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The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Delile of the family Asteraceae(also known as "bitter leaf"), rich in biological activities, are used as both medicine and food for a long time in West tropical Africa. They have been introduced into Southeast Asia and Fujian and Guangdong provinces of China in recent years. However, little is known about the properties of the plant in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), which limits its combination with other Chinese medicinal herbs. In this study, 473 articles on V. amygdalina leaves were selected from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP to summarize their components, pharmacological effects and clinical research. V. amygdalina leaves presented anti-microbial, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. On the basis of the theory of TCM properties, the leaves were inferred to be cold in property and bitter and sweet in flavor, acting on spleen, liver, stomach and large intestine and with the functions of clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, removing toxin, killing insects and preventing attack of malaria. They can be used to treat dampness-heat diarrhea, interior heat and diabetes, malaria, insect accumulation and eczema(5-10 g dry leaves by decoction per day and an appropriate amount of crushed fresh leaves applying to the affected area for external use). Due to the lack of TCM properties, V. amygdalina leaves are rarely used medicinally in China. The determination of medicinal properties of the leaves is conducive to the introduction of new exotic medicinal herbs and the development of new TCM resources, which facilitated further clinical application and research and development of Chinese medicinal herbs.
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Antioxidants , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Leaves , Plants, Medicinal , VernoniaABSTRACT
im: Vegetables form a major component of the human diet; however, some agricultural practices may put consumers at risk of parasitic infections. There is high consumption of bitter leaf (Onugbu) in the rural part of Nigeria. They are eaten raw as medicinal herbs by some people. The culture of inadequate or poor washing of vegetables could pose significant and major health threats to the consumers. The aim of the study was to identify some of the parasites that may be attached to the locally consumed edible vegetable Vernonia amygdalina called Onugbu amongst Igbo speaking dialect in south eastern Nigeria. Study Design: This study is a survey that evaluated the parasitic contamination of bitter leaf grown in selected farms in Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Duration: The study lasted for six months. Methodology: V. amygdalina leaf samples were bought directly from the farmers at 300 Naira per rap. The examination of sample was carried out using sedimentation method. Samples weighing 50g were gently washed in normal saline water. The water used in washing was filtered and centrifuged at 300g to concentrate the parasitic stages and also to avoid damages. The sediments obtained were transferred unto labelled clean slides and examined under the light microscope at x 40 objective lens. Results: Parasites were detected in all samples collected from the farm. The commonest parasite was Entamoeba histolytica (cyst 45.5%); other parasites seen are Entamoeba coli (cyst 13.6%), B. coli (trophozoite 27.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (ova 9.1%) and Strongyloides stercolaris (larva 4. 6%). Conclusion and Recommendations: The results provide evidence of contamination of bitter leaves from farms in Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria with parasites of public health importance. To avoid infection, humans should wash the leaves of this vegetable with running water or salt and water before it is eating raw.
