The preventive effect of Cucurbita maxima leaf inclusion at 2.5%, 5% and 10% in colon carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) for 12 weeks was evaluated. A significantly lower level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) values was observed in the serum of rats fed with various percentages of C. maxima leaf included diet in comparison with the MNU control group (administered MNU without treatment), which showed high serum CEA values (238.77 ± 38.95 ng/ml). The result shows that the MNU control group has the highest level of oxidative stress in the colon (78.51 ± 6.88 nMol/mg/ml) when compared to the normal control groups (56.30 ± 5.82 nMol/mg/ml). There was no significant difference in the level of MDA in the 10% dietary inclusion control group of the colon (52.08 ± 7.63 nMol/mg/ml) when compared to the normal control groups. Analysis of the experimental diets revealed a significant presence of total polyphenols and flavonoids content which increases from 0.256 mg/g GAE and 0.068 mg/g QU respectively in basal diets towards 0.287 mg/g and 0.085 mg/g respectively in the 10% C. maxima leaf-included. The polyphenol and flavonoid content of the formulated diet at 5% and 10% shows significantly higher values than the basal diet. The data showed an increase in crude fibre content, 3.05 mg/g, 3.1 mg/g, 4.2 mg/g in the 2.5%, 5% and 10% inclusions respectively. The results demonstrated a strong negative correlation coefficient (-0.715, -0.799, -0.944) between CEA and the crude fibre, flavonoid and polyphenol respectively when C. maxima percentage was increased in the experimental diets. Similarly, the rats MDA values also showed a negative correlation coefficient (-0.271, -0.398, -0.147) with crude fibre, polyphenol and flavonoid content respectively. However, the enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase) showed a positive correlation (0.355, 0.411, 0.488 and 0.112, 0.241, 0.380) with the crude fibre, polyphenols and flavonoid content respectively. Histological observation of colon tissue showed severe damage to the mucosa cell, with mucosa ulceration and sclerosis in the MNU control group, whereas groups fed with experimental diets concurrently with MNU administration showed mild damage to the normal architecture of the cells. The results demonstrated the ability of C. maxima leaf dietary inclusion to improve endogenous antioxidant system, lower oxidative stress and protect against organ damage by MNU carcinogen.

Abstract. Abu MS, Yakubu OE, Onuche JI, Tatah SV. 2022. Antioxidant potency of n-butanol fraction on Ficus glumosa leaves against oxidative stress induced by carbon tetrachloride in the kidneys of rats. Nusantara Bioscience 14: 40-46. The kidneys play several essential roles in the body, including regulating the water and ions reabsorb from glomerular filtrate in kidney tubules. It is controlled by several hormones such as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), aldosterone, and angiotensin II. This report presented the repairing effect of n- butanol fraction of Ficus glumosa Delile on nephrotoxicity induced by CCl4 in rats. Rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 animals each. Group 1 and 2 were used as normal and vehicle controls, respectively. Group 3 was induced but treated with neither extract nor standard drug. However, Groups 3, 4, and 5 were induced by CCl4 and administered with varying doses of the n-butanol fraction. Group 6 was induced by CCl4 and treated with a standard antioxidant drug. The results showed that treatments with an n-butanol fraction of F. glumosa leaves and silymarin significantly (p<0.05) restore the activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT comparable to normal values, i.e., 2.10±0.07 U/L, 43.8±2.49 U/L, and 34.2±2.59 U/L, respectively. In addition, the treatments reduce the MDA level in the kidney of rats treated with n-butanol fraction comparable to 0.34±0.05 mmol/L in the normal rats. Similarly, there was a significant (p<0.05) reduction of urea from 5.24 mg/dL to 3.5 mg/dL (standard value) in the treated groups. Creatinine significantly (p<0.05) reduced from 71.2 mg/dL in the treated groups to 43.3 mg/dL in the normal group. Electrolytes, Na+, K+, and Cl- levels in the CCl4-induced rats after administration of n-butanol fraction of F. glumosa leaves significantly (p<0.05) decreased to 137.8±2.59 mmol/L, 3.98±0.54 mmol/L, and 92.8±1.92 mmol/L respectively. The significant reversal of the rats' biochemical parameters can be ascribed to the ameliorative potency of the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract of F. glumosa leaves on the glomerular and tubular cells, which may have improved renal function in the injured kidney.

