High protein from meat consumption has been associated recently to environmental depletion and health related issues despite the important contribution of meat and meat products in diet and growth development. This has motivated debates on a drastic shift from excessive meat consumption amongst stake holders, academics, animal rights activists and environmentalist as informed consumers are pushing food scientist for a more sustainable alternative protein source. Plant proteins are considered a suitable alternative protein. However, the nutritional, functional potential and the form of presentation have shown some technological difficulties which indicates that direct transformation of plant proteins to meat products is less feasible. Though meat alternative research is promising in developed countries, there are technological breakthroughs that have permitted to replace in part or fully certain sensory attributes of meat inspired by the technology behind the ancient east Asian traditionally structured products like tofu, seitan and tempeh. However, despite the global increase in meat consumption associated with high standard of living, the search for the meat protein alternative from plant products have been limited to the conventional sources of soybeans, beans, lentils, vegetables and pulses. Future research could be diversified and orientated towards improving the existing African foods produced endogenously from wild orchid tubers widely consumed in low middle income countries in the form of cakes, meat substitutes, fake meat, mock meat and/or meat replacements. The successful production of a convenient and acceptable plant-based meat replacement will go a long way to reduce or eliminate excessive meat consumption. This review is geared towards a wider data search concerning the advances in meat alternative research and particularly to illustrate on some neglected African endogenously processed products consumed as meat alternatives that needs further research on the wild tubers sources as ingredients for potential convenient and acceptable meat alternatives or extender.

Introduction: Liver or hepatic disease refers to different conditions that affect the liver. Chronic alcohol consumption is one of the most frequent causes of liver disease and accounts for about 55% of liver cirrhosis deaths recorded in Cameroon in 2020. Standard accessible treatments focus on end-stage liver disease with safety and efficacy obstacles. We have a research gap in Cameroon to understand the alternative use of natural products as treatment with a long traditional history of safe use. Curcuma longa has long been a source of traditional and modern medicine. It is commonly used in Cameroon as a spice and herbal product with some level of activity against various forms of liver disease. Objective: To phytochemically screen for bioactive metabolites and evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longaon alcohol-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extract obtainedfrom maceration of plant rhizomes. Three doses (125, 250 and 500mg/Kg) of the plant extract and the reference (Silymarin 50mg/Kg) were administered daily (p.o) to rats 30 min before administration of 40% alcohol (2mL/100g p.o) for 21 days. Biochemical parameters such as ALAT, ASAT, GGT, Bilirubin and Lipid profile were quantified and histological studies of the liverwas carried out using standard procedures. Results: Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of C. longa revealed polyphenols such as flavonoids, tannins, quinones, saponins and phlobatanins. The plant showed hepatoprotective activity by decreasing liver toxicity markers such as ASAT, ALAT, GGT and Bilirubin. Histology revealed dose-dependent protection with 500 mg/Kg showing the most cellular integrity, no central vein occlusion and minimal fibrosis. Conclusion: This study indicated the presence of polyphenols like flavonoids and tannins in the aqueous extract of C. longa. The presence of these secondary metabolites in the studied extract justifies its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties confirmed by its hepatoprotective effects on alcohol-induced toxicity. This was clearly shown by biochemical and histological parameters. More sensitive and specific methods are required to test for these secondary metabolites in serum.

Introduction: Liver toxicity has become a public health concern as more people globally get exposed to xenobiotics with the potential to cause liver damage and consequent liver cirrhosis. The increase in liver toxicant abuse has necessitated the exploration of xenobiotic exposure levels when addressing therapeutic measures using alternative herbal remedies. The increasing use of herbal products as alternative therapy needs regulatory alignment through evidence-based support for the safety and efficacy of these natural products. To undertake preclinical discovery of new metabolites from medicinal products, the objective of this study was to investigate the systemic serum exposure and acute toxicity of the aqueous extract of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) rhizomes on Wistar rat models. Methods: Phytochemical screening was carried out on the aqueous extract obtained by maceration of the dried plant rhizomes. Standard screening techniques for plant metabolites were used to screen blood serum after animal exposure with the extract. After a 500mg/Kg dose, systemic exposure was evaluated in blood samples collected at 30-minute intervals for one hour. For acute toxicity, a single 2000mg/Kg by body weight dose of the plant extract and the reference (Silymarin 50mg/Kg) were administered to rats, and they were observed for 14 days. Biochemical markers of toxicity such as ALAT, ASAT, GGT, Bilirubin were quantified, and histological studies of the liver were carried out. Results: No secondary metabolites were identified at 30 mins and 1hr in rat serum following a 500 mg/Kg oral dose. Administration of a 2000 mg/Kg oral dose to rats was well tolerated, and there were no deaths or significant target organ toxicity. The plant showed no lethality at the dose of 2000mg/kg body weight and decreased liver toxicity markers such as ASAT, ALAT, GGT, and Bilirubin. Histology revealed no significant damage to liver hepatocytes, no central vein occlusion, and no evidence of fibrosis. Conclusion: There were no systemically available secondary metabolites at a dose of 500 mg/Kg after the qualitative screening; more sensitive and specific methods are required to test these secondary metabolites in serum. This study confirmed the safety margin of Curcuma longa with no lethality following a single oral dose of 2000mg/Kg and after observation for 14 days. There was a low expression of biochemical markers of toxicity ALAT, ASAT, and no histological indication of liver damage.

Conventional medications used to treat ulcers are not easily accessible to remote areas, costly and not without side effects, thus causing many patients residing in rural areas to resort to herbal means of treatment. World Health Organization records that at least 80% of the world's population depends on herbal medicinal products. Herbal therapy is the belief that it will promote healthier living. Azadirachta indica is a tree extensively spread in the Northern parts and sparsely distributed in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, used as a remedy for several pathologies, amongst which we have gastric ulcers which is our area of interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute oral toxicity (420 OECD guidelines), systemic exposure and biochemical parameters of toxicity of Azadirachta indica. A. Juss on Wistar rats. Various biochemical parameters such as the: MDA, Catalase, Glutathione, Pepsin, SOD, ASAT, ALAT, Creatinine, XO, and total proteins, were quantified. The acute oral toxicity was of 2000 mg/Kg single dose and compared to a control group which was administered tap water. The administration of 2000 mg/Kg was well tolerated and no death was recorded throughout the fourteen days of observation. No toxic effects were recorded in the organs, implying that at the dose of 2000 mg/Kg, Azadirachta indica was safe. Azadirachta indica aqueous leaf extract contains active metabolites coumarins, catechic tannins, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids and phlobotannins that were bioavailable in systemic circulation. Showed bioavailability at the tested doses (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/Kg), with the presence of phytochemicals being dose dependent. A clean toxicity profile, with just a slight increase in the level of creatinine.