Olakunle Bamikole Afolabi

Evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of Crassocephalum rubens leaves in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Crassocephalum rubens is found throughout tropical Africa including the Indian Ocean islands. The leaves are commonly eaten in form of soups and sauces in South-Western Nigeria, also in other humid zones of Africa. Traditionally, it is used as an antidote against any form of poisoning; used to treat stomach and liver complaints; and externally to treat burns, sore eyes, earache, leprosy and breast cancer. In this study, acute and subacute toxicity of aqueous extract of C. rubens leaves was evaluated in rats in order to assess its safety profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS In acute toxicity study, rats were given a single oral administration of aqueous extract of C. rubens leaves at graded doses (250-5000mg/kg). The animals were monitored for behavioural changes and possible mortality over a period of 24h and thereafter, for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity study, rats of both sexes were administered C. rubens orally at doses of 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg, 750mg/kg and 1000mg/kg body weight daily, for 28 days. Rats were observed weekly for any changes in general behaviour and body weights. In addition, other relevant parameters were assayed at the end of the main and reversibility study periods. RESULTS There was no observed adverse effect; including mortality in the animals. The extract caused no significant difference in the body weights as well as organs weights of treated groups when compared with the control groups. Haematological and biochemical parameters also revealed no toxic effects of the extract on rats. Histological assessments were normal in liver and kidney. CONCLUSIONS It can therefore be suggested based on the results from this study that aqueous extract of C. rubens leaves, at dosage levels up to 1000mg/kg, is non-toxic and could also offer protection on some body tissues. Aqueous extract of C. rubens could therefore, be considered safe. This study supports the application of Crassocephalum rubens in traditional medicine.

Antioxidant Properties of the Extracts of Talinum Triangulare and its Effect on Antioxidant enzymes in Tissue Homogenate of Swiss Albino Rat.

Objectives: This study was designed to put into consideration both the in vitro and in vivo investigations on Talinum triangulare (Tt), an herbaceous perennial plant that is a native of tropical America and one of the most important vegetables in Nigeria. Methods: Total phenolic contents in (mg GAE/100 g), flavonoid contents, the ferric reducing antioxidant properties (FRAP), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl free radical scavenging ability (OH-) and iron chelating ability were carried out in vivo using standard described methods while GSH, GPx, catalase and SOD were determined in vivo using standard described methods. Results: In the three different solvents extraction of T. triangulare that were studied in vitro, it was noted that ethyl acetate and ethanolic fractions of T. triangulare showed potent antioxidant activity against DPPH and iron chelating property with high phenolic content except Hydroxyl free radical scavenging ability that showed highest value in the aqueous extract, while the Reduced GSH indicated the highest in the parameter determined in vivo. Conclusion: The antioxidant properties showed in this solvent extractable component probably could have been the basis for the enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes at very lower dose in the examined tissue homogenates. Therefore, T. triangulare can thereby serve as a means of Preventing some of major degenerative diseases challenging Humans

Antioxidant enhancing ability of different solvents extractable components of Talinum triangulare in some selected Tissue homogenates of Albino Rats -In vitro

Antioxidant contents, mostly from plant source have been the major combating components against membranous peroxidation that causes degenerative diseases and among others in the living cells. In this work, we did look into how ethanol and aqueous extractable components of Talinum triangulare could effectively and synergistically enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities in the different tissues used in vitro. Different methods were employed in the assay and the results showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in ethanolic extract when the GSH enhancing competencies were considered in the organs when compare with that of aqueous and relatively with the control, also, the levels of catalase activities (CAT) observed showed significant (p < 0.05) difference as observed in the organs. Considering the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, aqueous extract showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in the liver and brain while significant (p < 0.05) increase was only observed in the ethanolic extract in the kidneys tissue. Indisputably, it could be claimed based on these facts that, Talinum triangulare could enhance the activities of these antioxidant enzymes assayed for and in turns could be helpful in the phytotherapeutic management of common diseases associated with the hypoactivity of the enzymes when involve in the diet.

