Gastroprotective mechanism of Talinum triangulare on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in Wistar rats via inflammatory, antioxidant, and H+/K+-ATPase inhibition-mediated pathways.

The increase in the incidence of gastric ulcer (GU) has posed major threat on public health. This research aimed to evaluate gastroprotective properties of the aqueous leaf extract of Talium triangulare (AETT) in ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. GU was induced via oral administration of single dose of 5 mLkg-1 of 90% ethanol in rats and protection of 200 mgkg-1 bw of AETT and 20 mgkg-1 bw of omeprazole was investigated for 14 d via oral treatment. Influence of AETT on anti-inflammatory, redox assays, ulcer index (UI), and gastric mucosa histological alterations were evaluated. Significant increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels compared to untreated group established gastric inflammation in rats induced by ethanol. Gastric ulcerated group exhibited heightened oxidative stress with concurrent decline in activities of antioxidant enzymes. Ethanol exposure to rats resulted in induction of lipid peroxidation, prominently elevating gastric malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Nevertheless, treatment with AETT or omeprazole exhibited substantial anti-inflammatory effects within gastric mucosa by attenuating expression of markers associated with inflammation. AETT demonstrated reduction in concentrations of MDA and H2O2, thereby alleviating progression of lipid peroxidation cascades. Also, AETT exhibited mitigating effect on ethanol-induced oxidative harm by enhancing the functionality of protective enzymes and elevating glutathione (GSH) concentration. Overall, AETT exhibited enhancements in activities of cytoprotective antioxidant enzymes, mitigated impact of oxidative stress and inflammation, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and decreased UI score. These beneficial effects could be attributed to phytochemicals present in AETT including 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone and Phytol. Outcome of this study established the traditional herbal claims of AETT.

Telfairia occidentalis mitigates dextran sodium sulfate-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via suppression of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a subcategory of inflammatory bowel diseases, affects more than 2 million people globally. This study sought to investigate the curative ability of aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis (ATO) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-mediated colitis in rats. UC was induced by 5% of DSS in drinking water, and the curative ability of ATO was assessed at 200 mg/kg by oral administration for 10 days. The effect of ATO was deduced on anti-inflammatory, preclinical features [disease activity index (DAI)], redox assays, and alterations both microscopic and macroscopic of the colonic mucosa. DSS mediated inflammation in colons of rats with a significant increase in nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels compared with a control group. Lipid peroxidation was also induced following exposure of rats to DSS. There is a marked decrease in antioxidant enzymes activities in DSS group. However, treatment with ATO markedly inhibited the colonic inflammation by reversing the elevated levels of inflammatory markers. Furthermore, ATO suppressed the lipid peroxidation chain reaction by reducing the level of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. ATO attenuates DSS-induced oxidative stress by increase the level of GSH and enhancing the activities of the cytoprotective enzymes (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase). Taken together, ATO reduced DAI score, inhibited inflammation, suppressed lipid peroxidation, attenuated oxidative stress, and enhanced the antioxidant enzymes activities. These therapeutic effects of ATO might be due to its phytochemicals as showed in gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy results. The findings of this study indicate that aqueous leaf extract of T. occidentalis has could be a drug candidate for the treatment of UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The study focused on the curative ability of aqueous leaf extract of Telfairia occidentalis on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) mediated colitis in rats. The extract elicits beneficial effects against colitis via its ability to reduce mucosal inflammation, suppress lipid peroxidation, attenuate oxidative stress, enhance the antioxidant enzymes activities, and reduce both infiltration of inflammatory cells and mucosal damage in colon. This study provides scientific evidence to the therapeutic ability of aqueous leaf extract of T. occidentalis in the treatment of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and could be a drug candidate for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases in humans.

Neuroprotective mechanism of Vernonia amygdalina in a rat model of neurodegenerative diseases.

