African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry The chemical composition of essential oil from the root of Cissampelos owariensis (p.beauv) and free radical scavenging activities of its extracts

Air dried root of Cissampelos owariensis (P.Beauv) on steam distillation yielded 0.82% (w/w) of essential oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 11 compounds, among which 1H-cyclopropa[a]naphthalene,1a, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 7a, 7b-octahydro-1, 1, 7, 7a-tetramethyl-,(1aR-1aa, 7a, 7aa, 7ba) was found to be the most abundant at 39%. The antioxidant features of the 3 extracts (methanol, chloroform, and n-hexane) of the plant were also evaluated by UV-visible spectrophotometer at 517 nm using inhibition of 2, 2 -diphenyl-1-picrylhyrazyl radical (DPPH) and vitamin C as standard. Out of all the extracts evaluated, only the methanolic extract exhibited potent antioxidant activity that was concentration dependent, followed by chloroform extract as compared with vitamin C

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the seed oil of Entandrophragma angolense (Welw) C.DC

The seed of Entandrophragma angolense yielded 59% oil (w/w) on extraction with n-hexane. Methylation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the methylated seed oil of E. angolense gave 11-octadecanoic acid methyl ester as major component (43.2%). Other fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) detected were hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, ricinoleic acid methyl ester, stearic acid methyl ester and eicosadienoic acid methyl ester. Preliminary antimicrobial evaluation of this seed oil showed activity against Salmonella gallinallum and Klebseilla pneumonia

The lyophilized aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera blunts streptozocin-induced diabetes in rats through upregulation of GLUT 4 signaling pathway and anti-oxidant effect

The anti-diabetic property of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was performed in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats using serum chemistry, histology and immunochemical parameters as indices of diabetes. The blood glucose level of the diabetic untreated group continues to increase while that of the treated group after 21 days decreased. While the animals in the diabetic untreated group experienced increase in the levels of markers of organ damage when compared to the control group (P values \u3c 0.0001). ALT increased from 61.83±1.5 to 96.1±22.4, AST was 225.1±26.6 from 172.6±13.9, ALP 13.5±0.006 to 13.6±0.002, UREA 1.0±0.08 to 3.0±0.4, their reduction was observed in the extract-treated groups. ALT reduced from 96.1±22.4 to 73.70±9.7; AST from 225.1±26.6 to 184.4±18.2; ALP from 13.6±0.002 to 13.6±0.01; UREA from 3.0±0.4 to 2.0±0.4. Treatment with the extract significantly reduced markers of oxidative stress in the kidney [hydrogen peroxide (898.8±6.26 to 688.0±13.7), malondialdehyde (640±0.1 to 600±0.2) and protein carbonyl (548.4±1.5 to 458.1±1.6)]; heart [hydrogen peroxide (389.4±1.8 to 358.2±1.5), malondialdehyde (264.0±0.5 to 122.0±0.3), protein carbonyl (196.8±0.5 to 162.7±3.5)]; and liver [hydrogen peroxide (119.36±3.2 to 103.94±10.7), malondialdehyde (236.0±0.4 to 73.0±0.2), protein carbonyl (269.3±1.0 to 174.2±1.1) respectively. The levels of antioxidants were reduced in the diabetic untreated group but there was increase in the Moringa treated group. Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) was down regulated in the diabetic untreated group while it was well expressed in the treated groups. The histology of pancreas and liver showed varied levels of infiltration of inflammatory cells, congestion and necrotic lesions, but these were mild in the treated groups. The result shows that the extract does have an anti-diabetic effect with the decrease in the levels of blood glucose and markers of oxidative stress as well as increase in the amount of antioxidants in the treated group when compared to the diabetic untreated group. More importantly, the extract caused upregulation of GLUT 4, which is relevant in reversing insulin resistance in the same manner as pioglitazone, the standard antidiabetic agent used in this study