Carbohydrate digestive enzyme inhibition, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antidiabetic benefits of Persea americana.

The medicinal use of Persea americana in the treatment of some diseases like hypertension, diabetes, is often with dearth of supporting scientific proof. Thus, we evaluated its ethnomedicinal benefits for possible scientific justification. Thirty healthy Wistar rats were randomly grouped in fives. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes in the rats in groups II to VI. The diabetic rats in group II were treated with glibenclamide, while those in group III were not treated. Also, the diabetic rats in groups IV to VI were treated with the ethanol extracts of the stem bark, leaf, and root of P. americana respectively. The parts of P. americana comparatively possess highest amounts of phenols (250.50 ± 0.68-bark), saponin (436.80 ± 3.76-leaf), flavonoid (382.80 ± 0.67-leaf) and tannins (58.34 ± 0.09-root). The extracts exhibited high reducing property (FRAP and total reducing), as well as high ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging ability. The enzyme (alpha-glycosidase and alpha-amylase) inhibitory activity of P. americana increases with increasing concentration of the extracts. Administration of methanol extracts of P. americana bark, leaf and root to alloxan-induced diabetic rats resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decreases in AST, ALP, ALT, Total bilirubin, LPO, plasma glucose and significant (P < 0.05) increases in GSH, CAT and SOD. These effects were like that of glibenclamide. The enzyme inhibitory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of P. americana are some of the benefits derived from its consumption and ethnomedicinal use.

Viscum album prevents haematological changes, electrolyte imbalance, changes in liver function enzymes and histological alterations in some selected tissues in cadmium chloride-intoxicated rats.

Background: The use of Viscum album to treat different diseases is popular in the practise of alternative medicine. We investigated the ability of the aqueous extract of V. album to protect against the toxic effects of cadmium. Methods: Thirty rats used for the experiment were treated as follows; Group 1 - no cadmium or extract. Group 2-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride. Group 3-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 4-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 5-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride with 800 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 6-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and atorvastatin (100 mg/kg body weight). Results: Apart from WBC and platelets, other haematological parameters and electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels were not significantly affected by the administration of cadmium chloride along with the aqueous extract of V. album. Treatment with the extract caused significant decreases in the hepatosomatic index, cardiosomatic index, and increase in renosomatic index of the test rats. It also resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AST level. Histological report also shows that treatment with the extract restored the normal myocardium and vascular architecture of the heart, normal portal and vascular architecture of the liver and normal glomerular and tubular architecture of the kidney, in the cadmium-intoxicated experimental rats. Conclusion: V. album protects against the toxic effects of cadmium chloride.

Vitamin E and Metabolic Health: Relevance of Interactions with Other Micronutrients.

A hundred years have passed since vitamin E was identified as an essential micronutrient for mammals. Since then, many biological functions of vitamin E have been unraveled in both cell and animal models, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as regulatory activities on cell signaling and gene expression. However, the bioavailability and physiological functions of vitamin E have been considerably shown to depend on lifestyle, genetic factors, and individual health conditions. Another important facet that has been considered less so far is the endogenous interaction with other nutrients. Accumulating evidence indicates that the interaction between vitamin E and other nutrients, especially those that are enriched by supplementation in humans, may explain at least some of the discrepancies observed in clinical trials. Meanwhile, increasing evidence suggests that the different forms of vitamin E metabolites and derivates also exhibit physiological activities, which are more potent and mediated via different pathways compared to the respective vitamin E precursors. In this review, possible molecular mechanisms between vitamin E and other nutritional factors are discussed and their potential impact on physiological and pathophysiological processes is evaluated using published co-supplementation studies.

