Phytochemical characterisation and toxicity effect of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemls.) A. Gray leaf extract on fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) larvae.

OBJECTIVES: To mitigate the losses due to fall armyworm (FAW) infestation in maize, chemical pesticides had been the first choice and widely used as an emergency response. However, it comes with attendant health effect. This necessitates the development of plant based effective and safer pesticides. This research investigate response of fall armyworm larvae when they are exposed to crude and partially purified Tithonia diversifolia leaf extract. METHODS: Chemical constituent of the extract was identified using NIST08.LIB library spectra provided by the software on a GC-MS system and FTIR analysis was done using KBr pellet technique with a resolution and scanning speed of 4 cm-1 and 2 mm/s. Dose dependent toxicity assay of T. diversifolia extracts on FAW at different growth stages under controlled environment in laboratory, followed by its effect under phytotron were examined against control and azadirachtin from neem. RESULTS: The GC-MS of the butanol eluent revealed 20 compounds out of which the major ones being beta-d-glucopyranoside, methyl (15.225 %) palmitic acid, TMS derivative (10.98 %) and hexadecanoic acid, 2-[(trimethylsily)oxy]-, methyl ester (8.75 %). The FT-IR spectroscopic analysis of the butanol eluent of T. diversifolia leaf extract revealed the presence of alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, alkanes and primary amines. The butanol eluent and crude extract caused 96 % mortality at neonate and first instar FAW larvae. CONCLUSIONS: The toxic and repellant effects revealed by diet bioassay and phytotron experiment respectively suggest that butanol eluent of T. diversifolia leaf extract could be a good and effective target for biopesticide production against FAW.

Phytochemical profiling of aqeous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii by gas chromatography (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn) tandem mass spectroscopy (MS): a pointer to its nephroprotection.

The phytochemical constituents in the aqueous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii responsible for its nephroprotective potentials against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis as previously investigated in our laboratory were elucidated. The extract was prepared using 80% aqueous methanol in 72 h, Phytochemical contents of aqueous methanolic extract of Triclisia gilletii (TGME) was identified using both a Thermo Scientific DSQII single quadrupole gas chromatography (GC) and a Thermo Scientific liquid chromatography (LCQ Fleet system) tandem mass spectroscopy. The chromatogram acquisition, detection of mass spectral peaks and their waveform processing were performed using Xcalibur MS Software (Thermo Scientific Inc.). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of phenols, fatty acids, vitamins and steroids. Likewise, for LC-MS analysis kaempferol and dihydrovomifoliol-O-glucoside were detected. The identified constituents have possible contributively effect on the acclaimed pharmacological potential of Triclisia gilletii against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis.

Potential use of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) derived compounds as antidiabetics: In silico and in vivo studies.

Momordica charantia (bitter lemon) belongs to the cucurbitaceae family which has been extensively used in traditional medicines for the cure of various ailments such as cancer and diabetes. The underlying mechanism of M. charantia to maintain glycemic control was investigated. GLP-1 and DPP-4 gene modulation by M. charantia (5-20% inclusion in rats diet) was investigated in vivo by RT-PCR and possible compounds responsible for diabetic action predicted through in silico approach. Phytochemicalss previously characterized from M. charantia were docked into glucacon like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1r), dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP4) and Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 (TGR5) predicted using Autodock Vina. The results of the in silico suggests momordicosides D (ligand for TGR5), cucurbitacin (ligand for GLP-1r) and charantin (ligand for DPP-4) as the major antidiabetic compounds in bitter lemon leaf. M. charantia increased the expression of GLP-1 by about 295.7% with concomitant decreased in expression of DPP-4 by 87.2% with 20% inclusion in rat's diet. This study suggests that the mechanism underlying the action of these compounds is through activation of TGR5 and GLP-1 receptor with concurrent inhibition of DPP4. This study confirmed the use of this plant in diabetes management and the possible bioactive compounds responsible for its antidiabetic property are charantin, cucurbitacin and momordicoside D and all belong to the class of saponins.

MODULATION OF KEY BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS RELEVANT TO STROKE BY ANTIARIS AFRICANA LEAF EXTRACT FOLLOWING CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in stroke pathogenesis. Hence, plants rich in antioxidant phytochemicals have been suggested as effective remedies for prevention and treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases. Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the management of brain-related problems but there is paucity of data on its anti-stroke potential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by a 30 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion/ 2 h reperfusion (BCCAO/R) in the brain of male Wistar rats. A sham-operated group which was not subjected to BCCAO/R and a group subjected to BCCAO/R without treatment with MEA served as controls. The ameliorative effect of 14 days of pretreatment with 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg A. africana methanol leaf extract (MEA) on BCCAO/R-mediated alterations to key markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and neurochemical disturbances and excitotoxicity (myeloperoxidase, glutamine synthetase, Na+/K+ ATPase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosine hydroxylase), was evaluated and compared with the effect produced by treatment with 20 mg/kg quercetin as a reference standard. RESULTS: Results show that pretreatment with MEA significantly mitigated or reversed BCCAO/R-induced changes in the level or activity of the evaluated biochemical markers of oxidative stress, neurochemical dysfunction and excitotoxicity compared with the BCCAO/R untreated control group (p < 0.05). The effect produced by 100 mg/kg MEA was similar to that of the reference standard, quercetin. CONCLUSION: These results revealed the neuroprotective potential of A. africana in stroke and other ischemia-related pathologies.