No abstract

Background: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in stroke pathogenesis. Hence, plants rich in antioxidant phytochemicals have been suggested as effective remedies for prevention and treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases. Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the management of brain-related problems but there is paucity of data on its anti-stroke potential. Materials and Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by a 30 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion/ 2 h reperfusion (BCCAO/R) in the brain of male Wistar rats. A sham-operated group which was not subjected to BCCAO/R and a group subjected to BCCAO/R without treatment with MEA served as controls. The ameliorative effect of 14 days of pretreatment with 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg A. africana methanol leaf extract (MEA) on BCCAO/R-mediated alterations to key markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and neurochemical disturbances and excitotoxicity (myeloperoxidase, glutamine synthetase, Na

Background: Moonseed vine (Triclisia gilletii Staner) in the family Menispermaceae is a robust creeper of up to 10 cm diameter, of the lowland dense rain forest. In Ondo State, located in the South Western part of Nigeria, the plant which is usually called Peshe is used for the management of renal-related ailments. The present study was undertaken to explore the efficacy of Triclisia gilletii, a folkloric therapy in the management of renal-related ailment. Results: Phenols, steroids, saponins, and flavonoids are present in the TGME with a total antioxidant capacity of (30.36 ± 1.90 (mg GAE/g extract), LD 50 greater than 5000 mg/kg b.w., and in vitro anti-nucleation activity (iC 50 = 7.09 mg/mL). Calcium oxalate stone formation as a result of oxalate from ethane-1,2-diol was evident by hypocalcemia, and further electrolyte imbalance and decreased glomerular filtration rate. The enhanced oxidative milieu in hyperoxaluria was evident by increased MDA and PC and decreased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as well as renal membrane enzymes activities. The renal histopathological study further emphasized oxalateinduced damage and the ameliorative potential of TGME. Conclusion: The abnormal biochemical, redox electrolyte, membrane integrity, and histological alterations were attenuated by TGME which affirms its usage as nephroprotectant.

The effect of ethylacetate extract of red onion (Allium cepa) tunic (ACTE) on some hemodynamic and biochemical parameters were evaluated in normotensive albino rats.Blood pressure parameters were determined in anaesthetized rats orally administered ACTE (10-, 20-, or 40 mg/kg) or ramipril (1 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days. Respectively, 10-, 20-, or 40 mg/kg ACTE produced significant (P<0.01), dose-dependent fall in systolic blood pressure, SBP (21%, 27%, 33%), diastolic blood pressure, DBP (6%, 10%, 16%), pulse pressure, PP (42%, 49%, 56%), mean arterial blood pressure, MAPB (13%, 18%, 23%) and heart rate, HR (4%, 5%, 7%). The highest effective dose (40 mg/kg) compared well with ramipril (1 mg/kg) with regards to SBP (41%), DBP (19%), PP (70%), MABP (29%) and HR (10%). Similar trends (decreases) were recorded for 40 mg/kg ACTE and ramipril respectively as regards the activities of serum enzymes: creatine kinase (60% and 65%), ALT (18% and 14%) and ALP (28% and 16%). HPLC fingerprints of the flavonoid-rich ACTE revealed that flavonols: quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, rutin and kaempferol are the active flavonoids. The results demonstrate the hypotensive effect of Allium cepa tunic flavonoids initiating further investigation of their individual or synergistic contribution(s) to the observed effects.