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Purpose: To investigate the antihyperglycemic, anti-dyslipidemic and antioxidant properties of hydromethanol extract of Eremomastax speciosa leaf in alloxan monohydrate-induced hyperglycemic rats. Methods: Hydromethanol extract of Eremomastax speciosa leaf was tested at dose range of 25 to 100 mg/kg against vehicle (distilled water) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg, reference standard) in alloxaninduced hyperglycemic rats. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed in the identification of phytoconstituents. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lipid profile, malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels as well as the histopathology of the pancreas of the animals were evaluated. Results: The extract (25 mg/kg) significantly reduced FBG, lipid profile and malondialdehyde levels relative to vehicle treated group but increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase levels and reversed alloxan-induced pancreatic islet cell degeneration. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 4,5-dimethylthiazole (4.38%), benzenesulfonic acid, methyl ester (15.62%), benzenesulfonyl chloride (40.62%), benzopyran-4-one, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-phenyl- (21.25%), 2(5H)-furanone, 4-methoxy-5-phenyl-(12.50%), and p-chlorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (5.62%) Conclusion: The hypoglycemic effect of the extract validates the folkloric uses of E. speciosa leaf in the ethnobotanical care of diabetes mellitus. Keywords: antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, anti-dyslipidemic, Eremomastax speciosa

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. The extract of P. pinnata root-bark was prepared using a cold maceration method with 80% methanol and concentrated at 40°C in hot air oven. The extract was administered once daily per os at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Distilled water (5 mL/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) were used as the vehicle and reference standard, respectively. The serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions, antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), histopathological changes in liver and kidney were examined 24h after the last treatment on day 21. The extract reduced serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions of treated rats relative to vehicle-treated rats. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the extract treated rats were also elevated relative to the vehicle-treated rats. The extract reversed liver and kidney injuries induced by alloxan in the treated rats. This study provides some basic information which suggest that P. pinnata could be effective in managing diabetic complications.

This study investigated the toxicity profile of methanol extract of Hura crepitans leaf on albino rats. The up-and-down method at a dose limit of 2000 mg/kg was used in the oral acute toxicity test. Twenty-four (24) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (A –D, n = 6). Group A (control) received distilled water, while groups B-D received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. The rats were dosed once daily for 21 consecutive days and weighed weekly. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment on day 21, the rats were fasted overnight and blood was collected into EDTA and plain bottles for hematological evaluation and serum preparation respectively. A manual method was used to determine the full blood cell count, while Randox kit was used to estimate the serum markers of liver and kidney functions. The extract was tolerated by the rat; the LD50 was greater than 2000 mg/kg. At 21 days of treatment, the extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) treated groups had 27.53, 25.98 and 25.33% weight gain respectively, while the distilled water treated group had 8.38% weight gain. The extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.05) the packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration and red cell count, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, but increased the total white blood cell in the treated groups when compared with the control group. This study suggests that methanol extract of Hura crepitans has hepatoprotective activity, promotes weight gain and could precipitate anemia when taken for a long period.

Bryophyllum pinnatum belongs to the family Crassulaceae and it is commonly used in the ethnomedical practices. This study investigated the antidiarrheal and antioxidant properties of methanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf harvested from South-Eastern Nigeria in mice. Cold maceration method in 80% methanol was adopted in the extract preparation. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant property while castor oil-induced diarrhea, small intestinal transit, and enteropooling models were used for the antidiarrheal investigation. The effects of the extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were compared to distilled water (10 ml/kg) and loperamide (5 mg/kg). The extract produced concentration dependent increase in antioxidant effect in both DPPH and FRAP assay. The extract caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in mean stool output, percentage of wet stools, small intestinal transit, and intestinal fluid accumulation in the treated mice when compared to the distilled water treated mice. The study validates the use of Bryophyllum pinnatum in the ethnomedical management of diarrhea.

