Biochemistry

Root aqueous extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides was evaluated for antimalarial activity and analyzed for its phytochemical constituents. Twenty-four (24) albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inoculum of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 6 groups of 3 mice each. Group 1 served as the control while groups II-IV were orally administered 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg body weights of extract. Groups 5 and 6 received 1.75 and 5 mg/kg of artesunate and chloroquine, respectively. The results of the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids (2.37%), saponin (0.336), tannin (0.012 per cent), phenol (0.008 per cent), and anthraquinone (0.002 per cent). There was 100 per cent parasite inhibition in the chloroquine group and 70 per cent in the 50 mg/kg body weight on day 12, respectively. The mean survival time (MST), for the control group was 14 days, artesunate 16 days, and chloroquine 30 days, while the groups that received 50 and 250 mg/kg body weight recorded similar MST of 17 days and the 150 mg/kg body weight group recorded 19 days. The results obtained indicated that the aqueous extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides may provide an alternative antimalarial.

Petroleum ether extract of Meliponula ferruginea propolis at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight was investigated for antihyperglcemic activity and its effect on some biochemical indices of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Twenty four albino rats were randomized into six groups (A-F) of four animals. Group A ( normal control) were treated orally with 0.5 ml of normal saline solution while animals in groups B, C, D, E and F were made diabetic with single injection of alloxan monohydrate (100 mg/kg body weight, p.i.). The fasting blood glucose of the alloxanized rats after 48 hours ranged from 130.05-139.05 mg/dl. The animals were thereafter treated with 0.5ml of paraffin oil, 2.5 mg/kg body weight glibenclamide, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, p.o. of the extract dissolved in paraffin oil respectively. During the seven days of treatment, the persistently high fasting blood glucose in the alloxanized rats treated with extracts progressively reduced. The progressive decrease compared favourably with the glibenclamide treated diabetic rats. The high serum activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, aspartate transaminase as well as urea and creatinine levels in the diabetic control rats were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in all the extract treated diabetic treated rats. Also, the reduced serum concentration of albumin and bilirubin in the diabetic control rats significantly (p<0.05) increased in the animals treated with extract at all doses. However, there was no significant difference in the serum activity of alanine transaminase of the extract treated animals when compared with the diabetic control animals. The results suggest that petroleum ether extract of Meliponula ferruginea propolis possess anti-hyperglycemic activities and may not pose any deleterious to the biological systems.

Aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root was analyzed for its phytochemical and mineral compositions. The phytochemical screening and subsequent quantification revealed the presence of saponins (7.5%), phenolics (3.16%), alkaloids (2.92%), steroids (0.89%), and tannins (0.15%), flvonoids (0.07%), phlobatannins (0.03%), triterpenes (0.09%) and anthraquinones (0.19%). Cardiac glycosides, cardenolides and dienolides were however not detected. Analysis of the mineral constituents showed that the plant contains among othersK (8.25 × 10 4 mg/kg), Na (3.08 × 10 4 mg/kg), Ca (26.80 mg/kg), Mg (32.80 mg/kg), Mn (11.35 mg/ kg), Fe (91.40 mg/kg), Se (10.35 mg/kg), Cu (5.85 mg/kg) and trace amount of Pb (1.00 mg/kg) and Cd (0.20mg/kg). The constituent phytochemicals and minerals may account for varied ethnobtanical uses of the plant in folk medicine of Nigeria. It is also considered that Cochlospermum planchonii could be a very rich source of drug formulation, if properly harnessed and processed to reduce or eliminate the potential toxic components.

Aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii Hook. Ef. x Planch rhizome was investigated for its toxic effects in albino rats using some liver and kidney functional indices as 'markers'. Thirty six albino rats weighing 200.08 ± 10.21 were randomly assinged into six groups (A-F) of six animals each. Animals in groups A-E were orally administered on daily basis with 1 ml of the extract corresponding to 50 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 days while those in the control group received orally 1 ml of distilled water. Rats in all the groups were sacrificed 24 hours after the completion of their respective doses. The extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the liver leading to 80.95% loss by the end of the experimental period. While there was no consistent pattern in the kidney ALP activity and serum bilirubin level, the serum enzyme compared well (P>0.05) with the control value. There was no effect (P>0.05) on the acid phosphatase activity of the tissues and serum of the animals. The extract also reduced the urea, albumin and creatinine content in the serum of the animals. The alterations in the biochemical parameters by the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchoni may have consequential effects on the normal functioning of the liver and kidney of the animals. Therefore, the 50 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchoni rhizome may not be completley safe as an oral remedy.

