Dryopteris filix-mas (Dryopteridaceae) leaves inhibit mouse uterine activity

Background: The plant Dryopteris filix-mas has been used traditionally for its uterine-stimulant effects. Aim: The current study is therefore aimed at investigating and determining the effect of the leaves of D. filix-mas on uterine contractility in vitro.Setting: Fresh leaves of D. filix-mas were collected from a river bank in the south-western part of Nigeria.Methods: The leaves of D. filix-mas were cleaned, dried and extracted in methanol. The extract (0.07 µg/mL–21.0 µg/mL) was tested on the isolated mouse uteri in order to determine activity on spontaneous-induced uterine contractions. Subsequently the extract (0.005 mg/mL and 0.05 mg/mL) was tested on oxytocin-induced contraction (0.00017 ng/mL–4.98 ng/mL) in calcium-containing media, submaximal oxytocin-induced contraction (0.116 ng/mL) in calcium-free media and in the presence of high KCl-induced uterine contractions (80 mM). The extract was also subjected to mass spectrometric determination of secondary metabolites.Results: The plant extract inhibited spontaneous-induced contractions with IC50 amplitude = 658.41 ng/mL ± 0.11 ng/mL and IC50 frequency = 175.32 ng/mL ± 0.53 ng/mL. The plant extract inhibited oxytocin-induced and high KCl-induced uterine contractions (p < 0.01 at 0.5 mg/mL). The plant extract had no effect on oxytocin-induced contractions under calcium-free conditions. Secondary metabolites belonging to classes of fatty acids, alkaloids, saponin glycosides, amino acids, limonoids, terpenes and porphyrins were identified.Conclusion: The current study reports an inhibitory effect of the plant on uterine contractility in this study, suggesting possible application as a tocolytic or as a contraceptive, as most contraceptive plants have shown uterine-relaxing effect

Assessment Of The Microbial Load And Some Physico-Chemical Parameters Of Some Finished Herbal Liquid Products

 Despite the benefits derived from herbal products, they may be contaminated with various impurities. It is therefore important to assess the microbial quality and heavy metal content of herbal preparations, especially liquid preparations and determine their safety profile. Herbal liquid preparations made locally by herbalists and sold to patients in herbal homes were used for this study. One bottle of each of seventeen (17) different liquid herbal preparations was purchased. From each bottle, three aliquot samples were assessed for microbial presence and total viable count. Isolation and identification of the contaminants were also carried out, while other determinations like pH, phytoconstituents, heavy metal and elemental contents were performed using standard methods of analyses. Results showed that, 4 (23.53%) had no microbial contaminants, while 13 (76.47%) were contaminated with various microbes. Of these contaminated preparations, 10 (58.82%) had single contaminants each, of which 1 (10%) had Staphylococcus aureus; 2 (20%) had Escherichia coli; 2 (20%) had Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 5 (50%) had Candida albicans. The remaining 3 (17.65%) had 2 contaminants each, of which 1 (33.33%) had E. coli and P. aeruginosa; 1 (33.33%) had E. coli and Staph. aureus; and 1 (33.33%) had Klebsiella pneumonia and Candida albicans. Total viable count and pH values of the different preparations ranged from 1.75 x 105 – 7.50 x 108 organisms/ml and 3.63 – 8.89, respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of useful phytoconstituents while elemental analysis revealed the presence of valuable elements whose values all fall within stipulated limits. Thus, the presence of microbes (above limits specified) in a greater percentage of the preparations despite the presence of useful phytoconstituents and elements, could adversely affect the health status of consumers of such herbal liquid preparations. Keywords: Assessment, Microbial load, Physico-Chemical parameters, Herbal products

Antimicrobial activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Tabernaemontana pachysiphon stapf. (Apocynaceae)

The ethanolic extracts of the dried root bark and stem bark has antiamebic activity against Entamoeba histolytica; antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Escherichia coli; with no antiviral activity against Herpes simplex, Poliovirus and Semlicki-forest. The extract of the dried root bark has antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans unlike the extract of the dried stem bark. Keywords: Tabernaemontana pachysiphon leaf, Antimicrobial studies.Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 11 2007 pp. 23-2

Phytochemical And Antidiarrhoeal Evaluation Of The Hexane And Methanol Extracts Of The Leaf Of Lecaniodiscus Cupanioides Planch (Sapindaceae)

 Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch (Sapindaceae) is widely used in Nigeria folk medicine for the treatment of many ailments such as inflammatory conditions, hepatomegaly, stomach disorders and bacterial infections. This study investigated the phytochemical and antidiarrhoeal activities (if any) of both the hexane and methanol extracts of the leaves, to justify its use in traditional medicine. Phytochemical tests were carried out using standard methods of analyses. The hexane and methanol extracts of the leaves were screened for possible antidiarrhoeal activities on mice gastrointestinal tract using two models which include measure of inhibition of castor oil- induced diarrhoea and measure of intestinal transit time. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, saponins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids and anthraquinone glycosides in the hexane and methanol extracts, while tannins were only found to be present in the methanol extract. Results of the castor oil- induced diarrhoeal model and intestinal transit time model showed that the hexane and methanol extracts administered at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively, produced no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) in terms of the average number of stools and the percentage distance travelled by charcoal meal in mice when compared to that of the control (10 ml/kg of 5% solution of Tween 80) but significantly differ (p &lt; 0.05) from that of the reference group receiving 3 mg/kg loperamide.  This suggests that both extracts possess biologically active metabolites responsible for the laxative activity observed at the tested doses. Thus, it could be used in the treatment of constipation. Key words: Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, Hexane extract, Methanol extract, Phytochemical, Gastrointestinal

Sex Dimorphism in Serum Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase and Lipoprotein Lipase Activities in Adult Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients with Proteinuria

Proteinuria in subjects with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an indication of an ongoing renal insufficiency and it’s prevalence varies between sexes. We evaluated sex differences in the activities of Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and the levels of lipoproteins in SCA patients with proteinuria. Fifty SCA patients (30 males aged: 26.4 ± 7.3 years and 20 females, aged 25.4 ± 2.6 years) and 50 age and sex matched control SCA patients were recruited for the study. Random urine specimens were collected and tested for the presence of albumin by urine dipstick technique. A 24 h urinary protein was quantitated using sulphosalicylic acid technique. Fasting serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and creatinine were determined using enzymes catalyzed colorimetric methods. HDL cholesterol was determined in the supernatant after precipitation with manganese chloride–phosphotungstic acid solution. LCAT was measured using the Anasolv LCAT assay with proteoliposome as substrate. LPL was determined by incubating the serum in glyceryl trioleate substrate, the glycerol liberated was measured in an aliquot of the incubating mixture. In male SCA controls there was 18.2 and 6.9% increase in the activities of LPL and LCAT respectively when compared with females but in SCA patients with proteinuria there was 8.4 and 5.2% decreases in the male SCA patients compared with females. The concentration of 24 h urine protein in the SCA male subjects with proteinuria was significantly higher (0.25 g/day; P < 0.001) compared with the SCA female patients with proteinuria (0.09 g/day). There are sex differences in the activities of LCAT and LPL in SCA patients with proteinuria. Metabolism of these lipolytic enzymes may be modulated differently in SCA patients with proteinuria