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Gongronema latifolium (Amaranth globe) is popularly known for its nutritional and medicinal values. The health benefits of different parts of this plant cannot be over emphasized especially in traditional medicine. The phytochemical evaluation of the plant showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides among others. The nutritional composition includes carbohydrates, protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and fats. Pharmacological activities of the plant such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial are well documented. This review is to provide detailed information on the phytochemical composition, nutritional values, ethno medicinal uses and pharmacological activities of Gongronema latifolium.

The aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia has been shown to have anti-ulcer effect. Objectives: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of N. latifolia on gastric acid secretion as the possible mechanism of its anti-ulcer actions in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: A total of sixty (60) male albino rats were divided into two experimental studies of thirty (30) rats each. Each of the experimental studies was further divided into groups according to study design. The extract was administered orally at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for the experimental groups while the control and reference groups received distilled water (2 ml/kg, p.o) and cimetidine (32 mg/kg, p.o) respectively, 60 minutes prior to oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg) to induce gastric mucosal injury. In the second study, gastric acid output was measured by the continuous perfusion of rat’s stomach under anesthesia with normal saline at the rate of 1 ml/min. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. Acute toxicity studies showed there were no deaths within 24 h after the application of the extract up to 1600 mg/kg B.W (i.p). Rats pre-treated with N. latifolia exhibited significant (P<0.05), and dose-dependent inhibition of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. A significant decrease in gastric acid secretion was produced by the extract at all doses studied. Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that, aqueous extract of N. latifolia significantly reduced gastric acid secretion in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration by inhibiting histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion probably by occupying H2 - receptors in rats.

Introduction: Fetal programming hypothesis presupposes that stimulus or insult acting during critical periods of uterine growth and development do alter tissue structure and function. In the present study changes in histomorphometric integrity of the testes and epididymis in adult F1 male rats maternally exposed to Ricinus communis oil (RCO) at different gestation periods were assessed. Materials and Methods: Therapeutic dose of RCO 950 mg/kg BW was administered to pregnant Wistar rats at gestation days GD 1-7, 7-14, 14-21 and 1-21 respectively. Testes and epididymis of adult male F1 offspring were then harvested for Histomorphometry assessment under Light microscope. Seminiferous tubular diameter (STD), seminiferous luminal diameter (SLD) and Seminiferous epithelial height (EH) of both peripheral and central seminiferous tubules were measured in the testes. Epididymal tubular diameter (ETD), epididymal luminal diameter (ELD) and epididymal epithelial height (EEH) were measured in epididymis. Results: Results were expressed as the mean ± SEM and significance taken at p<0.05. STD significantly (p<0.001) increased in F1 males from GD1-7, 7-14, 14-21 relative to control group. SEH significantly (p<0.001) decreased in F1 males from GD1-7,7-14 and 1-21. SLD increased significantly (p<0.001) in F1males from GD1-7, 7-14, 14-21 and 1-21. ETD significantly (p<0.01) increased in F1 males from GD1-7, 7-14, 14-21. EEH significantly (p<0.001) increased in F1 males from GD1-7 and GD7-14. ELD however increased significantly (p<0.001) only in F1 males from GD1-7. Conclusion: Maternal RCO exposure at different gestation periods impaired negatively histomorphometry of the testis and epididymis in male offspring.