Background: Medicinal plants are widely used in treating and preventing specific diseases and are known to play an important role in health care. Helianthus annuus is one of such plants whose therapeutic applications no doubt have numerous folkloric background. This study aimed at assessing Helianthus annuus methanol leaf extract for antiulcer and antimicrobial potentials Methods: The antiulcer activity was evaluated using aspirin, ethanol and histamine methods in Wistar rats, while the antimicrobial activity was carried out on selected microorganisms. The acute toxicity test and phytochemical screening of the extract were also conducted. Results: The methanol leaf extract exhibited significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01) antiulcer effect in both model. The ulcer protection effect of the extract is comparable to omeprazole. The extract also significantly inhibited the growth of test organisms. The acute toxicity test produced no lethality in rats, whereas the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and steroids. Conclusions: The findings confirm the ethnomedicinal use of H. annuus leaf as a valuable natural agent for the treatment of ulcer and microbial infections.

In in-vivo experiments, one of the fastest killers of metabolic processes is prolonged accumulation of free radicals, which are often accomplices of lipid peroxidation reactions. In this wise, though numerous studies have advocated its managements with anti-oxidants, research on antioxidants from herbal source remain inconclusive. Thus, current study determined the anti-antioxidant and lipid lowering tendencies of methanol leaf extract of Dennettia tripetala on alloxan induced diabetic mice. Sixty five (65) mice were procured and randomly assigned into thirteen (13) groups of five mice each. Following period of acclimatization (2 weeks), animals were fed with various treatment as follows; Group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (received 5 mg/kg of Glibenclamide, a known anti-diabetic agent) and groups 4-13 were given 250 and 500 mg/kg doses of Methanol Extract [ME], N-Hexane Fraction [NH], Ethyl Acetate Fraction [EAF], Butanol [BF] and Water [WF] Fractions respectively. At the end of six (6) weeks treatment period, animals were subjected to overnight fast, with Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels obtained by means of a glucometer, serum lipid profile levels were assayed (using a spectrophotometer) after obtaining blood samples by cardiac puncture. In the end, obtained data were subjected to statistical comparisons of mean differences, using the one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Study observed a statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in FBG levels of extract treated group [ME] within 10 hours of acute treatment and 14 days short term treatment. Also, Administration of various treatments evoked a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoproteins, with a preponderant significant elevation (p < 0.05) of high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) levels when compared with diabetic control.

Abnormally emanates from difficulty in insulin secretion, Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be a metabolic disorder that causes an increase of blood glucose in blood streams. The lack of effective modern treatments, the lifelong treatment with modern medicines, overtime, its associated health side effects, and its expensive prices among others are the challenging existing realities that devastate the health and economic burdens its sufferers, especially in developing nations. Today, this has prompted the search for cheap, safe, and reliable drugs from medicinal plants. This study reviewed existing information on medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus from various sources. Several documents (published and unpublished papers, books among others) were consulted in compilation of this review. It is found that there is a wide, yet uneven support for active components of major medicinal.