Antioxidant properties and subchronic toxicity of the standardized extract of LAMIC, a phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from trunk bark of Lannea microcarpa Engl and K. Krause

Aims: This study investigated the antioxidant activity and the 90 days subchronic toxicity of the standardized LAMIC phytomedicine prototype based on aqueous extracts from Lannea microcarpa trunk bark. Methods: Three spectrophotometric methods were used to evaluated the antioxidant activity of LAMIC which were 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzolin-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. For the standardized LAMIC subchronic toxicity study, male and female Wistar rats were used by daily oral administration at doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw consecutively for 90 days. Results: The LAMIC extract exhibit better inhibitory activity against DPPH radical than ABTS radical with respective IC50 values of 45.38±3.21 µg/mL and 66.45±18.76 µg/mL, while FRAP assay exhibit antioxidant activity of 211.34±15.92 mmol EAA/g. Subchronic oral administration of LAMIC was well-tolerated at all tested doses. No behavioral and physiological changes and mortality were observed. The LAMIC extract did not present any impact on general hematological parameters and biochemical parameters. Moreover, no significant changes were raised in organ and body weight of treated groups compared to the Control group. Conclusion: These results support that LAMIC prototype was a valuable source of natural antioxidants and no toxicity was associated to its long terms oral consumption in rats indicating a potential application as a cardiovascular protective formulation. Keywords: LAMIC–Lannea microcarpa–Standardization–Antioxidant–Subchronic toxicity. &nbsp

Molecular targets of honey bee’s products in cancer prevention and treatment

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are currently the main treatments for cancer but their toxicities on the surrounding normal cells limit their use in cancer therapy. Moreover, many cancers have developed some resistance to the available anticancer chemicals and put in failure the chemotherapy currently used in the cancer treatment. This failure of the targeted monotherapy resulting from bypass mechanisms has obligated researchers to use agents that interfere with multiple cell-signaling pathways. Recently, researches focused on the use of natural products which can target cancer promoting factors genes expression. Of these natural products, honey has been extensively studied. The pharmacological properties of honey include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, estrogenic and anti-cancer effects. The honey bee’s products are potent sources of nutritional components including sugar, amino-acids, water and minerals. Furthermore honey contains chemopreventive compounds such as flavonoids, phenol acids, tannins, vitamins that may interfere with multiple cell’s pathways and hereby reduce the incidence of many types of cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms of honey bee’s products in cancer prevention and treatment are less known. This review highlights the molecular mechanism of honey bioactive compounds in cancer prevention and treatment

Human Lymphocyte-Protective Effects of an Ethanol Extract from Detarium microcarpum Guill. and Perr. (Caesalpiniaceae) Fruit Pulp

The current study aimed to evaluate, in vitro, the antioxidant capacity and the human lymphocyte-protective effect of the ethanolic extract from Detarium microcarpum fruit pulp against oxidative stress damage. Human lymphocytes were incubated with different concentrations of extract, followed by the addition of hydrogen peroxide or tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Cell viability was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Furthermore, the antioxidant property of the extract was evaluated in vitro using hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide radical-scavenging assays. Compared to the vehicle, the fruit pulp ethanol extract did not exhibit a cytotoxic effect on human lymphocytes. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide to human lymphocytes was significantly reduced by fruit extract pretreatment. The extract and ascorbic acid exhibited similar cytoprotective activity (p > 0.05). The fruit pulp extract showed more antioxidant activity than gallic acid in the hydrogen peroxide-scavenging model, while in the nitric oxide-quenching model, the fruit extract and gallic acid showed similar activity. The fruit pulp of D. microcarpum contains potent antioxidant and cell-protective compounds. The use of the fruit pulp of D. microcarpum as a food supplement could rescue cellular oxidative damage responsible for numerous pathologies

Total triterpene content, antioxidant activity and acute toxicity study of Securidaca longepedunculara Fresen

Plants are widely used in developing countries for traditional medicine. Knowledge of biological activities and phytochemistry is necessary for the safe use of these plants in traditional medicine. Securidaca longepedunculata is a medicinal plant whose roots are widely used in the treatment of several diseases. In this study the content of total triterpenes in leaf and root bark was assessed. The antioxidant activity by the ABTS method was evaluated as well as the effect of the extracts on lipid peroxidation of mice liver cell membranes. Acute toxicity was evaluated at the dose of 2000 mg / mL administered to the mouse. The results showed that the maximum values of the triterpenes contents of the leaves and of the root bark are 58 and 21 mg UAE / 100 mg respectively. Methanolic and chloroform extracts from leaves and root bark inhibited more than 50% of lipid peroxidation. The same extracts showed strong ABTS cation reduction activity. The leaf extract did not induce signs of acute toxicity in mice at a dose of 2000 mg / mL. The leaves of S. longepedunculata could be used in the management of pathologies associated with oxidative stress or which require biological properties relating to triterpene compounds. Keywords: Securidaca longepedunculata, triterpenes, peroxidation, toxicit

