Oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant system have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diverse disease states. The phytochemical screening and antioxidant property of fresh leaves of Vitex doniana and Mucuna pruriens, used in the management and treatment of various diseases, were studied. The extracts (ethanol and distilled water) were screened for the presence of phytochemicals, and their inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical was used to evaluate their free radical scavenging activity. Liver levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4) treated albino rats were also used to assess the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The animals were treated with 250 mg/kg body weight of the extracts for six consecutive days before a single dose (2.5 mL/kg body weight) of CCl4. Vitamin C was used as the standard antioxidant. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and flavonoids in all the extracts, while alkaloids were detected in extracts of Vitex doniana only, and cardiac glycosides occurred in extracts of Mucuna pruriens only. All the extracts inhibited DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner, water extract of Vitex doniana producing highest inhibition which was not significantly different (P > .05) from vitamin C. The extracts produced a significant decrease (P < .05) in liver MDA, while the levels of SOD and CAT significantly increased (P < .05) relative to the positive control. These results are an indication of antioxidant potential of the extracts and may be responsible for some of the therapeutic uses of these plants.

Background: The present study evaluated the effect of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana on body weight, serum glucose and oxidative stress parameters in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. Methods: DM was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH = 7.4). A total of 36 adult male Wister albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats. The groups consist of normal untreated rats, untreated DM rats, DM rats treated with 500 mg/kg dimethylguanide (MetforminTM) and DM rats treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana. The rats were treated for 28 days. Serum glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid concentrations, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured using standard methods. The changes in body weight was also measured. Results: The results showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in serum glucose and MDA concentration, whereas serum SOD, CAT activities, as well as GSH and ascorbic acid concentration were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in treated DM groups in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that phenolic aqueous leaf extract of V. doniana promoted increased body weight, ameliorated DM and alleviated reduced antioxidant activities in alloxan-induced DM rats. Phenolic aqueous leaf extract of V. doniana could serve as a potential natural and safe remedy for the management of DM.

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of the dichloromethane (DCM-F) and n-butanol (BUT) fractions of Vitex doniana and identified the bioactive constituents using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Methods: The methanol extract of the leaves was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation and the BUT soluble separated by vacuum LC (VLC) using binary mixtures of DCM in methanol (1 L) sequentially in the ratios of 9:1 BF1–1:9 BF5. The antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power assay methods. The in vivo antioxidant potential was performed by measuring the concentrations of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic parameters in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. Results: The extract, DCM-F, and the VLC sub-fractions showed good antioxidant activity which is comparable with ascorbic acid (53.6%). DCM-F showed the highest antioxidant activity (71.6%), while the least activity was shown by BF5 (15.0%). Peak dereplication of LC-MS chromatograms identified several putative compounds in the BUT soluble. DCM-F caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and Vitamins C and E in CCl4-induced rats compared to standard. The levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde that were elevated in CCl4-induced rats were also significantly reduced (p<0.05) by the DCM-F compared to standard. Conclusion: The ability of V. doniana leaves to mop up free radicals and reverse the CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats suggests antioxidant potentials. The bioactive compounds identified in BUT fraction could support its ethnomedicinal uses in the treatment of illnesses associated with radical scavenging activity.

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Two indigenous Nigerian spices-Gongronema latifolium (Utazi), and Ocimiuim gratissium (Ncheanwu) were used to formulate rat feed and assess their influence on the lipid profile. A total of forty-eight rats, mean body weight 118.12±13.31 were divided into four different diet groups, last group (D) serving as control (No spice). Feeding was done twice daily for period of five months, while water was provided to all the animal ad. Libitum. Every two weeks, two rats were selected from each diet group and sacrificed for analysis. The following lipids, cholesterol (CHO), triacylglycerol (TG), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were assessed. The result shows that serum CHO, TG, and LDL, generally significantly (p ≥0.05) decreased in all the diet groups, while the value of serum HDL increased. The highest reduction in the values of CHO, and TG was observed in the diet groups with the mixed spices, and that with G. latifolium alone, while the highest reduction in the value of HDL occurred in diet group with O.gratissium, and the mixed spiced group respectively. The hypolipidemic effect of these spices individually and in combination form is important in nutritional management of cardio vascular diseases particularly atherosclerosis.

Aims: Ethyl acetate fraction of total phenols from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides leaves was evaluated for its effects in alloxan-induced diabetic male albino rats. Methodology: Diabetes was induced in rats by administrating alloxan monohydrate at a dose of 130 mg/kg body weight. The ethyl acetate fraction was administered to rats at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. daily for 15 days. Blood glucose, lipid profile and pancreatic histopathology were monitored using standard methods. Results: Results indicated that two weeks after treatment with Z. zanthoxyloides, significant (p<0.05) reductions in hyperglycemic blood glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were recorded; with lowest values recorded in the group treated with the highest concentration of the extract. Histopathological examination of pancreatic tissues supported the protective effect of Z. zanthoxyloides phenol extract against diabetic damage. Conclusion: In conclusion, total phenols of Z. zanthoxyloides exerted antidiabetic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats and protected pancreatic tissues from diabetic damage.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of two "lesser known" leafy vegetables-Vitex doniana and Corchorus oletorius on the oxidative indices of Albino Rats. Study Design: Forty eight rats, mean body weighty 351.83±1.39g were grouped into four to represent a control, and three diet groups. Dried powdered form of the vegetables was mixed with the normal rat chow in the ratio of 1:4 and pelleted before feeding to the rats. Feeding lasted for a total of three (3) months. The first analysis was done within two weeks, and thereafter repeated every two weeks throughout the study.

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