Antioxidant properties, macro and micro elements of selected edible vegetables

Background: Many green leafy vegetables (GLV) have been shown to have  significant antioxidant activity which may be an important property of medicinal plants associated with the treatment of several diseases. Trace element plays a crucial role in the medicinal value of a plant, in health and to cure disease. They play a nutritive, catalytic and balancing function in plants and animals, since animals  easily consume these minerals through food.Objective: The aim of this work is to quantify the macro and trace elements present in these vegetables in order to determine their contribution to the daily dietary  requirement and also determine those element that are present in excess of their maximum dietary allowance.Methodology: The elemental composition and antioxidant activities of ten common edible vegetables obtain from a market in Ibadan, Nigeria were analyzed using  atomic absorption spectroscopy and DPPH radical scavenging assay.Result: Three macro elements and seven trace elements were determined. The  vegetables samples were found to contain trace elements such as manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, chromium (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Cr). Telfaria occidentalis, one of the most widely eaten vegetables has the best profile for macro elements with a  concentration of 364.2±1.1 mg/g for Ca, 55.4±1.3 mg/g for Mn and 365.6±0.3 mg/g for K. It also had a concentration of 1185.0±0.8 mg/g for Fe.Conclusion: Only one of the vegetables was found to accumulate lead in excess of maximum daily intake. All vegetables were found to be rich in many of the essential elements and all vegetables exhibited varying degree of antioxidant capacity with Gnetum africanum (Gnetaceae) having the highest radical scavenging activity of 14.58 ± 1.8 μg/mL .Keywords: Macro elements, Trace elements, DPPH radical scavenging, Edible  vegetabl

Anti-poliovirus activity of medicinal plants selected from the Nigerian ethno-medicine

This study was carried out to validate acclaimed anti-poliovirus effect of crude methanol extracts from 14 medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Southwest Nigeria. Plant samples were powdered and extracted by cold maceration into absolute methanol and maximum non toxic concentration (MNTC) of each plant extract to rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells was determined in tissue culture. Using serial twofold dilution of the MNTC (specific for each extract), ability of extract to inhibit viral-induced cell death (CPE) in tissue culture was evaluated three days post-infection by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assays. 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) was determined by statistical analysis. Selective index was calculated as ratio of CC50 to IC50. Out of the 14 plant extracts evaluated for anti-poliovirus activity, Senna siamea (Lamk.) Irwin et Barneby (bark extract) and Zephyranthes candida Lindl (whole plant) demonstrated significant in vitro activity with IC50 of 0.0019 and 0.121 μg/mL, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts indicated that activities were retained in chloroform fraction of Z. candida, and also in hexane and chloroform fractions of S. siamea, but none of the polar fractions were active. These results support the traditional use of S. siamea and Z. candida as antiviral agents and suggest that they could provide a possible source for anti-poliovirus drug discovery and development.Keywords: Anti-poliovirus activity, traditional medicine, MTT colorimetric assayAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(24), pp. 3878-388

Traditional Management of Tuberculosis in Ogun State of Nigeria: The Practice and Ethnobotanical Survey

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on plants used traditionally for the management of tuberculosis in five local government areas of Ogun State, Nigeria, in a bid to document herbs used in the management of tuberculosis with the aim of identifying possible drug lead from the phytomedicine of these communities. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the required information on the use of herbal remedies for the management. A total of 50 respondents made up of herbalists (40.0%), herb sellers (52.0%) and traditional medicine practitioners (8.0%) were interviewed in the study. The dominant age of respondents was in the range of 21–40 years (72.0%). Duration of treatment of tuberculosis with herbs was between 2–12 weeks. A total of 36 plants belonging to 20 families were proffered for the management of tuberculosis. Eighty four percent (42%) of the 50 respondents interviewed said that their clients observed no side effects and that the herbs were either available in the forest or purchased from the markets. Cola acumminata (fruit), Garcinia kola (leaf), Vitallaria parodoxa (oil), Costus afer (stem), Pycnanthus angolensis (stem bark) and Aframomum melegueta (fruit) were the most frequently mentioned herbs. The ethnomedicines of the studied areas of Ogun State, Nigeria seem to have a high potential as a source of drug discovery of anti-tuberculosis. This is of utmost importance because people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are susceptible to tuberculosis

In vitro cytotoxic activity of medicinal plants from Nigeria ethnomedicine on Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cell line and HPLC analysis of active extracts

