Nutritional Qualities of Three Medicinal Plant Parts (Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra) commonly used by Pregnant Women in the Western Part of Nigeria

The nutritional potentials of three medicinal plant parts used by pregnant women in the western part of Nigeria Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were evaluated through their proximate compositions as well as percentage mineral elements composition. Blighia sapida was high in crude fibre (44.09±2.20%) compared with Parinari polyandra and Xylopia aethiopica that were 4.21±1.10% and 12.14±0.70% respectively. Moisture contents of Xylopia aethiopica and Blighia sapida were 16.04±1.25% and 10.17±2.60% respectively while that of Parinari polyandra was 30.65±5.02%. The total ash contents of Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were 2.53±1.20%, 3.66±1.20% and 4.37±0.85% respectively. The total fat of Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra were 9.55±2.10%, 1.25±0.20% and 0.53±0.15% respectively while the total protein of Blighia sapida, Xylopia aethiopica and Parinari polyandra were 2.1±0.25%, 2.1±0.20% and 7.09±0.20% respectively. The total carbohydrate of Xylopia aethiopica was 55.80±4.26%, that of Parinari polyandra was 54.27±3.20% and that of Blighia sapida was 39.45±2.20%. Xylopia aethiopica can be a good source of magnesium (2.236±0.095), phosphorus (0.620±0.04) and potassium (0.510±0.04) as the amount of these mineral elements were higher than that of the other plant parts with the exception of Parinari polyandra having 0.690±0.11% phosphorus. Blighia sapida is also a good source of phosphorus (0.400±0.20), magnesium (0.430±0.20) and calcium (0.348±0.15). Other mineral elements detected in reasonable amounts were calcium, zinc and sodium. Further tests revealed that heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium were not detected. The results of this research indicated that the three plants parts have nutritional qualities that could provide the users with additional nutrients

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

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

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