The proximate, functional, antinutrient and antimicrobial properties of avocado pear (Persea americana) seeds were studied using standard methods. The proximate contents (%) of avocado peat seed flour, ASF, in decreasing order were moisture (13.09±0.14) followed by ash (3.82±0.00), fibre (2.87±0.00), protein (2.64±0.01) and fat (0.33±0.00). The energy value, carbohydrate and dry matter content respectively was 334.01±1.05%, 80.12±0.15% and 86.91±0.14% while the water absorption capacity and oil absorption capacity respectively was 2.70±0.00% and 1.80±0.00%. The anti-nutrients (mg/100g) in decreasing order were saponins (8.10±0.01) followed by alkaloids (2.14±0.00), flavonoids (1.81±0.01), tannins (1.14±0.01), cyanogenic glycosides (1.02±0.00) and phenols (0.29±0.01). The avocado pear seed extract (ASE) elicited antibacterial activity (mm) against Proteus mirabilis (23±0.14), Staphylococcus aureus (16±0.04) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15±0.11) though lower than the corresponding activity by the standard, Ciprofloxacin. ASE had higher activity (18±0.31mm) against the fungus, Aspergilus niger compared with the standard antifungal, Ketoconazole (8±0.22mm) while it had a comparable activity as the standard against Candida albicans but no activity against Penicillum notatum in contrast to the standard drug (6±0.24mm). Thus, ASF had appreciable nutrient and antinutrient contents with apparently moderate storage value while, out of the tested pathogens, ASE had a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, a selective antifungal activity and an overriding activity against Aspergilus niger. These while highlighting possible diet and drug potentials of ASF and ASE, respectively, provided basis for ethno-medicinal applications of avocado pear seeds, hence warranting further studies.

Background. Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant used widely in Nigeria which is reported to have diverse functions, including blood-boosting potential. Aim. The effect of the ethanol extract of Justicea carnea (JC) leaves in phenylhydrazine induced-anemia albino rats on haematological and lipid profile parameters was investigated.Methods. The experimental animals were randomly grouped into five groups of six rats each -group 1 (non--anemic control), group 2 (anemic control), group 3 (500 mg/kg of JC extract), group 4 (1000 mg/kg of JC extract) and group 5 (DMSO control). Phenylhydrazine was administered once at a dose of 80 mg/kg b.w. to induce hemolytic anemia. After 28 days of extract administration, they were humanely sacrificed and the serum collected was used for biochemical analysis. Results. In the acute toxicity study, the LD 50 was found to be above 5000 mg/kg body weight. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) values, Red Blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations decreased (p < 0.05) significantly after 48 hours of phenylhydrazine induction, but after 28 days of administering extracts of Justicia carnea, PCV values, RBC and Hb increased (p < 0.05) significantly. There were significant (p < 0.05) decreases in cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and LDL cholesterol concentrations in the extract-administered groups (groups 3&4) relative to the anemic control. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the extract groups (3&4) relative to the non-anemic control. Conclusion. Extracts of Justicia carnea not only reversed anemic conditions in the phenylhydrazine-induced rats, it also improved the lipid profile, and this may be attributed to its rich phytochemical, nutrient and vitamin composition. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that J. carnea leaves could be used to manage lipid abnormalities associated with anemia.

In view of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes mellitus, this study evaluated the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Vinca major L. on biochemical parameters and glucose level of alloxan induced diabetic rats as objective. Sixty-four male Wistar albino rats were induced with diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection and were separated into four groups (1-4) of sixteen rats each. Group 1 served as the control while groups 2 to 4 served as the test groups. Apart from the control, the test groups were treated with different concentrations of the leaf extract, and four rats from each group were sacrificed every seven days for assessment. The treatment period lasted for 28 days. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels in groups 3 and 4 rats significantly increased (p<0.05) against the control throughout the number of days of the study. Red blood cell (RBC) levels in groups 2 and 4 increased significantly (p<0.05) against the control on the 14 th day, while all the test group rats had significantly increased (p<0.05) RBC levels on the 21 st and 28 th days of the study. The observed trend followed by electrolyte ions, urea and creatinine in test rats against the control in the present study, may be attributed to V. major leaf extract trying to salvage the excretory organs of alloxan battered diabetic rats. Glucose level, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) liver enzymes reduced significantly (p<0.05) in test rats against the control. Diabetic rats treated with V. major leaf extract in this study, showed significant improvements on those associate problems of diabetes which include anaemia, dyslipidaemia, and hepatic necrosis and inflammation. Rats treated with the leaf extract also showed reduced glucose level (Hypoglycemia). From the observations of this study, extract from leaf of V. major may be effective against diabetes and some of its associate problems.

Background. Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant used widely in Nigeria which is reported to have diverse functions, including blood-boosting potential. Aim. The effect of the ethanol extract of Justicea carnea (JC) leaves in phenylhydrazine induced-anemia albino rats on haematological and lipid profile parameters was investigated. Methods. The experimental animals were randomly grouped into five groups of six rats each-group 1 (non-anemic control), group 2 (anemic control), group 3 (500 mg/kg of JC extract), group 4 (1000 mg/kg of JC extract) and group 5 (DMSO control). Phenylhydrazine was administered once at a dose of 80 mg/kg b.w. to induce hemolytic anemia. After 28 days of extract administration, they were humanely sacrificed and the serum collected was used for biochemical analysis. Results. In the acute toxicity study, the LD 50 was found to be above 5000 mg/kg body weight. Packed Cell Volume (PCV) values, Red Blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations decreased (p < 0.05) significantly after 48 hours of phenylhydrazine induction, but after 28 days of administering extracts of Justicia carnea, PCV values, RBC and Hb increased (p < 0.05) significantly. There were significant (p < 0.05) decreases in cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and LDL cholesterol concentrations in the extract-administered groups (groups 3&4) relative to the anemic control. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the extract groups (3&4) relative to the non-anemic control. Conclusion. Extracts of Justicia carnea not only reversed anemic conditions in the phenylhydrazine-induced rats, it also improved the lipid profile, and this may be attributed to its rich phytochemical, nutrient and vitamin composition. Therefore, the findings of the study suggest that J. carnea leaves could be used to manage lipid abnormalities associated with anemia.

Finally, the biological properties demonstrated by the methanol fraction could be attributed to the presence of octadecanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, eicosanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and n-hexadecanoic acid in it as previously reported.