ABSTRACT
@#Acetone, Hexane, Ethylacetate and Acetone / Hexane / Ethylacetate (50/30/20 v/v/v) extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaves (Del, belonging to the family Asteraceae) were investigated for antimicrobial activities. Three different concentrations (100 mg/mL, 50 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL) of each extract were used against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25920 and Candida albicans. The disc diffusion method was used. Phytochemical screening and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of constituents of the extracts were also carried out. Highest yield (14.25 %) after extraction was obtained for acetone extract followed by hexane extract (8.2 %), Acetone/Hexane/Ethylacetate extract (7.4 %) and ethylacetate (7.1 %) extract. Tannin, steroids, saponin, terpenoid, flavonoid, anthraquinones were present in each of the solvent extracts. Coumarin was present in both acetone and Acetone/Hexane/Ethylacetate extracts while glycosides were present only in the Acetone/Hexane/Ethylacetate extract. Protein was present in ethylacetate extract and absent in the other solvent extracts. The extracts revealed dose-dependent activities against all the test organisms. Highest range of inhibition zone (15.00 mm- 18.00 mm) was obtained for Acetone/Hexane/Ethylacetate extract at 25 mg/mL against the test organisms while lowest range of inhibition zone (7.00 mm- 10.00 mm) was obtained for acetone extract at 100 mg/mL. Various compounds (Oxalate, Phyrate, Epivernodalol, Vernodalol, Venonioside A, Vernonioside B, Vernodalin, Luteolin, Andrographolide, Andrographoside) were separated at different peak heights (mV) and at varying retention times from all the solvent extracts. The solvent extracts of Vernonia amygdalina can serve as good alternative to orthodox medicine in the treatment of infections associated with the three test organisms.
ABSTRACT
@#There is a folkloric claim that Pausinystalia yohimbe,Cassia sieberiana and Cissus populnearoots can be used to enhance sexual behaviour in male rats. However, there is still dearth of scientific evidence that substantiated the acclaimed efficacy of separate and combined use of the plant as sex enhancer. Therefore, the aims of this study were to compare the separate and combined effects of aqueous extracts of Pausinystalia yohimbe, Cassia sieberiena and Cissus populnearoots in paroxetine-induced sexually impaired male rats.Thirty five male rats were assigned into seven groups (A-G) such that rats in group A received orally 1.0 ml of distilled water for 7 days, while those in groups B -G which were induced into sexual dysfunction (administration of 10 mg/kg of paroxetine) also received equal volume of distilled water, 7.14 mg/kg body weight of PowmaxM (a reference drug), 50 mg/kg body weight of P. yohimbe, 50 mg/kg body weight of C. sieberiana, 50 mg/kg body weight of C. populneaand 50 mg/kg body weight of 1:1:1 mixture of the three extracts, once daily for seven days respectively. The sexual behavior indices of the male rats and the levels of their reproductive hormones were evaluated by standard procedures. The paroxetine-treatment related reductions (P<0.05) in the sexual behaviour indices of Mount Frequency, Intromission Frequency and Ejaculatory Frequency, levels of serum reproductive hormones of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were progressively attenuated by the separate administration of the plant extracts. Furthermore, the increases in the Mount Latency, Intromission Latency, Ejaculatory Latency and Post-ejaculatory Interval were also gradually reduced, following the administration of the plant extracts. The male rat sexual behaviour indices and the levels of the male reproductive hormones following the administration of the 1:1:1 mixture of the extracts were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the effects of the separate extracts. All these changes compared favourably (P>0.05) well with those of the sexual dysfunction rats that received PowmaxM (Group G). The results obtained in the present study indicate that the extracts of these plants may have the potentialfor the management of sexual dysfunction in male rats. The combined use of the plants was not significantly better than the individual use of the plants thereby, each and any of the three plants readily available might be used for this purpose.
Subject(s)
Animals , Aphrodisiacs , PhytotherapyABSTRACT
Aims: This study was undertaken to determine the hypoglycemic efficacy of methanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Study Design: Experimental Animal Study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Osun State University, Osogbo Nigeria between September and March, 2013. Methodology: Twenty four rats sorted into 4 groups were used for the study. Rats in control group (group 1) received distilled water while diabetes was induced in groups 2-4 rats by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan. Animals in groups 3 and 4 were treated with 500 mg/kg bw of methanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera and whole plant extract of Phyllanthus amarus respectively for 14 days while group 2 rats were left untreated. Serum glucose and total protein concentrations were measured in the rats after treatment. Results: The two extracts reversed the alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic condition in rats as there was a significant reduction in blood glucose levels with Moringa oleifera having a more pronounced effect. Level of serum total protein was also significantly reduced in rats treated with the two extracts. Conclusion: This study is a further scientific validation of the widely claimed use of Moringa oleifera and Phyllanthus amarus as useful ethnomedical treatment for diabetes mellitus.