Antihyperglycaemic effect of aqueous extract of Daniella oliveri and Sarcocephalus latifolius roots on key carbohydrate metabolic enzymes and glycogen in experimental diabetes

The blood sugar lowering effect of the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius S. M. (Rubiaceae) and Daniella oliveri Rolfe (Caesalpiniaceae) roots (250mg/kg) was investigated on normoglycaemic and alloxan induced diabetic rats. In addition, hexokinase, glucokinase andphosphofructokinase activities as well as hepatic glycogen content were assessed. The extract’s potency was compared with a standard drug, glibenclamide. The test dose of the extract caused asignificant (

Inhibition of Gastric Erosion Formations in Rats by Adenosine, 5 /-Adenosine Monophosphate and 5 /- Adenosine Diphosphate

Gastric erosions were induced in rats with indomethacin, 5-hydoxytryptamine (5-HT) or reserpine. Three adenine compounds adenosine, adenosine, 5 /-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and 5 /- adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were found to protect against the erosion formations. Both 5-HT and reserpine caused untimely deaths of some of the control animals. Also the adenine compounds prevented the untimely deaths caused by the two ulcerogenes. Keywords: Adenosine, AMP, ADP, Anti-ulcer, Antidote, Gastric erosionBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 346-34

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of the ethanol extract of the seeds of buchholzia coriacea in experimental animals

The effects of the ethanol extract from Buchholzia coriacea seed on inflammatory response using fresh egg albumin- induced paw edema in rats were examined. Antinociceptive activity of the extract using writhing test with acetic acid-induced pain in mice and the antipyretic activity in yeast- induced fever in rats were also examined. Oral administration of the extract (at the dose of 400mg/kg and in a dose dependent manner) significantly (p< 0.05) decreased the paw oedema induced by fresh egg albumin in rats. The extract (at 400mg/kg) also significantly (p< 0.05) inhibited yeast-induced pyrexia in rats when compared to the control. The extract was also found to possess significant (p< 0.05) dose dependent antinociceptive response in mice at 800 mg /kg. The results support the use of Buchholzia extract for the treatment of inflammatory disorders

Comparative antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects of aqueous, ethanol and n-hexane extracts of leaf of Vitex doniana on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in albino rats

Several herbal preparations are used to treat diabetes, but their reported hypoglycemic effects are complex. This study therefore was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Vitex doniana leaves on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced intraperitoneally using 50 mg/kg streptozotocin, while diabetic rats were treated in 12 h cycles for four weeks with 100 mg/kg of the extract and glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg). Nondiabetic control rats received distilled water. The levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), aspartatate aminotransfrease (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration were assayed. The results indicate that the concentrations of TBARS, ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin were significantly increased while the activities of SOD and CAT were reduced in the diabetic animals (p&lt;0.05). The extract significantly increased CAT and SOD activity and reduced FBS, TBARS, ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin concentrations significantly (p&lt;0.05) compared to normal. However, glibenclamide treatment showed slight modification in the changes observed compared to the extract. The study concluded that the extract reversed diabetes and diabetes-induced oxidative changes in the hepatocytes, thus suggesting its use for the management of diabetic complications.Keywords: Vitex doniana, lipid peroxidation, streptozotocin-induced diabeticAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(40), pp. 5933-594

Fractionation and determination of total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and total flavonoids contents of aqueous, ethanol and n-hexane extracts of Vitex doniana leaves

As a result of normal metabolic processes, the human body produces reactive oxygen species capable of oxidizing biomolecules that can damage DNA, cells and also contribute to the development of chronic diseases. The process can be attenuated or perhaps reversed by herbs and diets containing components that can scavenge reactive oxygen species. In this study, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) of aqueous, ethanol, n-Hexane extract as well as ethanol extract fractions of Vitex doniana leaves were determined. Ethanol extract showed the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (69.01±1.13) followed by aqueous extract (66.14±1.12) and n-hexane extract (50.05±2.11). The total flavonoids content is in the order; aqueous (304±4.14) &gt; ethanol (276 ±4.69) &gt; n-Hexane (88±3.45). Hence, the total phenolic content is in a similar order as that of total antioxidant capacity. Chloroform : ethyl acetate fraction has the highest antioxidant capacity (165mg/ml). methanol : H2O fraction (76mg/ml) and 100% methanol (76mg/ml). Similarly, the total flavonoids content is in the order of fractions; 1&gt;6&gt;4&gt;13&gt;12&gt;2 and others. Total phenolics were in the order of fractions; 1&gt;5&gt;4&gt;12&gt;7&gt;2. There was a strong relationship (R2 = 0.77) between total antioxidant activity and total flavonoid contents and (R2 = 0.6517) for total phenolic content of the fractions. The present study demonstrated that V. doniana leaves extracts contain high amounts of flavonoids and phenolic compounds so that these compounds are efficient free radical scavengers.Keywords: 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), polyphenols, flavonoids, Vitex donianaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(5), pp. 693-698, 29 January, 201

Anti-ulcer and gastric anti-secretory activities of seed extract of Buchholzia coriacea in Wistar Albino rats

Ethanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea seed was evaluated for anti-ulcer as well as anti-secretory activity in rats because of its use in Nigerian folk medicine as an anti-ulcer agent. Standard pharmacological methods were used to carry out phytochemical analysis of the plant. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract of B. coriacea revealed the presence of alkaloids (101.88 ± 0.11 mg/100 g), flavonoids (46.88 ± 2.21 mg/100 g), tannins (0.16 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), oxalate (0.15 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and terpenes (23.0 ± 0.30 µg/100 g). The extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, significantly (P&lt;0.05) and dose-dependently suppressed the ulcerogenic effect induced by indomethacin in rat gastric mucosa relative to the controls. Similarly, the extract significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased histamine-mediated gastric acid secretion and also blocked histamine-induced contractile responses in isolated guinea-pig ileum in a similar fashion as the standard anti-histamine drug, chlorpheniramine. The extract had comparable ulcer protective potency with cimetidine, which is a standard drug used in the management of ulcer. The mechanism of the extract’s efficacy to protect the animals against indomethacin-induced ulcer may be diverse in nature (due to the presence of a number of bioactive constituents) but suppression of mediator effect of histamine is likely to play a predominant role in the observed activity.Keywords: Buchholzia coriacea, anti-ulcer, cimetidine, anti-secretory and indomethacinAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(27) 2755-276

Evaluation of hypoglycaemic activity of ethanol extract of Gongronema latifolium (Asclepiadaceae) leaves

The mechanism of anti-diabetic activity of Gongronema latifolium was evaluated. The ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium were fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and ethanol. Phytochemical screening of the dried fractions were carried and then acute toxicity tests on mice carried out. The induction of diabetes mellitus was achieved with 150 mg/kg b.w for mild diabetes and 300 mg/kg b.w for the severe condition. The effects of the crude ethanol extract (CEE) and its fractions on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemia were monitored. The result obtained reveals that crude ethanol extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced hyperglycaemia. The fractions of the ethanol extract equally reduced hyperglycaemia but the level of reduction was affected by the phytochemical content. This suggests that an intact pancreas is required for the hypoglycaemic action which is the mechanism of action of the sulphonylureas.Keywords: Anti-diabetic, Gongronema latifolium, hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, phytochemical screening.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(27) 2750-275

Toxicological Studies on the Ethanol Extract of Acalypha torta (Muell) Leaves in Mice and Rats.

Herbal pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are now popularly used worldwide.These herbal remedies, although natural, can cause some serious damaging effects on the vital organs of the body due to inadequacy in standardization and safety regulations. Ethanol extract of Acalypha torta was obtained after defatting dried pulverized leaves of the plant with chloroform : methanol ( 2 : 1). A 24 h &ndash; acute-toxicity study of the extract in mice was carried out to ascertain the risk of acute toxicty by selected doses (200 to 8,000 mg/kg body weight) administered intraperitoneally. The median lethal dose (LD50) as well as other signs of toxicity were determined. Toxicity to the vital organs in rats was also assessed following intraperitoneal administration of doses less than 50% of the LD50 for 28 days . Results of acute toxicity studies gave LD50 of 562.30 mg/kg body weight. All the tested doses of ethanol extract of A. torta administered reduced appetite in all the experimental rats used whereas high doses, above 2000 mg/kg body weight triggered increase in respiratory rate,and convulsion before the animals died. Observed pathological changes in vital organs after the 28 days of treatment in rats were necrosis, follicular disorganization, inflammatory reactions ,fibrosis and bronchial dilatation. These changes were seen in the liver, spleen, brain, heart, kidney and lung sections, but at low frequencies (i.e number of lesions per slide). These findings may suggest that prolonged use of the extract at doses higher than recommended therapeutic dose could precipitate organ damage.Keywords: Acalypha torta, medicinal plants, toxicology, inflammation, necrosis

Anti-Sickling Effect Of Abrus Seed Spasmolytic Substance

A spasmolytic substance BN, extractable from the seeds of Abrus precatorius Linn Fabaceae has been found to inhibit both metabisulphite- and calcium- induced sickling of human haemoglobin (Hb) SS erythrocytes in vitro. It also inhibited human platelet aggregation elicited by adrenaline (epinephrine) and ADP. In addition, it stabilised Hb SS erythrocyte membrane. The results substantiate the use of the seeds in sickle cell disease. Keywords: Anti-Sickling, Abrus seed, Spasmolytic substance, Induced sickling, HaemoglobinPlant Product Research Journal Vol. 12 2008: pp. 6-

Adenosine and its Related Nucleotides may Modulate Gastric Acid Secretion by Inhibiting Calcium Permeability

Studies on lumen-perfused rat isolated stomachs showed that adenosine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) inhibited histamine-induced gastric acid secretion. The inhibitions and the calcium levels of the serosal solution exhibited inverse relationship. Adenosine and AMP were shown to antagonise calcium-induced swelling of mitochondria. It was thus thought, by extension, that inhibition of calcium entry might be one of the mechanisms by which the purines regulate gastric functi Keywords:Purines: Gastric hypoacidity; anti-mitochondrial swellingBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 348-35