Background The present study evaluated the phytochemical profiles, anti-oxidants, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-arthritic and wound healing effect of methanol and ethyl-acetate extracts of Azanza garckeana. Results Methanol extract had higher phenol, flavonoids and alkaloids concentrations, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities than ethyl-acetate extract. Ethyl-acetate and methanol extracts had IC50 of 119.40 μg/mL and 133.49 μg/mL respectively against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radicals. The extracts were more active against Klebsiella pneumonia while the least activity was recoded against Bacillus subtilis with methanol been most potent than ethyl-acetate. The IC50 value of methanol extract in inhibition of protein denaturation were 310.44 μg/mL and 315.27 μg/mL while IC50 value of 354.74 μg/mL and 349.57 μg/mL were recorded for membrane stabilization effect in bovine serum albumin (BSA) and egg albumin (EGA) assays respectively. There was dose dependent in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities with highest percentage paw oedema inhibitions of 51.68% and analgesia of 46.36% at 600 mg/kg bw of the methanol extract. The extract caused dosed independent increase percentage wound closure with percentage wound contraction range between 65.24 ± 2.46 and 69.68 ± .2.54 compare to untreated wound (15.35 ± 0.35 to 50.35 ± 2.35%). Conclusion This study lends pharmacological support to folkloric usage of Azanza garckeana in the treatment and management of several human disease.

Background: Maytenus heterophylla (M. heterophylla) is commonly used in African traditional medicine for the management of various ailments. The present study evaluated the antioxidant, antimicrobial and safety properties of the Flavonoid extract of M. heterophylla in Wister rats. Methods: The Flavonoid was subjected to antibacterial study via agar well diffusion method, and antioxidant study using 2, 2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant properties (FRAP) assays. Subacute toxicity were carried out by the oral administration of the extract at a daily dose of 50 or 100mg/kg for 28 days. Results: The extract produced significant antioxidants activities with IC50 of 33.07±0.84 µg/mL & 38.08±0.89 μg/mL in DPPH and FRAPS models respectively. It produced a dose-dependent inhibition of S. aureus, E.coli, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia and S. Typhi with MIC between 12.5µg/mL to 25µg/mL. The flavonoid was safe on acute exposure to rats (LD50> 5000 mg/kg). However, the chronic exposure significantly (p<0.05) decreased the creatinine, bilirubin concentrations and increased aspartate transaminase (AST) activities while the total protein, albumin, alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatise (ALP), urea, chloride, potassium and sodium concentrations were comparable with those in the controls. The organs-body weights ratios also compared well with the controls (p<0.05). Conclusions: The findings showed that the Flavonoid extract of M. heterophylla was relatively non-toxic following acute or chronic exposures at 50-100 mg/kg. The flavonoid extract may potentially serve as a candidate agent for the development of an anti-microbial drug and to enhance the antioxidant capacity in rats.

Environmental exposure to arsenic, is a major concern in many industrialized countries. Although metals occur naturally in the environment but human activities cause more metals releases and have altered the natural cycling of the elements. These exposures occurs mostly from diet (water and food consumption), inhalation from air and metals related occupational exposure like leaded gasoline, industrial processes such as smelting of lead and its combustion, pottery, boat building, mining industry, exhaust fumes of vehicles, metal based painting, metal containing pipes, battery recycling, grids, arm industry, pigments, printing of books, etc Exposure to arsenic may affect nutrient metabolism and can cause a variety of health effects in human. Cancer, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicicty, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, brain damage, lungs damage, gastrointestinal distress and haematological alterations are the most frequently documented health implication associated with arsenic intoxication. Consequently, this this paper provide a deep understanding of arsenic, their sources, routes of exposure, the mechanisms of occasioning their toxicity, health implications in human and to identify substances that contribute to overcome their hazardous effects in human.

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Background: Phospholipases are one of the numerous enzymes found in the Naja mossambica venom. They play a major role in snakebite envenomation, and also responsible for the hydrolysis of a phospholipid, disrupting the membrane integrity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Vernonia amygdalina on Phospholipase activity from Naja mossambica (Cobra) Results: Partially purified phospholipase had maximal velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis Menten constant (Km) of 7.6 × 10-5 mol/min and 1.7mg/ml, while the crude phospholipase had Vmax and Km of 9.4 × 10-5mol/min and 2.5mg/ml respectively. Inhibition study of aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaf shows that the extract is a potent inhibitor of crude phospholipase in a dose-dependent pattern. The different doses of extract 15 %, 10 % and 5% produced percentage inhibition of 74.04 %, 78.6 % and 86.63% respectively. The kinetic binding constant (Ki) values of crude phospholipase for different concentrations of extracts 5%, 10% and 15% were 0.21mg/ml, 0.29mg/ml and 0.39mg/ml, while the partially purified phospholipase for different concentrations of extracts 5%, 10% and 15% were were 0.48mg/ml, 0.42mg/ml and 0.41mg/ml respectively. It can be deduced from the results that the extract inhibits the phospholipase activity in an uncompetitive manner. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaves may contain some bioactive agents that could serve as potent inhibitors of phospholipase from Naja mossambica venom.