Influence of ethanolic extracts of dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich on haematological and biochemical parameters in healthy Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Bioactivities of plant-based compounds had been shown to be influenced by properties of the extracting solvents. This study investigated the influence of ethanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich on the haematological and biochemical parameters in apparently healthy Wistar Rats using solvent partitioning. Methods: The procedures involved partitioning of ethanolic extract of X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich into n-hexane and aqueous fractions, chosen based on their differences in polarities and dielectric constants. The samples were administered at doses of 100 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg body weight orally once per day for a period of fourteen (14) days to apparently healthy male Wistar rats that had been randomly selected into seven (7) groups. Haematological parameters and plasma biochemical indices were determined using standard protocols after the rats were sacrificed on the 15th day. Results: The results showed that the levels of haematocrit and related parameters in all the groups that received the extract when compared to the control increased significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, no detrimental effect was observed on the levels of endogenous antioxidants, liver and kidney function indices in the rats compared to the control. Conclusion: In summary, on the basis of these findings, this study suggests that the extracts may be capable to alleviate the pathologies that are associated with haematological disorders through improvement of endogenous antioxidant status. The study proposes further evaluation on the molecular mechanism of bioactive components of X. aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich as agents that can prevents anaemia.

Repurposing of chloroquine and some clinically approved antiviral drugs as effective therapeutics to prevent cellular entry and replication of coronavirus

“…Lopinavir, remdesivir, and chloroquine were also shown to have low toxic dose threshold in humans, inhibit human ether-a-gogo-related gene (hERG) and induce hepatotoxicity (Table 5). Thus, administration of lopinavir, remdesivir, and chloroquine could result in delayed ventricular repolarisation through inhibition of the hERG potassium channel which could lead to a severe disturbance in the normal cardiac rhythm and disrupt hepatic functions (Wang et al, 2012;Oso et al, 2019).…”

Safety assessment of oral administration of ethanol extract of Justicia carnea leaf in healthy wistar rats: hematology, antioxidative and histology studies

“…Also observed is a distortion in the walls of the blood vessels (red arrow), pyknotic hepatocytes and signs of inflammation (red arrow) study. Several medicinal plants such as Xylopia aethiopica [25], Tectona grandis [26] and extracts of M. indica, A. hybridus and T. occidentalis [27] have also been reported to elevate RBC, hemoglobin and packed cell volume. The blood stimulating effects could be due to the presence of dietary bioactive constituents that stimulate activities of haematopoietic cells and stabilization of blood in circulation [21].…”

“…It has been reported previously that under certain conditions, dietary antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol and carotenoids could act, occasionally, as pro-oxidants to initiate slight degree of oxidative stress microenvironment. However, the mechanism by which phytochemicals act as prooxidants in-vivo is still under investigation [25].…”

Covid-19 treatment: Investigation on the phytochemical constituents of Vernonia amygdalina as potential Coronavirus-2 inhibitors

“…None of the phytochemicals is an inhibitor to hERG I but veronicoside A and remdesivir may be inhibitors to hERG II. Inhibition of the hERG potassium channel could result in delayed ventricular repolarisation leading to a severe disturbance in the normal cardiac rhythm and disrupt hepatic functions [25] . Acute and chronic toxicity were also carried out on the tested phytochemicals to determine the safety of the compounds when administered.…”