Chrysin and rutin protect against hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide induced oxidative cell damage

Objective: Chrysin and rutin are two dietary flavonoids lying in fruits or honey bee’s products. Their pharmacological properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotection and immunomodulatory. In the current study, the potentiality of chrysin and rutin to protect human gingival fibroblasts against oxidative cell damage has been investigated in vitro.   Method: Human gingival fibroblasts, passage 3, were concomitantly put in contact with the cytotoxic compounds and chrysin or rutin for 24 h at 37 °C, 5% CO2 atmosphere, and 96% humidity. The amount of viable cell after the incubated time was recorded by using the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.  Results: Chrysin in all tested concentration didn’t exhibit any cytoprotective effect against the tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative cell damage. Moreover, chrysin in a low concentration (5 and 10 µg/mL) didn’t protect the fibroblasts against oxidative cell damage induced by the hydrogen peroxide. However, chrysin in a concentration of 20 µg/mL showed a significant cytoprotective activity in the hydrogen peroxide-induced cell damage (p < 0.05). Rutin in all tested concentrations protected fibroblasts against hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative cell damage. The cytoprotective effect of rutin didn’t increase with the increase of the concentration when hydrogen peroxide is used to induce oxidative cell damage. However, rutin has protected cells against the tert-butyl hydroperoxide cytotoxicity in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusion: Given to the interesting cytoprotective activities exhibited by chrysin and rutin, further investigations to highlight their cytoprotective involved mechanisms are justified.   Keywords: Chrysin, Cytoprotective, Fibroblasts, Rutin

Medicinal Plants Used for Neuropsychiatric Disorders Treatment in the Hauts Bassins Region of Burkina Faso

Background: In Burkina Faso, phytotherapy is the main medical alternative used by populations to manage various diseases that affect the nervous system. The aim of the present study was to report medicinal plants with psychoactive properties used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders in the Hauts Bassins region, in the western zone of Burkina Faso. Methods: Through an ethnobotanical survey using structured questionnaire, 53 traditional healers (TH) were interviewed about neuropsychiatric disorders, medicinal plants and medical practices used to treat them. The survey was carried out over a period of three months. Results: The results report 66 plant species used to treat neuropsychiatric pathologies. Roots (36.2%) and leaves (29%) were the main plant parts used. Alone or associated, these parts were used to prepare drugs using mainly the decoction and the trituration methods. Remedies were administered via drink, fumigation and external applications. Conclusions: It appears from this study a real knowledge of neuropsychiatric disorders in the traditional medicine of Hauts Bassins area. The therapeutic remedies suggested in this work are a real interest in the fight against psychiatric and neurological diseases. In the future, identified plants could be used for searching antipsychotic or neuroprotective compounds

Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory potentials and phytochemical profile of Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. (Burseraceae) and Loeseneriella africana (Willd.) (Celastraceae) stem leaves extracts

Objective: To assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as to determine the flavonoids and phenolic acids content of active fractions. Methods: Two medicinal plant samples were extracted successively in Soxhlet apparatus with n-hexane, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, methanol and n-butanol. Five methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Anti-inflammatory activity was done through the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2). Polyphenolic compounds were analyzed by using a spectrophotometrical and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) methods. Results: The data showed that the stem leaves extracts of Commiphora africana and Loeseneriella africana possessed significant in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Polar extracts had radical scavenging effects and they reduced iron (III). The prostaglandin production was significantly stopped by acetonitrile and methanol extracts. These biological activities were supported by some bioactive compounds quantified by using the HPLC-MS. p-Coumaric acid, ferulic acid, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol and apigenin were the most metabolites quantified. Conclusions: The present study may explain the effectiveness of plants in traditional medicine of Burkina Faso, singularly Commiphora africana and Loeseneriella africana. The next investigation was to sub-fractionate the methanol fraction in order to isolate new antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory compounds

Evaluation in vitro de l’activité antiplasmodiale d’extraits issus des feuilles de Porphyrostemma chevalieri (O.Hoffm.) Hutch. & Dalziel

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Antioxidant and anticancer activities of polyphenolic compounds from three Acanthaceae medicinal species from Burkina Faso

Phytochemical screening and biological activities of methanol extracts from three Acanthaceae species namely Hygrophila auriculata (H. auriculata), Nelsonia canescens (N. canescens) and Peristrophe bicalyculata (P. bicalyculata), widely used in local ethnomedicine, were carried out. Phenolic content quantification indicated that H. auriculata extract possessed the highest polyphenolics content followed by N. canescens and P. bicalyculata. Biological activities assessment showed that H. auriculata extract has the best antioxidant (through DPPH, FRAP and ABTS methods) capacity. Acetylcholinesterase and Lipoxygenase inhibition tests revealed interesting activities from P. bicalyculata. Testing cancer cells antiproliferation, it was showed that H. auriculata and N. canescens) were of good interest (27.00±1.55 and 29.70±3.11 µg/mL).These results showed that the phenolic compounds of these plants could justify their local traditional use to treat inflammatory and tumoral diseases