Phytochemicals and in vitro antioxidant potentials of defatted methanolic extract ofHolarrhena floribunda leaves

Plant-based dietary components and additives are known to protect cells from deleterious effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Proximate, phytochemical and antioxidant potentials of methanolic extract of defatted Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) leaves were assessed using in vitro systems such as, 1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical scavenging and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Total antioxidant activity was measured using phosphomolybdenummethod. Total phenol content and the reductive potential of the extract were also evaluated. The results of the proximate analysis revealed that the leaf contained 0.23% moisture, 12.8% ash, 9.62% crude fat, 23.3% crude fibre, 21.17% protein and 32.68% carbohydrate while the phytochemical constituents included alkaloid, saponin, tannin and cardiac glycosides. The leaf extract of H. floribunda (G. Don) exhibited scavenging activity with IC50 of 12.63, 1,377.00 and 244.00 ìg/ml for DPPH, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide radical respectively. The extract conferred 50% protection at the concentration of 73.80 ìg/ml on lipid peroxidation induced by FeSO4 in egg yolk. Total antioxidant capacity equivalent of gallicacid and vitamin C were 195.57 and 519.28 g/mg of extract respectively and total phenol content equivalent of gallic acid was 1427.87 ìg/mg. The reductive potential increased with increasing concentration of extract. The results obtained from this study reveal that the extract is rich inantioxidant components with several mechanisms of eliciting antioxidant actions which provide scientific basis for its use in folk medicine

Anti hyperglycemic activities of Annona muricata (Linn)

This study was designed to determine the effects of methanolic extracts of Annona muricata (Linn) on the blood glucose level of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B and C) of ten rats each. Group A was the control, Group B was untreated hyperglycemic group and group C was A. muricata-treated group. Hyperglycemia was induced in groups B and C by a single intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equivalent volume of citrate buffer and all the animals were monitored for four weeks. Daily intra peritoneal injection of 100mg/kg A. muricata was administered to group C rats for two weeks and the animals were monitored for another two weeks. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed a mean body weight of 206 + 7.74g, 173.29+5.13g and 197 + 5.62g respectively for the control, untreated diabetic and A. muricata-treated diabetic group, and a mean blood glucose concentration of 3.78 + 0.190 mmol/L, 21.64 + 2.229mmol/L and 4.22 + 0.151mmol/L for the control, untreated diabetic and treated diabetic groups respectively. A significant difference exists between the blood glucose concentrations of treated and untreated hyperglycemic groups of rats. The result of this study demonstrated that A. muricata possesses anti-hyperglycemic activities.Key words: Annona muricata, Diabetes mellitus, Streptozotocin, Blood glucose level, hyperglycemi

Radical scavenging compounds from the aerial parts of Solenostemon monostachys briq (Lamiaceae)

Background: Solenostemon monostachys Briq. (Lamiaceae) is a weed widely used in ethno medicine to treat infections and inflammatory conditions but the active compounds are yet to be identified. This study isolated and identified the radical scavenging compounds from S. monostachys crude extract using diphenyl-1, 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) to monitor the separation.Materials and Methods: The crude extract of the aerial parts of the plant was evaluated for antimicrobial activity using the agar diffusion test, anti-inflammatory test using carrageenan induced oedema of the rat paw and radical scavenging test using diphenyl-1, 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH). Repeated chromatographic separation of the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, monitored by DPPH bio-autographic assay resulted in the isolation of seven active compounds, which were identified using spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature data.Results: The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were the most active fractions and contained apigenin, apigenin glucuronide, luteolin, caffeic acid, methyl caffeate, rosmarinic acid and methyl rosmarinate as the radical scavenging compounds with EC50 values of 26.67 ± 0.31, 185.89 ± 1.02, 5.35 ± 0.31, 3.92 ± 0.06, 13.41 ± 0.18, 4.99 ± 0.10, 5.97 ± 0.08 μg/ml respectively compared with 2.32 ± 0.08 μg/ml for quercetin as the reference standard.Conclusion: The isolated compounds are reported for the first time in this plant. The presence of the compounds in S. monostachys P. Beauv. (Briq.) (Lamiaceae) may provide justification for some of the ethnomedicinal uses of the plant in infections and inflammatory conditions.Keywords: Flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, radical scavenging ability, Lamiacea

Neuropharmacological effects of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice

Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a common plant, which has featured prominently in traditional medicinal practice. It has been reported that the decoction of the leaves is taken as central nervous system stimulant. This work was therefore undertaken to examine the central nervous system effects. The neuropharmacological profile of the plant was determined in mice to which the plant extract had been orally administered at respective doses of 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg. The behavioral models used included noveltyinduced behaviors (locomotion, rearing and grooming), holeboard and elevated plus maze (anxiolytic) and forced swimming (antidepressant). The Y-maze was used for the investigation of the plant extract on locomotion, learning and memory. The results obtained showed that both locomotor and rearing activities were significantly decreased at the highest dose of 1000 mg/kg orally, while grooming behavior was significantly decreased at all the doses administered. In the hole board experiment, the frequency of head-dips was decreased significantly at 1000 mg/kg, while there was no significant effect observed in the elevated plus maze. Y-maze model results showed that it had no significant effect on spatial memory. There was no significant difference in the immobility duration due to administration of the extract in the forced swimming test. In conclusion, the present study showed that although the ethanolic leaf extract of A. cordifolia exhibited some central inhibitory effect, it is devoid of anxiolytic, antidepressant activities and has no significant effect on learning and memory in mice.Keyword: A. cordifolia, locomotion, grooming, mice, anxiolytic, antidepressant, mic

Toxicity potentials and novelty-induced behavior effects of JEDDY decoction

JEDDY decoction, a plant medicine, is prepared by the “Village Chemist” of Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria for the treatment of hemorrhoids, pile, flatulence, abdominal distention, indigestion and colic. It is a popular OTC herbal medicine, available in Nigeria especially in the South-west. Hence, the main objective of the research was to carry out scientific studies on its toxicity potentials as well as possible central effects. Twenty four albino rats of both sexes were obtained and divided into four groups (n=6 per group) for the administration of three dose levels of JEDDY decoction and the vehicle. In sub-chronic toxicity test, JEDDY decoction was  administered orally to rats at daily doses of 334, 667 and 1334  ìl/kg/day/30 days. Generally, their behavioral, mortality, biochemical and histopathological outcomes were evaluated. Noveltyinduced behavior (NIB) was observed on both day 1 and day 30 of administration of JEDDY  decoction and the vehicle. The animals were sacrificed on day 30 after the NIB scoring and blood sample was obtained for biochemical assays for triglycerides, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate  aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) using the serum. These biochemical assays were also carried out on the liver obtained from rats treated with both JEDDY decoction and the vehicle, respectively. ANOVA, followed by Post hoc analysis using student Newman Keuls test was used in establishing significant levels for all the data obtained statistically. The sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction revealed a  dose-dependent decrease in the body weight of the treated groups but the percentage change was statistically not significant when compared with the control. The sub-chronic administration at all the three dose levels revealed no significant effect on locomotion and rearing activities when compared with the control. Acute administration of JEDDY decoction at the three dose levels (344, 667 and 1334 ìl/kg/30 days, p.o.) also revealed no significant effects on locomotion activities when compared with the control but the ANOVA revealed that there was a significant decrease in grooming activities at the dose of 667 ìl/kg only when compared with the control. Biochemical analysis showed that there was a significant decrease on triglyceride and cholesterol level due to JEDDY decoction administration when compared with the control. Furthermore, biochemical analysis showed that sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction caused no significant effect on ALT, AST and ALP in rats when compared with the control. Thus, oral acute and sub-chronic administration of JEDDY decoction had no significant potential toxicity effect in rats.Keywords: JEDDY decoction, herbal, toxicity, grooming, behavior

A New Bioactive Thiophenolic Glycoside From The Leaf Of Massularia Acuminata (G. Don Bullock) Ex Hoyle (Rubiaceae)

Background: Massularia acuminata is a small tree or shrub of tropical rainforest. The leaves are used in Nigerian ethno-medicine for the treatment of microbial infections and pharmacological report suggested the leaf extract as possessing antioxidant activity. This study was therefore carried out to determine the most antioxidant and antimicrobial active  fraction(s) of Massularia acuminata leaf and the constituent(s) responsible for the activities.Matherials and Methods: The leaf of Massularia acuminata was investigated for in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, using a  2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and agar  dilution method respectively.Results: The ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated the best activities among the partitioned fractions tested. Bioassay guided purification of the most active ethyl acetate fraction led to isolation of a new thiophenolic glycoside, characterized as 4-(3´,3´-dihydroxy-1-mercaptopropyl)phenyl glycosylpyranoside.Conclusion: The isolated compound from the leaf of Massularia acuminata demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and may be responsible for the activities of leaf extract and its ethyl acetate fraction, hence this may justify its ethnomedicinal use.Key words: Massularia acuminata, antioxidant, antimicrobial, DPPH, agar dilution, thiophenolic glycosid

Chemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Alstonia boonei

The chemical composition and some antioxidant indices of Alstonia boonei stem-bark extract were evaluated. A. boonei was found to contain important minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were among the phytochemicals detected together with the important vitamin, ascorbic acid. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content and reducing power were41.58 ± 1.43 %, 2.09 ± 0.04 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and 0.32 ± 0.01 respectively. Against the backdrop of the many medicinal uses of the plant, the results of the present work indicate that phytochemicals, other than phenolics, the mineral elements and vitamin C may be the critical factors in the medicinal effects of A. boonei