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Aim of the Study: Conventional antimalarial drugs are used concurrently with herbal remediesin malarial endemic developing countries.Vernonia amygdalina is one of such popular herbs used in the treatment of malaria. This study aimed at investigating the antimalarial chemotherapeutic interaction ofVernonia amygdalina (VA) when combined with Amodiaquine (AQ) and/or Artesunate (AS) in a murine Plasmodium berghei malaria model.Methodology:Various doses of aqueous VA leaf extract (100-500 mg/kg/day), AQ (2-10 mg/kg/day) and AS (0.8-4 mg/kg/day) wereadministered orally to P berghei.-infected Swiss albino mice to determine their sub-therapeutic doses. These doses were subsequently used to investigate the chemotherapeutic interactions of VA with AQ and/or AS in both early and establishedmalaria infection test models. The survival of animals with established infections that received different drug/herb treatments were determined using their mean survival time (days) and Kaplan-Meier survival curves (percentage). Using GraphPad Instat (version 3.10) and PrismR(version 5.01) the data obtained were subjected to One-way ANOVA, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test. P< .05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The sub-therapeutic doses of VA, AQ and AS were found to be 100 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 2.4 mg/kg, respectively. The chemosuppressive effect of AQ or AS was significantly increased (p< 0.05) when administered in combination with the VA extract. Similarly, combination of VA extract with AQ or AS resulted in significant (P < .05) parasite clearance when compared to the effects of the herb or the conventional drugs administered separately. The mean survival period of animals with established infection was also significantly enhanced by the VA alone or with AQ(or AS) compared to placebo
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Background: Vernonia amygdalina is a common medicinal plant that is widely used by local communities and traditional herbalists in central Uganda in management of various conditions including hypertension that occurs as a result of changes in heart contractility. However, there is limited scientific information of V. amygdalina effects on the force and rate of contractility of the heart. The study evaluated the inotropic and chronotropic effect of methanol, aqueous, ether and total crude leaf extracts of V. amygdalina on isolated perfused rabbit heart.Methods: An experimental laboratory based study determined the effects of V. amygdalina extracts on the rate and force of contraction isolated perfused rabbit using the Langendorff抯 heart perfusion experiment and methods. The heart rate (beats/minute) was counted per minute. The force of contraction of the heart was determined measuring the height of each peak on the kymogram.Results: The findings showed that the force and rate of heart contractility reduced with increasing doses of methanol, aqueous ether and total crude leaf extracts at doses of 0.5, 8.0, 62.0 and 250.0 mg/ml. The force and rate of heart contractility at a dose of 250.0 mg/ml for all the extracts were comparable to that of acetylcholine drug to almost causing cardiac arrest.Conclusions: The leaf extracts of V. amygdalina contain compounds that reduced the force and rate of contraction of an isolated rabbit heart.
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Aim:The study evaluated the effects of the combined extracts of Vernonia amygdalina(VA) and Gongronema latifolium(GL) on pancreatic GLUT 2 expression and caspase 3 activity in streptozotocin (STZ, 45 mg/Kg)-induced diabetic rats.Study Design:Fifteen Albino rats were used for the study and were placed in 3 groups of 5 rats each: A -normal control, B –Diabetic control and C–experimental group.Place and Duration of Study:The study was carried out in the department of Anatomy, University of Calabar.Duration:6 months.Methodology:Half of the diabetic rats were treated with VA+GL (400mg/kg, ratio 1:1, DE group) for 28 days, while the other half was untreated and served as diabetic control (DC). Normal control (NC) rats were untreated. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed and their blood glucose, serum GLUT 2 and caspase 3 activity were measured. Histochemical evaluation of the pancreas was also carried out.Results:Blood glucose concentrations for the 3 groups were 60.31±7.28, 257.00±4.43, and 116.60±10.11 mg/dl for NC, DC and DE respectively. This represented a 4-fold increase in the DC compared with NC and a significant amelioration in the extract-treated DE group compared with DC group. Serum GLUT 2 concentrations were 70 ng/ml in NC, dropped to 8 ng/ml (p<0.05) in the DC and recovered to 20ng/ml in DE (p<0.05). Serum caspase was 3.2 ng/ml for NC, increased to 8.5 ng/ml in DC (p<0.05) and reduced to 1.8ng/ml in DE (p<0.05). The histology of the pancreas showed distorted, degenerated and shrunken β-cells mass in DC compared with NC and DE groups. The DE group showed clear signs of regeneration of the islet cells which was corroborated by positive Feulgen’s reactioncompared with the DC group. Conclusion:The data suggests that the combined VA+GL extract has the potential to effectively reverse pancreatic damage in diabetes
