EFFECT OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF JUSTICIA INSULARIS T. ANDERS (ACANTHACEAE) ON OVARIAN FOLLICULOGENESIS AND FERTILITY OF FEMALE RATS

Justicia insularis T. Anders (Acanthaceae) is a medicinal plant whose leaves and those of three other plants are mixed for the preparation of a concoction used to improve fertility and to reduce labour pains in women of the Western Region of Cameroon. Previous studies have demonstrated the inducing potential on ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis of the aqueous extract of the leaf mixture (ADHJ) of four medicinal plants (Aloe buettneri, Dicliptera verticillata, Hibiscus macranthus and Justicia insularis) among which the later represented the highest proportion. This study was aimed at evaluating the ovarian inducing potential of J. insularis in immature female rats. Various doses of the aqueous extract of J. insularis were daily and orally given, for 20 days, to immature female rats distributed into four experimental groups of twenty animals each. At the end of the experimental period some biochemical and physiological parameters of ovarian function were assayed. The administration of the aqueous extract of Justicia insularis significantly induced an early vaginal opening in all treated groups (P < 0.001) as well as an increase (at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg) in the number of hemorrhagic points, Corpus luteum, implantation sites, ovarian weight, uterine and ovarian proteins. Ovarian cholesterol level (P < 0.05) significantly decreased in animals treated with the lowest dose (12.5 mg/kg). The evaluation of the toxicological effects of the extract on pregnancy showed that it significantly increased pre- and post-implantation losses, resorption index and decreased the rate of nidation as well as litter’s weight. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of Justicia insularis induces ovarian folliculogenesis thus justifying its high proportion in the leaf mixture of ADHJ

Contribution to the ethnobotanical inventory of medicinal plants used for the treatment of typhoid fever in Adamaoua region, Cameroon

Since ancient Greek-Roman times, the use of plants to cure many human diseases is still common. The present ethnobotanical survey was conducted to contribute to the knowledge of medicinal plants used for the treatment of typhoid fever in three sub divisions of Vina division, Adamawa Cameroon. After having explained the importance of this study to interviewees, 41 traditional healers have agreed and delivered information regarding the medicinal plants they use as well as the different preparation and administration through a well- structured questionnaire that was given to them on this matter. Among 41 traditional healers whose attended this study, 32 were men and 09 were women. The ethnobotanical survey allowed the identification of 70 plants belonging to 38 families. With a frequency of 11/70, the Fabaceae family was the most represented followed by that of Rubiaceae and Asteraceae (04/70 each). The leaves are the most used parts (34.28%) followed by leaves + roots (14.28%) and the whole plant (12.86%). The majority of the recipes consisted of four to six plants (34.66), and were prepared by decoction (50%), with water as the main solvent (87.80%). 41.56% of typhoid preparations are administered twice daily for a duration of 14 days (46.77%). This is the first report on antityphoid herbal remedies in Vina division-Adamawa Cameroon. It would therefore be judicious for our government and research institution to investigate on their therapeutic properties in order to develop ameliorated and efficient phytomedicines

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia. 

Anti-androgenic, anti-oestrogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Laportea ovalifolia on adults rats.

Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases in which deregulating proliferation of abnormal cells invades and disrupts surrounding tissues. It constitutes seriouspublic health problems in both developed and developing countries.To evaluate the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant activities of Laportea ovalifolia (L. ovalifolia) in order to contribute to the search and the valorization of medicinal plants which could reduce mortality related to prostate cancer.The evaluation of the anti-androgenic activity were carried out on castrated male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of testosterone and different doses of aqueous extract of L. Ovalifolia during a period of 10 days. That of the anti-estrogenic activity was carried out on mature ovariectomized female rats receiving for a week simultaneous daily administration of estradiol and different doses of plant extract. The evaluation of the in vivo antioxidant activity of L. Ovalifolia aqueous extract was carried on adult male rats receiving simultaneous daily administration of naphthalene and different doses of extract, for 15 days. For its in vitro antioxidant activity, the amounts of phenolic compounds in plant extracts were determined as well as the total flavonoid contents of the crude extracts. Also, the DPPH scavenging activity of the plant extract was determined as well as its reducing power.As compare to the 0 mg/kg testosterone primed castrated rat, those treated with the various dose of the plant extract presented either a significant decrease in weights of all their reproductive tissues (P˂0.01 - P˂0.001) or a significant increase (P˂0.001) in their serum level of testosterone. For all the plant extract treated ovariectomized rats, similar trends were observed for the relative uteri weight (P˂0.01) and that of the serum level of estradiol (P˂0.001). Plant extract contains 13.33±0.1 mg GAE/g and 05.27±0.17 mg CATE/g of phenolic and flavonoids compounds respectively and exhibits DPPH radical scavenging ability as well as ferric-reducing antioxidant power. Relatively to animals treated at 0 mg/kg, the various doses of the plant extract significantly increased (P˂0.05 - P˂0.001) the activity of catalase (in liver, lungs and the serum), SOD (in liver and heart) and peroxidase (in liver, heart, serum and lungs). It also significantly reduces (P˂0.001) the level of nitric oxide in the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and serum.Globally, these results denote the anti-androgenic, anti-estrogenic and antioxidant potential of L. ovalifolia. 

In vitro cytotoxicity studies of sixteen plants used for pregnant women’s health conditions in Menoua Division-West Cameroon

In Cameroon, many plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pregnancy and childbirth complaints. However, toxicological potential of most of these plants have not been investigated. In order to evaluate the degree of safety of their users, in vitro cytotoxic potentials of sixteen of these medicinal plants were subjected to the assay using the brine shrimp lethality assay. From this study, the aqueous extract of plant Rauvolfia vomitoria bark was found to be cytotoxic and that of Ageratum conyzoides stem and leaves slightly cytotoxic, with LC50 values of 17.62 and 99.17µg/ml, respectively. The least toxic plant extracts were Aloe buttneri, Commelina benghalensis, Ipomoea tenuirostrisandNelsonia canescens, (LC50 value &gt; 105 µg/ml). Overall fourteen extracts were found to be non-toxic. Most herbal remedies were non cytotoxic but it would be necessary to complete these cyto-toxicological information by mutagenicity, teratogenicity tests as welle as in vivo toxicological tests on animals

In vitro cytotoxicity studies of sixteen plants used for pregnant women’s health conditions in Menoua Division-West Cameroon

In Cameroon, many plants are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of pregnancy and childbirth complaints. However, toxicological potential of most of these plants have not been investigated. In order to evaluate the degree of safety of their users, in vitro cytotoxic potentials of sixteen of these medicinal plants were subjected to the assay using the brine shrimp lethality assay. From this study, the aqueous extract of plant Rauvolfia vomitoria bark was found to be cytotoxic and that of Ageratum conyzoides stem and leaves slightly cytotoxic, with LC50 values of 17.62 and 99.17µg/ml, respectively. The least toxic plant extracts were Aloe buttneri, Commelina benghalensis, Ipomoea tenuirostrisandNelsonia canescens, (LC50 value &gt; 105 µg/ml). Overall fourteen extracts were found to be non-toxic. Most herbal remedies were non cytotoxic but it would be necessary to complete these cyto-toxicological information by mutagenicity, teratogenicity tests as welle as in vivo toxicological tests on animals