Background: Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod is a perennial herb found in Africa along the rainforest zone and occurs as weed. It is cultivated in Cameroon and Akwa-Ibom in Nigeria due to its medicinal values. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of hydromethanol extract of Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod leaf in rat model.Materials and Methods: The plant material was extracted using cold maceration method in 80% hydromethanol. The acute oral toxicity test was performed using Up and Down method with limit dose of 2000 mg/kg. The in vitro antioxidant property was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power photometric assays. The anti-inflammatory potential was investigated in egg-albumin and carrageenan induced paw edema models while the antinociceptive activity was determined using acetic acid induced writhing reflex and tail immersion tests at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. The negative control group (group A) received distilled water (vehicle) at 5 ml/kg while acetyl salicylic acid (200 mg/kg) was used as the reference drug for the anti-inflammatory models and acetic acid induced writhing reflex model while pentazocine (5 mg/kg) was used as the reference drug for tail immersion test.Results: The LD50 of the extract was greater than 2000 mg/kg. The extract (25 to 400 μg/ml) demonstrated potent antioxidant activities in both the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. The E. speciosa extract caused significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities in the extract treated groups when compared to rats that received distilled water. The optimal activities of the extract were produced at the dose of 100 mg/kg.Conclusion: The study supports the folkloric use of Eremomastax speciosa leaf in the management of pain and inflammatory conditions in traditional medicine.Keywords: Acetic acid, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, carrageenan, Eremomastax speciosa

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the analgesic and antioxidant effects of hydromethanolic extract of Chromolaena odorata leaf in rodents. Methods: The antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) Assay. Acetic acid induced writhing reflex and tail flick models were used in the evaluation of the analgesic activities. The rats were grouped into five (A-E) groups of six rats each. The group A and B received 10 ml/kg of water and 200 mg/kg of aspirin respectively. Group C-E received 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively. Results: The extract caused a significant (p

Aims: The present study was aimed at establishing the phytochemical contents and hypolipidemic potentials of the methanolic extract of Aframomum melegueta seed in rats. Study Design : Phytochemical constituent, serum lipid profile and relative organ weight.

Ficus glumosa belongs to the family Moraceae and is commonly called African rock fig. This study evaluated the subacute antidiabetic, in vivo antioxidant and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) effects of the methanolic extract of Ficus glumosa stem bark on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats. The extract produced a time-dependent decrease in fasting blood sugar (FBS) level but did not produce dose-dependent effect. The extract produced its optimum effect at the dose of 62.5 mg/kg, since increase beyond this did not produce further reduction in FBS level, rather caused a reduced catalase activity. The extract (62.5 mg/kg) produced significant (p

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is associated with dyslipidaemia and haematological disorders which lead to cardiovascular complications and anaemia respectively. In this study, hydromethanolic extract of Ficus glumosa was evaluated for its hypolipidaemic and haematological effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. METHODS Treatment was done orally using 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg of F. glumosa extract (FGE) with glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) as standard reference drug for 21 days. At the end of the treatment, blood collected through direct heart puncture was used for evaluation of serum lipid profile and determination of haematological parameters. Organosomatic index evaluation of the liver, spleen and kidney was also done using standard procedures. RESULTS All doses of the extract and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) caused dose-dependent and significant (p

Aframomum meleguetaSchum (Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb widely cultivated for its valuable seeds in the tropical region of Africa. The present study evaluated the antioxidant effects of methanolic seed extract ofA. melegueta. The antioxidant effects were evaluated usingin vitro, 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazine photometric assay andin vivoserum catalase, superoxide dismutase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay method. The extract (25–400 μg/mL concentration) produced concentration dependent increase in antioxidant activity in 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazine photometric assay. The extract (400 mg/kg) showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum catalase and superoxide dismutase activity when compared with the control group. The extract (400 mg/kg) showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the serum level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance when compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the seed ofA. meleguetahas potent antioxidant activity which may be responsible for some of its reported pharmacological activities and can be used as antioxidant supplement.

The methanolic leaf extract of Bridelia micrantha was tested for subacute antidiabetic and in vivo antioxidant effects in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats. The subacute treatment of the extract (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) produced 75, 68 and 63% reduction in fasting blood sugar level respectively, on day 14 of treatment. The extract produced time-dependent effect, but did not show a dose-dependent effect. Its optimum antidiabetic activity was noted at the dose of 125 mg/kg and this was comparable to glibenclamide 2 mg/kg (positive control). The extract (125 mg/kg) showed good oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) effect in both normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic rats. The OGTT effect of the extract (125 mg/kg) did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from glibenclamide (2 mg/kg). The antioxidant effect of the extract was assayed through the determination of the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and catalase activity. The extract produced a dose-dependent decrease in the serum level of TBARS and gave its optimum catalase activity at the dose of 500 mg/kg. This study suggests that the B. micrantha extract has antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant activities. Therefore, could be a potential source of novel antidiabetic and antioxidant agent for the management of diabetes mellitus.