Spondias mombin L. [Anacardiaceae] enhances detoxification of hepatic and macromolecular oxidants in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats

Oxidative stress is a common pathological condition associated with drug-induced hepatotoxicity. This study investigated Spondias mombin L. aqueous leaf extract on reactive oxygen species and acetaminophen-mediated oxidative onslaught in rats' hepatocytes. Hepatotoxic rats were orally administered with the extract and vitamin C for 4 weeks. The extract dose-dependently scavenged DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, with ICso values of 0.13, 0.66, and 0.64 mg/mL, and corresponding % inhibitions of 89, 80, and 90%, respectively at 1.0 mg/mL. Ferric ion was also significantly reduced. The marked [p<0.05] increases in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced following treatment with the extract. The extract also significantly [p<0.05] induced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These inductions reversed the acetaminophen-erihanced reduction in the specific activities of these enzymes as well as attenuated the observed elevated concentrations of auto-oxidized products and rived DNA in the acetaminophen-intoxicated animals. The observed effects competed with those of vitamin C and are suggestive of hepatoprotective and antioxidative attributes of the extract. Overall, the data from the present findings suggest that S. Mombin aqueous leaf extract is capable of ameliorating acetaminophen-mediated oxidative hepatic damage via enhancement of antioxidant defense systems.

Combined administration of silymarin and vitamin C stalls acetaminophen-mediated hepatic oxidative insults in Wistar rats

Oxidative insult by free radicals has been implicated in drug-induced hepatic damage and this has resulted in frequent episodes of liver disorders. Therapeutic efficacy of antioxidants may provide a possible solution to this menace. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of combined administration of silymarin and vitamin C in rescuing acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxic rats were orally administered with silymarin and vitamin C at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. At the end of the experiment, liver function indices, antioxidant parameters and histological analysis were evaluated. We observed that the significantly increased (p < 0.05) activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and serum total bilirubin, were markedly reduced following co-administration of silymarin and vitamin C. The compounds also effectively reversed the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and total protein concentration in the hepatotoxic rats. These findings are indicative of hepatoprotective and antioxidant attributes of the two compounds which are also supported by the histological analysis. The available evidences in this study suggest that the complementary effects of silymarin and vitamin C proved to be capable of ameliorating acetaminophen-mediated hepatic oxidative damage and the probable mechanism is via antioxidative action.

Phenolic extract of Parkia biglobosa fruit pulp stalls aflatoxin B1 – mediated oxidative rout in the liver of male rats

The effect of phenolic extract of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don, Fabaceae, pulp on aflatoxin B1 induced oxidative imbalance in rat liver was evaluated. Thirty-five male rats were randomized into seven groups of five animals each. Rats in group A served as control and received vehicle for drug administration (0.5% DMSO) once daily at 24 h intervals for six weeks. Rats in groups B, D, E, F and G, received aflatoxin B1 (167 μg/kg body weight) in 0.5% DMSO for three weeks, starting from the third week of the experimental period. Rats in Group C received 400 mg/kg bodyweight of the extract for six weeks, while groups D, E and F rats were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bodyweight of the extract for six weeks respectively. Group G rats received 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin C. Aflatoxin B1-mediated decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly attenuated. Aflatoxin B1 mediated the elevation in malondialdehyde, conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, protein carbonyl, and significantly lowered DNA fragmentation percentage. Overall, the phenolic extract of P. biglobosa pulp stalls aflatoxin B1-mediated oxidative rout by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities leading to decreased lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and DNA fragmentation.

Seizure Variables and Cognitive Performance in Patients with Epilepsy

Background and Purpose Epilepsy is highly prevalent in developing African countries with significant morbidity; social stigmatization; poor quality of life and preventable mortality.There are scanty reports on the contributions of seizure variables like seizure types; frequency of seizures; duration of epilepsy; age at onset and anti-epileptic drugs to cognitive disturbances in Nigerian Africans. This study assessed the effects of seizure variables on the cognitive performances of patients with epilepsy. Methods The cognitive functions of 41 patients with epilepsy and 41 controls were assessed with a computer-assisted cognitive test battery; Iron Psychology (acronym - FePsy) using the simple and complex reaction time tasks for mental speed; recognition memory test (RMT) for memory and continuous performance test for attention. Results The cognitive performances of the patients using complex reaction time and the recognition memory tasks were worse than those of the controls (p0.05). The duration of treatment with anti-epileptic drugs negatively affected all cognitive domains assessed. The seizure frequency; duration of epilepsy and the use of phenytoin were associated with psychomotor retardation and impaired memory. Conclusions The seizure variables negatively affected cognitive performances of Nigerian patients with epilepsy. Cognitive assessment is recommended as part of regular evaluation of patients with epilepsy