Gabriel Akyirem Akowuah

Toxicology evaluation of standardized methanol extract of Gynura procumbens.

AIMS OF THE STUDYnGynura procumbens (Merr.), which is known as Sambung nyawa, is widely used in South East Asian countries in the traditional treatment of many ailments. However, there is little toxicological information available regarding safety following repeated exposure. The present investigation describes the toxicity of a methanol extract of Gynura procumbens leaves in rats.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnFor acute toxicity studies, a methanol extract of Gynura procumbens was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats (female and male) at a dose range of 1000-5000 mg/kg. For sub-chronic toxicity studies, the rats were orally administered the methanol extract of Gynura procumbens at the doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/(kg day) for a period of 13 weeks. The animals were sacrificed, followed by examination of their organs and blood serum.nnnRESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSnAdministration of the methanol extract from Gynura procumbens leaves at 1000-5000 mg/kg did not produce mortality or significant changes in the general behaviour, body weight, or organ gross appearance of rats. There were no significant differences in the general condition, growth, organ weights, haematological parameters, clinical chemistry values, or gross and microscopic appearance of the organs from the treatment groups as compared to the control group. Therefore, the NOAEL for the Gynura procumbens methanol extract is 500 mg/(kg day) administered orally for 13 weeks.

Absorption of andrographolides from Andrographis paniculata and its effect on CCl4-induced oxidative stress in rats

A simple and validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with UV detection has been used to determine the content of andrographolide (AP) and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (DIAP) in rat plasma after oral dose of methanol extract (1 g/kg body weight) of Andrographis paniculata leaf. An increase in plasma concentration of AP and DIAP was observed from 30 min to 3 h after oral administration of the extract. The maximum plasma concentrations of AP and DIAP were 1.42+/-0.09 microg/ml and 1.31+/-0.04 microg/ml, respectively. Fourteen days oral treatment of rats with the methanol extract (1 g/kg body weight) followed by CCl(4) administration preserved catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in erythrocytes, whereas plasma lipid peroxidation, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities were restored to values comparable with control values. Treatment of rats with CCl(4) did not showed significant alteration (p>0.05) in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) as compare to values of control group.

Analysis of urinary andrographolides and antioxidant status after oral administration of Andrographis paniculata leaf extract in rats

A simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to determine the content of andrographolide (AP) and 14-deoxy-11,12-dideoxyandrographolide (DIAP) in a pooled urine of rat obtained within 24h after an oral dose of Andrographis paniculata leaf extract at 1g/kg body weight. Cumulative urinary excretion of AP and DIAP in 24h after oral administration of the extract was 0.88% and 1.61% of oral dose administered, respectively. The extract showed significant reduction (p<0.05) of MDA levels and elevation of total antioxidant status in rat urine samples collected in 24 after oral administration.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Elephantopus tomentosus. Ethanol Extract

Abstract The current study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Elephantopus tomentosus. L. (Asteraceae) ethanol extract (ET). In the experiment, total antioxidant capacity, reducing capacity, DPPH* and hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and Fe3 +-induced lipid peroxidation inhibiting activities of ET were determined. The results indicated that ET exhibited antioxidant (1 mg/mL ET was equal to 2.1 mM TEAC), lipid peroxidation inhibition, hydrogen peroxide, and free radical scavenging activities. The hepatoprotective activity of ET was studied using CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. Oral administration of ET (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, as observed from the serum level of the liver enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and also from the histopathologic study. The total phenolic content in the lyophilized ethanol extract is approximately 10%. The results of the current study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of E. tomentosus. might be ascribable to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.

Effect of Extraction Temperature on Stability of Major Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activity of Orthosiphon stamineus Leaf

The effect of extraction temperature on the stability of polyphenols and free radical scavenging activity of Orthosiphon stamineus leaf extract was investigated. Sinensetin (SEN) and rosmarinic acid (RA) were selected as flavonoid and non-flavonoid polyphenolic markers of the extract, respectively. The levels of the markers were significantly (p < 0.5) higher at the extraction temperature of 40°C. However, decrease in marker concentration was observed from extraction temperature of 60°C and above. The extracts at lower temperature exhibited significant (p < 0.5) free radical–scavenging activity compared to extracts at elevated temperature owing to their degradation.

