection in mice

Background: The immune modulating potential of IL-35 in multiple human disorders has been reported. Consequent upon the recognition of inflammatory cytokine activation and its preponderance for mediating pathology during malaria infection, the study aimed to characterize the expression and functional contribution(s) of IL-35 in Plasmodium berghei (strain ANKA) infected mice. Methods: Plasmodium berghei infection in male ICR mice was used as the rodent model of choice. The time course of IL-35 expression in the systemic circulation and tissues of P. berghei infected mice as well as their healthy control counterparts was assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry respectively. The effect of modulating IL-35 by recombinant IL-35 protein or neutralizing anti-Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 antibody on the cytokine environment during P. berghei infection was assessed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the influence of modulating IL-35 on histopathological hallmarks of malaria and disease progression was evaluated.Results: Interleukin-35 was significantly up regulated in serum and tissues of P. berghei infected mice and correlated with parasitaemia. Neutralization of IL-35 significantly enhanced the release of IFN-γ, decreased the expression of IL-6 and decreased parasitaemia patency. Neutralization of IL-35 was also associated with a tendency towards increased survival as well as the absence of pathological features associated with malaria infection unlike recombinant IL-35 protein administration which sustained a normal course of infection and unfavourable malaria associated histological outcomes in P. berghei infected mice. Conclusion: These results indicate the involvement of IL-35 in P. berghei induced malaria infection. IL-35 neutralization strategies may represent viable therapeutic modalities beneficial for the resolution of malaria infection

Phytochemical screening and anticonvulsant studies of ethyl acetate fraction of Globimetula braunii on laboratory animals

Objective: To investigate the phytochemical properties and the anticonvulsant potential of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanol leaf extract of Globimetula braunii, a plant used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of epilepsy. Methods: The phytochemical screening was carried out using standard protocol while the anticonvulsant activity was studied using maximal electroshock test in chicks, pentylenetetrazole and 4-aminopyridine-induced seizures in mice. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening carried out on the crude ethanol extract revealed the presence of saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins, anthraquinones and steroids. Similarly, tannins, flavonoids and steroids/terpenes were found to be present in the ethyl acetate fraction. In the pharmacological screening, 150 mg/kg of the fraction protected 83.33% of animals against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice whereas sodium valproate a standard anti-epileptic drug offered 100% protection. In the 4-aminopyridine-induced seizure model, the fraction produced a significant (P<0.05) increase in the mean onset of seizure in unprotected animals. The fraction did not exhibit a significant activity against maximal electroshock convulsion. The median lethal dose of the fraction was found to be 1261.91 mg/kg. Conclusions: These results suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of Globimetula braunii leaves extract possesses psychoactive compound that may be useful in the management of petit mal epilepsy and lend credence to the ethnomedical use of the plant in the management of epilepsy

In vitro and in vivo Neutralizing Activity of Uvaria chamae Leaves Fractions on the Venom of Naja nigricollis in albino rat and bovine blood

Snakebite envenomation is a global priority ranked top among other neglected tropical diseases. There is a folkloric claim that Uvaria chamae is beneficial for the management of snakebite and wounds in African ethnobotanical surveys. Besides, there are many registered patents asserting the health benefits of U. chamae. Objective: This study aimed to investigate U. chamae's potentials and identify candidates for the development of tools for the treatment and management of N. nigricollis envenomation. Method: Freshly collected U. chamae leaves were air-dried, powdered, and extracted in methanol. The median lethal dose of the extract was determined and further fractionated with n-hexane, n-butanol and ethyl acetate. Each fraction was tested for neutralizing effect against venom-induced haemolytic, fibrinolytic, hemorrhagic, and cytotoxic activities. Results: U. chamae fractions significantly (