Combined Effect on Antioxidant Properties of Gymnema Sylvestre and Combretum Micranthum Leaf Extracts and the Relationship to Hypoglycemia

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (“periploca of the woods” in English; “Kafi suga” in Hausa) (Asclepiadaceae) and Combretum micranthum, Fam. (Géézà in Hausa) (Combretaceae)) are used in combination for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria with little or no scientific basis. It is thus the aim of this research to validate the anti-diabetic activities of G. sylvestre (GS) and C. micranthum (CM) leaf extracts, individually and in combined form (GSCM) as well as look at the relationship between antioxidant capacity and anti-hyperglycemic potential of these plants. The study assayed for anti-diabetic potential by following fasting blood glucose (FBG). Levels of liver catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reaction oxygen species (ROS), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and radical scavenging activities of the plants were assayed for spectrophotometrically. GS and CM revealed good ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and radical scavenging activities against ABTS, DPPH and Nitric Oxide with C. micranthum being significantly better - both plants also showed good total flavonoids and total phenolic contents. The anti-hyperglycemic activities may be associated with flavonoids and phenolic compounds which act via radical scavenging/antioxidant properties of the plants’ extracts. In conclusion, G. sylvestre and C. micranthum aqueous leaf extracts showed significant (P < 0.05) hypoglycaemic activities both separately and in a 1:1 combination which has strong correlation with both in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of the plants’ extracts

In vitro and in vivo anti-trypanosomal potentials of Afrormosia laxiflora and Khaya senegalensis against Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) also known as Nagana is a resurgent disease in Africa. Medicinal plants are being used in less developed countries for the treatment of various diseases including trypanosomiasis, due to the high cost of currently available drugs. Most of these plants have been useful sources of treatment of various diseases based on information obtained from folk medicine but have not been scientifically certified. Here, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anti-trypanosomal potentials of the methanol extract of Aformorsia laxiflora and Khaya senegalensis against T. b. brucei. Phytochemical screening as well as LD50 of the plant extracts was carried out following standard procedures. Parasitemia was monitored daily while Packed Cell Volume was determined at three time points (days 1, 4 and 7) during the course of the infection. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, antraquinones, resins and tanins. However, steriods/terpenoids were absent in K. senegalensis but present in A. laxiflora. The toxicity of methanol extract of both A. laxiflora and K. senegalensis was above 5000mg/kg body weight. Methanol extracts of A. laxiflora (leaves) and K. senegalensis (stem bark) showed promising trypanocidal potential in vitro against T. b. brucei at concentrations of 10, 15, 25mg/ml and 40 and 20mg/ml respectively. At these concentrations, both extracts immobilized the parasites within 55mins post-incubation. In general, A. laxiflora leaf extract demonstrated prophylactic activity against T. b. brucei in vivo at a dose of 500mg/Kg body weight particularly in group C animals where a delayed pre-patent period (6 days post-infection), extended survival (14 days post-infection) and significant (P<0.05) reduction in the parasite burden confirmed by an absence of anemia (PCV 47.00±0.8 %) was observed when compared to the infected untreated control group. K. senegalensis extract on the other hand did not show anti-trypanosomal activity in the treated groups (1, 2, and 3). Based on these observations, it was therefore deduced that the methanol extract of leaves of A. laxiflora possessed the ability to ameliorate the burden of the disease and could be a plausible candidate for drug development against the disease.Keywords: Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Afromosia laxiflora, Khaya senegalensis, anti-trypanosomal, in vitro, in viv

Transferrin coupled azanthraquinone enhances the killing effect on trypanosomes. The role of lysosomal mannosidase

Partially purified azanthraquinone (AQ) extract from Mitracarpus scaber was coupled to bovine transferrin (Tf) using azidophenyl glyoxal (APG). The AQ-APG-Tf conjugate was found to possess an enhanced in vitro trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei brucei. At low concentrations of 0.39-90 mg/ml, the conjugate diminished the growth of T. congolense and T. b. brucei dose dependently at the logarithmic phase. Both parasites were more sensitive to AQ-APG-Tf than to the free (AQ) extract. Growth inhibition on the parasites by the free extract was observed at 20-200 mg/ml. The total activity of the lysosomal enzyme a-mannosidase was reduced in the T. congolense cells treated with AQ-APG-Tf in a dose related pattern. However, the activity of the mannosidase in the T. b. brucei treated cells is less affected. The AQ-APG-Tf is more effective on a mannosidase than free AQ, eight and four fold for T. congolense and T. b. brucei respectively. The results are discussed as regards the potency of using transferrin as suitable drug carrier in the chemotherapy of Human sleeping sickness

Short Communication - In vitro anti trypanosomal activity of some medicinal plants used in the treatment of trypanosomosis in Northern Nigeria

