In recent years, the search for biologically active compounds from Euphorbia heterophylla in the treatment of different diseases has always been of great interest to researchers. In this present study, we investigated the effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant on hepatocytes using animal models. A total of twenty (20) wistar albino rats (150-240g) were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (A, B, C & D) comprising five rats per group. The control group was administered deionised water while the treatment groups were orally administered doses of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant(100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg body weights) by means of a gavage for two weeks. Total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were the biochemical parameters assessed in this study. The results showed no significant difference(p>0.05 in the levels of the aforementioned parameters. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant indicated the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and steroids, but anthracene derivatives were absent. The results obtained in this study, therefore, justify the traditional use of the plant for food and medicinal purposes respectively.
The contamination of the aquatic ecosystem beyond tolerable limits may pose serious health challenges to its components. This study evaluated the toxic effects of a binary mixture of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) compounds on the activity of Na + /K + -ATPase in tissues of Clarias gariepinus in a controlled aquatic system. The study employed Box-Behnken Design (BBD) with 17 runs in which Pb and Zn concentrations were considered process variables in a time-dependent fashion. Metal exposure levels consisted of 0, 10 and 20% of 96 h-LC 50 of Pb (55.12 mg/L) and Zn (32.15 mg/L) for three weeks. Thereafter, membrane-bound Na + /K + -ATPase activity was assessed in gill, hepatic and renal tissues, and data generated from the BBD were used for the development of models. Three regression models were obtained, for gill, hepatic and renal Na + /K + -ATPase activities with exposure to metals differ significantly (p < 0.05) at R 2 > 90%, and no significant lack of fit (p > 0.05) was observed in each case. Congruent to the synergistic interactions observed between Pb and Zn in the study, the gill and hepatic Na + /K + -ATPase activities were significantly inhibited, whereas renal Na + /K + -ATPase activity was significantly stimulated (p < 0.05). The optimized models were considered reliable, as they were confirmed in the laboratory through accurate prediction of hepatic, renal and gill Na + /K + -ATPase activities with equivalences of 1.22 ± 0.17, 1.66 ± 0.07 and 3.50 ± 0.33 µmol p i /min/mg protein (p < 0.05) respectively. It is hereby concluded that the synergistic interaction between Pb and Zn truncated the physiological function of Na +/ K + -ATPase activity in the respective tissues except for renal tissue of exposed C. gariepinus. Keywords C. gariepinus • Lead • Na + /K + -ATPase activity • Toxic effects • Zinc * Augustine Apiamu
The research affirmed that Cola nitida L. and Garcinia kola Heckel used in Nigeria are quite different medicinally and nutritionally. The proportions of all nutrients analyzed quantitatively (lipid, moisture, fibre, ash, and protein except carbohydrate) were greater in C. nitida than in G. kola Heckel (p<0.05). C. nitida has a lower energy density than G. kola Heckel (332.20 kcal/g vs 349.10 kcal/g sample) (p<0.05). Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and cardiac glycosides were all significantly greater in G. kola Heckel than C. nitida at p<0.05, in addition to saponin, tannin, and steroids. A 72-hour methanol extraction of kola nuts by cold maceration showed that C. nitida had significantly lower total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents than G. kola Heckel (TPCs: 1815.38±125.90 µg GAE; TFCs: 385.80±37.24 µg QE; and TTCs: 2643.75±36.08 µg TAE/g sample). 2.2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays showed that G. kola Heckel (IC50 = 133.70 ± 0.11 µg/mL) was more effective than C. nitida (IC50 = 226.70 ± 0.21 µg/mL) at the 0.05 level. Studies on anti-inflammation found similar effects for G. kola Heckel and C. nitida (antiproteinase activity IC50 = 162.90 and 223.60 µg/mL; albumin denaturation: IC50 = 155.10 and 347.20 µg/mL; and membrane stabilization: IC50 = 183.50 and 271.70 µg/mL). Thus, it is proposed here that G. kola Heckel, in comparison to C. nitida, may be an acceptable source of energy, an antioxidant, and an anti-inflammatory agent in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors for the benefit of humans.
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