Background: Preventive measures that could slow down the rising incidences of diabetes mellitus are essential. The use of neglected local foods, which have effects on this chronic disease beyond basic nutrition as dietary controls, is desirable.Objective: The effect of Dioscorea dumetorum (Kunth) Pax (Dioscoreaceae) feed on satiety, weight, blood glucose, and insulin levels were investigated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Twenty adult male rats in four groups of five were used for the experiment. Three groups – D. dumetorum, glibenclamide, and standard pellet-fed rats were induced with diabetes by i.p. administration of 50mg kg-1 streptozotocin, while the fouth group (?) served as a non-diabetic control. D. dumetorum was fed at 15g daily for ten days before induction, and after induction, feeding continued. Glibenclamide was orally administered 5mg kg-1 daily. Both the untreated and non-diabetic rats were kept on standard rat pellets. Feed intake, weight, and blood glucose concentration were monitored daily, while insulin level was measured on day two and day six after inductions. Results: Average feed intake for non-diabetic rats was 15g for D. dumetorum per day, which dropped to 10.3g after induction of diabetes. Weight of normal non-diabetic rats consistently increased (142.61 ± 4.37g – 169.43 ± 8.61g) for the duration (17 days) of the experiment. The D. dumetorum-fed rats showed weight reduction of 5.4%, glibenclamide 4.0%, and untreated diabetic 6.15%. Non-diabetic rats blood glucose levels ranged between 70 to 100mg dL-1. Streptozotocin (STZ) (i.p.) administration increased blood glucose levels from 370% to 626% in the rats. D. dumetorum-fed rats showed reduced (p<0.05) blood glucose levels of 22.6%. Glibenclamide had 5.5% reduction (p<0.05). Insulin was absent in D. dumetorum-fed rats, whereas 0.95ng ml-1 of insulin was detected in glibenclamide-administered rats. These quantities were lower (p<0.001) than 1.40ng ml-1 in the non-diabetic rats. Conclusion: This study revealed that D. dumetorum tuber caused decreased hunger, weight reduction, and displayed hypoglycemic property in diabetic rats, even after heat treatment. Its probable mechanism of anti-hyperglycemic activity might not be through increased insulin secretion.Key words: D. dumetorum, streptozotocin-induced diabetes, weight, blood glucose, insulin.
Despite the long standing traditional use of Millettia aboensis in the management of menopausal symptoms and diseases including osteoporosis, no scientific evidence has been reported on their osteoprotective effect. This study investigated the osteoprotective effect of phytoestrogen rich fraction (PERF) of M. aboensis root extract. Osteoporosis was induced by surgical removal of the ovaries to mimic menopause associated disease condition. The animals were treated separately with 200 and 400 mg/kg of the PERF daily for 30 days. Bone resorption marker – acid phosphatase, bone formation marker – alkaline phosphatase and bone minerals – calcium and phosphorous were used to monitor the effect of the PERF on bone turnover while the effect on osteoporosis associated cytokines – IL-6 and the transcription factor, NFκB were used to determine possible mechanism of action. Phytoestrogen composition of the PERF was determined as 9α-hydroxypinoresinol, genistein 6C glucoside, isoprunetin 8C glucose, daidzein, and neobavaisoflavone by dereplication using HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. Ovariectomy-induced increase in bone resorption marker, ACP (1.94±0.17 IU/L) as well as the compensatory increase in bone formation marker, ALP (94.63±0.91 IU/L) were significantly (P<0.05) suppressed by 200 mg/kg of PERF (1.5 ± 0.03 and 60.79±0.78 IU/L respectively). Treatment with the PERF at 400 mg/kg also improved bone mineral density as demonstrated by significant (p<0.05) increase in calcium level from 6.62±0.13 to 8.25±0.15 mg/dl and non-significant (p>0.05) increase in serum phosphorous concentration in the treated animals from 4.08±0.40 to 5.53±0.16 mg/dl. Significant (p<0.05) surge of NFκB (5.21 ng/mL) and IL-6 (238.67 pg/ml) were recorded in the OVX controls compared to the sham-operated control with values 2.28 ng/mL and 85.67 pg/mL respectively. Administration of PERF at 400 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of NFκB to 2.07 ng/mL and IL-6 to 131.42 pg/mL. Our findings showed that PERF of M. aboensis extract has osteoprotective effect and that inhibition of IL-6 and NFκB may be responsible for this pharmacological activity.
