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Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of almond (Terminalia catappa) leaf (ALE) and stem bark (ABE) extracts on the enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers in the brain and liver tissues of cyclosporine-A (CsA) stressed male albino rats. Methods Eighty-eight adult male rats weighing between 200 and 220 g were randomly distributed to into 11 groups (n=8) and different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg bwt.) of ALE and ABE were administered through oral gavages to the normal rats and 50 mg/kg/bwt/day CsA-stressed, while normal control rats was given a saline solution (p.o), and the treatment lasted for 14 days. Blood plasma, liver and brain tissues were prepared for biochemical analysis. Results Neuronal [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylcholinesterase (BChE) and arginase] enzyme activities and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) level, plasma aspartate transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, liver non-protein thiol (NPSH) level were analyzed. The results revealed that, the administration of CsA induced a significant increase in neuronal AChE, BChE, arginase, TBARS level, but decreased nitric oxide (NO) level. CsA also increased ALT, AST, and ALP activities in the blood plasma of CsA stress rats compared to normal control, but were significantly reversed respectively (p Conclusions The study revealed that ALE and ABE could prevent neuronal dysfunction and liver toxicity induced by CsA administration, however, higher dose (200 mg/kg) of the studied extracts appears to be more potent.

The study evaluated the effects of berberine on sexual activity and crucial biomolecules linked to penile function in diabetic rats. Sixty-three (63) adult male rats were used and divided into nine groups (n = 7). Group I received 0.1 M citrate buffer at pH 4.5 orally as normal control. Group II received 5.0 mg/kg sildenafil citrate orally. Groups III and IV rats received 50.0 mg/kg and 100.0 mg/kg of berberine orally, respectively. Group V rats were induced with STZ intraperitonially (50 mg/kg b.w.t.) (diabetic control rats). Group VI diabetic erectile dysfunctional (DED) rats received sildenafil citrate orally. Groups VII and VIII DED rats received 50.0 or 100 mg/kg of berberine orally, respectively. Group IX DED rats received 25 mg/kg of acarbose. The result revealed that blood glucose level was reduced in diabetic groups treated with berberine, sildenafil citrate, and acarbose when compared to the diabetic control group. In addition, mounting and intromission numbers as well as antioxidant biomarkers/status were enhanced in normal rats as well as in berberine-treated diabetic rats when compared to diabetic control rat group. Conversely, α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in diabetic rat with erectile dysfunction in comparison to the normal rats and berberine-treated diabetic rats. In conclusion, berberine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetes-induced ED.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid, found in several plants. Diabetes induces erectile dysfunction (ED) via reduction in some hormones and enzymes implicated in sexual function. This study aimed to investigate the role of berberine on crucial biomolecules linked to penile function in diabetic rats. Sixty-three (63) adult male rats were used and distributed into nine groups (each = 7). Group I-IV normal rats administered with citrate buffer (pH 4.5), sildenafil citrate (SD, 5.0 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, respectively, via oral gavage. Rats in groups V-IX were diabetic rat with ED treated with buffer, SD, 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, and acarbose (25 mg/kg ACA) respectively. The result revealed that histological architecture in penile tissues were altered in diabetic groups treated with berberine, sildenafil citrate and acarbose when compared to the diabetic control group. Treatment with berberine, increased testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in diabetic rat with ED. Also, reduced prolactin level and acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme, adenosine deaminase and arginase activities were observed in berberine treated diabetic rat with ED. Molecular docking analysis revealed that berberine had strong binding affinities for these enzymes. Thus, berberine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes-induced ED.

We investigated the effect of extracts from the leaf (ALE) and stem bark (ABE) of Almond tree on activities of some crucial enzymes [angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE), arginase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), adenosine deaminase (ADA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase], and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) associated with hypertension in normal adult male Wistar albino rats and Cyclosporine A (CsA)-stressed rats. The result revealed that CsA-stressed rats treated with captopril and extracts (ALE and ABE) had lowered ACE, arginase, AChE, PDE-5, ADA activities, and TBARS level, coupled with improved SOD and catalase activities compared with untreated CsA-stressed rats, which had reversed these biochemicals compared to normal rats. This suggests that the extracts could be explored to suppress hypertension and other cardiac injury known with CsA treatment; the potentials that could be linked with the constituent polyphenols. However, further studies including blood pressure should be determined to ascertain this claim. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Drug-induced cardiotoxicity, hypertension, and organ damage are among the most common side effects of pharmaceutics. Therefore, it becomes imperative to find natural, effective, and alternative therapy with little or no side effect to combat drug toxicity. The use of Almond (leaf and stem bark) in folklore for the treatment/management of hypertension and other heart-related diseases without full scientific basis is on the increase. Hence, this study provides some biochemical evidences on the effect of Almond leaf and stem back extracts on crucial enzymes and oxidative stress markers involve in the incidence of hypertension in the course of Cyclosporine A administration. The findings of this study indicated that the studied plant materials could be promoted as nutraceutical agents to neutralize drug-induced cardiac injury and hypertension.

This study sought to compare the effects of quercetin and rutin on some enzymes linked to erectile function as well as antioxidant status in penile tissue of paroxetine – induced erectile dysfunction in rats. Animals were randomly divided into twelve groups: normal control (NC), sildenafil (SD), quercetin (QA) (25 and 50 mg/kg), rutin (RU) (25 and 50 mg/kg), PAR (10 mg/kg); PAR + SD; PAR + QA, PAR + RU (25 and 50 mg/kg). After 14 days’ treatment, phosphodiesterase-5′ (PDE-5′), arginase, adenosine deaminase (ADA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) activities as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and non-protein thiol levels were determined in rat penile tissues. Elevated levels of PDE-5′, arginase, AChE, ADA and ACE activities and MDA were observed in PAR-induced rats with concomitant decrease in non-protein thiol levels when compared to the NC group. However, treatment with SD, QA and RU significantly reduced the activities of AChE, PDE-5′, arginase, ADA and ACE and MDA levels and elevated non-protein thiol levels in penile tissues of PAR-induced rats. Furthermore, administration of QA and RU in PAR-induced rats modulated the key enzymes relevant to erection, improved antioxidant status and could be potential functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals in the prevention and/or management of erectile dysfunction.

Inhibition α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) are therapeutic approach to the management of type-2 diabetes (TD2) and hypertension, and phenolic-rich plants have shown promising potentials. Plum and Hogweed leaves are widely used across the world in managing TD2 without vivid scientific basis. This study investigated and compared the phenolic profile, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, ACE and Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat’ pancreas inhibitory effects of aqueous extracts from Plum and Hogweed leaves.: HPLC analyses revealed the presence of gallic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids, and cyanidin, catechin, quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol, with highest quantification found in Hogweed leaf except for gallic, and kaempferol which was only detected in Plum leaf. The IC50 values shown that the extract from Hogweed exhibited higher 𝛼-amylase (IC50=17.95 μg/ mL), 𝛼-glucosidase (IC50=13.69 μg/mL), ACE (IC50=14.16 μg/mL), and Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation (IC50=81.58 μg/mL) inhibitory potentials when compared with that of Plum [𝛼-amylase (IC50=25.89 μg/mL), 𝛼-glucosidase (IC50=18.36 μg/mL), ACE (IC50=22.11 μg/ mL) and Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation (IC50=107.54 μg/mL)]. These effects may be possible mechanisms by which these plants could be used in the prevention/management of TD2 and some allied complications such as hypertension. However, clinical and in vivo studies should be done to establish this claim.

Velvet beans and Horseradish seeds are widely consumed as food, and use in folklore for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction although with limited information on their mechanisms of action. This study investigated and compared the effects of aqueous extracts of these seeds on the cholinergic [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)] and monoaminergic [monoamine oxidase (MAO)] enzymes and FeSO4-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in isolated rat brain homogenate. Results revealed that both extracts inhibited AChE, BChE, MAO and TBARS in a dose-dependent manner. However, Horseradish seeds extract had higher AChE, BChE and MAO inhibitory abilities with IC50 values of 0.27, 0.18 and 0.14 mg/mL, respectively, relatively to Velvet beans (AChE = 0.39; BChE = 0.39; MAO = 0.29 mg/mL) extract but displayed lower TBARS inhibitory ability. These biological properties of the seeds explain possible mechanisms for their neuroprotective abilities. However, Horseradish seeds showed better promising potentials than Velvet beans seeds. Practical Application Edible seeds are well known for their various health benefits due to their bioactivity. The findings from this study will add valuable preliminary information regarding the potential use of Velvet beans seeds and Horseradish seeds as cheap, natural, alternative and/or complementary sources of antioxidative and neuroprotective agents. The findings will provide scientific evidence on health advantages of these seeds that might result from their consumption; thereby enabling consumers and patients with neurodegeneration to make better choices.