The global upsurge in the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years has been associated with increase in toxic chemical exposure and release into the biosystem, having over 46.8 million people suffer dementia worldwide. This study focused on elucidating the neuroprotective mechanism of methanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina (MLVA) in nitrobenzene-induced neurodegenerative disease in rats. Thirty aged male rats were sorted into five groups of six rats each. Group A received distilled water while 100 mg/kg bw of nitrobenzene was orally administered to groups (B to E) to induce neurodegeneration. Group B (disease control) was untreated, while Group C and D were treated with oral administration of 200 and 400 mg/kg bw of MLVA respectively and group E with vitamin E for 14 days. Locomotor behaviour was analysed using video-tracking software while the midbrain, cerebrum and cerebellum of the rats were processed for biochemical analyses. Results showed that treatment of nitrobenzene-induced neurodegenerative rats with MLVA significantly (p < 0.05) increase dopamine, GSH, antioxidant enzymes levels; and decrease acetylcholinesterase activity, biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative stress level. Also, MLVA enhanced neurobehavioural and locomotor activities in all markers assessed. Taken together, neuroprotective mechanisms of MLVA can be linked to its antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase suppression, lipid peroxidation inhibition, anti-inflammatory and neurobehavioural restoring abilities.

A systematic review on COVID-19 pandemic with special emphasis on curative potentials of Nigeria based medicinal plants.

Despite the frightening mortality rate associated with COVID-19, there is no known approved drug to effectively combat the pandemic. COVID-19 clinical manifestations include fever, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, and other complications. At present, there is no known effective treatment or vaccine that can mitigate/inhibit SARS-CoV-2. Available clinical intervention for COVID-19 is only palliative and limited to support. Thus, there is an exigent need for effective and non-invasive treatment. This article evaluates the possible mechanism of actions of SARS-CoV-2 and present Nigeria based medicinal plants which have pharmacological and biological activities that can mitigate the hallmarks of the pathogenesis of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 mode of actions includes hyper-inflammation characterized by a severe and fatal hyper-cytokinaemia with multi-organ failure; immunosuppression; reduction of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to enhance pulmonary vascular permeability causing damage to the alveoli; and further activated by open reading frame (ORF)3a, ORF3b, and ORF7a via c-Jun N- terminal kinase (JNK) pathway which induces lung damage. These mechanisms of action of SARS-CoV-2 can be mitigated by a combination therapy of medicinal herbs based on their pharmacological activities. Since the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are multifactorial with co-morbidities, we strongly recommend the use of combined therapy such that two or more herbs with specific therapeutic actions are administered to combat the mediators of the disease.

Neuroprotective role of kolaviron in striatal redo-inflammation associated with rotenone model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is the most prevalent movement disorder. Currently, therapies are palliative with associated irreversible behavioural incompetence. Here, we investigated the ability of kolaviron (KV), an anti-inflammatory biflavonoid isolated form Garcinia kola seeds, to rescue striatal neuronal damage and redo-inflammation in rats exposed to rotenone (ROT). Aged rats exposed to 11 days of rotenone intoxication were treated with KV either concurrently or for 18 days. The 18-day regimen included 7 days of pre-treatment prior 11-day concurrent ROT-KV treatment. Rotenone-exposed rats lost weight appreciably and travelled less distance with reduced speed, decline efficiency to maintain a straight path, enhanced freezing, increased immobile episodes and poor hole recognition. The motor incompetence was attributed to enhanced striatal neurodegeneration, increased alpha synuclein formation and reduced tyrosine hydroxylase expression. ROT intoxication significantly increased reactive species production, which co-existed with induction of striatal antioxidant system and damage to biomolecules. ROT additionally upregulated COX-2 expression, enhanced myeloperoxidase activity and increased concentration of striatal inteleukine-6 (IL-6), IL-1ß and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). Treatment with kolaviron reversed the rotenone-associated locomotor impairment and exploratory deficits, motor/neuromuscular incompetence, striatal neurodegeneration, neurobiochemical imbalance, altered antioxidant defence system and neuroinflammation. KV-treated rats showed improved capacity to maintain efficient gait with minimal rigidity and enhanced coordination. Taken together, kolaviron exhibited neuroprotective properties, which may be beneficial for the prevention and management of Parkinson's disease, via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.