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Aim: The aim of the study was to carry out a comparative analysis of the proximate, vitamin and mineral composition of the leaves of four selected tropical vegetable plants namely: Ocimum gratissimum, Piper guineense, Gongronema latifolium and Vernonia amygdalina. Methodology: Fresh leaves of each vegetable were washed and air dried at room temperature for two weeks. The dried leaves were pulverized using a mechanical grinder. Measured amounts were subjected to quantitative proximate, vitamin and mineral analysis. Results: For all four plants, carbohydrates was the major macronutrient constituents (range 49.61-64.09% dry wt.) followed by fats (15.06-29.43%), Protein (7.28-12.53%), ash (1.81-14.82%) and fiber (2.92-7.53%) in that order. G. latifolium had the highest carbohydrate (64.09±0.09% dry weight) and protein (12.53±0.10%) composition while V. amygdalina had the highest fat (29.43±0.03%) composition. Results of Ash analysis of the four leaves showed P. guineense to have the highest total mineral content (14.82±0.12% dry wt.) followed by V. amygdalina (10.75±0.01%), O. gratissimum (4.60±0.04%) and G. latifolium (1.81±0.01%) in that order. O. gratissimum and P. guineense had the highest composition of fiber (7.53±0.02% and 7.22±0.02% respectively) closely followed by G. latifolium (6.03±0.02%) and V. amygdalina (2.92±0.02%). Vitamin analysis revealed that leaves of the four vegetable plants contained high levels of vitamin C (range 18.1-43.4 mg/100 g) and appreciable quantities of vitamins A (0.3-1.2 mg/100 g) and E (0.67-0.9 mg/100 g). V. amygdalina leaf contained the highest concentration of vitamin C (43.4±0.01 mg/100 g) and A (1.2±0.9 mg/100 g) while O. gratissimum had the highest vitamin E content (0.9 mg/100 g). The mineral assay indicated that the leaves of the plants contain high levels of Magnesium (Mg)(3.6-24.8 mg/100 g), Phosphorus (P) (2.8-34.3 mg/100 g), Calcium (Ca) (12.1-19.0 mg/100 g) and copper (Cu) (5.8-18.5 mg/100 g) relative to their Zinc (Zn) (1.1-2.1 mg/100 g), Potassium (K) (2.1-6.9 mg/100 g) and Sodium (Na) (4.3-8.1 mg/100 g) contents. Conclusion: In conclusion, these plants were shown to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins and fats, vitamins and minerals justifying their use in diets. That the plants were particularly rich in vitamins and mineral with antioxidant properties could explain the therapeutic uses of the various preparations of these leafy vegetables, in traditional medicine, for the treatment and management of diseases that have their etiology and pathophysiology in free radical generation and oxidative stress.
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Aims: This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic effect of a combined extract of Vernonia amygdalinaand croton zabensicuscompare with a hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide.Methodology:Twenty 20 experimental animals were used (albino rats); the rats were divided equally into four groups of five rats each; namely A (control), B (glibenclamide 10mg/kg body weight), C (synergetic treatment 1000mg/kg body weight), D (synergetic treatment 500mg/kg of body weight). Diabetes was induced intraperitoneal using Alloxan Monohydrate to all the animals and their blood glucose rise above 200mg/dl.Results:It was observed that group B and group C treated with glibenclamide (10mg/kg body weight) and synergetic aqueous extract (1000mg/kg body weight) show significantdecrease in the blood glucose level from 451.75mg/dl to 64.50mg/dl and 339.50mg/dl to 182.50mg/dl respectively compared with group D with 278.25mg/dl to 194.75mg/dl.However, a change was also observed in the body weight of the groups; Group A (Normal control) showed a continuous increase in the body weight, Group B, C and D were observed to have decreased in body weight from induction period, but a steady increase was observed astreatment commences. Conclusion:Hence this combined extract can be used as antihyperglycemic; only that it is slower in remediation compared with the glibenclamide; but without side effect, as may be in the case of most standard drug
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Cordyceps militaris exopolysaccharides (EPS) have many pharmacological activities such as boosting immunity and antifatigue. To obtain EPS efficiently, we added moderate Vernonia amygdalina leaf powder as inducer to the fermentation medium to promote the production of Cordyceps militaris EPS and studied the infrared absorption spectrum and antioxidant activities of the EPS after optimization. The optimum liquid fermentation conditions were as follows: addition of Vernonia amygdalina leaf powder of 8 g/L, fermentation duration of 9 d, initial pH of 6.5, inoculation quantity of 5.0 mL. Under such a condition, the yield of Cordyceps militaris EPS reached (5.24±0.28) mg/mL, increased by 205.20% compared to the control group without adding Vernonia amygdalina leaf powder. Results of infrared analysis and antioxidant activity showed that the Vernonia amygdalina leaves had little effect on the structure and activities of Cordyceps militaris EPS. The results of this research suggest that Vernonia amygdalina leaf can enhance the production of Cordyceps militaris EPS effectively, and provides a novel method for efficient production of EPS in Cordyceps militaris.
