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Kigelia africana plant is widely used as a herbal remedy in preventing the onset and the treatment of cancer‐related infections. With the increase in the research interest of the plant, the specific chemical compound or metabolite that confers its anticancer properties has not been adequately investigated. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the fruit extracts were evaluated by 2‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐3,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide assay against four different cell lines, with the ethyl acetate fraction having inhibition concentration values of 0.53 and 0.42 μM against Hep G2 and HeLa cells, respectively. More than 235 phytoconstituents were profiled using UHPLC‐TOF‐MS, while more than 15 chemical compounds were identified using GC–MS from the fractions. Molecular docking studies revealed that physostigmine, fluazifop, dexamethasone, sulfisomidine, and desmethylmirtazapine could favorably bind at higher binding energies of –8.3, –8.6, –8.2, and –8.1 kcal/mol, respectively, better than camptothecin with a binding energy of –7.9 kcal/mol. The results of this study showed that physostigmine interacted well with topoisomerase IIα and had a high score of pharmacokinetic prediction using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profiles, thereby suggesting that drug design using physostigmine as a base structure could serve as an alternative against the toxic side effects of doxorubicin and camptothecin.

Frondosides are the major saponins (triterpene glycosides) of the North Atlantic sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa). Frondosides possess amphiphilic characteristics due to the presence of various hydrophilic sugar moieties and hydrophobic genin (sapogenin). Saponins are abundant in holothurians, especially in sea cucumbers that are widely distributed across the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Over 300 triterpene glycosides have been isolated, identified, and categorized from many species of sea cucumbers. Furthermore, specific saponins from C. frondosa are broadly classified into frondosides, fallaxosides, lefevreiosides, cucumariosides, and colochirosides. Recent studies have shown that frondoside-containing extracts from C. frondosa exhibit anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-hyperuricemic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiangiogenic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the exact mechanism(s) of action of biological activities of frondosides is not clearly understood. The function of some frondosides as chemical defense molecules need to be understood. Therefore, this review discusses the different frondosides of C. frondosa and their potential therapeutic activities in relation to the postulated mechanism(s) of action. In addition, recent advances in emerging extraction techniques of frondosides and other saponins and future perspectives are discussed.

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The harmful effects of synthetic pesticides include neurological, behavioural dysfunctions, hormonal imbalances, and water pollution. Hydro-alcohol extract of the stem bark of B. sapida was studied for pesticidal effects on Glutathione S-transferases (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using a rat model. Various concentrations of the extract were administered to six different groups, of three male and three female groups of rats (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg bwt. respectively), two synthetic 10% (w/v) groups and a control group. Blood plasma, liver, and brain were obtained at the end of 28 days sub-acute test, from the Wistar rats for biochemical assay. The results showed that there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the brain of female rats while that of males was not significant (P > 0.05) compared to control. Also in GST, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in all the doses in liver but only at 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg in plasma of female rats, was observed compared to control while in male rats, a significant increase in both liver and plasma at 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg but not significant at 50 mg/kg was observed. The non-significant difference was observed in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total protein (TP) activities in both sexes at 50 mg/kg compared to control. It was concluded that hydro-alcohol extract of B. sapida significantly reduced the levels of AChE and GST activities at higher and lower doses respectively. This property of the plant could be exploited in the formulation of agents useful in pest control.

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