Abstract. Abu MS, Yakubu OE, Onuche JI, Okpe O. 2022. Lipid profiles, hematological parameters and histopathological analysis of CCl4-intoxicated wistar albino rats treated with n-butanol extract of Ficus glumosa leaves. Cell Biol Dev 6: 6-12. This research critically assessed the effect of the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract of Ficus glumosa Delile leaves on serum lipid profile, hematological parameters, and some organ architecture of experimental albino rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride. The crude methanol extract was re-dissolved in 300 mL of distilled water and repeatedly partitioned in a separating funnel with 400 mL of n-hexane with vigorous shaking. This process was repeated using other solvents (ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and distilled water), and the n-butanol was selected based on antioxidant potency. A total of 35 albino rats were used. The rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 animals each. Lipid profile, hematological indices, and histopathological analysis were carried out. With the administration of the extract, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol levels in the Carbon tetrachloride-induced but treated rats were significantly (P<0.05) reduced compared to the normal levels, 1.84±0.27 mmol/L, and 0.54±0.11 mmol/L, respectively. In contrast, high-density lipoprotein was relatively increased compared to the normal level, 1.44±0.43 mg/dL. Similarly, packed cell volume, hemoglobin, and white blood cell levels were significantly (P<0.05) reversed to near normal in the extract-treated rats. On the other hand, the histopathological examinations of a liver section of the normal control group showed normal hepatocellular architecture with distinct hepatic cells with a well-conserved central vein. Carbo tetrachloride-induced control group liver showed intense hepatic necrosis with vascular congestion, kupffer cells hyperplasia, vacuolation, and degeneration of normal hepatic cells (hepatic necrosis). However, the induced but treated groups almost normalized the hepatic cells (moderate hepatic necrosis). The findings showed that the n-butanol fraction of F. glumosa could reverse the deleterious effects of CCl4 on lipid profile and hematological parameters with the restoration of the architectural integrities of the liver and kidney of the treated rats.

Background and Objective: Many common herbs and spices contain powerful phytochemical substances that can improve the quality of our health. This study provided comparative baseline data on the proximate and phytochemical components of Allium sativum, Garcinia kola, Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale. Materials and Methods: Proximate composition and phytochemical analyses were carried out on the selected spices powder using standard methods. Results: The five samples showed varying percentages of moisture, crude protein, fibre, fat and ash. Meanwhile, the percentages for the moisture content, crude protein, crude fibre, crude fat and ash for the mixture were 7.65%, 16.99%, 8.60, 2.30% and 9.05% respectively. The phytochemicals detected in the samples were flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycoside, tannins, saponin and steroid while anthoquinones were absent. The FTIR spectrum showed that the extract of the combined mixture has bands and wave numbers of between 3291 cm-1 to 2922 cm-1 as the prominent peaks. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the herbs and the spices are potential source of highly nutritious feed stuff and phytochemicals. The combinatorial usage of these spices and herbs will be of nutritional, clinical and veterinary relevance considering the diverse presence of different phytochemical functional groups as demonstrated by the FTIR analysis of the mixture.

Abstract. Yakubu OE, Abu MS, Innocent OC, Onuche JI. 2022. Biosafety evaluation of ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus amarus leaves on liver and kidney of wistar rats. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 20: 1-5. Medicinal plants such as Phyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. have played a significant role in maintaining human health since ancient times. Documented evidence shows that the plant has been used to treat various ailments. Still, its biosafety on vital organs such as the liver and kidney has not been specifically studied. The study was designed to ascertain the biosafety of ethanolic extract of P. amarus leaves on the liver and kidney of wistar rats. A total of twenty (20) wistar rats were used, divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each (Group A, B, C, D). Group B, C, D received 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively. Group A (Control) received only distilled water. The treatment was carried out for two weeks. At the end of the experiments, the animals were sacrificed. Afterward, liver function and renal function evaluation were conducted. The indicators of liver function include Total protein (TP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Albumin (ALB), Direct bilirubin (DB), and total bilirubin (TB) were determined. The indicators of renal function include sodium ion (Na+), potassium ion (k+), Chlorine ion (Cl-), urea, and creatinine. The results showed that the parameters of the liver function of treated animals were no significant (p>0.0) difference compared to the normal rats (control). Concentrations of sodium ions (Na+), potassium ions (k+), chlorine ions (Cl-), urea, and creatinine of the treated animals were statistically comparable to the normal rats at (p<0.05). This research showed that P. amarus did not induce hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity at the dose of 100-400 mg/kg BW. Furthermore, this finding has validated the use of P. amarus as a traditional herb for treating and managing several diseases, including kidney and liver diseases, without any significant organ damage.