Aqueous root extract of Cochlospermum planchonii, an acclaimed anti-malarial herb was investigated for toxicity in selected tissues of mice at the doses of 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg body weight. Twenty Swiss albino mice were completely randomized into four groups: A-D consisting of five animals each. Animals in group A (control) were orally administered with 0.5 ml of distilled water on daily basis for 7 days while those in groups B, C, and D were treated like the control except that they received the same volume of the extract containing 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg body weight. The extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the liver, ALP and ACP of the kidney, LDH in the small intestine, plasma γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), urea, creatinine, and albumin content of the animals while there was no significant effect on the liver γ-GT activity of the mice. The reduction in the LDH manifested only in the kidney at 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the extract. There was no significant change on the plasma bilirubin content, activities of ACP of small intestine, LDH, ALP, and ACP of the plasma. The extract also produced inflammations along the portal tract in the liver, extensive inflammations and focal necrosis of the tubular cells with infiltration of the interstitial cells in the kidney, and total destruction of the villi accompanied with complete loss of mucosal glands in the small intestine. Overall, the results from the present study suggest functional and structural dysfunction of the organs. Therefore, the aqueous root extract of C. planchonii when consumed on daily basis for 7 days at 50-250 mg/kg body weight (3,500-17,500 mg; doses adjusted to a 70 kg man) is not safe as an oral remedy.

This study was carried out to assess the acclaimed anti-malarial potentials of aqueous extracts of leaf of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) in mice. The phytochemical constituents and in vivo anti-malarial activities of individual and combined of aqueous leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) were investigated. Fifteen albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inocula (5 × 10 6 ) of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 3 mice. Group I served as the control while group II received 5mg/kg body weight per oral of chloroquine diphosphate. Groups III -V were orally treated with 150mg/kg body weight extracts of TD, TD+PN and PN respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids and tannins in the aqueous extracts of TD and PN. There were 100, 90, 86 and 77 percent parasite inhibition in groups treated with Chloroquine, combination of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens (TD+PN), Parquetina nigrescens (PN) and Tithonia diversifolia (TN) respectively on day 5. The mean survival time (MST) for the control animals was 7 days and chloroquine 25 days, while the TD+PN, PN and TD aqueous extracts recorded 19, 18 and 11 days respectively. The results indicated that the combined aqueous (TD+PN) extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens produced the best antimalarial activity, which provides a justification for their use in folklore medicine and may be promising alternative anti-malarial drug.

The effect of chronic administration of potassium bromate (KBrO 3 ), a flour improver, on some 'marker' enzymes of rat cellular system was investigated. The levels of these enzymes were measured progressively in the kidney, liver and small intestine, 24h after days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 following the administration of 10mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate and when left for 10days without administration after their 20 daily doses. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities of all the tissues were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in KBrO 3 treated groups with corresponding significant (P<0.05) increase in the serum enzymes. Acid phosphatase (ACP) activities of all the tissues as well as the serum enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.05) decreased. There was only recovery in the ACP activities of all the tissues. Histological examination revealed congestion of the central vein with blood cells in the hepatocytes, infiltration of the interstitial cells accompanied with acute nephritis in the nephrons and mild mucosal dysfunction in the small intestine. The alterations in the 'marker' enzymes as well as in the tissue histology are indications of adverse effect of potassium bromate on the cells which might be due to the presence of oxygen in the molecule leading to oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the ordered lipid bilayer of cell membranes. All these might be responsible for the various adverse effects associated with the chemical compound. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 11: 87-95)

Aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root was investigated for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Thirty albino rats (110.33 ± 8.69 g) were randomized into six groups (A-F) such that group A (non-diabetic) received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water, thrice daily for 10 days. Animals in groups B, C, D, E and F which were all made diabetic with alloxan (150 mg/kg b. w., i.p.) also received 0.5 ml of glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg b. w., p.o.), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg b. w., p.o. of the extract respectively. The blood glucose of the alloxanized rats after 48 hours which ranged from 20.50-30.20 mmol/L were significantly (P<0.05) and progressively reduced in the glibenclamide and extract treated animals. Restlessness, respiratory distress, diarrhoea and convulsion in the untreated diabetic rats were reduced in the extract and glibenclamide treated animals. The trace amount of blood ketones and urine sugar in the untreated diabetic rats disappeared in the other treatment groups except in the 25 mg/kg b. w. where there was less than 0.25% of urine sugar. The significantly elevated levels of serum albumin, creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, liver malate dehydrogenase activity as well as reduced weight of pancreas and liver glycogen content in the untreated diabetic rats were reverted back to their respective values in distilled water control animals by the extract and glibenclamide. Overall, this study indicates that the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root possesses anti-hyperglycemic activity similar to the reference drug. The extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root is also effective in controlling some of the disorders of metabolism associated with diabetes.

