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Aims: This work is aimed at investigating physicochemical parameters and compositions of fatty acid, phospholipid and sterol of desert date (Balanites aegyptiaca) kernel and pulp. Study Design: Balanites aegyptiaca fruit is one of the oldest feed-stocks in Africa of which little or no attention has been given to it. The plant plays a diverse cultural and traditional role in different societies. Therefore, it is very important to explore more about the chemical composition of the kernel and pulp oils of Balanites aegyptiaca; since it is currently attracting considerable research interest as a result of its diverse beneficial properties. Methodology: The physicochemical parameters, fatty acids, phospholipids and phytosterols of B. aegyptiaca seed and pulp oils have been analyzed and compared with the standards and that of conventional oil for easy assessment of their suitability for nutritional and industrial applications. Results: The results of some physicochemical parameters of kernel and pulp oils were acid value (26.35 and 15.60 mg KOH/g), peroxide value (3.82 and 5.90 meq/kg), saponification value (162.40 and 198.60 mg KOH/g), iodine value (55.20 and 142.50 mg of I/100 g), specific gravity (0.93 and 0.92), kinematic viscosity (2.12 and 1.65 St) and refractive index (1.41 and 1.39), respectively. The most concentrated fatty acids were palmitic acid (14.53%) < linoleic acid (35.65%) < oleic acid (38.27%) for the kernel oil while that of pulp oil were linolenic acid (8.21%) < oleic acid (16.80%) < palmitic acid (32.70%) < linoleic acid (33.56%). Arachidic, behenic, lignoceric and myristic acids were all present in small quantities with none of them recording up to 1.0% in either of the samples. Caprylic, capric and lauric acids were determined but not detected in both oils. The fatty acid composition of kernel and pulp oils contained a healthy mixture of all the types of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The value of polyunsaturated/saturated index (P/S) which is associated to the impact on human health was higher in the pulp oil (2.47). Phosphatidylcholine had the highest content in both oils that is 75.99 and 25.88 mg/100 g, respectively. The total values of phytosterols for kernel and pulp oils were 85.00 and 9.87 mg/100 g, respectively. Conclusion: Balanites aegytiaca kernel and pulp oils have the potential to substitute several materials used in manufacturing oil in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. However, in order to extend usage, these oils should be refined in order to improve the colour and taste.
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The potential application of Truffle (Terfeziaceae) and Desert Date tree (Balanites aegyptiaca) for modulating the diabetesmellitus related symptoms has gained much interest. However, less firm evidence has come from data to increase theunderstanding of the mechanism by which Truffle and Balanites protect pancreatic β-cells. The present study aimed toevaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level; thechanges in pancreatic histology as well as the changes in iNOS and IL-1β genes expression level among STZ induceddiabetic rats which might help in better clarification of possible mechanisms beside the beneficial effects of the studiedplants on diabetes. The elevation of the FBG level, pathological pancreatic changes and the level of both IL-1β and iNOSgene expressions in diabetic rats were observed in comparison with negative control rats. This increase was declinedsignificantly due to the administration of Truffle and Balanites extracts. All of the studied parameters did not completelyreverse to the normal levels as compared with negative control rats. The obtained results concluded that the beneficial effectof Truffle and Balanites aegyptiaca on STZ-induced diabetes was at least partly due to the reduction of IL-1β and iNOS geneover the expression which can have a protective effect on β cell.
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OBJECTIVE@#To compare the degree of ameliorative effects of Melatonin (MEL), Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Balanites aegyptiaca (BA) against hepatotoxicity induced by MTX for one month.@*METHODS@#Eighty adult male rats (Sprague Dawely) weighing (190 ± 10 g), were randomly divided into eight equal groups: Control, MTX, MEL, BA, UDCA, MTX + MEL, MTX + BA, MTX + UDCA. Liver function biomarker enzymes, liver tissue oxidative stress parameters, together with total antioxidant capacity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations for TNF-α were also done.@*RESULTS@#MTX showed significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total and direct bilirubin, as well as TNF-α levels, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malodialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Whereas total protein, albumin, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly decreased in MTX treated group. These alterations were improved by MEL and BA treatment, whereas no improvement was noticed in UDCA treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#BA may be as promising as MEL in the hepatoprotection against MTX toxicity through their antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. In addition, it is not recommended to co-administer UDCA with MTX as it enhanced inflammation and damage to the liver.
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Objective To compare the degree of ameliorative effects of Melatonin (MEL), Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Balanites aegyptiaca (BA) against hepatotoxicity induced by MTX for one month. Methods Eighty adult male rats (Sprague Dawely) weighing (190 ± 10 g), were randomly divided into eight equal groups: Control, MTX, MEL, BA, UDCA, MTX + MEL, MTX + BA, MTX + UDCA. Liver function biomarker enzymes, liver tissue oxidative stress parameters, together with total antioxidant capacity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were determined. Histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations for TNF-α were also done. Results MTX showed significant increase in alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total and direct bilirubin, as well as TNF-α levels, oxidized glutathione (GSSG), malodialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Whereas total protein, albumin, total antioxidant capacity, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels were significantly decreased in MTX treated group. These alterations were improved by MEL and BA treatment, whereas no improvement was noticed in UDCA treatment. Conclusions BA may be as promising as MEL in the hepatoprotection against MTX toxicity through their antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. In addition, it is not recommended to co-administer UDCA with MTX as it enhanced inflammation and damage to the liver.
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Bark of Balanites aegyptiaca is used to make well water potable. This study aimed to investigate well water microbiological quality and appreciate antibacterial activity of crude extracts of B. aegyptiaca on bacteria isolated from 60 samples well water. Qualitative chemical analysis of the extract was carried out. Microbiological quality of water well from four health Districts of the city of Lomé were evaluated by broth dilution associated with the spread on agar media method. Antimicrobial activity of bark of B. aegyptiaca was assessed using microdilution method. The results indicated that well water samples analysed were contaminated to varying degrees by the total aerobic flora, fecal coliforms and fecal enterococci. The most important phytoconstituents of the back were saponins, coumarins, triterpenes, tannins and steroids. Flavonoids and polyphenols were absent. B. aegyptiaca inhibited significantly the growth of microorganisms isolated from well water. Using B. aegyptiaca in the disinfection of well water would be linked to its action on the causative organisms and its chemical composition.
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Aims: To investigate in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the stem extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca (L) Del. Study Design: Animal model infected with Plasmodium berghei. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria, between March 2011 and May 2011. Methodology: Twenty healthy Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing between 20-30g were selected and divided into five groups. One group served as control, another group as standard and the others as the test groups for hexane, ethylacetate and methanolic extracts respectively. The mice were infected with Chloroquine sensitive strain of Plasmodium berghei and left for 72hours for the infection to be established. 600 mgkg-1 bw day-1 dose was determined as safe and used for the analysis. After 72 hours of infection, the plant extracts were administered subcutaneously once daily for 4 days from D3 to D7. The control group was given 0.9w/v of normal saline. Thick and thin blood smears from the tail blood were examined for parasites. 5mg/kg bw of Chloroquine phosphate, used as control drug, was administered to the positive control. Results: None of the three fractions (Hexane, Ethylacetate and Methanolic extracts) of B. aegyptiaca was completely able to clear the parasites in circulation. In fact, the group of mice given methanolic extract of B. aegyptiaca died before the control group while both groups given ethylacetate and Hexane fractions died on the 14th day after infection. The mice administered with hexane and ethyl acetate extracts suppressed parasitaemia on the 6th and 10th day respectively, these suggest that purification and isolation of these crude extracts to know the active compound responsible for the decrease in parasitaemia can be use as drug target in the treatment of malaria, Conclusion: Stem extracts of B. aegyptiaca have suppressive effect on Plasmodium parasites but no curative effect. Further purification and isolation active compounds can help in discovery of a new antimalaria drug. It could thus be assumed that B. aegyptiaca is useful in the herbal malarial management by other mechanism other than plasmodicidal effect .Histological studies could establish reason(s) for the death of group treated with methanolic extract before the control group
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Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of endangered medicinal plants Balanites aegyptiaca Del. and Spilanthes acmella Murr. were evaluated for antifungal potential against various pathogenic and opportunistic fungi by in vitro agar well diffusion method. All the alcoholic extracts showed wide range of activity against the tested fungi as compared to aqueous extracts which showed limited antifungal activity. The alcoholic extract of fruit of B. aegyptiaca showed good antifungal activity against most of the tested Candida species and few opportunistic fungi, whereas, alcoholic extract of flower head of S. acmella showed good activity not only against Candida species but also against most of the tested Aspergillus species. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the alcoholic extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC of alcoholic extract of B. aegyptiaca and S. acmella against tested fungi ranged from 3.05 to 24.0μg/ml and 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml respectively. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca and Spilanthes acmella contain good antifungal activity and thus could be used as alternative medicine in the treatment of various opportunistic and life threatening fungal infections especially in immunocompromised patients which otherwise pose problem of resistance to the currently used antifungal agents.
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Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of endangered medicinal plants Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica were analyzed for antibacterial potential against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria including resistant strains harbouring bla genes by agar well diffusion method. Alcoholic extracts of both the plants showed activity against wider range of tested bacteria as compared to aqueous extracts which showed limited antibacterial activity. The alcoholic extract of leaf of Tylophora indica showed good activity against gram negative bacteria and mild activity against those harbouring bla genes, whereas, the alcoholic extract of fruit of Balanites aegyptiaca showed excellent antibacterial activity against gram positive, gram negative bacteria as well as resistant bacteria harbouring bla genes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the alcoholic extracts were determined by broth microdilution method. The MIC values of the alcoholic fruit extract of B. aegyptiaca against tested bacterial species ranged from 1.53 to 49.0 μg/ml and MIC of alcoholic leaf extract of T. indica ranged from 3.05 to 98.0 μg/ml. The present study leads to conclusion that extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca and Tylophora indica contain good antibacterial activity which can be used as novel antimicrobial compounds in the treatment of various infections showing resistance to treatment by currently used antimicrobial agents.
