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Background. Parkia clappertoniana Keay (Family: Fabaceae) (P. clappertoniana) fruit husk is commonly used in northern Ghana for wound treatment. However, this folk claim remains to be confirmed scientifically. Objective. This study investigated wound healing and antimicrobial effects of P. clappertoniana fruit husk extract (PCFHE) by using excision wound model in rats. Materials and Methods. After preparation and phytochemical analysis of PCFHE, it was reconstituted in purified water and emulsifying ointment yielding a wound healing formula (0.3, 1, and 3%). Excision wounds were established in healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8-10 weeks; weighing 150–200 g). Rats were randomly assigned into six groups (model, 1% silver sulfadiazine [SSD], vehicle, and PCFHE [0.3, 1, and 3%, respectively]) and topically treated daily until complete wound healing. The endpoints (period of epithelialization, wound contraction, collagen content, erythema index, oedema index, inflammatory cell infiltration, and antimicrobial activity) were assessed for all groups. Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill were assessed. Results. Quercetin and catechin were detected in PCFHE. Compared to model and vehicle groups, PCFHE-treatment groups improved wound healing and antimicrobial (MBC, MFC, and MIC) endpoints. PCFHE demonstrated bacteriostatic and fungicidal effects against identified wound contaminants (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans). Conclusion. P. clappertoniana fruit husk possesses wound healing and antimicrobial effects in excisional wounds in rats that confirms its folk use, and the reported pharmacological properties of PCFHE are attributable to its quercetin and catechin phyto-constituents.

Background. Despite the enrollment of new small molecules such as Sorafenib for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), HCC still remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality and morbidity globally. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides is long suspected of possessing anticancer bioactive compounds that may hold the prospect of adjunctive therapy against inflammation-related cancers such as HCC. Objective. This study assessed the effects of an alkaloidal extract of the leaves of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides on CCl4/olive oil (1 : 1 v/v)-induced HCC-like phenotypes in rats. Materials and Methods. Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides alkaloidal extract (ZZAE) was prepared using Soxhlet and liquid-liquid extraction methods. Subsequently, ZZAE was characterized phytochemically. In the curative method, experimental HCC was established in adult (8–10 weeks old) male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150–300 g by twice-daily administration of CCl4/olive oil (1 : 1 v/v) (2 mL/kg ip). After confirmation of experimental HCC in rats, the rats were randomly reassigned into seven (7) groups of seven (7) rats each and treated daily for 12 weeks as follows: control (normal saline, 5 ml/kg po), model (CCl4, 5 ml/kg, ip), ZZAE (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg po), carvedilol (6.25 mg/kg po), and 20% Tween20 (1 mL/rat, po). To assess whether ZZAE has a prophylactic (preventive) effect, rats were first treated with ZZAE and later exposed to CCl4 reconstituted in olive oil. Results. ZZAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) and carvedilol decreased tumor incidence compared to that of control. Compared to control, ZZAE (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly ( P < 0.05 ) improved serum GGT. Compared to control, ZZAE improved hepatohistological distortions induced by CCl4/olive oil and also improved liver/body weight ratio. Compared to water, ZZAE arrested mitosis in the Allium cepa assay. Conclusion. ZZAE ameliorated CCl4/olive oil-induced HCC-like phenotype in rats and demonstrated general hepatoprotective effects by improving liver and kidney function markers. This finding rationalizes the need for further studies on ZZAE as a potential source of bioactive anti-HCC compounds.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Abrus precatorius (L.) leaves are used as folk medicine by the local communities in the western region of Ghana to treat diabetes mellitus; however, this health claim remains unverified scientifically. Objective The study investigated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects of Abrus precatorius leaf extract (APLE) in normoglycemic and STZ/nicotinamide (NIC)-induced diabetic rats. Method: after preparation of APLE, it was subjected to phytochemical screening, proximate composition and elemental assessments by using standard methods. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and maltose, lactose and sucrose oral challenge were assessed in normoglycemic rats post-APLE. Morphological characteristics of glucose response curve (time of glucose peak and shape of glucose response curve) were determined. Subsequently, diabetes mellitus was experimentally established in normoglycaemic adult Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 150–250 g) of both sexes by sequential injection of Streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in sodium citrate buffer and NIC (110 mg/kg ip)-reconstituted in normal saline (1:1 v/v) for 16 weeks. Except control rats (normal saline 5 ml/kg ip; baseline fasting blood glucose [FBG] of 6.48 mmol/L), rats having FBG (stable at 11.1 mmol/L or ≥ 250 mg/dL) 3 days post-STZ/NIC injection were randomly re-assigned to one of the following groups: model (STZ/NIC-induced diabetic rats), APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively po) and metformin (300 mg/kg po) and treated daily for 28 days. Bodyweight and FBG were measured on weekly basis. FBG was measured by using standard glucometers. On day 28, rats were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia, blood collected via cardiac puncture; kidney, liver and pancreas surgically harvested. While the pancreas was processed, sectioned and H&E-stained for histological examination, fresh kidney and liver were homogenized for assessment of total anti-oxidant capacity. Median cross-sectional area of pancreatic islets of Langerhans was determined for each group by using Amscope. Results Cumulatively, APLE (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) dose-dependently decreased the initial FBG by 55.22, 76.15 and 77.77% respectively compared to model (−1.04%) and metformin (72.29%) groups. APLE treatment recovered damaged pancreatic β-cells and also increased median cross-sectional area (x106 μm2) of pancreatic islets compared to that of model group. APLE significantly (P Conclusion APLE has demonstrated glucose lowering and pancreato-protective effects in rats and arrested the characteristic loss in bodyweight associated with diabetes mellitus. This finding preliminarily confirms folk use of APLE as an anti-diabetic herbal medicine, whiles providing a rationale for further translational studies on APLE.

Problem statement: Gastrointestinal ulcers account significantly for morbidity and mortality in Ghana. The study therefore investigate d the gastroprotective effect of an ethanolic root bark extract of Zanthoxylum zanthxyloides and its safety for us. Approach: Gastric ulceration was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with Indomethacin (25 mg kg -1 , p.o) and was treated with 150, 250, or 500 mg kg -1 of the extract, or 20 mg kg -1 Esomeprazole. The number of ulcers per stomach, Ulcerative Index and Curative Ratio were determined. A histolo gical study of the gastric mucosa was also performed. The extract's effect on an isolated guin ea-pig ileum preparation was investigated to elucidate its possible mechanism of action. Safety assessments involving, organ weight to body weight ratio determination, hematological analysis and liv er function tests were performed. Results: The extract significantly decreased (p ≤0.001) the number of ulcers per stomach and the Ulc erative Index (similar to Esomeprazole) and significantly increas ed (p ≤0.001) the Curative Ratio in a dose-dependent manner. It completely corrected the architectural d istortions caused by gastric ulceration and inhibit ed significantly (p ≤0.001) the contractile responses of the isolated gu inea-pig ileum to Acetylcholine, Nicotine and Histamine in a manner comparable to reference antagonists. The extract had no significant effect (p>0.05) on organ weight to body ratio and hematological profile. Plasma levels of Alanine transaminase and Alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (p ≤0.001) in extract and Esomeprazole-treated ulcerated rats. Levels of Gamma-glutamyl transferase , Total bilirubin (direct and indirect) however increased significantly (p≤0.01-0.001). Conclusion/Recommendations: Per the findings, the ethanolic root bark extract of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides has gastroprotective effect in Sprague-Dawley rats working possibly via antimuscarinic or antihistaminic mechanism. It however has a potential of causing cholestasis hence liver func tion should be monitored.