Background. Natural products have been said to show immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. The research study was aimed to assess the immunomodulatory and free radical scavenging activities of crude polysaccharide from dry mushroom fruiting bodies of Termitomyces le-testui. Materials and Methods. Hot water extract of polysaccharide extract of T. le-testui was prepared and tested in white albino Wister rats for its immunomodulatory activities effect on methylprednisolone-immunosuppressed animals. In addition, the radical scavenging activity of the polysaccharide was evaluated using nitrite and hydrogen peroxide. Results. The result of the study showed that the polysaccharide T. le-testui increases the phagocytic index, energy metabolism of macrophages, spleen index, and nitric oxide in a concentration-dependent manner in immunosuppressed animals. Also, it was observed that the extract increased dose-dependent total oxidative stress and thymus index. Finally, the crude polysaccharide-rich extract showed nitrite and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion. Polysaccharide-rich extract possesses immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties.

The present study investigated the toxicological potential of the oral administration of the stem bark aqueous extract of R. vomitoria on the liver and kidney in rats. Acute oral toxicity study of the extract to a single dose of 2000 mg/kg was studied in 10 rats of both sexes. Sub –acute oral toxicity of aqueous extract of was carried out on 60 rats. We constituted 4 groups of 10 rats each (5 males and 5 females) which were orally administered 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg of aqueous extract and control group received water. 2 group satellites (SAT) of 10 rats each (5 males and 5 females) in which one group (SAT 900 mg/kg) was received orally 900 mg/kg of aqueous extract and another (SAT control) water. Serum blood was collected for biochemical and haematological parameters. The liver and kidney served for histological examination. No deaths of acute oral toxicity were recorded. In female rats, Aspartate Aminotransferase (ASAT) activity increased by 31.20 % and Alamine Aminotransferase (ALAT) increased by 37.20 %. In male rats, only ALAT activity increased significantly by 35.37 % compared to control. Haematological analysis revealed in male rats treated at the dose of 900 mg/kg an increase significant (p<0.001) level of white blood cells with 52.20 %, compared to control group. Histological examination of liver and kidney showed normal architecture. Aqueous extract has untoward effect on liver and kidney, could be considered non-toxic.

Malaria has remained one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in most developing countries. This pathology is caused by the Plasmodium spp. Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria recommends the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Arthrospira platensis is a microscopic filamentous alga that is rich in proteins, vitamins, essential amino acids, minerals and essential fatty acids like -linolenic acid (GLA). The current study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Arthrospira platensis on the liver and kidney toxicity induced by ACT. Malaria patients were randomized into two groups to receive therapeutic dose of either artemether-lumefantrine 20/120 mg (group 1) or artemether-lumefantrine 20/120 mg + Arthrospira platensis 8 g daily (group 2) as an adjunct therapy and follow-up for 7 days (D). After treatment, the activity levels/concentrations of liver and kidney biochemical markers (ALT, AST, ALB, UREA, CREAT) were analyzed. Both pre- and post-treatment samples were analyzed, and the results gotten compared with control group made up of malaria negative patients. Serum activity of selected biomarkers (ALT, AST, ALB, UREA) of malaria patients were statistically significant (P<0.05) on D0 when compared to that of malaria negative patients. The serum activity of CREAT though not statistically significant (P>0.05), increased compared to malaria negative patients. The serum level of ALT, AST, UREA and CREAT increased from D0 to D3 and decreased on D7 after treatment while ALB decreased from D0 to D3 and increased on D7 in both groups when compared with the negative control group. The concentration of these biochemical markers varied across the groups from D0 to D7. The results obtained from this study indicate that Arthrospira platensis has a positive effect on the liver and kidney toxicity induced by ACT and hence could be administered together with ACT in malaria treatment.

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