Evaluation of Mallotus oppositifolius

Objective. Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is folklorically used to “treat” diabetic conditions in some parts of Nigeria therefore the study, to investigate the extract of the leaves for activities on hyperglycaemia, lipid peroxidation, and increased cholesterol levels in vivo in alloxan diabetic rats as well as its potential antioxidant activity in vitro. Methods. Albino rats (240–280 g) were given an injection of 120 mg/kg body weight, i.p. of alloxan monohydrate. After 8 days, diabetic animals with elevated fasting blood glucose levels (>9 mmol/L) were considered and selected for the study. Results. Oral treatment with the extract administered every 12 h by gavage at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract to the test rats, for 14 days, resulted in a significant dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose levels from 12.82 ± 1.02 mmol/dL to 4.92 ± 2.01 mmol/dL at the highest dose of 400 mg/kg compared to the control drug and glibenclamide as well as attendant significant decline in diabetic rats employed in the study. Conclusion. The extract also showed in vitro concentration-dependent antioxidant activity following the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing assays. Findings further suggest the presence of active antidiabetic and antioxidant principles in M. oppositifolius leaves

Evaluation of Mallotus oppositifolius Methanol Leaf Extract on the Glycaemia and Lipid Peroxidation in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats: A Preliminary Study

Objective. Mallotus oppositifolius (Geiseler) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is folklorically used to "treat" diabetic conditions in some parts of Nigeria therefore the study, to investigate the extract of the leaves for activities on hyperglycaemia, lipid peroxidation, and increased cholesterol levels in vivo in alloxan diabetic rats as well as its potential antioxidant activity in vitro. Methods. Albino rats (240-280 g) were given an injection of 120 mg/kg body weight, i.p. of alloxan monohydrate. After 8 days, diabetic animals with elevated fasting blood glucose levels (>9 mmol/L) were considered and selected for the study. Results. Oral treatment with the extract administered every 12 h by gavage at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract to the test rats, for 14 days, resulted in a significant dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose levels from 12.82 ± 1.02 mmol/dL to 4.92 ± 2.01 mmol/dL at the highest dose of 400 mg/kg compared to the control drug and glibenclamide as well as attendant significant decline in diabetic rats employed in the study. Conclusion. The extract also showed in vitro concentration-dependent antioxidant activity following the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing assays. Findings further suggest the presence of active antidiabetic and antioxidant principles in M. oppositifolius leaves

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Sterculia tragacantha fractions in mice

Six fractions obtained from the methanol leaf extract of Sterculia tragacantha were screened for anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Treatment of mice with 10 and 90 mg/kg fractions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 significantly inhibited carrageenan induced paw edema in mice. The higher doses (90 mg/kg) showed superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to 10 mg/kg. The percentage edema inhibitions of 90 mg/kg fractions 5, 6 and 7 at 4 h were 75, 80 and 75%, respectively. Daily administration of fractions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 significantly suppressed formaldehyde induced paw edema by day three and five post edema induction. Fractions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 inhibited granuloma formation significantly. The anti-inflammatory effects of fractions 5, 6 and 7 on granuloma formation were better than that of dexamethasone. The fractions showed concentration dependent 1,1-diphenyl-2-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity. At 400 μg/ml, the anti-oxidant activity of fraction 5 (75.6%) and 6 (73.6%) were comparable to that of ascorbic acid (79.1%). In conclusion, this study has shown that the fractions of S. tragacantha possessed anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities, thus, providing further proof that the leaves of S. tragacantha contains an active compound with potent anti-inflammatory activity.Keywords: Fractions, edema, granuloma, anti-oxidant, S. tragacanthaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 592-59