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Aim: Carry out preliminary phytochemical screening of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit mesocarp and to evaluate the ability of the aqueous extract to ameliorate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats by determining liver enzymes, blood parameters and histopathology. Study Design: Sixty albino rats (Wistar rats) were randomly placed into four groups of fifteen animals: Group 1 (normal control), group 2 ( Untreated CCl4 –intoxicated group) while groups 3 and 4 are test groups both administered CCl4 and 0.08 mgkg-1 and 0.19 mgkg-1 body weight of concentrated fruit extract respectively orally daily. Administration of CCl4 was 3 times in a week for 4 weeks at a dose of 1.2 g/kg body weight and plant extract for 3 weeks. Results: Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of saponin, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides in the fruit mesocarp. Serum total proteins, albumin and conjugated bilirubin were elevated while the liver enzymes activities (alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase) were significantly reduced in the test groups 3 and 4 compared to the untreated rats (Group 2). Histological examinations of the rats’ tissues showed reduced inflammation in the liver of the CCl4-damage rats treated with the extracts when compared to the control and the cell architecture on the 21st day of the animal treated with extract resembled that of the normal control. Conclusion: The mesocarp of desert dates ameliorates hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in rats and this study has further added credibility to the ethnobotanical use of the fruit.
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The current study aimed at investigating the antitumor efficacy of balanitoside extracted from Balanites aegyptiaca fruit against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice. The extracted balanitoside was proved by chemical analysis and LD50 of balanitoside was determined. Then, mice were injected intraperitoneally with balanitoside (10mg /kg b.wt) before and after EAC inoculation, to achieve preventive and therapeutic effects daily, for 9 days. The effects of balanitoside on the count of EAC cells and life span prolongation were studied; malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels as well as catalase (CAT) and caspase 3 activities were estimated. Cytological studies on EAC cells and histopathological examination of liver tissue were carried out. Treatment with balanitoside decreased EAC cell count for preventive and therapeutic groups. MDA and NO levels were decreased in liver and serum in preventive and therapeutic groups compared to positive control group. While CAT activity was increased in liver and plasma of preventive and therapeutic groups in comparison with positive control group. Caspase 3 activity in EAC cells, was increased in preventive and therapeutic groups in comparison with positive control group. Survivin expression in liver was decreased in preventive and therapeutic groups in comparison with positive control group. The present work indicates that balanitoside isolated from fruit extract of Balanites aegyptiaca may possess significant antitumor and antioxidant activity in vivo.
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Objective: To assess the molluscicidal and cercariacidal activities of aqueous extracts ofBalanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) against Ethiopian Biomphalaria pfeifferi (B. pfeifferi), Lymnaea natalensis (L. natalensis) and Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) cercariae. Methods:Extracts of seeds, endocarp, mesocarp, and fruit of B. aegyptiaca were tested for their activities against adult B. pfeifferi and L. natalensis. The cercariacidal activity of the seeds of the plant was also evaluated against S. mansoni. Bioassays were carried out following the methods recommended by WHO. Snail mortalities were compared between each plant part and snail species, and LC50 and LC90 values for the plant parts tested were computed. The cercariacidal activity of the plant was assessed by exposing the mice to the cercariae pre-exposed to aqueous extract of B. aegyptiaca seeds. Results:For the molluscicidal activities of seeds, endocarp, mesocarp and whole fruit, the LC50 values against B. pfeifferi were 56.32, 77.53, 65.51 and 66.63 mg/L, respectively, while the respective LC90 values were 77.70, 120.04, 89.50 and 97.55 mg/L. Similarly, the LC50 values for the seeds, endocarp, mesocarp and whole fruit against L. natalensis were 80.33, 92.61, 83.52 and 87.84 mg/L, respectively, while the respective LC90 values were 102.30, 138.21, 115.42 and 127.69 mg/L. B. pfeifferi were found to be more susceptible to B. aegyptiaca than L. natalensis. S. mansoni cercariae exposed to 15 mg/L of extract of seeds were incapable of infecting mice. The mean egg load of tissue was reduced in mice infected with the cercariae exposed to 5 and 10 mg/L of the extract. Conclusions:The aqueous extracts of different parts of B. aegyptiaca exhibited reasonable molluscicidal activity against B. pfeifferi and L. natalensis, as well as cercariacidal activity against S. mansoni cercariae. However, comprehensive laboratory evaluation is recommended prior to field tests of the plant parts since their impact on other aquatic biota is not known.
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Molluscicidal property of E. alba, B. aegyptiaca, C.quandragularis against the snails Lymnaea acuminata was studied. It was observed that the toxicity of different preparation for molluscs was both time and dose dependent. On the basis of these results it may conclude that, the Ethanolic extract of E.alba may be used for the pest management, however, further animal study is needed to confirm its physiological toxicity.