HPTLC Densitometric Analysis of Orthosiphon stamineus Leaf Extracts and Inhibitory Effect on Xanthine Oxidase Activity

ABSTRACT Orthosiphon stamineus. Benth. was cultivated at different locations in Malaysia to compare the xanthine oxidase inhibitory potential of the methanol extracts of the leaf. The extracts showed superoxide scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities using in vitro. methods. By means of HPTLC densitometric technique and UV-Vis spectra, sinensetin (SEN) and 3′-hydroxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (TMF) concentrations in the extracts were found to vary from 0.09% to 0.36% and 0.02% to 0.10% of the day weight, respectively. The study provided evidence that the leaf of the plant can be useful for studying its anti-gout action.

Safety assessment of standardised methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii

The present study aims to evaluate the safety of methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii (MECB) by acute 14-day (single dose) and sub-chronic 28-day (repeated doses) oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results showed that no toxicity was found in either acute or sub-chronic toxicity studies. MECB (containing 0.07% and 0.20% (w/w) of coumarin and trans-cinnamaldehyde, respectively), which was given orally at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg caused neither visible signs of toxicity nor mortality. No significant differences were observed in general condition, growth, organ weight, hematological parameters, biochemical values, or the gross and microscopic appearance of the organs from the treatment groups as compared to the control group. In conclusion, MECB did not cause any mortality nor did it cause any abnormalities in the necropsy and histopathology findings of treated rats. The LD50 for the MECB was found to be more than 2000 mg/kg. No adverse effects were observed in the treated rats at all the doses tested. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for the 28-day study was determined to be 2000 mg/kg body weight/day.

HPLC–TOF/MS profile and nitric oxide scavenging activity of Orthosiphon stamineus leaf extracts

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study is to develop liquid chromatography (LC)/Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS) profile for methanol and water extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus leaf using SEN and RA as flavonoid and non-flavonoid polyphenolic markers in the extracts. The study also evaluates in vitro nitric oxide radical scavenging effect of the extracts. Method Orthogonal Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer equipped with HPLC separation module was used in the analyses of the extract. The in vitro nitric oxide scavenging activity of the extracts was measured according to the method described by Rao. Results The qualitative analysis of the extracts performed with HPLC–TOF/MS confirmed the presence sinensitin (SEN) and rosmarinic acid (RA) in the extracts. The extracts showed in vitro nitric oxide scavenging activities. Conclusions The HPLC–TOF/MS method could be employed for quality determination of herbal medicinal products and formulations containing O. stamineus . The extracts may play a significant role in prevention of degenerate disease due to its ability to scavenge nitric oxide radical.

HPLC profile and antihyperglycemic effect of ethanol extracts of Andrographis paniculata in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Andrographis paniculata is a Malaysian traditional herb for treatment of fever-causing diseases and diabetes. The aim of the present study was to examine the antihyperglycemic effects of different extracts (95, 50, and 20% ethanol extracts and water extracts) of A. paniculata in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Only the treatment with 20% ethanol extract (at 1xa0g/kg for 7xa0h, p.o.) significantly (Pxa0<xa00.01) reduced the rise in blood glucose levels in glucose-loaded rats. None of the different extracts (at 1xa0g/kg for 7xa0h, p.o.) significantly (Pxa0>xa00.05) altered the blood glucose levels in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats as compared to the control group. However, administration of the 50 and 95% ethanol extracts (at 1xa0g/kg for 14xa0days, p.o.) significantly (Pxa0<xa00.05) reduced fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in normal and diabetic rats compared to the pre-treatment level. HPLC profiles of the extracts were developed using andrographolide (AP) as a marker. The amounts of AP in 95, 50, and 20% ethanol extracts and water extracts were 25.8, 19.4, 2.0, and 0.8xa0mg/g of dry weight, respectively.

Effect of standardized extract of Cosinium fenestratum stem bark on liver and kidney function parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of standardized dichloromethane (DCM) extract of Cosinium fenestratum (C. fenestratum) stem bark on liver and kidney function parameters in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods Standardization of the extract was performed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using berberine (BE) as marker compound. The standardized C. fenestratum stem bark extract (SCFE) was administered orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg to STZ-induced diabetic rats for 15 d. Results The quantity of BE in the extract was 2.09% w/w. Blood glucose levels, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatinine were significantly (P Conclusion The observations of the present study show that extract of C. fenestratum stem bark has hepato-renal protective effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats.