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Female reproductive complications continue to be a major health challenge worldwide. Medicinal plants richer in secondary metabolites such as phytoestrogens have been used over decades for the treatment of reproductive health problems like infertility, with limited knowledge on their toxicities. The present study was designed to evaluate the estrogenic potential and safety of Tectona grandis leaves extract on female wistar rats. Following acclimatization and pre-evaluation of the estrous cycle, female wistar rats, 6 weeks old were placed in groups of 3 animals each and T. grandis extracts administered daily in graded doses of 500, 1000, 2000mg/Kg body weight against controls for 28 days (Sub-acute toxicity). A dose dependent increase in 17-Beta estradiol was observed in the serum and ovary homogenates versus an increase in cholesterol when compared to the control groups. Results from the three animals per group showed an increase in the weights of the animals and a non-significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit at the dose of 2000 mg/kg. Also, there was no significant difference in the organ weights and histopathological examinations of necropsied animals showed no abnormalities in the various organs. T. grandis leave extract contains phytochemicals such as lignans that can be converted by microflora to phytoestrogens, which can compete with endogenous estrogen for the estrogen receptor potentiating similar activities like estrogens. This indicates that T. grandis could be explored as hormonal replacement therapies in infertility, menopausal and/or breast cancer related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background The emerging resistance of Plasmodium species to currently available anti-malarials remains a public health concern, hence the need for new effective, safe and affordable drugs. Natural products remain a reliable source of drugs. Nefang is a polyherbal anti-malarial of the Cameroonian folklore medicine with demonstrated in vitro antiplasmodial and antioxidant activities. It is composed of Mangifera indica (bark and leaf), Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus sinensis, Ocimum gratissimum (leaves). This study aimed at investigating the suppressive, prophylactic and curative activities of Nefang in Plasmodium infected rodent models. Methods Systemic acute oral toxicity of Nefang aqueous and ethanol extracts was assessed in mice up to a dose of 5,000 mgkg-1 body weight. BALB/c mice and Wistar rats were inoculated with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei, respectively, and treated with Nefang, the Mangifera indica bark/Psidium guajava combination and a Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extracts (75, 150, 300 and 600 mgkg-1 bwt). Their schizonticidal activity was then evaluated using the Peter's 4-day suppressive test). The prophylactic and curative (Rane's Test) activity of Nefang was also evaluated by determining the parasitaemia, survival time, body weight and temperature in pre-treated rodents. Results Acute oral toxicity of the extract did not cause any observed adverse effects. Percent suppressions of parasitaemia at 600 mgkg-1 bwt were as follows (P. berghei/P. chabaudi): Nefang - 82.9/86.3, Mangifera indica bark/Psidium guajava leaf combination extract - 79.5/81.2 and Psidium guajava leaf - 58.9/67.4. Nefang exhibited a prophylactic activity of 79.5% and its chemotherapeutic effects ranged from 61.2 - 86.1% with maximum effect observed at the highest experimental dose. Conclusion These results indicate that Nefang has excellent in vivo anti-malarial activities against P. berghei and P. chabaudi, upholding earlier in vitro antiplasmodial activities against multidrug resistant P. falciparum parasites as well as its traditional use. Hence, Nefang represents a promising source of new anti-malarial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Content: Justicia hypocrateriformis Vahl (Acanthaceae) is used as an herbal remedy for diarrhea in Cameroon folk medicine. Objective: This study evaluates the antidiarrheal and antioxidant properties of the aqueous extract of J. hypocrateriformis (JH). Materials and methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening and an acute toxicity testing of the extract were carried out. The antidiarrheal activity of JH extract (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg) was assessed at curative and preventive levels in castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. The antioxidant activity was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content, and radical scavenging activity. Results: A high lethal dose (LD50) of 14.35 g/kg obtained in acute toxicity implies the extract is not toxic. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, and anthocyanins. JH showed a significant protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea as evidenced by a decrease in the number of defecation and wet stool. JH (100-500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a non-significant dose-dependent decrease in castor oil-induced intestinal transit in the preventive study. In the curative and in healthy mice study, the decrease was only significant at 500 mg/kg. JH possessed a radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 9.93 mg/ml compared to 4.90 mg/ml for catechin. JH FRAP of 2703.77 ± 0 mg/g (catechin equiv) and phenolic concentration of 14 169.99 ± 612.39 mg/g (catechin equiv) were also obtained. Conclusion: Justicia hypocrateriformis extract possesses antidiarrheal activity supported by its antioxidant potential and phytochemical constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Nefang is a polyherbal product composed ofMangifera indica (bark and leaf), Psidiumguajava, Carica papaya, Cymbopogon citratus, Citrus sinensis, and Ocimum gratissimum (leaves), used for the treatment of malaria. Compounds with antioxidant activity are believed to modulate plasmodial infection. Antioxidant activity of the constituent aqueous plants extracts, in vitro, was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods and, in vivo, Nefang (100 and 500mg kg-1) activitywas evaluated incarbon tetrachloride-inducedoxidative stressedWistar rats. Superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and lipid peroxidation by the malondialdehyde and total proteins assays were carried out. P. guajava, M. indica leaf, and bark extracts had the highest antioxidant properties in all three assays, with no statistically significant difference. Rats treated with the carbon tetrachloride had a statistically significant decrease in levels of triglycerides, superoxide dismutase, and catalase (P < 0.05) and increase in malondialdehyde activity, total protein levels, and liver and renal function markers, whereas rats treated with Nefang showed increased levels in the former and dose-dependent decrease towards normal levels in the later. These results reveal the constituent plants of Nefang that contribute to its in vivo antioxidant potential. This activity is a good indication of the therapeutic potential of Nefang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...