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Antioxidants , Cordyceps , Plant Leaves , Polysaccharides , VernoniaABSTRACT
Background: Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related disease of unknown etiology, characterized by prostate enlargement. The effect of Prosopis africana (PA), Vernonia amydalina (VA) and Ocimum gratissmum (OG), plant extracts on haematological parameters of BPH animal model was investigated. Methods: BPH was induced in 45 male Wistar rats (250-350 g) by exogenous injection of testosterone and estradiol in staggered doses for 3 weeks. To confirm BPH induction, some animals were sacrificed; histological inspection of prostate gland and PSA was carried out. Forty BPH induced rats were divided into 8 groups. Group 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6 were treated with 50 mg/kg bw and 100 mg/kg bw doses of PA, VA and OG extracts respectively. Group 7 received finasteride (0.1 mg/kg bw). Group 8 BPH control and five rats without induction constitute group 9, the normal control and both received distilled water. After 45 days, the rats were anaesthetised by a brief exposure to trichloromethane vapour and 5 ml of blood was collected from the rats through cardiac puncture and dispensed into well-labelled EDTA containers to avoid coagulation. All analyses were completed within 24 h of sample collection. Results: Results showed that induction of BPH caused a significant (P< 0.05) enlargement of prostate gland when compared to normal control. All extracts produced significant (P<0.05) reduction in the weight of the enlarged prostate when compared to the BPH control. There were significant (P ?0.05) decline in RBC, PCV and Hb of BPH control when compared to the normal control and treated groups. In the treated groups the administration of the extracts and standard drug exhibited an increase in RBC, PCV and Hb concentration when compared with the BPH control. Also there was significant (P < 0.05) increase in the WBC, neutrophils, platelets, monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils levels in BPH control when compared to normal control and treated groups. In all treated groups there was significant decrease in WBC, neutrophils, platelets, monocytes, lymphocytes and eosinophils concentration levels when compared with the BPH control group. Conclusion: The result of this study indicates that the extracts have the potential to reverse the inflammation caused by BPH and also have the capacity to boost the numbers of red blood cells probably by inhibiting the hemolysis caused by inflammatory factors or by enhancing the production of red blood cell from the bone marrow.
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Background: Diabetic nephropathy is a leading cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Purpose: The methanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MLVA) was thus investigated for its nephroprotective effects in diabetes.Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by a single intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of a freshly prepared solution of Alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg). Forty-eight hours after alloxan administration, rats with fasting blood glucose levels of 200 mg/dl and above were used for the study. Animals were grouped into five (A-E) of nine animals each. Group A was non-diabetic non treated control; Group B animals were the diabetic untreated control rats while groups C, D and E animals were diabetic and treated with glibenclamide, MLVA 200 mg/kg and MVLA 400 mg/kg respectively. Biochemical changes were evaluated by measuring the serum markers of kidney damage (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen). Markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activities were measured in renal tissues. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were also evaluated.Results: Four-week administration of MLVA produced significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum creatinine, urea, and oxidative markers but it caused a significant increase in enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidant as well as downregulation of Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-?B) and upregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2).Conclusion: MLVA ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects
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AIM To investigate the distribution of volatile components and inorganic elements from Vernonia amygdalina Del..METHODS Volatile components and inorganic elements in different parts of V.amygdalina were analyzed and measured by HS-SPME-GC-MS and ICP-OES techniques.RESULTS Forty-four,sixty-seven,fifty-seven chemical compounds were identified from the root,stem and leaves of V.amygdalina,accounting for 83.9％,92.0％,83.9％ of the volatile components,respectively.Nineteen inorganic elements in total were detected,and the contents of As,Be,Bi,Co were too low to detect;The three inorganic elements with the highest content in root,stem and leaves were Mg,Al and Fe.CONCLUSION There are abundant volatile components and inorganic elements in V.amygdalina,with varying distribution in its different parts.
