BackgroundSynsepalum dulcificum is a plant indigenous to West Africa. The fruit is used to modify taste of foods to sweetness.ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the antidiabetic potentials of both methanolic and flavonoid-rich leaf extracts of S. dulcificum (MSD and FSD respectively) in type 2 diabetic Wistar albino rats.Materials and methodsSixty three rats were randomly distributed into nine groups of seven animals each with group 1 serving as the normal control. Groups 2 to 7 were given 10% fructose in their drinking water for 14 days, after which 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin was administered. Group 2 animals served as the diabetic control, while groups 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were treated with 30 mg/kg MSD, 60 mg/kg MSD, 30 mg/kg FSD, 60 mg/kg FSD and 5 mg/kg glibenclamide respectively. Groups 8 and 9, contained healthy animals, and were treated with only 60 MSD, and 60 mg/kg FSD respectively. Biochemical parameters such as liver and kidney function tests, lipid profile, as well as lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes were assessed in addition to histopathology.ResultsIt was observed that daily oral administration of MSD and FSD for 21 days significantly (p < 0.05) improved the observed pathological changes as a result of type 2 diabetes.ConclusionIt could be deduced from results obtained in this study that methanolic and flavonoid-rich leaf extracts of S.dulcificum have antidiabetic potential in type 2 diabetic rats.

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Antioxidant contents, mostly from plant source have been the major combating components against membranous peroxidation that causes degenerative diseases and among others in the living cells. In this work, we did look into how ethanol and aqueous extractable components of Talinum triangulare could effectively and synergistically enhance the activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities in the different tissues used in vitro. Different methods were employed in the assay and the results showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in ethanolic extract when the GSH enhancing competencies were considered in the organs when compare with that of aqueous and relatively with the control, also, the levels of catalase activities (CAT) observed showed significant (p < 0.05) difference as observed in the organs. Considering the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, aqueous extract showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in the liver and brain while significant (p < 0.05) increase was only observed in the ethanolic extract in the kidneys tissue. Indisputably, it could be claimed based on these facts that, Talinum triangulare could enhance the activities of these antioxidant enzymes assayed for and in turns could be helpful in the phytotherapeutic management of common diseases associated with the hypoactivity of the enzymes when involve in the diet.

The use of plant and plant products in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is made possible because of the natural inherent phytochemicals responsible for the reduction of respective metallic salts to nanoparticle forms, and ensuring therapeutic applicability. In this study, synthesis of AgNPs and AuNPs was performed using two different aqueous extraction methods for Crassocephalum rubens: maceration using laboratory method of extraction (cold aqueous extract of Crassocephalum rubens (AECR)), and decoction using traditional healer's method of extraction (hot aqueous crude extract of Crassocephalum rubens (CECR)). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various methods, and in vitro antioxidant potential were thereafter investigated. The characterization results indicated the formation of mostly sphericalshaped AgNPs and AuNPs with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of 470 nm and 540 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles possess high antioxidant potentials but AECR synthesized AuNPs exhibited the least phytochemical contents and antioxidant potential when compared to other nanoparticles. It can therefore be concluded that extraction method and nanoparticle type are important factors that could influence the antioxidant properties of the nanoparticles. Further studies using these nanoparticles as anticancer or anti-inflammatory agent in both in vitro and in vivo are underway.

BackgroundType 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with diabetic nephropathy and hyperlipidemia. Gender, age, medication adherence, lifestyle, culture and socioeconomic status could be sources of diversity in T2DM leading to differences in predisposition, development and clinical presentation.ObjectivesTherefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of gender, age and treatment duration on kidney and lipid-related biochemical indices of T2DM patients attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria (EKSUTH).MethodsBlood from diabetic patients and healthy subjects was analysed for fasting blood glucose (FBG), renal function parameters and lipid profile. Influence of age, gender and treatment duration on indices was assessed using standard baseline values.ResultsDyslipidemia was pronounced among female diabetics while the incidence of diabetes was found to be higher in middle-age. The percentage of diabetics with high levels of FPG, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol after 9–10 years of treatment were lower compared with the percentage after 5–6 years of treatment.ConclusionGender, age and treatment duration influenced clinical course of T2DM among patients presenting at EKSUTH but long term treatment appeared to improve T2DM among patients.

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Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken leaves are employed as food and as traditional medicines. This study investigates the antioxidant activity (reducing power, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, H 2 O 2 scavenging ability and metal ion chelating), carbohydrate digesting enzymes activity and inhibitory activity of cholinergic enzyme of aqueous extract and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, residual aqueous fraction) of B. pinnatum leaves were investigated. Results showed that aqueous extract of B. pinnatum exhibited DPPH radical scavenging abilities, iron chelation, hydrogen peroxide scavenging abilities and reducing power (Fe 3+ -Fe 2+ ). B. pinnatum aqueous extract also had considerably α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC 50 values 149.20 ± 14.44 µg/mL and 126.15 ± 9.76 µg/mL respectively. Our findings indicated that ethyl acetate fraction contained a considerably higher (p < 0.05) amount of total phenolic, flavonoids, total antioxidant, FRAP, metal ion, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity than other solvent fractions. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction elicited a significantly higher (p < 0.05) inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (IC 50 = 70.90 ± 1.23 μg/ml), α-amylase (IC 50 = 62.45 ± 1.22 μg/ml), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (IC 50 = 66.75 µg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (IC 50 = 62.97 µg/mL) activities than other fractions. Hence, B. pinnatum leaves were rich in biologically active components; thus, could be employed to formulate new plant-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical drugs to improve human health.