The in vitro trypanocidal activity of 13 medicinal plants used by local herdsmen in Northern Nigeria for the treatment of trypanosomosis was investigated. Forty-four different extracts prepared from the 13 plants were screened for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei   . Four of the extracts showed activity against the parasite at minimum concentration of 8.3 mg/ml of blood

Transferrin coupled azanthraquinone enhances the killing effect on trypanosomes. The role of lysosomal mannosidase

Partially purified azanthraquinone (AQ) extract from Mitracarpus scaber was coupled to bovine transferrin (Tf) using azidophenyl glyoxal (APG). The AQ-APG-Tf conjugate was found to possess an enhanced in vitro trypanocidal activity against Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei brucei. At low concentrations of 0.39-90 mg/ml, the conjugate diminished the growth of T. congolense and T. b. brucei dose dependently at the logarithmic phase. Both parasites were more sensitive to AQ-APG-Tf than to the free (AQ) extract. Growth inhibition on the parasites by the free extract was observed at 20-200 mg/ml. The total activity of the lysosomal enzyme a-mannosidase was reduced in the T. congolense cells treated with AQ-APG-Tf in a dose related pattern. However, the activity of the mannosidase in the T. b. brucei treated cells is less affected. The AQ-APG-Tf is more effective on a mannosidase than free AQ, eight and four fold for T. congolense and T. b. brucei respectively. The results are discussed as regards the potency of using transferrin as suitable drug carrier in the chemotherapy of Human sleeping sickness

Effects of Caranium schweinfurthii fruit cake supplemented diet on growth characteristics in male Wistar rats

No Abstract

Haematological values of cows during third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation in settled cattle herds in Zaria, Northern Nigeria 1*

The haematological values of 176 cows during third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation in nine settled cattle herds in Zaria, Northern Nigeria, were studied. The total mean values of total protein (TP), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) during pregnancy and early lactation did not differ significantly (P≥0.05) while neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil values differed significantly (P <0.05). Neutrophil and lymphocyte values during early lactation were higher than those during third trimester of pregnancy, while monocyte and eosinophil values during third trimester of pregnancy were higher than those of early lactation. The herds mean haematological values closely resembled those of the total mean values. The herds mean values of TP, PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC during third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation did not differ significantly (P <0.05) except in one herd (VIII) where the early lactation value was significantly (p <0.05) higher. In some herds, the mean values of neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte during third trimester of pregnancy were significantly (p <0.05) higher than those of early lactation while in others, they were significantly (p <0.05) lower. The mean values of eosinophil during lactation were significantly higher than those of third trimester pregnancy in all the herds. This study has provided reference haematological values of cows that may be safely assumed to be adequate and consistent with normal health and metabolic state during third trimester of pregnancy and early lactation. The study has also confirmed the significant effect of herd factor on haematological parameters of cows

Dog ecology, dog bites and rabies vaccination rates in Bauchi State, Nigeria

A study of dog ecology, dog bites and rabies vaccination rates was carried out in Bauchi the capital city of Bauchi State, Nigeria using direct street counts and questionnaire survey administered on 10% of the city streets selected by stratified random sampling. The questionnaire was designed to obtain data in order to determine the dog to human population ratio, dog management and care, cases of dog bites, consequences of the bites and frequencies of rabies outbreak. The estimated dog population of street counts and compound counts were 5310 and 7670, respectively. The overall human to dog ratio of 4.1:1 was established. The mean number of individuals per dog owning compound was 9.6 ± 0.498 (SEM) and the mean number of dogs owned per dog owning compound was 2.3 ± 0.108 (SEM). Majority of the dogs owned were local breeds (62.8%) aged between 1 and 5 years old and managed under partial or no confinement. The dogs were mostly used for security (69.5%) purposes. Dog owners reported low vaccination coverage (26.4%), level considered not sufficient to prevent rabies transmission. About 12.4% of dog bite victims died and majority of which (71.43%) manifested nervous signs before death. Domestic dogs have been shown to be tolerated and kept in Bauchi but poorly managed in terms of feeding, confinement and vaccination thereby constituting a continuous risk to domestic animals and humans

Trypanocidal activity of organotin chlorides on Trypanosoma brucei-infected mice

The organotin compounds dibulyltin (DBTC) and diphenyltin dichlorides (DPTC) were tested for trypanocidal activity on a Trypanosoma brucei-infected mice model. At a dose of 10 mg DBTC and 15 mg DPTC/kg/day for five consecutive days, they cleared the parasites from the peripheral blood of the infected mice. Subinoculation of some healthy mice with the homogenates of liver, spleen, kidney, cerebrospinal fluid and blood from the mice considered cured, showed a few cases of relapse. The LD50 of DBTC and DPTC are 90 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg respectively