Anemia constitutes a serious health problem in many tropical countries including Nigeria because of the prevalence of malaria and other parasitic infections which possibly leads to decrease of hemoglobin. Fluted pumpkin has been reported to be very good in building the constituents of the blood and also replacing them. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin on some hematological parameters and liver enzymes; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-induced anemia in experimental rat. Twelve Wister albino male rats were obtained from a nearby farm and separated into four groups of three rats each for the study. Rats in Groups 1 and 2 were injected 40 mg/kg 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine for eight days to induce anemia, while rats in Groups 3 and 4 were fed with grower's mash and water ad libitum. All analysis was done using the standard methods. The result of this study shows that, oral administration of 50 mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin to the rats in induced treated and normal treated groups (Groups 1 and 3), increased the hematological parameters under investigation while the rest remained significantly unchanged. Low level of ALT and AST was observed in rats in group 1 (induced treated group) suggesting a hepatoprotective property of the leaf extract which also indicate that the extract had no effect on the liver of the rats at the concentration used. The result of this research indicate that 50 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin could elevate the packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin concentration in the rats induced with 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Hence, oral administration of the extract could cure hemolytic anemia. The leaf extract also regulated the liver enzymes (ALT and AST) of the rats induced with 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. It can be concluded that aqueous leaf extract of fluted pumpkin is a potential blood booster and has hepatoprotective property.
This study was conducted to carryout preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic root and stem bark extracts of Ficus sycomorus. Qualitative phytochemical analysis for tannins, saponin, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, and reducing sugar was done using standard methods. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested against four micro-organisms; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysentrae, and Salmonella typhi. Agar well diffusion method was used for the antimicrobial studies. Phytochemical screening of both root and stem bark aqueous extracts showed the presence of tannin, saponin, terpenoid, flavonoid, alkaloids, glycoside, steroid, reducing sugar, and phenol. Glycoside was not detected in both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the root bark. The result of the antimicrobial studies showed that the aqueous root extract have higher antimicrobial activity ranging from (2-12 mm) on the tested microorganisms than aqueous stem bark extract (3-9 mm), while for ethanol extract both stem and root bark extract has almost the same effect or antimicrobial activity on the tested pathogens ranging from (2-15 mm) which is Toma et al.; EJMP, 28(3): 1-10, 2019; Article no.EJMP.45096 2 having higher activity compared to the aqueous extracts. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of both the extracts were found to be 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL respectively. From this study, it can, therefore, be concluded that the root and stem bark extract is a potential antimicrobial agent which support the claim of the traditional users of this plant in herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases that are of microbial origin. Original Research Article
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