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Background In West Africa, the fruit, seed, leaf and stem of Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig are commonly used as remedy against a variety of diseases, including diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the ameliorative potential of B. sapida K.D. Koenig stem bark ethanol extract against pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (65 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days, and orally administered with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight), 50-150 mg/kg body weight of B. sapida stem bark ethanol extract once daily for 21 days. Results The blood glucose levels of rats induced with alloxan were significantly and gradually reduced (p<0.05) in B. sapida stem bark ethanol extract treated animals at the dose of 50-150 mg/kg body weight, and in glibenclamide-treated animals. The significant increase in the lipid peroxidation (malonaldehyde), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance scores (HOMA-IR) and decrease in serum insulin, pancreatic β-cell scores as well as antioxidant marker enzymes in untreated diabetic rats compared to normal control rats were reversed by the B. sapida stem bark ethanol extract and glibenclamide. Similarly, histopathological changes in the pancreas were also reversed by the extract and glibenclamide. However, these effects were most prominent in the animals treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of B. sapida bark. Conclusions These findings indicate that B. sapida stem bark possess anti-hyperglycemic activity and exhibits ameliorative potential in managing diabetes.

Cadmium has been considered a risk factor for humans as it accumulates in body tissues, such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, bones, and reproductive organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Irvingia gabonensis (IG) against cadmium (Cd)-induced nephrotoxicity. The study was performed on twenty (20) male rats divided into four groups: control group, cadmium group (4 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), cadmium + extract (200 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) and cadmium + extract (400 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage). Changes in the kidney biochemical markers, namely glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), urea, and creatinine were determined in serum. Histological examinations were monitored. Exposure to Cd lowered the activities of kidney antioxidants, while it increased LPO levels. Levels of all disrupted parameters were alleviated by co-administration of IG extract. The malondialdehyde concentration of the rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared with the untreated cadmium rats. Yet the creatinine concentration decreased significantly (p<0.05) when the cadmium animals treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract were compared with the cadmium control. Furthermore, histological alterations in the kidney were observed in cadmium untreated rats and these were ameliorated in cadmium treated rats by co-administration of IG extract. IG showed apparent protective and curative effect on Cd-induced nephrotoxicity.

The treatment of diabetes involves the use of herbal plants, attracting interest in their cost-effectiveness and efficacy. An aqueous extract of Persea americana seeds (AEPAS) was explored in this study as a possible therapeutic agent in rats with diabetes mellitus. The induction of diabetes in the rats was achieved by injecting 65 mg/kg body weight (BWt) of alloxan along with 5% glucose. This study was conducted using thirty-six (36) male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 6 equal groups, (n = 6) and treated for 14 days. In vitro assays for total flavonoid, phenols, FRAP, DPPH, NO, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, were performed. Biochemical indices fasting blood sugar (FBS), BWt, serum insulin, liver hexokinase, G6P, FBP, liver glycogen, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB in the serum, were investigated as well as the mRNA expressions of PCNA, Bcl2, PI3K/Akt in the liver and pancreas. The in vitro analyses showed the potency of AEPAS against free radicals and its enzyme inhibitory potential as compared with the positive controls. AEPAS showed a marked decrease in alloxan-induced increases in FBG, TG, LDL-c, G6P, F-1, 6-BP, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB and increased alloxan-induced decreases in liver glycogen, hexokinase, and HDL-c. The diabetic control group exhibited pancreatic dysfunction as evidenced by a reduction in serum insulin, HOMA-β, expressions of PI3K/AKT, Bcl-2, and PCNA combined with an elevation in HOMA-IR. The HPLC revealed luteolin and myricetin to be the phytochemicals that were present in the highest concentration in AEPAS. The outcome of this research showed that the administration of AEPAS can promote the activation of the PI3K/AkT pathway and the inhibition of β-cell death, which may be the primary mechanism by which AEPAS promotes insulin sensitivity and regulates glycolipid metabolism.

Therapies directed towards controlling hyperglycemia, the hallmark of type-2 diabetes mellitus, go a long way in managing diabetes and its related complications. Reducing glucose level through the inhibition of the relevant carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes is one among many routes in the management of diabetes. This study investigates the in vitro enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties of solvent-partitioned fractions of Spondias mombin and Mangifera indica leaves; which are used extensively in the treatment of diabetic patients locally. The leaves of S. mombin and M. indica were extracted with methanol and fractionated to obtain n-hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), n-butanol (BF), and aqueous (AF) fractions successively. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of fractions of S. mombin and M. indica leaves were investigated while the antioxidant activity of each fraction was analyzed using iron chelating and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging assay. Our findings indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of M. indica leaves contained a considerably higher (p < 0.05) amount of total phenolic, flavonoids, metal ion, and ABTS radical scavenging activity than the ethyl acetate fractions of S. mombin. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction of M. indica had a considerably higher (p < 0.05) inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 25.11 ± 0.01 μg mL−1), and α-amylase (IC50 = 24.04 ± 0.12 μg mL−1) activities than the S. mombin fraction. Hence, the inhibitory activities of S. mombin and M. indica leaves suggest that they are a potential source of orally active antidiabetic agents and could be employed to formulate new plant-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical drugs to improve human health.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and reoccurring diseases, as well as the world’s second largest cause of mortality. Despite existing preventative, diagnostic, and treatment methods, such as chemotherapy, the number of instances rises year after year. As a result, new effective medications targeting specific checkpoints should be developed to combat CRC. Natural compounds, such as curcumin, have shown significant anti-colorectal cancer characteristics among medications that can be used to treat CRC. These chemicals are phenolic compounds that belong to the curcuminoids category. Curcumin exerts its anti-proliferative properties against CRC cell lines in vitro and in vivo via a variety of mechanisms, including the suppression of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathways, the stoppage of the cell cycle, and the activation of autophagy. Curcumin also has anti-angiogenesis properties. Thus, this review is aimed at emphasizing the biological effect and mode of action of curcumin on CRC. Furthermore, the critical role of these substances in CRC chemoprevention was emphasized.

BackgroundOcimum gratissimum L. is a medicinal plant widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions with the leaf decoction usually taken in folk medicine to enhance erectile performance in men although the probable mechanism of actions remains undetermined. This study examined the inhibitory potentials of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on some key enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction in penile and testicular tissues of the rat.MethodsInhibitory effect of aqueous extract (1:10 w/v) of O. gratissimum leaves on the activities of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), arginase, angiotensin I –converting enzyme (ACE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in penile and testicular tissues were assessed. Also, the extract was investigated for ferric reducing antioxidant property(FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities.ResultsThe extract showed higher PDE-5 (IC50 = 43.19 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 44.23 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 55.51 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 46.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the penile tissue than PDE-5 (IC50 = 44.67 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 53.99 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 60.03 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 49.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the testicular tissue homogenate. Furthermore, the extract scavenged free radicals and in a dose-dependent manner.ConclusionThe enzyme activities displayed might be associated with the bioactive compounds present in the extract which could possibly explain its use in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED).