Seeds of moringa (Moringa oleifera) and mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.) modulate biochemical indices of L-NAME-induced hypertension in rats: A comparative study

Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Hypertension management often involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs, which can have adverse side effects. Hence, there is a growing interest in alternative therapies, such as herbal medicine, for the management of hypertension. This present study investigated the cardioprotective properties of moringa (Moringa oleifera) and mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.) seeds at 5 and 10% dietary inclusions and also establish the most potent seed. The blood pressure of the rats were measured at the last day of treatment. Also, the heart acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities were determined, as well as the redox status of the rats. This study shows a reduction in blood pressure, AChE and MAO activities of hypertensive rats treated with the moringa and mucuna seeds. Furthermore, an increase in non-protein thiol (NP-SH) with a concomitant reduction in level of lipid peroxidation was also recorded. In addition, the mucuna seed is recorded to have a more cardioprotective property when compared with moringa seed. This study, therefore, revealed the mechanism of action of moringa seed and mucuna seed against l-NAME-induced hypertension or cardiotoxicity which could be linked to the antioxidant activity and modulation of AChE and MAO activities

Amnesiac (AMN) gene and cnc/Nrf2-redox responses in fruit fly model of memory impairment co-administered Solanum leaves and donepezil

Background: Considering that Alzheimer disease (AD) is a disease of multiple etiological theories, there is a continuous quest for multitarget approach for its management. In view of this, combinatory approach using therapeutic drugs and functional foods is gaining wide popularity. Leaves of Solanum spp such as S. nigrum and S. macrocarpon which are cultivated across the world including Southeast Asia and Africa has several health-promoting benefits. While we have previously reported that both S. nigrum and its relative of African origin S. macrocarpon has neuroprotective properties, however, there is dearth of information on their possible interaction with anti-amnesic drugs which suggests a possible novel therapeutic hypothesis. Purpose: This study investigated the effects of combining Black Nightshade (BN; S. nigrum) and African eggplant (AE; S. macrocarpon) dietary inclusions with donepezil, to gain insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying any synergistic effects resulting from the interaction between these food components and the drug, with the ultimate goal of developing comprehensive intervention. Methods: Six to eight-day-old flies were grouped into five. The treatment lasted for seven days and the survival rate of the flies was recorded. Thereafter, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and antioxidant status of the head tissue were assayed. Also, the level of expression of amnesiac gene (AMN) and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene, as well as phytochemical present in the samples were quantified. Results: The phytochemical screening results revealed abundance of quercetin and kaempferol. Furthermore, the induced group exhibited impaired cholinergic system, increased mortality rate and oxidative stress, as well as reduced catalase activity compared to the control. Treatment with donepezil and the combinations improved flies survival rate and ameliorated the impaired cholinergic system and oxidative stress levels. Similarly, the downregulated expression of AMN and cnc/Nrf2 genes observed in the induced flies was upregulated in the treated groups. The HPLC result revealed the abundance of quercetin in both samples, which could be attributed to their neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. Conclusions: The administration of donepezil with the consumption of AE but not the combination of donepezil with BN, significantly improved the memory impairment through interactions with the AMN and cnc/Nrf2 genes but not AChE activity

African Jointfir (Gnetum africanum) and Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaf alkaloid extracts exert antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)

Abstract African Jointfir (Gnetum africanum) and Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaves are two leafy green veggies with several nutritional and medicinal properties. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a form of neurodegeneration that is believed to cause dementia in affected individuals. The quest for alternative treatments has necessitated the exploitation of plants' secondary metabolites. Plant alkaloids have recently demonstrated relevance in the management of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders; although there is limited information on the neuroprotective properties of alkaloids from various tropical green leafy vegetables with neuroprotective potentials. As a result, this study examined the cholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant potential of alkaloid extracts from the leaves of African Jointfir (G. africanum) and Editan (L. africana). Standard solvent extraction techniques were used to prepare alkaloid extracts. After that, these extracts were characterized using high‐performance liquid chromatography. In vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay for the extracts was also carried out. Subsequently, the alkaloid extracts were included in the diets of these flies (2 and 10 μg/g) for 7 days. Thereafter, treated fly homogenates were assayed for cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and antioxidant enzymes (specifically, glutathione‐S‐transferase catalase, and superoxide dismutase) activities, in addition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, reactive oxygen species, and total thiol contents. The extracts showed considerable anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antimonoamine oxidase capabilities, according to the study's findings. Also, HPLC characterization revealed that desulphosinigrin (597,000 ng/100 g) and atropine (44,200 ng/100 g) are the predominating phytochemicals in Editan and African Jointfir respectively. These extracts could serve as potential sources of nutraceuticals with neuroprotective properties which can be used in the treatment/management of Alzheimer's disease

Bitter gourd flavored Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer (NAWB) exhibited antidiabetic properties by modulating carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes and upregulates insulin and GLUT-2 mRNA expressions in High Fat Diet/Streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) induced diabetic rats

Abstract To improve the control of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), this study investigated the potential benefits of an alcohol-free beer flavored with bitter gourd leaves, a plant with proven hypoglycemic properties. The high fat/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) model was used to induce diabetes in Wistar rats as test subjects. The rats were divided into eight groups (n = 5) as follows: HP (STZ + 100% Hops); BG (STZ + 100% Bitter Gourd); 75:25BG (STZ + 75% Hops; 25%BG); 50:50BG (STZ + 50%Hops50%Bitter Gourd); 25:75BG (STZ + 25%Hops75%Bitter Gourd); Acarbose (STZ + Acarbose); DC (STZ-diabetic control group); NC (Normal Control group). Following a 14-day treatment, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in blood sugar, serum glucose, α-amylase activity, α-glucosidase activity, and lipase activity. As the percentage of bitter gourd inclusion increased, the expression of GLUT-2 and insulin genes was upregulated. The beer sample with the lowest percentage inclusion of Hops (25:75BG) had the lowest glycemic index (GI). The study suggested that bitter gourd-flavored alcohol-free beer reduces blood glucose through muptiple pathways and could be a useful dietary intervention in the management of type 2 diabetes. Graphical Abstrac

In vitro neuroprotective potentials of aqueous and methanol extracts from Heinsia crinita leaves

This study was designed to determine the neuroprotective potentials of aqueous and methanol extracts from Heinsia crinita leaves in vitro. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined using colorimetric method while phenolic characterization of the leaf was analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The effects of the extracts on Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rats’ brain homogenate, monoamine oxidase (MAO), Na+/K+-ATPase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities were also assessed. The aqueous extract had higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than the methanol extract. HPLC-DAD revealed that quercetin ellagic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the leaves. The aqueous extract had higher inhibitory effects on MAO, AChE and BChE activities while there was no significant difference between their Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects. Furthermore, both extracts stimulated Na+/K+-ATPase activity; however, methanol extract had higher stimulatory effect. The neuroprotective properties of H. crinita leaves could be associated with its inhibitory effects on Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation and modulation of MAO, Na+/K+-ATPase, AChE, and BChE activities. Therefore, H. crinita leaves could be used as a functional food and dietary intervention for the management of some neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, the aqueous extracts exhibited better neuroprotective properties

Phenolic constituents and modulatory effects of Raffia palm leaf (Raphia hookeri) extract on carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes

This study sought to investigate the effects of Raffia palm (Raphia hookeri) leaf extract on enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pro-oxidant induced oxidative stress in rat pancreas. The extract was prepared and its α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects were determined. Radical [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)] scavenging and Fe2+-chelating abilities, and inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas homogenate were assessed. Furthermore, total phenol and flavonoid contents, reducing property, and high performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) fingerprint of the extract were also determined. Our results revealed that the extract inhibited α-amylase (IC50 = 110.4 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 99.96 μg/mL) activities in concentration dependent manners which were lower to the effect of acarbose (amylase: IC50 = 18.30 μg/mL; glucosidase: IC50 = 20.31 μg/mL). The extract also scavenged DPPH radical, chelated Fe2+ and inhibited Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas all in concentration dependent manners with IC50 values of 402.9 μg/mL, 108.9 μg/mL and 367.0 μg/mL respectively. The total phenol and flavonoid contents were 39.73 mg GAE/g and 21.88 mg QAE/g respectively, while the reducing property was 25.62 mg AAE/g. The HPLC analysis revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid (4.17 mg/g) and rutin (5.11 mg/g) as the major phenolic compounds in the extract. Therefore, the ability of the extract to inhibit carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes and protect against pancreatic oxidative damage may be an important mechanisms supporting its antidiabetic properties and could make Raffia palm leaf useful in complementary/alternative therapy for management of T2DM. However, further studies such as in vivo should be carried out