Evaluation of antioxidant potentials of different solvent-fractions of Dialium indium (African Black velvet tamarind) fruit pulp – in vitro

Plant phytonutrients have been harnessed for their various curative properties both in vitro and in vivo. In this study African black velvet tamarind (ABVT) fruit pulp was evaluated for it antioxidant potentials using chloroform and hexane fractions through different antioxidant parameters. In the results; total phenolic contents quantified in mg GAE/dried sample in chloroform and hexane extracts were; 14.57 ±5.85 and 9.78 ±4.61, total flavonoid contents in chloroform and hexane extracts as; 48.58 ±0.00 and 27.35 ±0.00 while the FRAP (µg AAE.g-1 dried sample) was lower in chloroform (298.10 ±0.00) than hexane extracts (1029.81 ±0.00). More also, ability of varied concentrations of the extracts (with their IC50) to cause inhibition against Fe2+-induced MDA that was determined by TBARS in rats brain and liver tissue homogenates, Fe2+-chelating ability and other antioxidant assays, showed an appreciable significant (p <0.05) difference. The various antioxidant properties showed by ABVT has indicated that, if the pulp is incorporated in diet, it could serve as an alternative in managing various ROS-induced degenerative ailments as it has been clearly demonstrated in the protection of brain and liver homogenates from Fe2+-induced oxidative stress.

Antioxidant, compositional evaluation and blood pressure modulating potentials of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.), Viscum album (L.) and Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) leave extracts

Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.), Viscum album (L.) and Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) are medicinal plants widely used based on their ethnomedicinal properties in the regulation of blood pressure. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant activities and compositional constituents of these plants. The antioxidant potentials were analyzed using DPPH and FRAP assays, while Folin-Ciocalteu method was employed in the determination of the total phenolic antioxidant contents. Compositional analyses of the leave extracts were determined using Gas Chromatograghy-Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). The total phenolic contents in Bryophyllum pinnatum, Artocarpus altilis and Viscum album were revealed as; 659.50 ±0.02, 1667.50 ±0.03, 1232.00 ±0.02 mg GAE.100 g -1 respectively. Considering the antioxidant activities, Artocarpus altilis leaf extract showed inhibitory activity on DPPH with IC 50 of 2.24 ±0.26 mg.mL -1 , Bryophyllum pinnatum and Viscum album with IC 50 values 3.63 ±0.07 and 4.65 ±0.06  mg.mL -1 respectively.The FRAP in mg.GAE -1 for Artocarpus altilis , Bryophyllum pinnatum and Viscum album revealed; 2505.20 ±0.04, 1561.80 ±0.01 and 1698.00 ±0.03 respectively. GC-MS identified some vital phenolic components and essential fatty acids in the plants. The findings therefore suggest that; the plants if properly utilized, it could serve as alternatives in regulating blood pressure. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Inhibitory potentials of phenolic-rich extracts from Bridelia ferruginea on two key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes and Fe 2+ -induced pancreatic oxidative stress

OBJECTIVE The current study was designed to evaluate the various antioxidant potentials and inhibitory effects of phenolic-rich leaf extracts of Bridelia ferruginea (BF) on the in vitro activities of some key enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates. METHODS In this study, BF leaf free and bound phenolic-rich extracts were used. We quantified total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and evaluated several antioxidant activities using assays for ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant activity (phosphomolybdenum reducing ability), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive species. Also, extracts were tested for their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. RESULTS The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the free phenolic extract of BF were significantly greater than in the bound phenolic extract. Also, all the antioxidant activities considered were significantly greater in the free phenolic extract than in the bound phenolic extract. In the same vein, the free phenolic-rich extract had a significantly higher percentage inhibition against α-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 28.5 µg/mL) than the bound phenolic extract (IC50 = 340.0 µg/mL). On the contrary, the free phenolic extract (IC50 = 210.0 µg/mL) had significantly lower inhibition against α-amylase than the bound phenolic-rich extract (IC50 = 190.0 µg/mL). CONCLUSION The phenolic-rich extracts of BF leaves showed antioxidant potentials and inhibited two key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes in vitro.

Exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic waves alters acetylcholinesterase gene expression, exploratory and motor coordination-linked behaviour in male rats

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