IntroductionThere is emerging interest in medicinal plants in the biomedical field, due to their multitude of chemicals which show anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, or antitumoral potential. Research on medicinal plants has shown that nanotechnology could offer new solutions in the quality control, delivery aspects, or in sustaining herbal biological activities. This work reports on the preparation and characterization of silver nanoparticle-mediated Selaginella myosurus plant extract.MethodsUltraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction have been used to characterize the prepared silver nanoparticles. The synthetic stability was studied by varying concentrations and pH of reactants. Egg albumin denaturation and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model were used to ascertain the anti-inflammation.ResultsUltraviolet-visible spectroscopy gave plasmon resonance ranging between 420 and 480 nm while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy proved nano interface functionalized with organics. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern is in agreement with silver and silver chloride nanoparticles of crystallite size 33.7 nm and 44.2 nm for silver and silver chloride, respectively. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy enables elemental characterization of the particles consisting of silver and silver chloride among main elements. Spherical silver grain of 58.81 nm average size has been depicted with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Inhibitions of 99% and 60% were obtained in vitro and in vivo, respectively.ConclusionThe albumin denaturation and carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model to assess the anti-inflammatory potential of generated nanoparticles suggests that the silver nanoparticles may act as reducing/inhibiting agents on the release of acute inflammatory mediators. Hence, this work clearly demonstrated that silver nanoparticles mediated-Selaginella myosurus could be considered as a potential source for anti-inflammatory drugs.
BackgroundMaytenus senegalensis is a common shrub which is scattered in tropical Africa. Different parts of this plant have been reported to be useful in traditional medicine against gastrointestinal disorders and intestinal worms. This study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of the aqueous stem bark extract of M. senegalensis using egg hatch assay (EHA), larval migration inhibition assay (LMIA) and adult worms’ motility inhibition assay (AMIA).ResultsOn EHA, the extract concentrations tested resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of egg hatching in concentration-dependent manner and ranged between 31.86% at 75 μg.mL− 1 to 54.92% at 2400 μg.mL− 1 after a 48 h post-exposure with eggs. For the LMI assays, the aqueous extract of M. senegalensis showed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of larval migration in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest concentration used (2400 μg.mL− 1) showed a 37.77% inhibition. The use of polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) indicated that tannins and flavonoids were partly involved in the effect since the larval migration was inhibited by 15.5%, but other biochemical compounds were also implicated. On AMIA, M. senegalensis was associated with a reduced worm motility after a 24 h post exposure compared to phosphate buffered saline as control (p < 0.05). By this time 66.66% of the worms were found immotile or dead in the wells containing plant extract at 2400 μg.mL− 1. The Phytochemical analysis of aqueous extract of M. senegalensis by HPLC-ESI-MSn detected the presence of proanthocyanidins (20%) and flavonoids (> 50%).ConclusionsThese in vitro results suggest the presence of some anthelmintic properties in M. senegalensis extract, which is traditionally used by small farmers in west and central Africa. These effects may be due to the flavonoids and proanthocyanidins present in the extract and need to be studied under in vivo conditions.
To assess the fish by-products released, we surveyed 158 fish pre-caterers and 33 structures in 12 markets in Douala. A random sample of these by-products was used for bromatological analysis. Oils extracted from these samples were characterized by determining some chemical indexes. Investigation showed more than 238 tons of by-products are annually released into the environment of the observed markets. Flour Analysis of by-products showed a moisture content of 22.04 ± 0.03%, 50.29 ± 0.02% proteins, 29.03 ± 0.15% ash, 20.3 ± 0.03% lipids, 0.37 ± 0.15% total carbohydrates, and mineral elements such as calcium (6.08 ± 0.002 g / kg), phosphorus (7.093 ± 0.003 g / kg), and iron (328 ± 2.65 mg / kg). Analyses of chemical indexes of the oil extracted showed that they were within the range of Codex Alimentarius standard values. It can be concluded that Douala market's fish by-products are of good nutritional quality and could therefore be used in animal nutrition.
Ricinodendron rautanenii is a plant, used in traditional medecine to treat fever, eczema, back pain, cancer and stomacal disorders. This work was carried out to evaluate the safety of the aqueous extract from the stem bark of Ricinodendron rautanenii by determining its potential toxicity after acute and subacute administration in Wistar rats. In Acute toxicity assay, the animals received the extract at the single dose of 5000 mg/Kg and were observed during 48h for mortality and any toxicity manifestations. General behavior, adverse effects and mortality were determined for up to 14 days post treatment. In subacute toxicity assay, extract was given orally to rats at doses of 6, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg/day for 28 days respectively. Animal body weight, water and food intake, biochemical and hematological parameters were determined. Liver and kidney were examined histologically for any signs of organ damage. No behavioral changes or mortality were recorded in the treated groups. No significant hematological changes were observed in the both sex. The biochemical analysis indicated a significant increase of high density lipoprotein levels in both male and female rats. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney did not show any observable cellular damages. The overall finding of this study suggest that, extract of Ricinodendron rautanenii did not cause any death up to a dose of 5000 mg/kg and can be considered non-toxic. Biochemical and histological studies of the extract did not revealed major signs in subacute toxicity.
Ficus vogelii is a medicinal plant mainly found in tropical Africa and reported to treat inflammatory complaints. This study aims to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii stem bark in wistar rats. For acute study, aqueous extract at a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight was administered to female rats and observed for 14 days. In the sub-chronic study, the extract was administered daily to both sex rats at the doses of 100, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight for 28 consecutive days. Body weight was measured weekly, while hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were analyzed after euthanize. Aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii at all tested doses didn’t produced any mortality or significant change on the body weight and relative weight of rats on acute and sub-chronic studies. The lethal dose 50 was estimated greater than 5000 mg/kg (DL50˃5000 mg/kg). Hematological parameters were recorded non-significant in all treated rats. Aqueous extract at 600 mg/kg significantly changed transaminases and alkaline phosphatase activities, these changes were reversible in satellites. The concentrations of bilirubin was increased at 200 and 600 mg/kg in male rats, at 100, 400 mg/kg in female rats. The levels of lipids markers didn’t changed, except the significant decrease of LDL-cholesterol. Histological examination didn’t showed any change in the architecture of the liver and kidney of rats treated compared to control. Thus aqueous extract of Ficus vogelii stem bark didn’t produced adverse effects in rats after oral acute and sub-chronic treatment.
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