Background: Antioxidants are critical for maintaining optimum health and wellbeing and they protect the body against the development of diseases caused by oxidative stress. Nutraceuticals are foods or part of food that have medical benefit. The present study formulated and nutritionally evaluated an antioxidant rich nutraceutical. Materials/Methods: Nutritional analysis of proximate composition, amino acids and fatty acids profile, antioxidants vitamins and minerals were determined using standard methods. Tomatoes, ginger, garlic, onion, watermelon seed, lemon juice and palm oil were used to formulate the nutraceutical. Results: Proximate composition analysis
The most severe form of malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which undergoes antigenic variation. However, plant products continue to make an immense contribution to malaria chemotherapy. In this research, the inhibitory effect of C. citratus and P. reticulatum on schizont maturation was investigated using in vitro assay. Also, effect of the extract on some enzymatic and non-enzyme liver function parameters was determined after sub-chronic oral administration of the extracts to albino rats. From the result it was observed that C. citratus and P. reticulatum extract inhibited schizont growth with an IC50 of 7.25 mg/L and 3.25 mg/L, respectively. The dosage (250, 750 and 1500 mg/kg) of both plants administered to experimental rats significantly (p<0.05) increased the enzymatic parameters (AST, ALT and ALP) and non-enzymatic parameters (serum total proteins, albumin, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin) of liver function indices particularly at the high doses of 750 and 1500 mg/kg when compared with the control value. The finding of this research demonstrates that although C. citratus and P. reticulatum extract may have potential antimalarial activity but may have the potential to be hepatotoxic.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.