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Objectives: To assess the patronage, and the perceived efficacy of herbal preparations in the treatment of typhoid fever, and to ascertain the anti-salmonella activity of a herbal preparation used as an antityphoid in Ghana. Materials and Methods: Purposively and conveniently from 700, 65 individuals who had had typhoid fever (clinically confirmed) were sampled. Well-structured questionnaires on the subject were administered to sampled individuals. Experimentally, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of a herbal antityphoid preparation on Salmonella typhi was determined using the broth dilution method. Results: 46/65 (70.8%) used herbal preparations (19 used pre-packaged products; 27 used extemporaneous preparations) while 19/65 (29.2%) used orthodox drugs to treat their infection. Some of the herbs commonly used were Nauclea latifolia, Morinda lucida, Paullinia pinnata, Vernonia amygdalina, Cassia alata, Phyllantus fraternus, Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, and Carica papaya. Majority, 42/45 (91.3%), recovered after the use of the herbal anti-typhoid products (laboratory confirmation), 7/42 (15.2%) had relapse within three months, 9/45 (19.6%) experienced mild side effects. Experimentally, both the prepared herbal mixture and ciprofloxacin had MICs of 4 and 2 μg/μl respectively. Conclusion: Herbal anti-typhoid preparations are highly patronized and have been found to be efficacious. Experimentally the herbal mixture prepared showed interesting anti-salmonella activity.
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The present study examines the effect of some bioactive constituents of Vernonia amygdalina crude extract and fractions on enzymes involved in glucose metabolism and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus. Fresh Vernonia amygdalina leaves were extracted using ethanol. Four fractions from this extract were obtained by liquid-liquid fractionation technique using solvents of varying polarity and the bioactive compounds were identified by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrum (GC-MS) analysis. Resultant fractions were administered at 300 mg/kgBW to streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) induced diabetic wistar rats. The results shows that various fractions produced a fall in the fasting blood glucose level in diabetic rats; Chloroform (65.85%), ethyl acetate (69.65%) Benzene (45.59%) and Butanol (37.31%) and all fractions showed increase in the activity of glucose metabolic enzymes (hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and Diaphorase (NADPH) between 20–81%, significantly higher than that of the metformin (reference drug at 50 mg/kg). Administration of Crude ethanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina at dose of 300 mg/kg produced a fall (81.45%) in the fasting blood glucose level and subsequent increase in glucose metabolic enzyme activity (hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and Diaphorase (NADPH) (20–35%) in the diabetic Wistar rats after 28 days of treatment. GC-MS analysis showed that the plant and its fractions possess hypoglycaemic bioactive constituents such as Phytol, Palmitic acid, stearic acid and oxirane. The findings suggest that Vernonia amygdalina extract reduced the hyperglycaemic effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes through its effect on glucose metabolism by promoting enzymes of the glycolytic and the pentose phosphate pathway, a property attributable to its active chemical constituents.
