In this study, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory activities of polyphenolic-rich extract of Syzygium cumini leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were determined. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) in female Wistar rats. The rats were orally administered with 400 mg/kg free phenol, 400 mg/kg bound phenol, and 5 mg/kg metformin, respectively. On the 14th day of oral administration, the animals were sacrificed, anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory were assessed. Fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels; homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance scores, lipid peroxidation concentration, glucose-6-phosphatase activity, and all concentrations of anti-inflammatory studied in alloxan-induced diabetic rats were significantly (P < .05) reduced with the administration of polyphenolic-rich extract of Syzygium cumini leaves. Also there was significant (P < .05) increase in glycogen and insulin concentrations, pancreatic β-cell scores, antioxidant enzymes and hexokinase activities, as well as glucose transporter levels in diabetic animals administered with polyphenolic-rich extract of S cumini leaves. The results indicate that S cumini leaves possess anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory activities.
Citrus aurantifolia leaf essential oil was extracted via hydrodistillation, chemical composition of the oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and its antidiabetic potentials was assessed in alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic rats using metformin as the reference drug for comparison. Chemical analysis showed that D-limonene (57.84%) was the major constituent of the oil. Other notable compounds identified were neral (7.81%), linalool (4.75%), sulcatone (3.48%) and isogeraniol (3.48%). Intraperitoneal administration of C. aurantifolia oil (100 mg/Kg b.wt.) to hyperglycaemic rats for 14 days caused significant reduction in fasting blood and hepatic glucose, whereas hepatic concentration of glycogen was significantly increased. Also, improvement in dyslipidaemia was observed in C. aurantifolia essential oil-treated hyperglycaemic rats; serum concentration of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were significantly reduced and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol was increased, resulting in decreased predisposition of rats to cardiac risks. Antihyperglycaemic potential of administration of the oil was lower but compared favourably with the oral antihyperglycaemic agent used as reference antidiabetic drug. Overall, data from this study showed that essential oil from the leaf of C. aurantifolia grown in North-Central Nigeria is a D-limonene chemotype. The oil showed considerable glucose lowering effect as well as the potential to ameliorate hyperglycaemia-induced dyslipidaemic complications in alloxanized rats.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of four different processing methods on the nutritional contents of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalia). Fresh bitter leaves were subjected to different conventional food processing techniques, namely soaking in water (over night), blanching, abrasion with salt and without salt (Nacl) as well as fresh leave samples replicated three times. The fresh and treated samples were analyzed for antioxidant properties (reducing power and free radical scavenging ability), proximate compositions, mineral contents and antinutrient contents (tannin and phytate). The results obtained revealed that the reducing power of bitter leaf (0.53) was significant decreased with all the processing methods in the study. The free radical scavenging ability of fresh bitter leaf sample (70%) was significantly higher than in other treated samples (53-57%).The protein (6.0-7.3%) and moisture contents (81.5-84.0%) of variously treated bitter leaf were significantly (p≤0.05) lower than that of fresh leaves (8.4%) and (84.4%) respectively. Similarly, there was a decrease in the fat content by blanching and abrasion without salt 1.0% and 0.9% respectively , while soaking and abrasion with salt was increased by 2.2% and 2.3% respectively. The crude fiber content was lower with soaking while it was significantly (p≤0.05) higher with abrasion with salt. Blanching and soaking caused a significant (p≤0.05) decreased in the ash content while abrasions elevated its contents. Also, the various processing methods caused a significant reduction in mineral content of vegetable. The tannin content of v. amygdalina leaf (0.6%) was significantly (p≤0.05) reduced by the various treatments (0.4-0.5%). Similar trend was observed for phytate content with the exception of the soaked sample which showed no decrease. It could therefore be concluded that soaking overnight and blanching caused a significant reduction in the nutritional values of bitter leaf than other processing methods studied.
Uca tangeri is a marine fiddler crab found commonly in the West African coast and is often exposed to Gram-negative pathogens upon injury. The aim of this study was to document the patterns of endotoxin-induced protein coagulation and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in hemolymph fractions of Uca tangeri. Hemolymph from live crabs was obtained by carapace puncture, pooled. and then separated into plasma, hemocyte Lysate (HL), hemocyte lysate supernatant (HLS) and hemocyte lysate debris (HLD). The effect of Escherichia coli (O1111:B4) endotoxin and calcium ion (Ca(2+)) on protein coagulation in the presence/absence of endotoxin and the endotoxin dose-dependence of coagulation and PO activity were each studied in the plasma, HL, HLS and HLD. The results showed Ca(2+) was required to induce coagulation, and was endotoxin concentration-dependent in the plasma. PO activity was highest in the HLS but PO specific activity was highest in HLD. PO activity remained relatively constant with increased LPS concentration in the range studied 0-10 EU/ml. From the data we conclude that endotoxin-induced protein coagulation occurs in the plasma alone and might be mediated by trans-glutaminases, while PO activity is localized inside hemocytes and cell membranes in Uca tangeri.
Excessive weight gain following the prolonged elevation of blood glucose and lipids is the major driver of obesity, diabetes, and related conditions. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the effect of Ficus platyphylla leaves extract on body weight, blood glucose levels, and serum lipids of albino rats. Methanolic extract from a sample of the plant’s leaves was first prepared and subjected to phytochemical screening. Doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg were administered to three groups of rats daily while a fourth (control group) received distilled water for 21 days. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and steroids. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weight was observed in the rats administered 100 and 200 mg/kg extract but the reduction is not statistically significant in the 400 mg/kg group. All treatments led to a significant reduction in blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels with a concomitant rise in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Our findings demonstrate that the methanolic extract of Ficus platyphylla leaves has an ameliorative effect on body weight, blood glucose, and lipids, and hence the plant could be beneficial to obese and diabetic patients.
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