Consumption of geophagic material (Calabash chalk or Nzu) as a remedy for morning sickness is a common practice among pregnant women in Eastern part of Nigeria with attendant possible health implication. This study is designed to evaluate the effects of calabash chalk on some enzymes and histopathology of rat liver and kidney. Thirty-five albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups of 5 rats each. Group A received 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water, groups B, D and F received 150, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w of unprocessed calabash chalk respectively, while groups C, E and G were administered 150, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w of processed calabash chalk respectively. Treatments were administered orally for 28 days. On 29th day, all animals were sacrificed; assays of AST, ALT, GGT and ALP were carried out, followed by liver and kidney histology. Significant increase in activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was observed in the serum, at 500 mg/kg in liver and 250 and 500 mg/kg ...

This study was carried out to assess the acclaimed anti-malarial potentials of aqueous extracts of leaf of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) in mice. The phytochemical constituents and in vivo anti-malarial activities of individual and combined of aqueous leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) were investigated. Fifteen albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inocula (5 × 10 6) of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 3 mice. Group I served as the control while group II received 5mg/kg body weight per oral of chloroquine diphosphate. Groups III-V were orally treated with 150mg/kg body weight extracts of TD, TD+PN and PN respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids and tannins in the aqueous extracts of TD and PN. There were 100, 90, 86 and 77 percent parasite inhibition in groups treated with Chloroquine, combination of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens (TD+PN), Parquetina nigrescens (PN) and Tithonia diversifolia (TN) respectively on day 5. The mean survival time (MST) for the control animals was 7 days and chloroquine 25 days, while the TD+PN, PN and TD aqueous extracts recorded 19, 18 and 11 days respectively. The results indicated that the combined aqueous (TD+PN) extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens produced the best antimalarial activity, which provides a justification for their use in folklore medicine and may be promising alternative anti-malarial drug.

Summary So far, some prospective metal-based anti-malarial drugs have been developed. The mechanochemical synthesis and characterization of Zn (II) complex with amodiaquine and its anti-malarial efficacy on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and safety evaluation were described in this study. Solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis and characterization of Zn (II) complex with amodiaquine as well as its anti-malarial efficacy on NK-65 Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and safety were evaluated. Derivatization of amodiaquine with zinc (II) ion enhanced the activity of the drug through significant (p &lt; 0.05) enhancement of parasitemia suppression in established malaria infection in comparison with the controls, while its capacity to clear malaria parasite was similar to that of chloroquine. A significant reduction in the liver, kidney and small intestinal activities of alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and alanine and aspartate aminotransferases was observed, while their level...

Aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii Hook. Ef. x Planch rhizome was investigated for its toxic effects in albino rats using some liver and kidney functional indices as 'markers'. Thirty six albino rats weighing 200.08 ± 10.21 were randomly assinged into six groups (A-F) of six animals each. Animals in groups A-E were orally administered on daily basis with 1 ml of the extract corresponding to 50 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 days while those in the control group received orally 1 ml of distilled water. Rats in all the groups were sacrificed 24 hours after the completion of their respective doses. The extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in the liver leading to 80.95% loss by the end of the experimental period. While there was no consistent pattern in the kidney ALP activity and serum bilirubin level, the serum enzyme compared well (P>0.05) with the control value. There was no effect (P>0.05) on the acid phosphatase activity of the tissues and serum of the animals. The extract also reduced the urea, albumin and creatinine content in the serum of the animals. The alterations in the biochemical parameters by the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchoni may have consequential effects on the normal functioning of the liver and kidney of the animals. Therefore, the 50 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchoni rhizome may not be completley safe as an oral remedy.

Aqueous root extract of Cochlospermum planchonii, an acclaimed anti-malarial herb was investigated for toxicity in selected tissues of mice at the doses of 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg body weight. Twenty Swiss albino mice were completely randomized into four groups: A-D consisting of five animals each. Animals in group A (control) were orally administered with 0.5 ml of distilled water on daily basis for 7 days while those in groups B, C, and D were treated like the control except that they received the same volume of the extract containing 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg body weight. The extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the liver, ALP and ACP of the kidney, LDH in the small intestine, plasma γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), urea, creatinine, and albumin content of the animals while there was no significant effect on the liver γ-GT activity of the mice. The reduction in the LDH manifested only in the kidney at 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the extract. There was no significant change on the plasma bilirubin content, activities of ACP of small intestine, LDH, ALP, and ACP of the plasma. The extract also produced inflammations along the portal tract in the liver, extensive inflammations and focal necrosis of the tubular cells with infiltration of the interstitial cells in the kidney, and total destruction of the villi accompanied with complete loss of mucosal glands in the small intestine. Overall, the results from the present study suggest functional and structural dysfunction of the organs. Therefore, the aqueous root extract of C. planchonii when consumed on daily basis for 7 days at 50-250 mg/kg body weight (3,500-17,500 mg; doses adjusted to a 70 kg man) is not safe as an oral remedy.

