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Introduction: Cisplatin (CP)-induced toxicity involves oxidative stress and Picralima nitida is rich in natural antioxidants hence its methanol leaf extract was used to mitigate the toxic effect of CP.Methods: Forty rats divided into four groups of 10 rats per group were used as follows: group A (normal saline), group B (CP 10 mg/kg), group C [Methanol Leaf Extract of Picralima nitida (MLEPN), 100 mg/kg and CP 10 mg/kg], and group D (MLEPN 200 mg/kg and CP 10 mg/kg). All administrations were done by oral gavage with the volumes of the treatments administered determined by the average weight of the rats in each group except CP, which was given intraperitoneally. Administration of normal saline and MLEPN lasted for seven consecutive days after which a single dose of CP was given on day 8. All animals were sacrificed 72 hours after CP administration. On day 9, blood pressure measurement was taken, and changes in body weight were determined. On day 10, blood samples were taken for serum chemistry, and kidneys, liver, and heart were harvested from the animals for Serum assay, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results: The extract improved weight changes caused by CP and reversed the toxic changes produced by CP on serum chemistry, oxidative stress, and histopathology. The extract caused a significant decrease in the levels of nuclear factor kappa beta, cardiac troponin, and mineralocorticoid receptors (MCRs). However, it increased the protein expression of Nrf2 compared to the toxicant group.Conclusion: The extract exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-renin properties.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This virus has become a global pandemic with unprecedented mortality and morbidity along with attendant financial and economic crises. Furthermore, COVID-19 can easily be transmitted regardless of religion, race, sex, or status. Globally, high hospitalization rates of COVID-19 patients have been reported, and billions of dollars have been spent to contain the pandemic. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, which has a significant role in the entry of the virus into the host cell. ACE2 is highly expressed in the type II alveolar cells of the lungs, upper esophagus, stratified epithelial cells, and other tissues in the body. The diminished expressions of ACE2 have been associated with hypertension, arteriosclerosis, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and immune system dysregulation. Overall, the potential drug candidates that could serve as ACE2 activators or enhance the expression of ACE2 in a disease state, such as COVID-19, hold considerable promise in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reviews the therapeutic potential and pharmacological benefits of the novel ACE2 in the management of COVID-19 using search engines, such as Google, Scopus, PubMed, and PubMed Central.

Objective: The ameliorative effect of Annona muricata in glycerol-induced acute kidney injury in laboratory rats was evaluated. Methods: Thirty albino rats were used and were divided into five of six rats per group. The first (control) group was given distilled water (2 ml/kg) for seven days, while the second (toxicant or glycerol alone) group was given only glycerol (10 ml/kg) on day 8. The third, fourth, and fifth groups received methanol leaf extract of Annona muricata (100 mg/kg), 200 mg/kg dose of the extract, and enalapril (10 mg/kg) respectively for seven days, and on day eight all received glycerol (10 ml/kg). Serum chemistry, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and changes in blood pressure were indices of toxicity. Results: In the toxicant group, blood pressure increased significantly (p

Background and Aim: High salt diet and uninephrectomy are associated with high blood pressure with attendant cardiovascular disease conditions such as hypertension, renal damage, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of consumption of cocoa and cocoa-containing products in the management of high blood pressure in uninephrectomized hypertensive rats. Materials and Methods: The effect of cocoa powder on blood pressure, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathology were investigated in uninephrectomized animals fed with cocoa feed alone or in combination with a high salt diet. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group A was the control group and fed with normal feed alone, Group B was fed with cocoa feed alone, Group C was fed with high salt diet (8% salt), Group D was fed with cocoa-feed compounded with 8% salt for 4 weeks after uninephrectomy, and Group E was uninephrectomized rats on a normal diet. The left kidneys of animals in Groups C, D, and E were removed by surgery. After 4 weeks of treatment, the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure was measured. The serum markers of renal damage and oxidative stress were determined. Histological examination was also performed on renal and cardiac tissues. Results: Results showed significant increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal damage with a concomitant decrease in antioxidant status in hypertensive uninephrectomized rats. Cocoa feed, however, significantly improved blood pressure and nitric oxide bioavailability, antioxidant status and reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusion: These findings show that cocoa powder could be used to maintain blood pressure levels in hypertensive rats through its antioxidant capacity.

