AbstractScience always strives to find an improved way of doing things and nanoscience is one such approach. Nanomaterials are suitable for pharmaceutical applications mostly because of their size which facilitates absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the nanoparticles. Whether labile or insoluble nanoparticles, their cytotoxic effect on malignant cells has moved the use of nanomedicine into focus. Since nanomedicine can be described as the science and technology of diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases towards ultimately improving human health, a lot of nanotechnology options have received approval by various regulatory agencies. Nanodrugs also have been discovered to be more precise in targeting the desired site, hence maximizing the therapeutic effects, while minimizing side-effects on the rest of the body. This unique property and more has made nanomedicine popular in therapeutic medicine employing nanotechnology in genetic therapy, drug encapsulation, enzyme manipulation and control, tissue engineering, target drug delivery, pharmacogenomics, stem cell and cloning, and even virus-based hybrids. This review highlights nanoproducts that are in development and have gained approval through one clinical trial stage or the other.

This study investigated nutritive properties of aqueous extract of J. carnea leaves and its effects on haematological and biochemical indices of anaemia induced male Wistar albino rats. In the nutritional study, proximate composition, phytochemicals, antinutritonal factors, minerals and vitamins analyses were carried out using standard analytical procedures. Eighteen male Wistar albino mice were used for the acute toxicity study while 28 male Wistar albino rats were used for haematological and biochemical study. The rats were randomly distributed into seven groups of four rats each with group 1 as normal control. Group 2 was anaemia induced untreated, and group 3 was anaemia induced treated with 50 mg/kg b. wt. of Astyfer. Groups 4-6 were anaemia induced and treated with 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg b. wt. of the extract respectively. Group 7 was non-anaemic rats that received 500 mg/kg b. wt. of the aqueous extract. Nutritional study showed richness of the aqueous extract in proximate composition, phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins contents. The extract caused no adverse reactions or death in the animals indicating it is relatively safe for consumption. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in the levels of haematological indices observed in anaemic rats were significantly (p<0.05) reverted within 4 to 8 d of treatment with the extract when compared with group 2. There were no significant difference observed in the liver marker enzymes activities and renal function indices concentrations of all the anaemic rats treated with the aqueous extract when compared with normal control, which could be attributed to the aqueous extract lacking potentials of causing liver and renal damage. These findings suggest that aqueous of J. carnea leaves is safe, nutritionally rich with no toxic effects on liver and kidney function indices, and possesses anti-anaemic effects due to its blood boosting and replenishing properties.

A B S T R A C T This study evaluates qualitative and quantitative phytochemical properties ofAbrus precatorius leaves. The vitamins and therapeutic effect of methanol extract against tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced liver damage in male Wistar albino rats. The results of phytochemical and vitamins indicates richness in saponins, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids with value 30.05±0.22%, while vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, antioxidant and vitamins A, C and E was quantified. The liver damage was observed in the animals with significant increase in ALT, AST and ALP following the in traperitoneal administration of CCl 4 . The methanol extract caused significant decrease (p<0.05) in the activities of these enzymes in the treated animals relative to positive control that received CCl 4 but were not treated. The extract showed potentials to mopping-up of free radicals generated by CCl 4 . The extract reduced lipid peroxidation in concentration dependent manner. The findings suggests that the extract have the capacity to improving liver functions and liver regeneration at high concentration. The extracts are safe for consumption, abundant phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins could offer reasonable protections against oxidative stress.

Objective This study evaluated the effects of combined ethanol extract of Funtumia africana and Abutilon mauritianum leaves (FAAM) on the liver function indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced rats. Materials and Methods The study used 30 rats divided into 5 groups, comprising normal control, BPH control, standard control, and BPH induced rats treated with 200 and 600 mg/kg/day of FAAM respectively. Results The BPH induction caused significant (p<0.05) increases in aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of the BPH control when compared with the normal control. The BPH control also had significantly (p<0.05) reductions in the total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations and significant (p<0.05) elevated total bilirubin and direct bilirubin concentrations relative to the normal control. The FAAM treated BPH-induced rats had non-significantly (p>0.05) reduced AST, and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities relative to the BPH control. The BPH-induced rats treated with 600 mg/kg/day of FAAM had significantly (p<0.05) reduced ALP activities relative to the BPH control. Treatment with FAAM caused significant (p<0.05) increases in the total protein, albumin, globulin concentrations and significant (p<0.05) reductions in the total bilirubin and direct bilirubin concentrations relative to the BPH control. BPH had no observable adverse effects on the liver histomorphology of the rats. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated that BPH impairs liver functions and treatment of BPH with combined ethanol extract of F. africana and A. mauritianum leaves restore normal liver functions in rats with BPH.