Abstract Background Cancer is a leading cause of death world-wide, with approximately 17.5 million new cases and 8.7 million cancer related deaths in 2015. The problems of poor selectivity and severe side effects of the available anticancer drugs, have demanded the need for the development of safer and more effective chemotherapeutic agents. The present study was aimed at determining the cytotoxicities of 31 medicinal plants extracts, used in Nigerian ethnomedicine for the treatment of cancer. Methods The plant extracts were screened for cytotoxicity, using the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) and MTT cytotoxicity assay. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell line, normal Vero cell line and the normal prostate (PNT2) cell line were used for the MTT assay, while Artemia salina nauplii was used for the BSLA. The phytochemical composition of the active plant extracts was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Results The extract of Eluesine indica (L.) Gaertn (Poaceae), with a LC50 value of 76.3 μg/mL, had the highest cytotoxicity on the brine shrimp larvae compared to cyclophosphamide (LC50 = 101.3 μg/mL). Two plants extracts, Macaranga barteri Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) and Calliandra portoricensis (Jacq.) Benth (Leguminosae) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against the RD cell line and had comparable lethal activity on the brine shrimps. Further cytotoxic investigation showed that the dichloromethane fraction of Macaranga barteri (DMB) and the ethyl acetate fraction of Calliandra portoricensis (ECP), exhibited approximately 6-fold and 4-fold activity, respectively, compared to cyclophosphamide on RD cell line. Determination of selective index (SI) using Vero and PNT2 cell line indicated that DMB and ECP displayed a high degree of selectivity against the cancer cell under investigation. HPLC analysis showed that 3,5dicaffeoylquinic acid, acteoside, kampferol-7-O-glucoside and bastadin 11 were the major components of DMB while the major components of ECP were neurolenin B, nigrosporolide and trans-geranic acid. Conclusion The results demonstrate the cytotoxicity of Macaranga barteri and Calliandra portoricensis extracts, which are used in Nigerian folklore for cancer treatment

Molecular identification, in vivo and in vitro activities of Calvatia gigantea (macro-fungus) as an antidiabetic agent

Mushrooms are cherished as sources of food, nutrients and medicine. Inadequate data on the identity and medicinal properties of many wild Nigerian mushrooms has limited their utilization. This work was carried out to identify and authenticate a puffball mushroom using molecular tools and investigate its antidiabetic properties. Taxonomic guides were employed in morphological identifying the mushroom as Lycoperdon umbrinum, methanol extract of fruiting bodies was evaluated for antidiabetic activity using in vitro α-amylase assay and in vivo activity in the alloxan-induced diabetic rat model. The macro fungus was identified using Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) sequence analysis after which sequences generated were compared using the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) at NCBI GenBank. In the acute in vivo test, the 400 mg/kg dose showed the best activity with percentage reduction in blood glucose 29.3%, compared with 5 mg/kg glibenclamide at 15%. The in vitro assay established that the extract possessed potent activity with IC50 of 0.46 µg/mL compared to its DCM, butanol fractions and acarbose (IC50 5.3 µg/mL, 5.6 µg/mL, 45 µg/mL) respectively. BLAST analysis revealed the mushroom (accession number, KRO78278.1) to show 98% identity to Calvatia gigantea. The study established the identity of this mushroom and confirmed its antidiabetic activity

Antiprotozoal investigation of three Combretum species (Combretaceae) growing in Nigeria

Introduction:Combretum species has been utilised for decades in African indigenous medical practices for the treatment of several parasitic infections

In vitro antiviral activity of twenty-seven medicinal plant extracts from Southwest Nigeria against three serotypes of echoviruses

