This study was to compare the total phenolic (TP) content in extracts from eleven plant materials collected at different geographical locations in Kenya, Nigeria, and USA. These plants have been selected because the majority of them are highly pigmented, from yellow to purple, and would therefore have economic value in industries for producing antioxidants and surfactants. Two of them were collected from the industrial and domestic waste outlets. Each analysis was achieved using the Folin-Ciocalteau technique. The order of decreasing phenolic acid content as gallic acid concentration (mg/g dry weight) was Prunus africana (55.14) > Acacia tortilis (42.11) > Khaya grandifoliola (17.54) > Curcuma longa (17.23) > Vernonia amygdalina (14.9)> Russelia equisetiformis (14.03) > Calendula officinalis (7.96) >Phragmites australis (control) (7.09) > Rauwolfia vomitoria (6.69) > Phragmites australis (industrial) (6.21) > Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (5.6). The TP contents of Spartina alterniflora species were below the detection limit.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a serious global epidemic. The menace of this chronic disease is attributable to its chronic complications which threaten both the world economy and life expectancy, especially in Sub- Saharan Africa. Nephropathy is a complication of Diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of End Stage Renal Disease. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria as well as the effects of co-morbidities on the pattern of microalbuminuria among adults with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus.  Methods: A total of 325 adults with Diabetes mellitus and 100 controls without Diabetes mellitus were studied. The subjects with diabetes were classified into four groups ([i] diabetes only, [ii] diabetes with hypertension, [iii] diabetes with obesity and [iv] diabetes with hypertension and obesity). Urinary protein, microalbuminuria, fasting plasma glucose and Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured using standard methods. Results: The overall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 35.1% in the diabetic population compared to 8.0% in the control group. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in the various diabetic subgroups were as follows: 30.3% (diabetes only), 43.1% (diabetes with hypertension), 37.0% (diabetes with obesity) and 44.6% (diabetes with hypertension and obesity). The fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c were statistically significantly higher in the diabetic population than the control group. This indicated that there is a poor glycaemic control in the diabetic population and hence a possible cause of diabetic nephropathy. Conclusion: The risk of diabetic nephropathy was significant in the study population. The presence of one or more co-morbidities and poor glycaemic control increased the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetes mellitus is becoming an increasing concern all over the world and such people especially in some communities have used medicinal plants to treat diabetes and its complications. This investigation aimed to examine the hypoglycemic potential of the methanol extract of Fleurya aestuans leaves in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Thirty five Wistar albino rats were grouped into seven different groups of five per group where diabetes was induced in the rats by intra peritoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg) except a control group. F. aestuans methanol extract at a dose of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg of body weight were administered at a single dose per day for a period of 10 days to the diabetic rats, respectively. Five mg/kg of standard drug, glibenclamide (a positive control) was given to one of the groups. The effects of F. aestuans methanol extract of whole plant, on blood glucose was measured in the diabetic rats. This activity is not dose dependent.