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The use of plants in traditional medicine become very common nowadays throughout the world and in developing countries in particular. The current study was carried out aiming to compare the chemical features of three vegetables (Vernonia amygdalina, Crateva adansonii and Sesamum radiatum) mostly used for human consumption and traditional medicine to treat bacterial diarrhoea in Benin. These vegetables were selected among the 27 species obtained after ethno-botanical investigations in southern Benin. Therefore, the major chemical groups contained in these vegetables were detected by solubility assays together with coloration and precipitation reactions. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of the plant extracts was assessed on shrimp larvae (Artemia salina). The results showed that gallic tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, mucilages, coumarins and reducing compounds were detected in all samples (100%) followed by cathechic tannins (66.66%) and saponins (33.33%). The study also revealed that none of the studied vegetables is cytotoxic (LC50 > 0.01 mg/ml). This study was conducted in the perspective of establishing innovations capable of assisting to; manufacture Improved Traditional Medicines for the treatment of bacterial diarrhoea in the future. Besides, it pointed out the presence of secondary metabolites and the cytotoxicity of these vegetables interesting for further antibacterial, antidiarrheal and pharmacological studies.
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Aims: This study evaluated the anxiolytic, sedative and hypothermic effects of aqueous leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina in Mice. Study Design: One-factor two control groups experimental design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, between October 2012 and January 2013. Methodology: Animal models of novelty induced behaviours (rearing and locomotion), anxiolysis (T-maze and hole-board), sedation (amylobarbitone induced hypnosis) and hypothermia (rectal temperature measurement) were utilized in this study. Five different groups of white albino mice of both sexes weighing 23 – 28g (n=5 or 6) were randomly selected. Group 1 was the control (normal saline, 10 ml/kg, i.p.), group 2 was the positive control (diazepam, 1mg/kg, i.p.), while group 3, 4 and 5 were treated with aqueous leaf extract at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg, i.p., respectively. All animals in each group were pretreated for 30 minutes before assessment. Results: V. amygdalina at 50 mg/kg showed anxiolytic activity by significantly (P<0.001) increasing the frequency of head-dip compared to control, and also a significant (P =.05) decrease and increase (P<0.001) in latencies to withdrawal from the closed and open arms of the elevated T-maze respectively. However, at 100-200mg/kg, V. amygdalina showed sedative activity by significantly (P<0.001) decreasing rearing, locomotion (P<0.001) and head-dip frequency (P<0.001) in mice. Furthermore, V. amygdalina (100- 200mg/kg) caused significant (P<0.001) decrease in sleep latency and significantly (P<0.001) increased sleep duration in amylobarbitone-induced sleeping test indicating sedative activity. V. amygdalina (50-200mg/kg) also caused significant (at 30 min, 60 min, 90 min and 120 min; P=.05) reduction in rectal temperature in mice compared to normal saline and diazepam. Conclusion: The aqueous leaf extract of V. amygdalina may possess anxiolytic, sedative and hypothermic effects, hence justifying its folkloric medicinal use.
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Aims: The current study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemical profile and in vitro bacteria growth inhibitory potential of different solvent leaf extracts of V. amygdalina from northern Ghana. Study Design: Different solvent extracts of the plant were quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated for phytochemicals. In vitro bacteria sensitivity assay of the extracts was evaluated using some beta-lactamase producing bacteria as test microbes. Methodology: Ethanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether and aqueous leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina were studied in vitro for growth inhibition against beta-lactamase producing bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using agar well diffusion method. Saponins, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, reducing sugars, anthracenosides, terpenes and phytosteroids were determined qualitatively and quantified. Results: All the phytochemicals tested were found to be present in both the methanolic and ethanolic leaf extracts. The aqueous extract showed the presence of saponins, reducing sugars and anthracenosides. Glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids were the only groups of phytochemicals found in the petroleum ether extract. The methanolic extract showed the greatest amount of saponins (14.23%), flavonoids (2.15%), alkaloids (7.49%), tannins (5.4%), terpenes (10.20%) and phenolics (8.24%). The methanolic extract at concentration of 4 mg/ml showed growth inhibitory activities against all the test organisms with zone of inhibitions ranging from 16.00±0.50 (against E. coli) to 20.50±0.03 mm (against S. aureus). The ethanolic extract showed activity against only two of the test organisms viz. 23.00±0.33 mm against P. aeruginosa and 12.00±0.00 mm against S. aureus at similar concentration. All test organisms were resistant to both aqueous and pet ether extracts. Conclusion: The antibacterial activities of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts were significant (P < 0.05) and may be mediated by the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes and alkaloids. Results from present study corroborate previous findings and also presents methanolic leaf extract of the plant as a credible candidate for the discovery of new phytotherapeutic agents against the beta-lactamase producing bacteria tested.