Abstract Background Echoviruses, a serotype of enteroviruses, infect millions of people globally and there is no specific drug treatment or vaccine available for its management. The screening of medicinal plants used locally for the treatment of infectious diseases, can provide a reliable option in the discovery of potent therapeutic compounds. This study was carried out to investigate the antiviral activities of 27 medicinal plant extracts, belonging to 26 different plant species, selected from Nigerian ethnobotany, against echovirus 7, 13 and 19 serotypes (E7, E13 and E19, respectively). Methods The plants were macerated in methanol and the cytotoxicities of the crude extracts were evaluated on the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line using the MTT assay. The antiviral activity of the plant extracts and fractions against echoviruses (E7, E13, and E19) was determined using the neutralisation assay, an assay that measures the inhibition of cytopathic effect on cell culture. Results The crude extract of Macaranga barteri leaves had the highest cytotoxicity with CC50 value of 0.27 μg/mL. This was followed by Crinum jagus (9.88 μg/mL) and Terminalia ivorensis (12.14 μg/mL). The antiviral screening showed that ten out of the 27 crude plant extracts tested were active on E7 and E19, inhibiting the cytopathic effect of the virus in tissue culture. None of the extracts inhibited the cytopathic effect caused by E13 serotype. Amongst the active plant extracts, the methanol extract of M. barteri leaves had the highest antiviral activity on both E7 and E9 with IC50 values of 0.028 and 0.0017 ng/mL, respectively, followed by the Ageratum conyzoides extract (0.208 μg/mL, E7; 0.006 μg/mL, E19) and Mondia whitei extract (0.038 μg/mL, E7; 0.005 μg/mL, E19). Amongst the fractions of M. barteri, the DCM fraction was most the active and selective on E7 (IC50 = 0.0075 ng/mL; SI = 19,896.54) and E19 (IC50 = 0.0175 ng/mL; SI = 8581.24). Conclusion Our research has demonstrated that Macaranga barteri extracts has potent antiviral activity against echoviruses E7 and E19, and our findings suggest that this extract may have potential as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of enteroviral infections

Nutritional and pharmacological potentials of orphan legumes: Subfamily faboideae

Legumes are a major food crop in many developing nations. However, orphan or underutilized legumes are domesticated legumes that have valuable properties but are less significant than main legumes due to use and supply restrictions. Compared to other major legumes, they are better suited to harsh soil and climate conditions, and their great tolerance to abiotic environmental circumstances like drought can help to lessen the strains brought on by climate change. Despite this, their economic significance in international markets is relatively minimal. This article is aimed at carrying out a comprehensive review of the nutritional and pharmacological benefits of orphan legumes from eight genera in the sub-family Faboidea, namely Psophocarpus Neck. ex DC., Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre Hillc., Vigna Savi., Vicia L., Baphia Afzel. ex G. Lodd., Mucuna Adans, Indigofera L. and Macrotyloma (Wight & Arn.) Verdc, and the phytoconstituents that have been isolated and characterized from these plants. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for articles that have previously reported the relevance of underutilized legumes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species was also conducted for the status of the species. References were scrutinized and citation searches were performed on the study. The review showed that many underutilized legumes have a lot of untapped potential in terms of their nutritional and pharmacological activities. The phytoconstituents from plants in the subfamily Faboideae could serve as lead compounds for drug discovery for the treatment of a variety of disorders, indicating the need to explore these plant species

Cytotoxic action of the leaves of Uvaria chamae P.Beauv. and Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I.Darbysh. from Nigeria mediated through intrinsic apoptotic pathway induction in four cancer cell lines

Background: Over the years, the morbidity and mortality due to cancer have continued to increase worldwide. Plants are well utilized in Nigeria ethno-medicine for cancer treatment. However, scientific evidence, particularly at the molecular level, has been lacking, and biodiversity loss is a threat. Aim of the study: The cytotoxic activity of the leaves of six plants used in Nigeria ethno-medicine was investigated and the molecular pathway of cytotoxic action of two active extracts on four cancer cell lines (A549, RD, MCF-7, and HeLa) was also assessed. Materials and methods: Cytotoxic activities of the plant extracts were assessed on breast (MCF-7), lung (A549), cervical (HeLa), adenocarcinoma and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells using MTT cell viability assay in a time-dependent manner. The sandwich ELISA method was used to assess the protein expressions (Bcl-2, BAX, and executioner caspase 3) involved in the apoptotic pathway in cancer cells after treatment with cytotoxic extracts. UHPLC-MS/MS approach was used to analyze the possible bioactive phytochemicals of the cytotoxic plant extract. Results: Uvaria chamae and Dicliptera paniculata extracts displayed good cytotoxicity across all cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner (CC50 <30 µg/mL). Increased pro-apoptotic BAX and lowered expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 show the cytotoxic action of the two extracts followed the intrinsic apoptotic pathway compared to untreated cells. The increased expression of executioner caspase 3 indicated that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was caspase-dependent. Conclusion: The anticancer potential of U. chamae and D. paniculata in this study validates the use of these plants in Nigerian ethno-medicine, highlighting apoptosis as a molecular pathway of their cytotoxicity