Traditional medications are prone to be consumed without consideration of their possible toxicological profile. This study investigated the toxicological profile of aqueous ethanol extract of Diaphananthe bidens leaf and its fractions in Swiss albino rats. The LD50 and subchronic toxicities were determined by analyzing biochemical, haematological, reproductive hormone, and histopathological parameters. The extract was fractionated using n-hexane, n-butanol, and ethyl acetate, and phytochemicals were measured. The OECD 425 guidelines guided the 90-day subchronic toxicity testing of the extract. Blood samples were collected on the 91st day for haematology, biochemical, and reproductive hormone analysis using standard kits. The extract possessed an LD50 of 9450 mg/kg, and phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins and terpenoids in varying degrees. Ethyl acetate was found to be the most bioactive at 328.2 mg/GAE/g, with a 40.32% yield. The effective dose of the extract, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions was recorded at 301, 8069, 186, 433, and 759 mg/kg, respectively. The extract and ethyl acetate significantly (P<0.05) lowered levels of ALT, AST, and ALP in the blood compared to groups given a vehicle and significantly (P<0.05) elevated plasma PCV, Hb, WBC and RBC counts after administration of extract and ethyl acetate therapeutic doses (186, 372 and 744 mg/kg). The histopathological analysis revealed normal liver and kidney architectures. In conclusion, the leaf extract and fractions of Diaphananthe bidens appear relatively safe following a sub-chronic administration.
Splenomegaly is a medical condition characterized by an enlargement of the spleen, an organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen, beneath the ribcage. The spleen plays various essential roles in the body, including filtering blood, removing old or damaged blood cells, and helping the immune system by producing and storing immune cells. Splenomegaly causes negative haematological effects. It is very common in Africa and Asia. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of methanol leaf extract and fractions of Irvingia gabonensis on haematological parameters in splenomegaly-induced Wistar rats. Extraction and fractionation of the plant were carried out through standard procedure using methanol, hexane, butanol and ethyl acetate. A qualitative phytochemical evaluation of the plant was done. The effects of the extract and fractions of Irvingia gabonensis were investigated using a rat model. The presence of various phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and tannins was observed in the extract and fractions of the plant. The methanolic extract and ethylacetate fraction significantly caused the normalization of PCV, HB, and RBC post-treatment. The findings from this study suggest that Irvingia gabonensis could be researched further for the management of splenomegaly and also the isolation of phytochemicals responsible for these effects.
The wound healing activity of a popular Nigeria traditional Polyherbal ( A. conyzoids, C. scandens and M. villosus) remedy was investigated. The ethanol leaves extracts were formulated in form of an ointment using palm kernel oil as base. Two, 4 and 6 g/ml of the extracts and their combination were prepared and applied topically on the wounds daily for 20 days. Cicatrine powder (neomycin-bacitracin) served as the standard while the control group received only palm kernel oil. Daily wound contraction and epithelization time was recorded for each group. Agar well diffusion method was used for the determination of antimicrobial activity of the extracts. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and tannins. Ageratum conyzoids and C. scandens showed activity against all the tested microorganisms while M. villosus inhibited S. aureus, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa. All the extract and their combination showed significant (p 0.05) different was observed in the wound contraction activity of A. conyzoids and C. scandens compared with the standard from the 12th to 20th day. Also no significant (p > 0.05) difference was observed between A. conyzoids, C. scandens and extracts combination at 2 and 4 g/ml. Significant epithelization time was also observed for all the extracts compared with control. Based on our findings there is no justification for the traditional combination of the 3 plant extracts as equal effect as combination was observed especially in C. scandens and A. conyzoids.
The acute and sub-chronic toxicities of the leaf extract of Newbouldia laevis, an ethnomedicinal herb use in the management of diabetes mellitus was investigated. For the acute toxicity study, 10 – 5000 mg/kg of the extract were administered orally to mice and obvious signs of toxic symptoms and mortality monitored for 24 h post extract administration. In the sub-chronic study, 302 and 604 mg/kg of the extract were orally administered daily for 90 days. Body weight changes as well as haematological and biochemical parameters were determined periodically. Qualitative phytochemistry was also conducted. Presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, reducing sugar, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids and glycosides phytocompounds in the extract were detected. The oral LD50 was estimated to be above 5,000 mg/kg in mice. Ninety days oral administration of ethanol extract of N. laevis produced a significant (P<0.05) reduction in body weight at 604 mg/kg on the 31st day and at both 302 and 604 mg/kg on the 61st and 91st days compared to 5% Tween 20 vehicle control group. For liver function enzymes, the extract at both doses (302 and 604 mg/kg) produced significant (P<0.05) reduction in serum ALT enzyme activity at the 91st day with non-significant reduction in other liver function enzymes compared to vehicle control group. Non-significant changes were also recorded for haematological and kidney function markers. The results from this study provide evidence for safety profile of the ethanol leaves extract of N. laevis thus supportive of its validity in the use for treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes.
