ABSTRACT
The methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves, fruits, seeds, stem bark and roots of Picralima nitida were studied in vitro and in vivo for activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in Swiss albino mice. Phytochemicals studies were also conducted for all the plant extracts. The methanol extracts showed appreciably high in vitro and in vivo antitrypanosomal activities compared to the aqueous extracts of the plant. The methanol extract of the root exhibited the highest in vitro antitrypanosomal activity followed by the methanol extract of seed of Picralima nitida. Motility of Trypanosoma brucei brucei was stopped by the methanol extract of the root after 10 min, while the methanol extract of the seed of Picralima nitida stopped the motility of Trypanosoma brucei brucei at 15 min. The methanol extract of the root of Picralima nitida showed the highest in vivo antitrypanosomal activity at 100 mg/kg body weight. The extract cleared the parasite completely from the T. brucei brucei infected Swiss albino mice after day 3 of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) when the level of parasitemia of the animals treated with the methanol extract of the root of Picralima nitida were compared with the other treatment groups and the untreated control. The phytochemicals detected in these extracts are tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and cyanide glycosides. The in vitro and in vivo antitrypanosomal activity exhibited by these extracts might be attributed to these phytochemicals.
ABSTRACT
The amino acid profile and the effects of the seed extracts of Sphenostylis sternocarpa, Monodora myristica and Mucuna sloanei were studied based on their ability to inhibit haemoglobin polymerization and improve the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio of sickle cell erythrocytes. The samples were fractionated into crude aqueous extract (CAE), fat-soluble (FAS), butanol-soluble (BUS) and water-soluble (WAS) fractions. The CAEs of the samples ranked highest in amino acid content in the range of S. sternocarpa (7.12 ± 0.00 g/100g)>M. myristica (6.00 ± 0.15 g/100g)>M. sloanei (3.56 ± 0.21 g/100g). The amino acids identified in appreciable quantities in the seed samples included Phe, Leu, Val, Ile, His, Arg, Tyr, Met, among others. The extracts inhibited polymerization to varying degrees with CAE of both S. sternocarpa and M. myristica, as well as the WAS of M. myristica eliciting significantly (p<0.05) high percent inhibition of polymerization when compared with Phe standard. The extracts improved the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio of HbSS blood from 1.36% for CAE of M. sloanei to 85.04% for CAE of S. sternocarpa; and from 11.03% for WAS of S. sternocarpa to 36.08% for WAS of M. sloanei. These legumes could, therefore, have immense nutritional and therapeutic importance in the management of sickle cell disease and other related diseases.
ABSTRACT
Logistic response of antioxidants to lipid peroxide concentration in carbon tetrachloride toxicity in rabbit liver was evaluated. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), ethanol extracts of Chromolaena odorata (ETECO), sylimarin (a known hepatoprotective agent) and water, were used to induce variations in the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the test and control animals. This was used as a model to study the delicate balance between the activities and/or the intracellular concentrations of these antioxidants and lipid peroxide. Concentrations of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde) were estimated to access the degree of oxidation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver tissue. Glutathione (GSH) concentration was estimated to capture the non-enzymatic antioxidant concentration, while glutathione-s-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were assayed in the liver to assess the enzymatic antioxidant activities. Results obtained from this study showed that the concentrations of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde) varied in a logistic fashion with the nonenzymatic antioxidant (glutathione) and the enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione-stransferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase). The concentration of the peroxidation product and the concentration/activity of the antioxidants were inversely related, maintaining a highly logistic relationship (R2 = 0.99). The non-enzymatic antioxidant (GSH) concentration and the enzymatic antioxidant (GST, SOD, and CAT) activities were found to be directly related in a sigmoidal manner (R2 = 0.98). These observations indicated that oxidant/antioxidant concentrations and activities in a rabbit liver tissue is tightly related and mathematically associated.
ABSTRACT
The ethanol extract of the leaf of Chromolaena odorata (Linn) was assessed for freeradical- scavenging and antioxidant potentials. Ability of the extract to scavenge reactive intermediates (superoxide ion O2 ·-, hydrogen peroxide H2O2, nitric oxide NO˙, hydroxyl radical OH˙) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, were used to assess its free radical scavenging potentials. Antioxidant potential was studied by assessing invitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation in both the brain (Neuro-protective potentials) and liver homogenates of Fenton-oxidant stressed rabbits. Inhibition of protein oxidation was assessed in-vitro by loss of protein thiol (P-SH), while assessment of the reducing power of the extract was further used to assess antioxidant capacity. Results obtained showed the ability of the extract to scavenge free radicals and reactive intermediates in a dose-response manner. The plant also had good antioxidant capacity. The secondary plant metabolites found earlier in the extract may explain reasons for the bio-efficacy of the plant. These findings are of great importance in view of the availability of the plant and its observed possible diverse applications in medicine and nutrition.