ABSTRACT
Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels leaves are widely used in the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular related complications in Nigeria. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and antiobesity effect of aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves in high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese rats. HFD-fed rats were given 100, 200, and 400 mgkg-1 body weight of aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves for 4 weeks starting from 9th week of HFD treatment. D. cumminsii leaves aqueous extract reversed HFD-mediated decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Moreover, HFD-mediated elevation in the levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and DNA fragmentation in rats liver was lowered. HFD-mediated alterations in serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reversed by the extract. The treatment of HFD-fed rats reduced the levels of insulin, leptin, protein carbonyl, fragmented DNA, and tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin- (IL-) 6 and IL- 8 and increased the adiponectin level. This study showed that aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves has potential antiobesity and anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of obesity-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and obesity-related disorder in HFD-induced obese rats.
ABSTRACT
The contribution of reactive oxygen species to (+)-catechin-mediated bacterial lethality was investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of (+)-catechin against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were investigated using 96-well microtitre plate. MIC and MBC of (+)-catechin against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are 600 and 700; 600 and 800; 600 and 800 µg/mL respectively. The optical densities and colony forming units of (+)-catechin-treated bacteria decreased. (+)-Catechin (4× MIC) significantly increased the superoxide anion content of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus compared to DMSO. Superoxide dismutase and catalase in (+)-catechin treated E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus increased significantly. Conversely, level of reduced glutathione in (+)-catechin-treated E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus decreased significantly while glutathione disulfide increased significantly. Furthermore, malondialdehyde and fragmented DNA increased significantly following exposure to (+)-catechin. From the above findings, (+)-catechin enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical) in E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, possibly by autoxidation, Fenton chemistry and inhibiting electron transport chain resulting into lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation and consequentially bacterial cell death.