The anti-diabetic property of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was performed in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats using serum chemistry, histology and immunochemical parameters as indices of diabetes. The blood glucose level of the diabetic untreated group continues to increase while that of the treated group after 21 days decreased. While the animals in the diabetic untreated group experienced increase in the levels of markers of organ damage when compared to the control group (P values < 0.0001). ALT increased from 61.83±1.5 to 96.1±22.4, AST was 225.1±26.6 from 172.6±13.9, ALP 13.5±0.006 to 13.6±0.002, UREA 1.0±0.08 to 3.0±0.4, their reduction was observed in the extract-treated groups. ALT reduced from 96.1±22.4 to 73.70±9.7; AST from 225.1±26.6 to 184.4±18.2; ALP from 13.6±0.002 to 13.6±0.01; UREA from 3.0±0.4 to 2.0±0.4. Treatment with the extract significantly reduced markers of oxidative stress in the kidney [hydrogen peroxide (898.8±6.26 to 688.0±13.7), malondialdehyde (640±0.1 to 600±0.2) and protein carbonyl (548.4±1.5 to 458.1±1.6)]; heart [hydrogen peroxide (389.4±1.8 to 358.2±1.5), malondialdehyde (264.0±0.5 to 122.0±0.3), protein carbonyl (196.8±0.5 to 162.7±3.5)]; and liver [hydrogen peroxide (119.36±3.2 to 103.94±10.7), malondialdehyde (236.0±0.4 to 73.0±0.2), protein carbonyl (269.3±1.0 to 174.2±1.1) respectively. The levels of antioxidants were reduced in the diabetic untreated group but there was increase in the Moringa treated group. Glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) was down regulated in the diabetic untreated group while it was well expressed in the treated groups. The histology of pancreas and liver showed varied levels of infiltration of inflammatory cells, congestion and necrotic lesions, but these were mild in the treated groups. The result shows that the extract does have an anti-diabetic effect with the decrease in the levels of blood glucose and markers of oxidative stress as well as increase in the amount of antioxidants in the treated group when compared to the diabetic untreated group. More importantly, the extract caused upregulation of GLUT 4, which is relevant in reversing insulin resistance in the same manner as pioglitazone, the standard antidiabetic agent used in this study.

Moringa oleifera popularly referred to as wonder plant is a medicinal plant with a remarkable variety of therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the ameliorative effect of Moringa oleifera on glycerol-induced acute kidney injury in rats thus renewing interest in the development of new treatment plans. Glycerol (50% v/v in sterile saline, intramuscular) was used to induce acute kidney injury. Group A (control group) received distilled water only, the group B animals (toxicant group) received glycerol alone on the 8th day, and groups C and D animals were given 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of methanol stem extract of Moringa oleifera respectively for seven days and glycerol on the 8th day. Group E animals on the other hand received 100 mg/kg of methanol stem extract of Moringa oleifera alone for seven days and on day 8 received normal saline. To assess renal damage and possible ameliorative effects of the extract, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, myeloperoxidase, advanced oxidative products, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, and protein carbonyl were determined. Histopathological analysis of kidney tissues and immunohistochemical analysis of KIM-1 and NF-ҝB expressions were also carried out on kidney tissues. The results showed that methanol stem bark extract of Moringa oleifera improves glycerol-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting markers of inflammation, oxidative stress and renal damage by modulating KIM-1 and NF-ҝB signaling pathways. In conclusion, the methanol stem extract of Moringa oleifera blunts glycerol-induced acute kidney injury in rats through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.