Background: Justicia secunda Vahl. is a medicinal plant used in ethnomedical practice as therapy to manage inflammation. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of J. secunda leaves (MEJSL) using in vitro and in vivo inflammation models. Methods: Seventy-percent MEJSL was prepared following standard procedure. In vitro anti-inflammatory assays were performed using heat-induced bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation and erythrocyte membrane stabilization assays. Carrageenan and formaldehyde induced inflammation in rat models were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of MEJSL in vivo. Diclofenac sodium was used as a reference drug. In addition, liver and kidney function assays and hematological analysis were carried out. Results: Data revealed that varying concentrations of MEJSL significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited heat-induced BSA denaturation and stabilized erythrocyte membrane against hypotonicity-induced hemolysis when compared with diclofenac sodium in a concentration-dependent manner. In vivo study showed that 10 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) diclofenac sodium, 100 and 300 mg/kg b.w. MEJSL suppressed carrageenan-induced paw edema at the sixth hour by 71.14%, 83.08%, and 89.05%, respectively. Furthermore, 10 mg/kg b.w. diclofenac sodium, 100 and 300 mg/kg b.w. MEJSL inhibited formaldehyde-induced paw edema by 72.53%, 74.73%, and 76.48%, respectively. Animals treated with varying doses of MEJSL had reduced plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities; urea and creatinine concentrations; and modulated hematological parameters when compared with the untreated control group. Conclusions: Findings from this study showed that MEJSL exhibited substantial anti-inflammatory actions in the in vitro and in vivo models. It also indicated that MEJSL anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action could be through interference with phase 2 inflammatory stressors, upregulation of cytoprotective genes, stabilization of inflammatory cell membranes and immunomodulatory activity.

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Several studies on the adverse effects of methotrexate have been reported, especially its implication in the degeneration of spermatogenesis, reduced sperm count and ultimate male infertility. As an antagonist, methotrexate (MTX) uses folic acid to obstruct the production of some biomolecules involved in synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein. It is used in the treatment of cancer and other diseases such as psoriasis, and rheumatism. Reports have also revealed that the expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP8a) promotes spermatogenesis and fertility through the induction and activation of signaling sets of transcription factors, SMAD1/5/8. Hence, the expressions of these proteins and role of apoptosis are crucial to understand the mechanism involved in Methotrexate-induced infertility. In view of this, albino mice (Swiss strain) were randomly sorted to four groups. Group I served as control while groups II, III & IV (n=5) were treated with 5, 10 and 20mg/kg/day of Methotrexate (IP) respectively. Expressions of BMP8A and SMADs 1/ 5/ 8 were done by PCR and Western blotting techniques. Germ cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry techniques. Ultrastructural changes were assessed in leydig cells as well as sertoli cells. The results of this study reveal a down-regulation of BMP8A and SMAD1/5/8 proteins in a dose-dependent pattern. Induction of apoptosis was also confirmed by the expression of primary apoptotic Bax antibody. The sertoli cells which play their major roles of nourishing and protecting the development of sperm cells were severely impaired too. These findings suggest that the function of BMP8A and SMAD1/5/8 proteins in promoting proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia was severely disrupted following methotrexate exposure. Caution should therefore be taken when administering this drug.

Ruzu bitters black for men (RBBM) is a polyherbal product widely used amongst men in Nigeria to enhance libido, rejuvenate male organs and to manage erectile dysfunctions, prostate anomalies, weak erection, and premature ejaculation. This study was carried out to investigate the toxicological effect from the use of herbal product. Acute toxicity test of RBBM on rats was carried out in two phases; 10 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg for phase I and 1600mg/kg, 2900 mg/kg and 5000 mg/kg for phase II, were administered respectively. For sub-acute toxicity, two groups of 5 animals each received RBBM (0.87 mg/kg and1.17 mg/kg respectively) and a third group received water orally for 28 days. The study analyzed the median lethal dosage, and sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm count, sperm viability and histology of the testes as indices for sub-acute toxicity. No death was recorded for the acute and sub-acute studies but there was a moderate physical sign of toxicity. In the sub-acute toxicity study, there was a significant increase (p˂0.05) in testicular weight of Group 1 animals. Also, sperm count, and sperm motility increases significantly (p˂0.05) while there was a decrease in multiple tail sperm across the test groups. RBBM is not toxic to sperm morphology and causes no death at 5000 mg/kg in male albino Wistar rats.