The presence of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms in abattoirs, a non-hospital community was investigated. A total of ten (10) isolates of Pseudomonas species out of twenty-six bacteria isolates expressing ESBL was obtained. The anti-pseudomonal activities of various solvent fractions of Milletia aboensis against the ESBL positive isolates of Pseudomonas species showed varying sensitivity. These results have suggested that Milletia aboensis possess potent anti-pseudomonal agents that could be used to treat infections due to Pseudomonas species expressing ESBL. These anti-pseudomonal metabolites are located in the ethanol, chloroform and methanol fractions but are absent in the ethyl acetate fractions. Keywords: Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase, Milletia aboensis , Pseudomonas species
Estrogens play an important role in metabolic homeostasis.However, its risk of uncogenecity and cardiovascular adverse effects underscores its therapeutic benefits.This study investigated the metabolic effect of low dose estrogen supplemented with Andrographis paniculata on type-2 diabesity mice model.The experimental animals maintained on high fat diet were induced diabetes with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg) after intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg nicotinamide.Low dose estrogen (0.02 mg/kg) was administered alone as well as in combination with 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg of the ethanol extract of A. paniculata.These doses of the extract, vehicle (5 ml/kg distilled water) and two reference standards-pioglitazone (30 mg/kg) and metformine (100 mg/kg) were used as controls.Oral glucose tolerant test was used to determine the effect of treatment on pancreatic β-cell function and insulin sensitivity following oral glucose load of 2 g/kg.Lipid profile tests and blood glucose measurements were used to evaluate effect of treatment on lipid homeostasis and chronic diabetes respectively.Combination of low dose estradiol with 150 and 500 mg/kg of the extract showed significant (P<0.05)reduction in blood glucose when compared to their individual monotherapeutic effects.Co-administration of the extract with estradiol at all doses of the extract produced significant (P<0.05)improvement in oral glucose tolerance as depicted by smaller AUC when compared to either the extract or estradiol alone.Low dose estradiol was unable to significantly improve diabesity associated lipid profile abnormalities.However, combination of both low doses of the extract (50 mg/kg) and estradiol showed significant (P<0.05)reduction in serum TG and LDL-cholesterol as well as significant (P<0.05)increase in HDL compared to vehicle control group.These findings established that augmentation of low-dose estrogen with A. paniculata resulted in the improvement of glucose and lipid homeostasis in a type-2 diabesity mice model compared to their individual effects.The low-dose estrogen augmentation is expected to reduce the side effects of estrogen monotherapy while at the same time exploiting its metabolic potentials in glucose and lipid homeostasis.
The chronic and comorbid nature of HIV infection necessitate the use of multiple drugs including herbs to relieve symptoms with a possible increase in herb–drug interaction cases. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Millettia aboensis (Hook. f.) Baker, Fabaceae, on cytochrome P450 3A isoenzyme and the influence of this effect on the bioavailability of two antiretroviral agents. In vitro effect of ethanol extract of M. aboensis on intestinal and liver microsomes extracted from female rats was assessed using erythromycin-N-demethylation assay method while in vivo effects were determined by estimating simvastatin plasma concentrations in rats. The effect of the extract on pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered efavirenz (25 mg/kg) and nevirapine (20 mg/kg) was determined in rats divided into groups (n = 5). Plasma drug concentrations were assayed using HPLC and pharmacokinetic parameters determined through a non-compartmental analysis as implemented in WinNonlin pharmacokinetic program. The extract inhibited both intestinal and liver microsomal cytochrome P450 3A isoenzyme activities in vitro and enhanced simvastatin absorption in vivo with possible inhibition of metabolizing enzymes as indicated by significant (p < 0.05) increase in maximal concentration, area under curve and mean resident time of the drug. However, further in vivo interaction studies in animal model did not produce significant (p > 0.05) changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of efavirenz and nevirapine. HPLC fingerprinting indicated the presence of quercetin and kaempferol in the extract. These findings revealed M. aboensis as an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A enzyme but, with no significant effect on the bioavailability of orally administered nevirapine and efavirenz.
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