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Heliangolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone and its derivatives are biologically active compounds present in most medicinal plants. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of a heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Helianthus annuus L. leaves. The heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone was isolated through a combination of solvent-solvent partitioning, column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. The antioxidant activity of the compound was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays while the antidiabetic effects were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The heliangolide derivative at the concentration of 954.2 µmol L−1 showed 23.7 % DPPH and 26 % nitric oxide radical inhibitions compared with 96.6 and 50.9 %, resp., displayed by the controls (2,271.2 µmol L−1). It also reduced the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in a time-dependent manner. The highest activity was recorded within 6 h post-treatment at 0.2 mmol kg−1 bm. The heliangolide derivative exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and provides a basis for further development of constituents of Helianthus annuus leaves for the management of such diseases.

The study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Helianthus annuus leaf extract on nephrotoxicity, cardiac, and haematologic disorders in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats.

Acetaminophen is known to induce acute kidney injury; and medicinal plants have been recorded to be beneficial in management of such injuries. This study investigated the effects of methanol stem bark extract of Parinari kerstingii (MSBEPK) on the haematology and renal histomorphology of acetaminophen-intoxicated rats. Fifty four albino Wistar rats assigned into six groups, replicated thrice with three rats per replicate were used for the study. Groups A and B received 10 ml/kg distilled water to serve as normal and negative controls respectively; C-E were pretreated with 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg of MSBEPK respectively while Group F rats were given 100 mg/kg of Silymarin. All pretreatments lasted for14 days and on the 15th day, 2000 mg/kg of acetaminophen was administered to all the rats except those in Group A. 48 hours post acetaminophen administration, blood samples were collected for Haematology and thereafter, the kidneys were harvested for histopathology following euthanasia. Results showed that red blood cell counts, packed cell volume values and the haemoglobin concentrations of the MSBEPK-pretreated rats were significantly higher than those of the negative control (Group B). The leucocytic profiles did not show any significant variations across the groups. The kidneys of the rats pretreated with the extract showed little or no lesion as opposed to those of the acetaminophen-treated control group that showed degenerative and necrotic lesions. It was concluded that MSBEPK could improve haematological values and protect the kidneys against deleterious effects occasioned by acetaminophen intoxication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium sesquicarbonate also known as Sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate (SSD) has been used globally for centuries in food and traditional medical practices. There is paucity of scientific information on the safety of this common food additive. This study was designed to find out if the oral administration of SSD is capable of generating oxidative stress in erythrocytes, liver and kidney using albino rats as experimental models. The total number of animals used for this study was fifteen. The experimental animals were grouped into three. There were five animals in each group. The rats in the first group which was the control group, were dosed with 1 ml distilled water, while groups 2 and 3 were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg body weight (bw) of SSD, respectively, once daily per os for 28 days. After the duration of treatment, the erythrocytes, hepatic and kidney tissues were processed for the analysis. The biomarkers of oxidative stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase; and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances/malondialdehyde (TBARS/MDA) were assayed. The result indicated that catalase enzyme activity was overexpressed in the red blood cells, liver and kidneys of the group that consumed the lower dose of SSD. The dose-dependent increase in the lipid peroxidation of the tissues as indicated by increased levels of MDA in the erythrocytes and TBARS in the tissues of the treated groups was significant (P < 0.05). The SOD enzyme activity in all the tissues assayed showed a dose-dependent decrease, which was significant at the probability level of 0.05. The consumption of SSD therefore caused lipid peroxidation and reduction in activity of the antioxidants present in the tissues studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the safety levels of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus Linn. (H. annuus) in rat. Methods: Acute oral toxicity test of hydromethanol leaf extract of H. annuus was conducted through up and down method at 2.00 g/kg dose limit in rats. The chronic toxicity study was conducted by administering different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 g/ kg) of hydromethanol extract of H. annuus in feed, for 90 consecutive days. On days 30, 60 and 90, blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus of the rats for determination of serum biochemical parameters. Histopathological examination of the pancreas, livers, kidneys and testis were also conducted. Results: The LD50 of the hydromethanol extract of H. annuus was greater than 2.00 g/kg and it significantly (P < 0.05) reduced serum cholesterol. On days 60 and 90, the serum urea and creatinine levels of hydromethanol extract of H. annuus treated groups were elevated when compared with the control group. There were fibrosis in the kidneys and livers; degeneration and necrosis in the testis and significant dose-dependent increases in number and size of pancreatic islet of langerhans. Conclusions: The findings suggest that hydromethanol extract of H. annuus is tolerated in short term administration, but long term (up to 90 days) administration at high doses, may elicit hepatic, testicular and nephrotic disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]