PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA ON γ-RADIATION-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN MALE WISTAR RATS

This study was carried out to evaluate the radioprotective potential of aqueous extract of seeds of Aframomum melegueta (A.M.) against gamma radiation-induced (6Gy) liver damage in male Wistar rats. Thirty male rats were randomly distributed into six groups of five animals each and aqueous extract of A.M. was administered at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/kg b. wt., orally for 2 weeks prior to irradiation and 4 weeks after irradiation, when they were sacrificed. The hepatic antioxidant status; reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as the extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO) were estimated. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined and histological examination was carried out. Exposure of animals to irradiation significantly increased LPO levels in comparison with the normal control group, reduced the level of GSH as well as CAT and GPx activity. On the other hand, there was a significant elevation in the activities of serum ALT and AST after irradiation exposure. Administration of aqueous extract of A.M. at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/kg before and after irradiation significantly decreased the elevated levels of LPO, restored GSH level near normal and enhanced CAT and GPx activities as well as significantly decreasing the elevated levels of serum ALT and AST activities. The histological examination and results from this study collectively indicate that aqueous extracts of A.M. could protect the liver from radiation-induced damage probably by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense mechanism in rats

GC-MS ANALYSIS OF VIBURNUM OPULUS (L) EXTRACT AND ITS TOXICITY STUDIES IN RATS

This study was aimed at establishing the antimicrobial and phytochemical profiles of Viburnum opulus (L) as well as the safety potential of the extract in albino Wistar rats. Ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions were prepared for both phytochemical assessment using gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis (GC-MS)1. Five groups of seven rats were used for the study. Group A received distilled water (control), while groups B to E were treated respectively with 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of V. opulus extract by abdominal canulisation for 28 days2. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses and the liver tissues were further processed for histological studies. The GC-MS spectra revealed the existence of various phytoconstituents such as neophytadiene, germaciene, caryophyllene among others. High density lipoprotein and albumin were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in animals administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg bw of the leaf extract. Ethanol, butanol and water fractions of the leaf of V. opulus showed antimicrobial action against most of the organisms used in this study. The result indicates the V. opulus leaf extract contains a wild range of fatty acids and heterocyclic compounds with antimicrobial efficacy and no hepatic damage

Protective Properties of Citrullus lanatus on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Liver Damage in Rats

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the leaf extract of Citrullus lanatus on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage in rats. Methodology: Hepatoprotective study was conducted using five groups (A-E) of six male rats per group. Groups A and B served as the control groups and were respectively administered with distilled water and CCl4 in olive oil while groups C, D and E were administered respectively with 500, 1,000 and 1,500mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic leaf extract of C. lanatus for 7 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood samples were collected for alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, total protein and albumin assays; liver organ was isolated and processed for biochemical and histopathological studies. Results: There were significant increases (P=0.05) in the serum levels of ALT and AST both in the plasma and liver homogenate in the group treated with CCl4 as compared to negative control group; while in the extract treated group, there was a decrease in the levels of the aminotransferases. Histopathological studies showed severe portal congestion and necrosis of hepatocytes in the group treated with CCl4 while the groups administered with the extract treated group showed a moderate venous congestion with absence of necrosis. Conclusion: These results highlight the ability of the leaf extract of C. lanatus to ameliorate damage in the liver of albino rat

Uptake, Metabolism and Toxicity of Selenium in Tropical Plants

Selenium is a mineral element that is essential for both animal and humans and can also serve as an environmental toxicant. A narrow margin exists between an ideal and toxic intake of selenium. It is a useful microelement existing in minute amounts in animals, plants, microorganisms and humans. Although it is beneficial to both animals and humans as an antioxidant, it can be toxic at high concentrations as a result of it competing and replacing sulfur in amino acids leading to inappropriate folding of protein and eventually creating a nonfunctional protein and enzymes. Selenium exists in organic forms as SeMet and SeCys and inorganic forms as selenide, selenite and selenite in the environment. It is translocated in plants via the sulfate transporters in the plasma membrane of the plant root. Its translocation and distribution however depends on the plant species, their different developmental phases, forms, concentration and other physiological conditions like pH. Inorganic selenium is first converted to selenite via the action of two different enzymes (ATP sulfurylase and APS reductase), selenite is further converted to selenide by sulfite reductase. Selenide eventually couples with O-acetyl serine via the action of cysteine synthase to form SeCys. SeCys can either be methylated to methyl-SeCys through the action of selenocysteine methyltransferase or to elemental selenium via SeCys lyase or converted by a series of enzymes to selenomethionine. Selenium toxicity or Selenosis can occur when the optimal concentration of selenium is exceeded. Two major mechanism of selenium toxicity exists; either by induction of oxidative stress or malformation of selenoproteins. Selenium uptake, metabolism and toxicity in tropical plants are hereby discussed in this chapter

