Hot aqueous leaf extract of Lasianthera africana (Icacinaceae) attenuates rifampicin-isoniazid-induced hepatotoxicity / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Lasianthera africana (Icacinaceae) against isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF)-induced liver damage in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hepatoprotective effects of hot aqueous L. africana (HALA) leaf extract (0.1-1 g/kg) and silymarin (50 mg/kg) were assessed in a model of oxidative liver damage induced by RIF and INH (100 mg/kg each) in Wistar rats for 28 days. Biochemical markers of hepatic damage such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assessed. The antioxidant statuses of plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSPx), glutathione reductase (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pretreatment of INH and RIF decreased hematological indices and the antioxidant levels (P < 0.001) and increased the levels of liver marker enzymes (P < 0.001). However, pretreatment with HALA extract and silymarin provoked significant elevation of hematological indices. The levels of AST, ALT, and ALP were depressed (P < 0.001). Total triglycerides, total cholesterol, total bilirubin and low-density lipoprotein were decreased (P < 0.001). However, high-density lipoprotein, bicarbonate, and electrolytes like chloride and potassium were elevated (P < 0.001), but sodium was depressed (P < 0.05). Additionally, GSH, GSPx, SOD and CAT were elevated (P < 0.01) and malondialdehyde was depressed (P < 0.001) when compared to the RIF-INH-treated rats. Histopathological evaluations support hepatoprotective activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrated that HALA leaf extract attenuated RIF-INH-induced hepatotoxicity. L. africana could be exploited in management of RIF-INH-induced hepatitis.</p>

An Evaluation of the antimicrobial potency of Lasianthera africana (BEAUV) and Heinsia crinata (G. Taylor) on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Information on the potency of many African medical plants against microorganisms is scanty, and in the current wave of antimicrobial resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs, there is need to search for plants that could be resistance-free and affordable. The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of the extracts of Lasianthera africana (E1) and Heinsia crinata (E2) in combination with chloramphenicol, on Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphlococcus aureus and Candida albicans. For this purpose, the dilution sensitivity and disc diffusion techniques were respectively applied in determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts, and the sensitivities of the organisms to the plant extracts and their combinations with chloramphenicol. L. africana and H. crinata showed very high antimicrobial activity against all the test organisms. In combination, the effect of E1 on E. coli and S. typhi was completely antagonized by that of E2, whereas additive effect on S. aureus and C. albicans was observed, indicating that the combination of E1 and E2 might be effective against gram positive pathogenic organisms. The combination of either plant extract with chloramphenicol produced synergistic effect on only C. albicans. The smaller MIC of E2 indicated greater effectivity than E1. It is concluded that the additive effect produced by the combination of the two plant extracts, and the synergic effect from the combination of any of the extracts with chloramphenicol, offer alternative therapy to gram positive bacterial infections and candidiasis respectively.