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
Objective:To investigate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and anthelmintic activities of the crude methanol extract of Cissus populnea (C. populnea) rhizomes.Methods:Phytochemical screening was performed using standard protocols, and column chromatography of silica gel was used for the compounds isolation. DPPH antiradical scavenging assay was performed in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The anthelmintic activity was screened on the bovine adult male forms of parasitic nematode Onchocerca ochengi, by the in vitro evaluation of the inhibition of adult worm motility and mortality. Worms were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of the plant extract and effects on survival were monitored after 24 and 48 h.Results:The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Bergenin and a mixture of phytosterol, β -sitosterol and stigmasterol were isolated from this extract and were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and by comparison with published data. The crude methanol extract of C. populnea rhizomes showed a strong DPPH antiradical activity with a good amount of total phenolic content ((20.69±2.13) g gallic acid equivalent/100 g of extract) and significant anthelmintic activity comparable to the standard drug ivermectin. Bergenin was found to be inactive even after 72 h of incubation.Conclusions:This study constitutes the first report on the anthelmintic activity of this plant and supports the traditional use of C. populnea as a natural antioxidant and anthelmintic.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and anthelmintic activities of the crude methanol extract of Cissus populnea (C. populnea) rhizomes. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed using standard protocols, and column chromatography of silica gel was used for the compounds isolation. DPPH antiradical scavenging assay was performed in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The anthelmintic activity was screened on the bovine adult male forms of parasitic nematode Onchocerca ochengi, by the in vitro evaluation of the inhibition of adult worm motility and mortality. Worms were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of the plant extract and effects on survival were monitored after 24 and 48 h. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Bergenin and a mixture of phytosterol, β -sitosterol and stigmasterol were isolated from this extract and were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and by comparison with published data. The crude methanol extract of C. populnea rhizomes showed a strong DPPH antiradical activity with a good amount of total phenolic content ((20.69±2.13) g gallic acid equivalent/100 g of extract) and significant anthelmintic activity comparable to the standard drug ivermectin. Bergenin was found to be inactive even after 72 h of incubation. Conclusions: This study constitutes the first report on the anthelmintic activity of this plant and supports the traditional use of C. populnea as a natural antioxidant and anthelmintic.
ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was carried out to determine the effects of Cissus populnea and Panax ginseng on flutamide-induced testicular toxicities in pre-pubertal rats. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos – Nigeria, between May and December 2010. Methodology: 20 male immature (25 days old) Wistar rats were used. They were randomly divided into 4 groups; 1 control and 3 treatment groups. Group A served as control, group B was administered flutamide and Cissus populnea, group C was administered flutamide and Panax ginseng and group D was administered flutamide alone. Body weight and testicular weights were measured. Hormonal assay for testosterone, FSH and LH were done using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Histopathology of the testis was also investigated. Result: There were no statistically significant differences in serum testosterone levels in all three treatment groups when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase in the serum LH level in group D when compared with the control group (p<0.05). Serum FSH level in group B showed a significant increase when compared with the control group (p<0.05). The histological evidences of testis in group D showed a reduction in lining cells of the seminiferous tubules; however, in the other three treatment groups they were similar to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that Cissus populnea and Panax ginseng ameliorates the adverse effects of flutamide on the testis.
ABSTRACT
Lectin is a glycoprotein substance, usually of plant origin, of non-immunoglobulin nature and capable of binding to carbohydrate moieties of complex glycoconjugates. This underlies its clinical significance. Hence, purification steps comprising of centrifugation, salting-out, ultra filtration, dialysis and anion exchange affinity chromatography were used to purify the protein from the seed of Cissus populnea. The purified lectin agglutinated non-specifically red blood cells of human type A, B and O. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin towards human erythrocytes was inhibited by Dfructose, D-glucose and CuSO4. However the lectin activity was enhanced by Dgalactose and MgCl2. Stability studies showed the purified protein to be stable at a spectrum of 20-40°C and at pH range of 6-8 and 10-11. The kinetic study on the purified protein indicated 26271HU and 278.2 L for Vmax and Km, respectively. However, result from paper chromatography on the carbohydrate isolate during purification indicated presence of a ketone sugar having same appearance with fructose standard, a sugar clinically established as the major source of energy during spermatogenesis. It was observed that heamagglutinating activity of the lectin from Cissus populnea towards human erythrocytes was non-selective to type of blood groups. It could be stated that Cissus populnea consumption may pose no threat to patient with challenge in metabolising glucose, since its main carbohydrate content is fructose.