Antioxidant Activities and Food Value of Five Underutilized Green Leafy Vegetables in South Western Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the food value and antioxidant activities of five underutilized leafy vegetables namely: Bidens pilosa L.-Beggar’s ticks/ Cobbler’s pegs; Celosia trigyna L.- Woolflower; Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth) S. Moore - Fireweed/Redflower ragleaf; Launaea taracifolia (L.) Cars- Wild lettuce and Solanum nigrum L. - Black Nightshade/Sun berry. Materials and methods: Fresh shoots of the five vegetables were collected from the wild, cleaned and milled. Food values which include proximate, minerals, and vitamin C contents were analyzed following the routine chemical analytical methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect and phenolic compounds concentrations of the plants extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. Results: The antioxidant activities and nutrient contents of the five vegetables showed variable trends and considerable high values. Across the vegetables, antioxidant activities ranged from 67.2% (L. taracifolia) to 91.8% (B. pilosa) at a concentration of 1mg/ml of the extracted material. The total phenol contents were between 5953.5±1.5 and 10193.5±0.5 mg/100g. The flavonoid contents varied from 3438±1.00 to 4974±1.00 mg/100g. Anthocyanin content in mg/100g ranged from 0.385±0.005 to 5.065±0.015 while Proanthocyanidin content varied from 0.125±0.05 to 2.050±0.15 in the extract powder. Crude protein values ranged from 3.5 to 9.16 g/100g, Carbohydrate contents varied from 1.09 to 9.43 g/100g while ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) compositions ranged from 27.2 to 87.3 mg/100g. Ca content ranged from 31.23 to 54.90 mg/100g, while Fe content varied from 21.25 to 139.75 mg/100g. Conclusion: The vegetables contained appreciable quantities of protein, iron, calcium and vitamin C. The antioxidant activities and phenolic antioxidant contents of the vegetables were also high. The health claims associated with some of these food values and bioactive compounds are noteworthy, thereby underlining the potential role of these underutilized vegetables as functional foods

Anticholinesterase constituents from the leaves of Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae)

Taiwo Olayemi Elufioye,1 Efere M Obuotor,2 Joseph M Agbedahunsi,3 Saburi A Adesanya4 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2Department of Biochemistry, 3Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, 4Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun, Nigeria Abstract: Spondias mombin has been used in traditional medicine for the management of several diseases, including memory loss. This study aimed to evaluate the cholinesterase inhibitory activity of the methanol extract of the leaves and its derived fractions, as well as carry out detailed phytochemical investigations leading to the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from the plant. The acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BUChE) inhibitory activities were evaluated by colorimetric and thin-layer chromatography bioautographic assay techniques. The ethyl acetate fraction was most active against both enzymes, with percentage inhibition of 58.10 ± 1.08% and 52.66 ± 1.34% against AChE and BUChE, respectively. Three compounds, namely, botulin, campesterol and phytol, with IC50 of 0.88 μg/mL (AChE), 4.67 μg/mL (BuChE); 1.89 μg/mL (AChE), 4.08 μg/mL (BuChE) and 12.51 μg/mL (AChE), 23.89 μg/mL (BuChE), respectively, were isolated from the supernatant of the ethyl acetate fraction. The isolated cholinesterase inhibitory compounds correlate with the known memory-enhancing property of the plant and thus support one of its uses in ethnomedicine. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, acetylcholinesterase, butyryl cholinesterase, neurodegenerative, Spondias mombin&nbsp

Food as Medicine: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory and Toxicity of Carica Papaya Seeds

Food is a great source of medicine because it supports life existence and its absence can lead to death. Carica papaya, a fruit which is popular worldwide, possesses a number of medicinal attributes. The ripe and matured unripe seeds were investigated for their acetycholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, toxicity and antioxidant activities. AChE inhibitory activities of 70% cold ethanolic extract of the pawpaw seeds were assessed. Partitioned fractions using petroleum spirit and ethyl acetate and the vacuum liquid chromatographed portions of the ethyl acetate fraction were all evaluated in-vitro at 500μg/ml concentration using modified Ellman method. The Brine shrimp lethality test of the extract was used to determine the toxicity profile and DPPH to determine the antioxidant property. The results showed that the crude extract gave 41.16% AChE inhibition. Purification enhanced the activity. The ethyl acetate fraction on analysis produced 60.29% activity and the semi-pure compound from the VLC analysis resulted in 65.25% activity whilst Eserine gave 74.78% inhibition.. The autobiographic antioxidant TLC analysis using DPPH as detection agent showed the unripe matured seeds to possess antioxidant activity. The study is reporting for the first time the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of C papaya. Based on the results obtained, it may be deduced that the fruit can be eaten to manage Alzheimer’s disease