A review of preclinical evidence of Cryptolepis nigrescens (Wennberg) L. Joubert. and Bruyns., Prosopsis africana (Guill. and Perr.) Taub. and Pterygota macrocarpa K. Schum. traditionally used to manage tumours in Ghana.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cancer stands as one of the leading causes of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and it has led to approximately 10 million fatalities in 2020. Medicinal plants are still widely used and accepted form of treatment for most diseases including cancer in Ghana. This review presented Cryptolepis nigrescens (Wennberg) L. Joubert. and Bruyns., Prosopsis africana (Guill. and Perr.) Taub. and Pterygota macrocarpa K. Schum. as medicinal plants that are traditionally used to treat tumour growth, amongst other diseases, in the Ashanti region of Ghana. AIM OF REVIEW: This paper aims to present a comprehensive review on the botanical description, ecological distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition and ethnopharmacological relevance of C. nigrescens, P. africana and P. macrocarpa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review covers works published between 1962 and 2023 from various countries. Published books, thesis, scientific and medical articles on C. nigrescens, P. africana and P. macrocarpa were collected from the following databases: 'Scopus', 'Science Direct', 'Medline', 'PubMed', 'Research Gate' 'Google Scholar, and 'Springer link' using the keywords. RESULTS: Phytochemical analysis of C. nigrescens, P. africana and P. macrocarpa revealed the presence of some prominent bioactive compounds such as convallatoxin, 7,3,4-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavanone and dioxane, respectively. Plant extracts and isolated compounds of these medicinal plants exhibited a wide range of ethnopharmacological activities including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, cytotoxic, antimalarial, antipyretic, haematinic, hepato-protective, aphrodisiac and antihypertensive properties. CONCLUSION: The present review on C. nigrescens , P.africana and P. macrocarpa provided a credible summary of the ethnopharmacological research conducted on these medicinal plants till date. The data also highligted the potential therapeutic profiles of these plants in Ghana that could serve as foundation for future studies. Additionally, the information significantly supported the traditional and commercial use of these plants among the people.

Hura crepitans stem bark extract: A potential remedy to sub-acute liver damage.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND AIM: Hura crepitans is commonly used to treat liver diseases in Nigeria and Ghana. Previous studies have supported its ethnomedicinal use in protecting the liver. The present study aimed at assessing the effect of H. crepitans stem bark on the subacute carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective activities of ethanolic extract of H. crepitans stem bark was evaluated in CCl4-induced subacute liver damage in rats (1:1 v/v in olive oil, intraperitoneally (i.p.), twice weekly for 8 weeks). Blood samples were obtained from the rats and used for some biochemical analysis such as liver function test (Aspartate transaminase, AST; Alanine aminotransferase, ALT; and Alkaline phosphatase, ALP), liver fibrotic indices (Aspartate platelet ratio index, APRI; AST/ALT and AST/PLT ratios) and oxidative stress markers (Malondialdehyde, MDA; Reduced glutathione, GSH; Glutathione S-transferase, GST; Glutathione peroxidase, GPx; and superoxide dismutase, SOD). Histopathological analyses were carried out to determine the expression of pro-inflammatory (NF-κB, COX-2, IL-17 and IL-23) using immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: Oral administration of H. crepitans to CCl4-induced hepatic injured rats significantly decreased oxidative stress, increased the levels of SOD, GSH, GST and GPx with reduced MDA levels. The plant also mitigated liver injury as evidenced in the significantly reduced levels of AST, ALT and ALP, while it inhibited the inflammatory process via the inhibition of NF-κB, and consequently down-regulateed the pro-inflammatory cytokines COX-2, IL-17 and IL-23, respectively. Biochemical observations were supported by improvement in liver microarchitecture. CONCLUSION: The Hura crepitans demonstrated antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effect in hepatic injured rats. The study in a way justifies the traditional use of the plant for the treatment of subacute liver diseases in Nigerian Traditional medicine.

Glycemic index of different varieties of yam as influenced by boiling, frying and roasting.

Yam is one of the commonly consumed carbohydrate staples. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of boiling, roasting, and frying on the glycemic index (GI) of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata), yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenesis), and water yam (Dioscorea alata). Yam tubers were obtained (peeled, sliced, washed) deep fried in vegetable oil for 35-40 min and boiled in water for about 35-45 min. Sliced unpeeled tubers were also roasted at about 120°C for 40-45 min. The cooked yam samples were fed to 10 healthy subjects aged between 20-50 years. A glucometer was used to measure the blood glucose concentrations of the test individuals before consuming the yam diets and after the 15th, 30th, 45th, 60th, 90th, and 120th min of consumption. The average incremental area under the curves (IAUC) obtained from the recorded blood glucose concentrations were used to calculate the GI of various yam diets. The GI of the yam diets were found to be in the following increasing order: White-yam-boiled (44.26%) < Water-yam-boiled (50.12%) < White-yam-roasted (50.62%) < Water-yam-roasted (54.04%) < White-yam-fried (59.13%) < Yellow-yam-fried (65.08%) < Water-yam-fried (69.16%) < Yellow-yam-roasted (70.62%) < Yellow-yam-boiled (75.18%). White yam diets relatively had lower GI compared to yellow yam and water yam. Boiling was found to give generally lower GI in the white and water yams and could therefore be applied in the preparation of lower GI diets for diabetics.

Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines as Therapeutic Mechanisms of Ocimum americanum L Extract in Carbon Tetrachloride and Acetaminophen-Induced Toxicity in Rats.

Liver diseases have now become a global canker due to increasing drug abuse and several viral infections. The current medicines on the market are woefully inadequate and limited in the application against these diseases. Fortunately, medicinal plants continue to serve as a potential source of drug discovery that could be explored to improve the situation. The present study, therefore, evaluated the hepatoprotective activities of the aqueous extract of various parts (leaves, flower and stem) of Ocimum americanum L on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)- and acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats. The protective effect of the plant was assessed using biochemical parameters, histology, levels of liver antioxidants, and expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines (NF-κß and IL-1) in the liver. The leaves and stem extracts, orally administered for 7 days at 250 mg/kg, effectively prevented CCl4-induced elevation of serum biochemical parameters, prooxidants, as well as the expression of NFk-B and IL-1, which were comparable to Silymarin (standard drug). A comparative histopathological analyses of the liver exhibited virtually normal architecture compared with CCl4-treated group. The findings showed that the hepatoprotective effect of Ocimum americanum was probably due to the inhibition of oxidative stress and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines by the effective parts of the medicinal plant.

Enhanced oral bioavailability and anti-gout activity of [6]-shogaol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.

[6]-Shogaol, an alkylphenol compound purified from the root and stem of ginger (Zingiber officinale), has attracted considerable interest due to its potential anticancer, antioxidative and antirheumatic properties. However, the oral bioavailability of [6]-shogaol has been severely limited because of its poor solubility. In this study, a significant quantity of high-purity [6]-shogaol (yield: 3.6%; purity: 98.65%) was extracted and encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) via high-pressure homogenization (encapsulation efficiency: 87.67%) to improve its solubility and oral bioavailability. The resulting [6]-shogaol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SSLNs) were stable, homogeneous and well-dispersed. Its mean particle size and zeta potential were 73.56 ±â€¯5.62 nm and -15.2 ±â€¯1.3 mV, respectively. Importantly, the in vitro release profile and in vivo oral bioavailability of SSLNs were significantly improved compared with the free drug. Furthermore, the SSLNs could remarkably lower the uric acid level via inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase and reduce the production of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in the hyperuricemia/gouty arthritis rat model, when compared to the free [6]-shogaol. Collectively, SLNs could serve as a promising drug delivery system to improve the oral bioavailability of [6]-shogaol for effective treatment of gouty arthritis.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of a sterol-loaded microemulsion formulation of Flammulina velutipes, a potential antitumor drug.

PURPOSE: To investigate the growth inhibition activity of Flammulina velutipes sterol (FVS) against certain human cancer cell lines (gastric SGC and colon LoVo) and to evaluate the optimum microemulsion prescription, as well as the pharmacokinetics of encapsulated FVS. METHODS: Molecules present in the FVS isolate were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The cell viability of FVS was assessed with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) bioassay. Based on the solubility study, phase diagram and stability tests, the optimum prescription of F. velutipes sterol microemulsions (FVSMs) were determined, followed by FVSMs characterization, and its in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats. RESULTS: The chemical composition of FVS was mainly ergosterol (54.8%) and 22,23-dihydroergosterol (27.9%). After 72 hours of treatment, both the FVS (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] = 11.99 µg · mL(-1)) and the standard anticancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (IC(50) = 0.88 µg · mL(-1)) exhibited strong in vitro antiproliferative activity against SGC cells, with IC(50) > 30.0 µg · mL(-1); but the FVS performed poorly against LoVo cells (IC(50) > 40.0 µg · mL(-1)). The optimal FVSMs prescription consisted of 3.0% medium chain triglycerides, 5.0% ethanol, 21.0% Cremophor EL and 71.0% water (w/w) with associated solubility of FVS being 0.680 mg · mL(-1) as compared to free FVS (0.67 µg · mL(-1)). The relative oral bioavailability (area-under-the-curve values of ergosterol and 22,23-dihydroergosterol showed a 2.56-fold and 4.50-fold increase, respectively) of FVSMs (mean diameter ~ 22.9 nm) as against free FVS were greatly enhanced. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the FVS could be a potential candidate for the development of an anticancer drug and it is readily bioavailable via microemulsion formulations.