Antimalarial potential of kolaviron, a biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds, against Plasmodium berghei infection in Swiss albino mice.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimalarial potential of kolaviron (KV), a biflavonoid fraction from Garcinia kola seeds, against Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) infection in Swiss albino mice. METHODS: The study consists of seven groups of ten mice each. Groups I, II and III were normal mice that received corn oil, KV1 and chloroquine (CQ), respectively. Groups IV, V, VI and VII were infected mice that received corn oil, CQ, KV1 and KV2, respectively. CQ, KV1 and KV2 were given at 10-, 100- and 200-mg/kg daily, respectively for three consecutive days. RESULTS: Administration of KV1 and KV2 significantly (P<0.05) suppressed P. berghei-infection in the mice by 85% and 90%, respectively, while CQ produced 87% suppression relative to untreated infected group after the fifth day of treatment. Also, KV2 significantly (P<0.05) increased the mean survival time of the infected mice by 175%. The biflavonoid prevented a drastic reduction in PCV from day 4 of treatment, indicating its efficacy in ameliorating anaemia. Significant (P<0.05) oxidative stress assessed by the elevation of serum and hepatic malondialdehydewere observed in untreated P. berghei-infected mice. Specifically, serum and hepatic malondialdehyde levels increased by 93% and 78%, respectively in the untreated infected mice. Furthermore, antioxidant indices, viz; superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, gluathione peroxidase and reduced gluathione decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the tissues of untreated P. berghei-infected mice. KV significantly (P<0.05) ameliorated the P. berghei-induced decrease in antioxidant status of the infected mice. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that kolaviron, especially at 200 mg/kg, has high antimalarial activities in P. berghei-infected mice, in addition to its known antioxidant properties.

Antioxidant, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activities of root methanol extract of Calliandra portoricensis in human prostate cancer cells / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health concern. Calliandra portoricensis (CP) is traditionally known for its analgesic, anti-ulcerogenic and anticonvulsant properties. However, its antiproliferative properties for PCa still need to be investigated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Antioxidant activities of CP were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl (OH(-)) radicals-scavenging methods. PC-3 and LNCaP (androgen-refractory and androgen-dependent PCa-derived cell lines) were cultured and treated with CP (10, 50 and 100 μg/mL). Effects of CP on cells were determined by cytotoxicity assay (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) and viability assay (sodium 3'-[1-(phenylaminocarbonyl)-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis (4-methoxy-6-nitro) benzene sulfonic acid hydrate, XTT). DNA fragmentation was detected by cell death detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plus kit. CP was tested as an inhibitor of angiogenesis using chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CP showed significant scavenging of DPPH and OH(-) radicals. CP significantly (P<0.05) inhibited lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. Precisely, CP (10, 50 and 100 μg/mL) inhibited PC-3 and LNCaP growth by 7%, 74% and 92%, and 27%, 73%, and 85% respectively at 48 h. CP had low toxicity in vitro at its half inhibitory concentration dose. Detection of cell death induced by CP at 50 μg/mL showed higher enrichment factors in LNCaP (7.38±0.95) than PC-3 (3.48±0.55). Also, treatment with CP (50 μg/mL) significantly reduced network of vessels in CAM, suggesting its antiangiogenic potential.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Calliandra portoricensis elicited antioxidant, antiangiogenic and antiproliferative effects in PCa cells.</p>

Methanolic extract of African mistletoe (Viscum album) improves carbohydrate metabolism and hyperlipidemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE@#To justify the use of African mistletoe (AM) Viscum album (V. album) in folkoric medicine to treat diabetes.@*METHODS@#In one experiment, the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of diabetic rats were monitored for 4 h. Diabetic rats were treated with AM at doses of 50 mg/kg (AM1) and 100 mg/kg (AM2), glibenclamide (GB) (positive control) and saline solution (SS). In another experiment, diabetic rats were treated with AM2, GB and SS daily for 3 weeks.@*RESULTS@#AM1 and AM2 elicited significant (P<0.05) hypoglycaemic effects within 4 h of extract administration. AM1 and AM2 decreased the FBG by 41% and 49%, respectively, at 2 h. AM2 was found to lower FBG by 51%, relative to baseline, which was comparable to GB at 3 h. In the second experiment, AM2 and GB significantly (P<0.05) decreased the FBG by 34% and 51%, respectively. This was followed by marked decrease in levels of HbA1C in AM2- and GB- treated diabetic rats. AM2 significantly (P<0.05) decreased the STZ-induced increase in levels of serum triglyceride, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, α-amylase and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Furthermore, diabetic rats treated with AM2 had significantly (P<0.05) elevated high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In contrast, STZ administration produced insignificant (P<0.05) effect on the levels of serum creatinine and total bilirubin.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Extract of African mistletoe has anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects in STZ-diabetic rats. AM may find clinical application in the amelioration of diabetes-induced lipid disorders.