Olorunfemi A. Eseyin

Hypoglycemic Potential of Polysaccharides of the Leaf Extract of Telfairia occidentalis

Context: Telfairia occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae), a popular vegetable in West Africa, has been reported to have antidiabetic property. But the active components are not yet known. Aims: This study wascarried out to determine the hypoglycemic potentials and the antidiabetic property of polysaccharides of the leaf of

Evaluation of in vivo antimalarial activities of ethanolic leaf and seed extracts of Telfairia occidentalis.

The leaves and seeds of Telfairia occidentalis are used as vegetables in making soups in Southern Nigeria. In this study, we investigated the antimalarial activity of leaf and seed extracts in vivo in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei berghei during early and established infections. T. occidentalis leaf extract (250-750 mg/kg/day) exhibited antiplasmodial activity both in the 4-day early infection test and in established infection with a marked increase of the mean survival time, which, however, remained lower than that achieved with the standard drug, chloroquine (5 mg/kg/day). The seed extract (450-1,350 mg/kg/day) also demonstrated a promising blood schizontocidal activity in early and established infections. This plant possesses significant antiplasmodial activities, which may be exploited in the control of malaria.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Some Commonly Eaten Vegetables in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

Aims: To evaluate the antioxidant components and also antioxidant activities of ten local vegetables commonly consumed in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria between April 2011 and July 2012. Methodology: Standard methods were used to evaluate the concentration of total phenols, vitamin C, vitamin E, total flavonoids, total tannins, anthocyanin, β-carotene and lycopene in the leaves of Heinsia crinata, Ocimum gratissimum, Telfaira occidentalis, Talinum triangulare, Corchorus olitorius, Amaranthus hybridus, Gnetum africana, Vernonia amygdalina, Gongronema latifolia and Lasianthera africana. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), iron chelating activity, Nitric oxide Original Research Article Eseyin et al.; ARRB, 5(2): 165-173, 2015; Article no. ARRB.2015.018 166 and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activities, and total antioxidant activity were also determined using standard methods. Results: Lasianthera africana recorded the highest amount of Lycopene (0.9951±2.23× 10 -3. mg/100ml) and Anthocyanin (0.0943±1.30×10 -3 ). Gongronema latifolium also recorded the highest amount of Tannin (6.6±1.01×10 -3 mg/100g) and β-carotene (1.692±1.31×10 -4 mg/100 ml). Similarly, Hensia crinata, Cochorius olitorius and Vernonia amygdalina recorded the highest amount of Vitamin E (24.761±7.22×10-2 μM), total phenol (0.100±6.84×10 -5 mg/ml) and flavonoids (36.784±1.72×10 -2 mg/ml), respectively. Ocimum gratissimum gave the highest % inhibition (74.0%) of DPPH at a concentration of 60 μg/ml of extracts compared to the standard drugs (Vitamin C, 92.0% and Vitamin E, 35.0%). Vernonia amygdalina showed highest inhibition (89.97%) of Nitric Oxide while Ocimum gratissimum inhibited ferric reducing antioxidant activity by 91.43%. It was found that Vitamin C correlated significantly with the antioxidant activity (r 2 =0.7072, P=0.05). Flavonoids also correlated significantly with the Ferric Reducing antioxidant Power (r 2 =0.6784, P<0.05). Conclusion: Ocimum gratissimum exhibited the best antioxidant activity and should be explored further for this purpose.

Changes in Some Pharmacokinetics Parameters of Chloroquine by Gnetum Africana

Abstract Effect of Gnetum africana on the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine was investigated. Chloroquine phosphate (200 mg/Kg) was concurrently administered to overnight fasted albino rats. Blood samples were collected 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 minutes after administration through cardiac puncture. Serum concentration of chloroquine was evaluated spectrophotometrically. The results indicated that the extract significantly decreased Cmax (9.17%), Ka (3.06%), Ke (45.38%), Cl (48.46%) and AUC (0-8) (16.90%). The extract also increased the values of t1/2 (83.11%), tmax (100.00%). The LD50 of the extract was 5.25 g/Kg. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, tannins, flavonoids and traces of phlobatanins and alkaloids. Proximate and elemental analyses showed that the plant contained Sodium (26.37 + 0.01ppm), Potassium (32.84 + 0.02 ppm), Copper (0.01 + 0.00 ppm), Calcium (6.53 + 0.01ppm), Magnesium (7.58+ 0.02 ppm), Iron (2.01 + 0.02 ppm), Zinc (0.93 + 0.03 ppm), Lead (0.02 + 0.01 ppm), Moisture (10.90 + 0.91 mg/100 g), Crude protein (15.31 + 1.12 mg/100g), Crude fibre (4.20 + 0.21 mg/100 g), Crude fat (10.60 + 0.65 mg/100 g), Ash (5.40 + 0.30 mg/100g), Carbohydrate (74.49 + 0.23 mg/100 g) and Energy (407.80 Kcal). The results of this work showed that concurrent administration of the extract of Gnetum africana affected some of the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine. Malaria patients on chloroquine therapy should therefore be advised to beware of consuming Gnetum africana.

Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae)

Abstract The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities of the methanol extract, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous fractions of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis were evaluated. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activities. Two pure compounds which were identified by FTIR, H-and 2D NMR and Mass spectroscopy as 9-octadecenoic acid (TOS B) and 10-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (TOS C) and four oily isolates, TOS A, TOS D, TOS E and TOS F were obtained from the dichloromethane fraction. TOS E had the highest DPPH radical scavening activity comparable to that of ascorbic acid. GC-MS analysis revealed the major compounds in TOS E as 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylene cyclohexylidene)-2-butanol; 3-(3-hydroxybutyl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid disooctyl ester. Thus, the seed of T. occidentalis can be consumed for its antioxidant property.