ABSTRACT
Background: The relationship between iron, hypoxia, inflammation, and erythropoietin in cellular homeostasis is well documented. Patients on radiotherapy are known with active immune/inflammatory disorders often accompanied with reduced iron uptake or unavailability of circulatory iron and hence, must be adequately evaluated. The present study hypothesized “aqueous extracts of Camellia sinensis, Telfairia occidentalis and Parquetina nigrescens have chemical properties of ameliorating and restoring to normal, functional iron deficiency sequel to Cobalt 60 irradiation effect”. Materials and Methods: Fifty-Five young male guinea-pigs approximately 450 gram in weight were recruited and thirty were randomly assigned to 3 groups (A, B and C) for the study. Groups A and B were further divided into 4 (A1-4 and B1-4) with 3 animals (n=3) per group. Three guinea-pigs were also assigned to group C. Groups A and B belonged to Pre and post-irradiation groups while groups C served as control. Each animal was given 400r (4.0 Gy) whole-body gamma-irradiation under general anaesthesia, using a Co60 therapy unit as a source. Groups A1, A2, A3 and A4 had 1,400 mg/kg C. sinensis, 4000 mg/kg P. nigrescens, 3,500 mg/kg T. occidentalis and Combined dose (1,400 mg/kg C. sinensis + 400 mg/kg P. nigrescens + 3,500 mg/kg T. occidentalis) respectively twice daily 72 hours prior to irradiation and continued throughout the 14 days of the study. Groups B1, B2, B3 and B4 had similar treatment but commenced 24 hours after exposure to radiation and likewise continued throughout the 14 days of the study. Group C were not given any treatment but also had irradiation. Results: Total Iron Binding Capacity, Ferritin, Serum Transferrin receptor and Iron were all increased significantly for all the extracts pre and post irradiation. However, C-reactive protein decreased significantly. Conclusion: Aqueous extracts of Camellia sinensis, Parquetina nigrescens and Telfairia occidentalis leaves have good ameliorating effect on irradiation-induced injuries.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the anti-diabetic activity of the root bark extract of Parquetina nigrescens and the isolated compound, convallatoxin, from the root bark. A powdered sample of the plant was extracted with methanol, and the extract (A) was tested in glucose-loaded normal rats at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for the determination of the most active dose. The anti-diabetic activity of A at 200 mg/kg was carried out on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A was further partitioned to obtain its n-hexane (B1), dichloromethane (B2), ethyl acetate (B3) and mother liquor (B4) fractions that were tested for blood glucose lowering activity using glucose-loaded normal rats model. The anti-diabetic activity of the isolated compound from B3 was carried out on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The results were subjected to one way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests and p< 0.05 was considered significant. A showed dose-independent and time dependent blood glucose level reduction activity at 200 mg/kg with the highest percentage of 30% at 4 h that was comparable to the standard, glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg. A at 200 mg/kg showed a blood glucose level reduction of 49, 68 and 70% by Day 4, 7 and 10 respectively as against glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg of 18, 33 and 39% by Day 4, 7 and 10 respectively on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. B3 showed a time-dependent blood glucose level reduction activity up to the fourth hour similar to glibenclamide with 35% as against 38% of glibenclamide. B1, B2 and B4 were devoid of blood glucose level reduction activity. Convallatoxin isolated from B3 gave 83 % blood glucose levels reduction at day 10 as against 38% of glibenclamide. The anti-diabetic activity of convallatoxin was significantly (p<0.05) more than glibenclamide at all-time point. The structure of convallatoxin was determined using IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and the spectroscopic data compared well with published data in the literature.
ABSTRACT
Patients suffer a decrease in haemopoietic stem cells as a consequence of disease, radiation or chemotherapy. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are common therapeutic modalities for cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. Unfortunately, these therapies are not tumor-specific. Normal tissues, particularly the bone marrow (BM), are extremely vulnerable to cytotoxicity caused by these therapies. Antidotes are required for the untoward side effects of these therapies. Although a lot of potential better treatments are currently being developed, few research studies have investigated the proliferative effect of plant extracts which may modulate stem cells self-renewal and differentiation. However, in recent years there has been an upsurge of interest on the effects of various dietary insufficiencies on haemopoietic and immune responses (Sanberg et al., 2006). Other investigators have recently reported that dietary fatty acids, particularly oleic acid and linoleic acid, actively promote the proliferation of haemopoietic stem cells (Sanberg et al., 2006) as well as modulate the self-renewal of intestinal epithelial cells. This study was done to determine the potential proliferative effect of Parquetina nigrescens on haemopoietic multipotent stem cells in irradiated guinea pigs bone marrow. The study shows that the plant has positive proliferative effects on haemopoietic multipotent stem cells. The proliferative effect correlates with the concentration of the P. nigrescens.
ABSTRACT
The haematological, lipid, and antioxidant effects of Parquetina nigrescens (PN) were investigated. 40 male wistar rats were grouped into 4 of 10 rats each. Group A: control; administered 10ml/kg of normal saline. The other groups were administered extract viz: Group B- 50mg/kg, Group C- 100mg/kg, Group D- 150mg/kg. After 21days, blood samples were collected for different analysis. The results revealed decreased WBC count at 50 mg/kg &100mg/kg doses (p<0.05), significant increase in RBC, PCV, & haemoglobin levels (p<0.05) at 50mg/kg dose. There was also significant increase (p<0.05) in total cholesterol (TC), LDL with no change in high density lipoprotein (HDL) at 100mg/kg dose while there was significant increase in the mean TC, TG, LDL as well as HDL at 150mg/kg doses. There was also significant increase (p<0.05) in the level of SOD activity at 100mg/kg dose and a significant reduction in the GPx activity (p <0.05) at 50mg/kg & 100mg/kg dose groups. The observations from this study reveal that PN possesses erythropoietic potentials at minimal dose which lends support to its folkric use in the treatment of anaemia. It could also serve as a free radical scavenger as it possesses antioxidant activities. However caution should be taken in its use as it has potentials to increase LDL.