The effect of chronic administration of potassium bromate (KBrO 3), a flour improver, on some 'marker' enzymes of rat cellular system was investigated. The levels of these enzymes were measured progressively in the kidney, liver and small intestine, 24h after days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 following the administration of 10mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate and when left for 10days without administration after their 20 daily doses. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities of all the tissues were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in KBrO 3 treated groups with corresponding significant (P<0.05) increase in the serum enzymes. Acid phosphatase (ACP) activities of all the tissues as well as the serum enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.05) decreased. There was only recovery in the ACP activities of all the tissues. Histological examination revealed congestion of the central vein with blood cells in the hepatocytes, infiltration of the interstitial cells accompanied with acute nephritis in the nephrons and mild mucosal dysfunction in the small intestine. The alterations in the 'marker' enzymes as well as in the tissue histology are indications of adverse effect of potassium bromate on the cells which might be due to the presence of oxygen in the molecule leading to oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the ordered lipid bilayer of cell membranes. All these might be responsible for the various adverse effects associated with the chemical compound.

Aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root was investigated for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Thirty albino rats (110.33 ± 8.69 g) were randomized into six groups (A-F) such that group A (non-diabetic) received orally 0.5 ml of distilled water, thrice daily for 10 days. Animals in groups B, C, D, E and F which were all made diabetic with alloxan (150 mg/kg b. w., i.p.) also received 0.5 ml of glibenclamide (2.5 mg/kg b. w., p.o.), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg b. w., p.o. of the extract respectively. The blood glucose of the alloxanized rats after 48 hours which ranged from 20.50-30.20 mmol/L were significantly (P<0.05) and progressively reduced in the glibenclamide and extract treated animals. Restlessness, respiratory distress, diarrhoea and convulsion in the untreated diabetic rats were reduced in the extract and glibenclamide treated animals. The trace amount of blood ketones and urine sugar in the untreated diabetic rats disappeared in the other treatment groups except in the 25 mg/kg b. w. where there was less than 0.25% of urine sugar. The significantly elevated levels of serum albumin, creatinine, urea, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, liver malate dehydrogenase activity as well as reduced weight of pancreas and liver glycogen content in the untreated diabetic rats were reverted back to their respective values in distilled water control animals by the extract and glibenclamide. Overall, this study indicates that the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root possesses anti-hyperglycemic activity similar to the reference drug. The extract of Cochlospermum planchonii root is also effective in controlling some of the disorders of metabolism associated with diabetes.

Root aqueous extract ofLecaniodiscus cupanioideswas evaluated for antimalarial activity and analyzed for its phytochemical constituents. Twenty-four (24) albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inoculum of chloroquine sensitivePlasmodium berghei(NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 6 groups of 3 mice each. Group 1 served as the control while groups II–IV were orally administered 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg body weights of extract. Groups 5 and 6 received 1.75 and 5 mg/kg of artesunate and chloroquine, respectively. The results of the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids (2.37%), saponin (0.336), tannin (0.012 per cent), phenol (0.008 per cent), and anthraquinone (0.002 per cent). There was 100 per cent parasite inhibition in the chloroquine group and 70 per cent in the 50 mg/kg body weight on day 12, respectively. The mean survival time (MST), for the control group was 14 days, artesunate 16 days, and chloroquine 30 days, while the ...

The folkloric claim ofMusa paradisiacasap in the management of diarrhoea is yet to be substantiated or refuted with scientific data. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to screen the sap ofM. paradisiacafor both its secondary metabolites and antidiarrhoeal activity at 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mL in rats. Secondary metabolites were screened using standard methods while the antidiarrhoeal activity was done by adopting the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, castor oil-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility models. The sap contained flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids while cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, triterpenes, cardenolides, and dienolides were not detected. In the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, the sap significantly (P&lt;0.05) prolonged the onset time of diarrhoea, decreased the number, fresh weight, and water content of feaces, and increased the inhibition of defecations. Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the small intestine increa...

A numerical avalanche prediction scheme offering prediction rates greater than 70% is under development for the Bear Pass highway operation, British Columbia. A method using one way analysis of variance and canonical discriminant analysis is proposed to identify the principle variables that allow discrimination between avalanche and non-avalanche days. The optimum variable set identified using this analysis may then be used in a discriminant analysis to classify each time period into an avalanche or a nonavalanche day. An analysis is performed using this method for Bear Pass as a whole and also for individual subareas defined within the pass. Improvements on classification rates to three out of the four sub-areas are observed compared to the analysis for the whole pass.