Synclisia scabrida protects against oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity and hyperglycaemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Synclisia scabrida is commonly used in traditional medical practices for the management of diseases like diabetes and its complications. This study seeks to establish a scientific rationale for this practice. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly and equally grouped into six. Alloxan was used to induce diabetes in the rats in groups 2 to 6. The diabetic rats in group 2 were treated with glibenclamide, while those in group 3 were not treated. Also, the diabetic rats in groups 4, 5 and 6 were, respectively, treated with the ethanol extracts of the stem, root and leaf of S. scabrida. After 28 days of treatment, blood and organ samples were collected for biochemical studies. Results: S. scabrida possesses high amounts of useful phytochemicals. It also exhibits high total reducing capacity, FRAP activity, DPPH and ABTS scavenging ability. The inhibition of the α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities by the methanol extracts of S. scabrida stem, leaf and root were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of glibenclamide. Administration of S. scabrida extracts to the alloxan-induced diabetic rats caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in the blood glucose, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ALP of the treated groups as compared to that of the untreated group. Treatment with the extracts also resulted in significantly (p < 0.05) lower LPO and significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of GSH, SOD and CAT. Conclusion: S. scabrida extracts exhibited antioxidative, hepatoprotective and hypoglycaemic properties which are similar to that of the standard drug, glibenclamide.

Dennettia tripetala Relieves Chronic Hepatorenal Injuries in Rats by Altering fas, sod-1, and tnf-α Expression.

The effectiveness of Dennettia tripetala extracts was compared to that of the standard drug, silymarin, in reducing chronic liver and kidney anomalies. Male albino Wistar rats were grouped in tens. Carbon tetrachloride was dissolved in olive oil (1:4) and administered to specific groups at a dose of 3 mL/kg body weight (bw) twice a week for six weeks. From week five, the extracts and silymarin were administered in distilled water daily for two weeks at doses of 250 mg/kg bw and 6 mg/kg bw, respectively, to specific groups. All administrations were carried out using a gavage, with appropriate controls. These results showed that the plant extracts decreased the serum activity of liver marker enzymes, restored the liver and serum lipid profiles as well as serum protein profile, reduced serum, urea, and creatinine, and restored superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the liver and kidneys, which carbon tetrachloride had altered. The extracts also decreased steatosis and centriole congestion in the liver as well as necrosis and structural damage in the kidneys, which carbon tetrachloride caused, and the extracts proved to be as potent as silymarin. The extracts also decreased the expression of fas (P<0.05), sod-1 (P<0.05), and tnf-α (P>0.05) in the liver, which carbon tetrachloride had increased. Conclusively, D. tripetala reduced chronic liver and kidney damage induced by carbon tetrachloride; it reduced the expression of fas, sod-1, and tnf-α in the liver to levels similar to that of the control group, and it was as effective as silymarin.

Dennettia tripetala Combats Oxidative Stress, Protein and Lipid Dyshomeostasis, Inflammation, Hepatic Injury, and Glomerular Blockage in Rats.

Dennettia tripetala, better known as 'pepperfruit', is a medicinal plant consumed in West Africa. D. tripetala possesses strong antioxidant properties and contains uvariopsine, an alkaloid which improves bile secretion and liver function. In the present study, the ethanolic extract of D. tripetala fruits was tested for its ability to alleviate pathophysiological conditions bordering on oxidative stress, including protein and lipid dyshomeostasis, inflammation, and hepatic and glomerular injury. Male albino Wistar rats were administered carbon tetrachloride twice a week for two weeks, and the ethanolic extract of D. tripetala fruits was administered from days 8∼14. The serum, liver, and kidneys of the rats were then subjected to biochemical assays and imaging. The extract restored the activities of liver marker enzymes in serum and the concentrations of lipids and proteins in both circulation and the liver to normal. The extract also restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes in liver and kidneys, and the concentrations of urea and creatinine in the blood. The extract also repaired the altered structures of the liver and kidney. Overall, D. tripetala elicited strong medicinal effects in rats. This study showed that the fruits of D. tripetala contain substances that could be extracted or synthesized for use in drugs for the treatment of liver and kidney disease.