16 research outputs found
Long-term anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effects of aqueous stem bark extract of Irvingia gabonensis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Irvingia gabonensis is used traditionally to treat diabetes. The
antidiabetic effect of the seed extract has been demonstrated in human
and animal models. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term
anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic effects of aqueous stem bark
extract of I. gabonensis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Twenty four Wistar rats in three groups, normal control, diabetic
control and I. gabonensis treated diabetic rats (TDR) were used for
this study. Diabetes was induced in 16 rats by intraperitoneal
injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at 65mg/kg body weight. Upon
confirmation of diabetes, the treated diabetic rats were orally (by
gavage) given aqueous extract of I. gabonensis bark at 200 mg/kg body
weight daily for 24 weeks. Body weight was monitored weekly, while
fasting blood sugar (FBS) and serum lipid profile (triglycerides, total
cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol) were assessed at
specific intervals for 24 weeks. I. gabonensis significantly
(P<0.05) reduced the FBS of the treated diabetic rats to normal
control levels 2 weeks after the commencement of treatment. The
reduction of FBS was sustained till the end of the study (24 weeks).
Furthermore, at various stages of monitoring, the extract reduced the
STZ-induced elevation of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and
LDL-cholesterol, and significantly (p<0.05) increased the
STZ-induced decrease in HDL-cholesterol. Our study concludes that
aqueous stem bark extract of I. gabonensis possess significant
long-term anti-diabetic and hypolipidaemic effects. These
anti-hyperlipidaemic effects as well as the presence of phytochemicals
with recognizable anti-oxidant effects will be useful in the treatment
of diabetic complications
An overview of anti-diabetic plants used in Gabon: Pharmacology and Toxicology
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ethnopharmacological relevance: The management of diabetes mellitus management in African communities, especially in Gabon, is not well established as more than 60% of population rely on traditional treatments as primary healthcare. The aim of this review was to collect and present the scientific evidence for the use of medicinal plants that are in currect by Gabonese traditional healers to manage diabetes or hyperglycaemia based here on the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of plants with anti-diabetic activity. There are presented in order to promote their therapeutic value, ensure a safer use by population and provide some bases for further study on high potential plants reviewed. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical studies were sourced using databases such as Online Wiley library, Pubmed, Google Scholar, PROTA, books and unpublished data including Ph.D. and Master thesis, African and Asian journals. Keywords including âDiabetesâ âGabonâ âToxicityâ âConstituentsâ âhyperglycaemiaâ were used. Results: A total of 69 plants currently used in Gabon with potential anti-diabetic activity have been identified in the literature, all of which have been used in in vivo or in vitro studies. Most of the plants have been studied in human or animal models for their ability to reduce blood glucose, stimulate insulin secretion or inhibit carbohydrates enzymes. Active substances have been identified in 12 out of 69 plants outlined in this review, these include Allium cepa and Tabernanthe iboga. Only eight plants have their active substances tested for anti-diabetic activity and are suitables for further investigation. Toxicological data is scarce and is dose-related to the functional parameters of major organs such as kidney and liver. Conclusion: An in-depth understanding on the pharmacology and toxicology of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is lacking yet there is a great scope for new treatments. With further research, the use of Gabonese anti-diabetic plants is important to ensure the safety of the diabetic patients in Gabon.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio
Long term hypolipidaemic and anti-atherogenic effects ofCarica papaya Linn. administration on normal rabbits
Carica papaya Linn. (Caricaceae) is commonly called paw-paw and papaya. It is used widely in the tropics and sub-tropics as food and medicinal plant. Various parts of the plant are used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of indigestion, asthma, beriberi, jaundice, as well as for wound dressing. This study was designed to assess the long term (24 weeks) effects of daily oral administration of C. papaya aqueous leaf extract (at 200 mg/kg body weight) on the serum lipid profile and other atherogenic indices of normal rabbits. Total cholesterol, total triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, atherogenic and coronary risk indices were monitored periodically for 24 weeks. Administration of C. papaya leaf extract caused significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. Also, from week 10 of this study, HDL-cholesterol concentration increased in the C. papaya treated rabbits. Atherogenic and coronary risk indices were not altered. The antihyperlipidaemic effect observed in this study may be attributed to the nutrients and phytochemicals found in C. papaya.Keywords: Lipid profile; Atherogenic index; Coronary risk index; Carica papaya; Medicinal plants; Hypolipidaemi
Effects of Vitamin C on Kidney and Bone of Rats Exposed to Low Doses of Cadmium
ABSTRACT: In this study, the effect of vitamin C on cadmium-induced toxicity was investigated. Wister rats were exposed to cadmium (as CdSO4.8H2O), by sub-cutaneous injection, at doses of 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 Όg/kg body weight, with or without vitamin C supplementation, for four weeks. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity of the group of rats not supplemented vitamin C (group III) significantly (p<0.05) increased, all the groups supplemented with vitamin C also had significantly (p<0.05) increased serum alkaline phosphatase. The bone protein level and serum calcium of the vitamin C untreated group of rats, significantly (p<0.05) decreased relative to control. The bone calcium of the vitamin C treated rats significantly (p<0.05) decreased (group IIIc from 2896.30 ± 344.64 mg Ca/dl to 1049 ± 101.43 mg Ca/dl) while the bone phosphate of this same group of rats, significantly (p<0.05) increased. For some parameters evaluated, such as serum calcium and bone protein concentration, the effects of cadmium on the vitamin C treated rats were less pronounced, indicating that vitamin C may be protective against cadmium-induced toxicity
Long-term effects of three hypoglycaemic plants ( Irvingia gabonensis , Urena lobata and Carica papaya ) on the oxidative status of normal rabbits
Medicinal plants have been recognized to have therapeutic effects and
they may also have toxic side effects. Our previous studies have shown
that Irvingia gabonensis , Urena lobata and Carica papaya , locally
used in Nigeria to treat diabetes, possess long term hypoglycaemic and
anti-obesity effects on normal rabbits. In this study, the long term
effects of aqueous extracts of I. gabonensis bark, U. lobata root and
C. papaya leaves on the oxidative status of normal rabbits were
monitored at specific intervals in the serum for 24 weeks, and in the
tissues. Oxidative status was determined by measuring activities of
superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and the concentration of
malondialdehyde (MDA). Significant (p<0.05) decreases were observed
in some weeks in the serum MDA levels; also, liver and pancreatic MDA
levels were significantly (p<0.05) lower for all treated rabbits.
SOD and catalase activities in the serum and tissue of the rabbits
treated with the medicinal plants were generally higher or statistical
similar to control. Findings in this study showed that these
hypoglycemic medicinal plants did not exert oxidative damage; in some
instances, particularly in the pancreas, they were found to be
protective against oxidative damage