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Viburnum Opulus (L) Extract and its Toxicity Studies in Rats

Objectives: This study was aimed at establishing the antimicrobial and phytochemical profiles of Viburnum opulus (L) as well as the safety potential of the extract in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions were prepared for both phytochemical assessments using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Five groups of seven rats were used for the study. Group A received distilled water (control), while Groups B to E were treated, respectively, with 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg body weight of V. opulus extract by abdominal canalization for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses, and the liver tissues were further processed for histological studies. Results: The GC-MS spectra revealed the existence of various phytoconstituents such as neophytadiene, germaciene, and caryophyllene among others. High-density lipoprotein and albumin were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in animals administered with 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg bw of the leaf extract. Ethanol, butanol, and water fractions of the leaf of V. opulus showed antimicrobial action against most of the organisms used in this study. Conclusion: The result indicate

GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF VIBURNUM OPULUS (L) EXTRACT AND ITS TOXICITY STUDIES IN RATS

Objectives: This study was aimed at establishing the antimicrobial and phytochemical profiles of Viburnum opulus (L) as well as the safety potential of the extract in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions were prepared for both phytochemical assessments using gas chromatographymass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Five groups of seven rats were used for the study. Group A received distilled water (control), while Groups B to E were treated, respectively, with 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg body weight of V. opulus extract by abdominal canalization for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical analyses, and the liver tissues were further processed for histological studies. Results: The GC-MS spectra revealed the existence of various phytoconstituents such as neophytadiene, germaciene, and caryophyllene among others. High-density lipoprotein and albumin were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in animals administered with 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg bw of the leaf extract. Ethanol, butanol, and water fractions of the leaf of V. opulus showed antimicrobial action against most of the organisms used in this study. Conclusion: The result indicates that V. opulus leaf extract contains a wild range of fatty acids and heterocyclic compounds with antimicrobial efficacy and showing no hepatic damage

Pro-inflammatory and toxicological evaluation of Hepacare� in mice

Objectives: Hepacare� is a widely marketed herbal formulation in Nigeria for treating chronic liver ailments. This study evaluated the safety, as well as proinflammatory and genotoxicity effects, of Hepacare� in mice. Methods: The effect of the formulation was estimated in a 28-day study where 25 mice were divided into five groups, and Hepacare� was orally administered at 250, 500, 750 and 2500 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical and haematological parameters were determined, organ weights were estimated and histopathology was also conducted. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a and IL-6 was estimated by RT-PCR in acute toxicity experiments. Results: The LD50 was calculated at 3807.89 mg/kg body weight in mice. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the ALP activity in the 750 mg/kg treated group, while the 2500 mg/kg group exhibited significant increases in their AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and total protein levels compared with the control group. However, there was a significant dose related increase in monocyte

Pro-inflammatory and toxicological evaluation of Hepacare in mice

Objectives: Hepacare! is a widely marketed herbal formulation in Nigeria for treating chronic liver ailments. This study evaluated the safety, as well as pro- inflammatory and genotoxicity effects, of Hepacare! in mice. Methods: The effect of the formulation was estimated in a 28-day study where 25 mice were divided into five groups, and Hepacare! was orally administered at 250, 500, 750 and 2500 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical and haematological parameters were determined, organ weights were estimated and histopathology was also conducted. mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a and IL-6 was estimated by RT-PCR in acute toxicity experiments. Results: The LD50 was calculated at 3807.89 mg/kg body weight in mice. There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the ALP activity in the 750 mg/kg treated group, while the 2500 mg/kg group exhibited significant increases in their AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and total protein levels compared with the control group. However, there was a significant dose related increase in monocyte

Haematopoietic induction and hepatic protective roles of Hepacare® in CCl4-induced hepatic damaged rats

Herbal formulations are plant parts used as raw materials for self-administered pharmaceutical remedies, and many of them are being sold without any scientific validation for their potency and efficacy. This research work was aimed at evaluating the haematopoietic, biochemical, and histological effects of Hepacare®, a popularly sold herbal formulation in Nigeria against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-mediated liver dam- age in rats. Haematological analysis showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) in haemoglobin, red blood cell, packed cell volume, and platelet counts in CCl4-treated group when com- pared with the untreated group. These parameters were however reversed across the groups treated with the herbal formulation. Levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after treatment of rats with the formulation which were previously elevated (p < 0.05) in the CCl4-treated group when compared with the untreated group. The CCl4-treated group exhibited significantly different activities in liver SOD and GSH enzymes. The level of MDA was lowered in the liver tissue samples of treated rats when compared with the CCl4-exposed untreated rats. The groups treated with the formulation showed signs of protection against this toxicant as evidenced by the absence of necrosis. Hepacare® showed reversal effects on the previously increased haematological parameters and damaged liver tissues with a potential to ameliorate oxidative stress in hepatic dysfunction