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Vernonia amygdalina (bitter-leaf) is native to West Africa but occurs mostly in its cultivated form in various parts of central and southern Nigeria. It is a dark-green leafy vegetable commonly used in cooking and as folkloric medicine for the management of several diseases in Nigeria. In the present study, the effects of varying doses of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina on the rat testis histo-morphometry were investigated. Forty male wistar rats were divided into groups of four. Group A, as the control was given 10 ml/kg/day/oral distilled water while Group B, C and D subsequently treated with 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg/day/oral route Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract respectively for 56 days. Results showed that Group B rats had normal testis histology comparable to the control group. However, rats in Group C and D exhibited dose-dependent poor testes histo-morphometric profiles, with the higher dosage-group (D) providing a worse feature. Thus, there was a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the tubular diameter, cross-sectional area of the tubules, number of tubular profiles per unit area and the mean numerical density of seminiferous tubules of Group C and Group D animals compared to the control group. Our results therefore indicated that, while the lower dose (100 mg/kg) of Vernonia amygdalina leaves extract can be accommodated by rat testis, the higher doses (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) demonstrate testicular toxicity in the rat.
La Vernonia amygdalina (hoja amarga) es originaria de África Occidental, pero se produce mediante cultivo en varias partes del Centro y Sur de Nigeria. Es una verdura, una hoja color verde oscuro, común en la cocina y como medicina alternativa en el manejo de varias enfermedades en Nigeria. Se investigaron los efectos de diferentes dosis de extracto etanólico de la hoja de Vernonia amygdalina para estudiar los efectos sobre la histomorfometría testicular en la rata. Cuarenta ratas Wistar macho se dividieron en 4 grupos. Grupo A, como control con el suministro de 10 ml/kg/día/agua destilada vía oral, y los Grupos B, C y D tratados con 100, 300 y 600 mg/kg/día/ vía oral del extracto de Vernonia amygdalina, durante 56 días. Los resultados mostraron que las ratas del grupo B tenían una histología testicular normal y comparable con el grupo control. Sin embargo, las ratas del grupo C y D mostraron bajos perfiles histomorfométricos testiculares, dependientes de la dosis, y con la dosis más elevada, grupo (D) se observaron característica aún menores. Hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa (p<0,05) en el diámetro tubular, área de sección transversal de los túbulos, número túbulos por unidad de superficie y densidad numérica media de los túbulos seminíferos del Grupo C y D en comparación con el grupo de control. Nuestros resultados indicaron que dosis bajas (100 mg/kg) del extracto de Vernonia amygdalina pueden ser aceptables y no alteran el testículo de rata, pero con dosis altas (300 mg/kg y 600 mg/kg) se observa toxicidad testicular.
