Preliminary qualitative screening for cancer chemopreventive agents in Telfairia occidentalis Hook.f., Gnetum africanum Welw., Gongronema latifolium Benth. and Ocimum gratissimum L. from Nigeria

The leaves of four plant foods commonly consumed in Nigeria namely Gnetum africanum (Igbo name: Ukazi), Gongronema latifolium (Igbo name: Utazi), Telfairia occidentalis (Igbo name: Ugu), Ocimum gratissimum (Igbo name: Nchoanwu), were each screened for the presence of known potential chemopreventive agents using paper chromatography, thin layer chromatography and various chemical tests. All four vegetables showed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, phytosterols, tannins, saponins, chlorophyll and glycosides. Only Telfairia occidentalis and Gnetum africanum showed traces of alkaloids

Some Biochemical, Haematological and Histological Responses to a Long Term Consumption of Telfairia occidentalis-Supplemented Diet in Rats

Some biochemical, haematological and histological responses were studied in rats undergoing a long term feeding with a Telfairia occidentalis-supplemented diet. Biochemical and hematological parameters investigated included serum protein, total cholesterol, lipid peroxidation, haemoglobin, white blood cells, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, Glutathione-stransferase and Superoxide dismutase. Histological changes associated with Telfairia occidentalissupplemented diet on the liver, intestine and testes were also examined. Results showed that Telfairia occidentalis-supplemented diet caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in weight and haemoglobin. Cholesterol and lipid peroxidation were significantly reduced (p<0.05). There were however no significant changes in the enzymes including Aspartate minotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, Glutathione-s-transferase and Superoxide dismutase. Only Alkaline phosphatase was significantly reduced (p<0.05). Histological changes showed hypertrophy of the intestinal propia and reduced globlet cells while the testes exhibited thick basement membrane and large spermatogonia

INFLUENCE OF EXTRACTION METHODS ON THE HEPATOTOXICITY OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA BARK EXTRACT ON ALBINO RATS

The influence of extraction methods: Cold aqueous (CA) hot aqueous (HA) and alcoholic extraction (AE) methods on the hepatotoxic effect of Azadirachta indica bark extract (ABC) was investigated using albino rats. A total of forty eight rats were divided into three groups of sixteen rats equally for the extraction methods. Each group was subdivided into four rats to represent control, low, medium and high doses of the extract. The control group received no extract while the other groups were administered the various concentrations (doses) intraperitoneally twice daily for seven (7) days before they were all sacrificed under light chloroform and used for the analysis. Parameters determined include glucose, cholesterol and triglycerol. Also alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALP) activities were determined. The result shows that glucose levels decreased from 85.75+2.85 to 65.00+12.05 in high concentration of C.A. Similar decreases were obtained from HA and AE extraction methods. Cholesterol levels also decreased from 111,63+1.02 to 53.75+0.90 in the high concentration CA, and similarly decreased in HA and AE extraction methods. Also triglycerol levels decreased from 66.49+0.95 to 21.02+0.30 in the high concentration of CA, and also decreased respectively in both HA and AE extraction methods. Similarly, the activities of the enzymes decreased in all the extraction methods, and for the different concentrations over the control except for the activities of ALP which increased generally in CA method. This implies that ABE using HA and AE methods in non hepatotoxic while there is possibility of hepatotoxicity of the obstructive type if CA extraction method is used

Comparative study of the hypoglycemic and biochemical effects of Catharanthus roseus (Linn) g. apocynaceae (Madagascar periwinkle) and chlorpropamide (diabenese) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The effect of the aqueous extracts of Catharanthus roseus and chlorpropamide (Diabenese) on the levels of serum cholesterol, total protein, lipid peroxidation, blood glucose and liver enzymes were compared in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Four groups namely A, B, C and D comprising of nine rats each were used. A and B were administered with chlorpropamide and C. roseus extracts respectively, while C and D served as diabetic and non-diabetic controls respectively. The results showed comparatively significant reductions (P�0.05) in the levels of glucose, protein, cholesterol, lipid peroxidation and liver enzymes in the groups administered C. roseus extracts and chlorpropamide relative to the controls. The reductions were higher in the groups treated with C. roseus extract than in the groups treated with diabenese

Effect of Processing Methods on Nutritive and Antinutritive Properties of Seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma and Detarium microcarpum from Nigeria

Proximate analysis of the seeds of Brachystegia eurycoma and Detrarium microcarpum were carried out on both the dehulled and undehulled samples of the flour. The protein content of the seeds are quite low 9.1;7.2 and 11.4;8.2 for undehulled and dehulled Brachystegia eurycoma and Detarium microcarpum, respectively. Crude fibre is less than 3% in each, while ash was less than 5% each per 100gm dry weight of sample. Detarium microcarpum has a higher crude fat composition 18.5±0.03, 15.5±0.02 while Brachystegia eurycoma 15.5±0.04, 14.0±0.01 for the undehulled and dehulled samples respectively. Moisture content is higher in dehulled samples 14.3±0.01 and 16.7±0.03 for both seed types. The available carbohydrate is equally higher in the dehulled samples 59.0±0.01 and 57.0±0.01, respectively for both seeds. The sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents were less than 1% each, with calcium having the highest concentration, followed by phosphorous. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids. Brachystegia eurcoma showed no presence of tannin. The findings are of nutritional relevance since these seeds are used for soup thickening by many homes in the southeastern Nigeria