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Background: Operculina turpethum Linn. (Convolvulaceae) is commonly called “Trivrit” or “India jalap” in English. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with purplish stem and milky-white exudates. This study was aimed at evaluation of the analgesic and antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract of O. turpethum leaves in mice. Methods: The acute oral toxicity of the extract was evaluated using up and down method. The analgesic effects were assessed using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing reflex and tail flick methods, while the antioxidant activity (AA) was assayed using photometric 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay method. Results: The extract produced a concentration-dependent increase in the AA with inhibitory concentration 50% >400 μg/ml. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and aspirin (100 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent reduction in the number of abdominal constriction induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in treated mice when compared to the distilled water treated mice. The extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and pentazocine (3 mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent increase in the pain reaction time in the treated mice groups, when compared to the distilled water treated groups. Conclusion: The study showed that O. turpethum possesses analgesic and antioxidant properties and confirmed the folkloric use of O. turpethum leaves in the traditional pain management.
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Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Xylopia aethiopica on serum lipids in fed rats. Also the quantitative phytochemical and nutrient composition was investigated. Study Design: Quantitative phytochemical, proximate analysis and in vivo effect on serum lipid profile. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Abia State, between June 2013 and September 2013. Methodology: The fruit were cut into small piece, dried and ground into powder. The quantitative phytochemical and proximate nutrient analyses of the powder sample were determined using standard methods. The serum lipid lowering effects of the powdered fruit in rats was determined by feeding different groups of rats with graded levels (5, 10, 20 and 50%) of the powdered fruit incorporated in their feed for 21 consecutive days and the effects on the total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, and HDL-C were compared with a negative control. Results: The fruit sample produced significant (p<0.05) concentration-dependent decrease in the total serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and VLDL-C levels and increase in serum HDL-C level in fed groups of rats when compared to the control group. The phytochemical analysis showed that the sample contained tannins (4.96%), flavonoids (0.81%), saponins (2.93%) and alkaloids (1.24%). The proximate analysis of the nutrient composition of powdered Xylopia aethiopica sample showed the presence of moisture, lipid, crude fibre, crude protein, ash and nitrogen free extracts in the following proportion 6.32, 12.54, 14.51, 0.91, 2.31 and 63.41% respectively. Conclusion: The fruit sample demonstrated good hypolipidemic effects which may suggest that the consumption of Xylopia aethiopica fruit may help in the reduction of the incidence of hyperlipidemia related diseases in patients.
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OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the methanol leaf extract of Diaphanathe bidens (D. bidens) (AFZEL. EX SW) SCHLTR for antihyperglycemic activity in order to confirm it antidiabetic potential.@*METHODS@#D. bidens was extracted by cold maceration for 48 h and concentrated in vacuo to yield D. bidens extract (DBE). Hyperglycemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (75 mg/kg). Oral glucose tolerance test was done with 2 g/kg glucose load in normal rats. DBE (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) was administered orally, while tolbutamide (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as the standard reference drug. Blood glucose levels determined using ACCUCHEK glucose auto-analyzer. The acute toxicity and phytochemical studies were also carried out.@*RESULTS@#DBE (600 mg/kg) and tolbutamide (100 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05, 0.005) reduced blood glucose levels of rats between 120 and 480 min post administration in normal rats. In the streptozotocin- induced hyperglycemic rats, DBE (150, 300, 600 mg/kg) caused significant (P<0.001) dose- and time- dependent reduction in the blood glucose levels by 1.7%, 22.8% and 43.4%, respectively at 480 min compared to the negative control group. DBE (600 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose level of rats by 1.2% in the oral glucose tolerance test when compared with the normal saline treated group. The acute toxicity test showed that DBE was safe at the doses used and the phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, steroids, tannins and terpernoids.@*CONCLUSIONS@#D. bidens extract possess antihyperglycemic activity which may be mediated through pancreatic and extra-pancreatic pathways, thereby justifying it folkloric use.