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Male , Animals , Rats , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Testis , Testis/pathology , Vernonia/toxicity , Photomicrography , Rats, Wistar , Toxicity TestsABSTRACT
Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae), better known by its former name Vernonia amygdalina Delile, is a small shrub used in folk medicine as an antipyretic, laxative, antimalarial and anthelmintic. Studies have demonstrated that different vegetal extracts possess antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Among the bioactive metabolites, there are sesquiterpene lactones, saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. This study investigated the leaf and stem microscopic characters of G. amygdalinum, aiming to expand the knowledge on this medicinal species and indicate anatomical structures. Plant material was fixed and sectioned by freehand and using a microtome. The sections were either stained or underwent standard histochemical tests. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to investigate epidermal relief. The leaf is amphistomatic with anomocytic stomata. There are striate cuticle, glandular and non-glandular trichomes and dorsiventral mesophyll. In transverse section, the midrib and the petiole have a plano-convex shape. Both show several collateral vascular bundles and few crystals of calcium oxalate. In the stem, the epidermis persists and the phellogen has a peripheral origin. It presents typical endodermis and sclerenchymatic caps adjoining the phloem. The aspects that contribute to characterizing the species are stomata on both leaf surfaces, midrib and petiole features, the endodermis and sclerenchymatic caps in the stem, as well as the different types of trichome on both aerial organs.
Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae), espécie mais conhecida pela sinonímia Vernonia amygdalina Delile, é um pequeno arbusto empregado na medicina popular como antipirético, laxativo, antimalárico e anti-helmíntico. Estudos demonstraram que diferentes extratos do vegetal possuem atividades antioxidante, antimicrobiana e antiparasitária. Entre os metabólitos bioativos presentes, citam-se lactonas sesquiterpenoides, saponinas, polifenóis e flavonoides. Este estudo investigou os caracteres microscópicos de folha e caule de G. amygdalinum, a fim de ampliar o conhecimento acerca dessa espécie medicinal e apontar estruturas anatômicas características. O material foi fixado e seccionado à mão livre e em micrótomo. Os cortes foram corados ou submetidos aos testes histoquímicos clássicos. Empregou-se microscopia eletrônica de varredura para investigar a ultraestrutura da superfície epidérmica. A folha é anfiestomática com estômatos anomocíticos. Há cutícula estriada, tricomas glandular e tector e mesofilo dorsiventral. Em secção transversal, a nervura central e o pecíolo têm contorno plano-convexo. Ambos mostram vários feixes vasculares colaterais e poucos cristais de oxalato de cálcio. No caule, a epiderme permanece e o felogênio tem instalação periférica. São observadas endoderme típica e calotas esclerenquimáticas apostas ao floema. Os aspectos que fornecem elementos para a identificação da espécie são a ocorrência de estômatos em ambas as superfícies foliares, a organização da nervura central e do pecíolo, a endoderme e as calotas esclerenquimáticas no caule, além dos diferentes tipos de tricoma nos órgãos aéreos estudados.
Subject(s)
Plant Stems , Asteraceae/classification , Vernonia , Pharmacognosy/classification , Plants, Medicinal/classification , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Microscopy, Electrochemical, Scanning/classificationABSTRACT
The Possible Revival of atrophied islet cells of the pancreas by Vernonia amygdalina in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was evaluated. Twenty rats were divided into five groups (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) of four rats each. Group 1 rats were given only feed and distilled water (normal control) throughout the period of the experiment. Group 3, 4 and 5 rats were pretreated with 250mg/kg body weight of the extract for 7, 14 and 21 days respectively. Diabetes was induced in rats in group 2, 3, 4 and 5 with 150mg/kg of body weight of alloxan monohydrate. Group 2 rats were used as the experimental control. Fasting blood glucose of rats in all the groups were measured before and 72 hours after induction of diabetes. The rats were sacrificed after 72 hours and the pancreas was histopathologically analysed. The result showed a significantly high blood glucose level in group 2 rats indicating the diabetic state. The blood glucose level of rats in group 3 and 5 reduced significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the value of group 2 rats but not significantly different from group 1 value. Group 4 showed a significantly (p<0.05) high blood glucose level when compared with the base-line. The histopathology revealed atrophied islet of Langerhans in group 2 rats. Group 3 and 5, showed reviving islet cells and group 4 showed increased lymphoid follicles and neutrophills. The results suggest that the aqueous extract of V. amygdaliana has a protective effect against alloxan induced pancreatic damage and potential to revive damaged islet cells.