ObjectivesCardiovascular diseases are major causes of non-infectious diseases globally. The use of pesticides has been linked with the high global burden of non-communicable diseases. Despite the indiscriminate exposure to dichlorvos (DDVP) by inhalation, no report exists on its possible cardiotoxic effect. This study investigated the cardiotoxicity of DDVP exposure by inhalation and the possible role of Moringa oleifera seed oil.MethodsTwenty-one male rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Group A (control) received only standard rat diet and water ad’ libitum, group B (DDVP) was exposed to DDVP via inhalation for 15 min daily in addition to rat diet and water, and group C (DDVP + M. oleifera seed oil) received treatment as group B as well as 300 mg/kg of M. oleifera seed oil p.o for 28 days.ResultsSignificant reductions in body weight gain and cardiac weight were observed in DDVP-exposed animals (p<0.05). Similarly, 28 days of exposure to DDVP led to a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine kinase and troponin (p<0.05). DDVP-exposed rats also showed a significant increase in malondialdehyde, and a significant decline in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (p<0.05). However, catalase was comparable in DDVP-exposed and control rats. Histopathological observations of the cardiac tissue revealed that DDVP caused marked fat degeneration and necrosis of the myocardial layer. The changes in DDVP-exposed rats were significantly, though not completely, restored by M. oleifera seed oil administration.ConclusionsThis study provides novel mechanistic information on the cardiotoxicity of DDVP inhalation, and the antioxidant potential of M. oleifera seed oil.

Aims: To determine qualitatively the amount of alkaloids, saponin, tannin, volatile oil, phenol and flavonoids in the different anatomical parts of ripe Solanum aethiopicum Linn fruits. Methodology: Solanum aethiopicum Linn fruits were purchased from Sabo market, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. The fruits were separated with a razor into four (4) anatomical parts (the epicarp, mesocarp, endocarp, and seed) after washing with distilled water. 1gram of each anatomical parts of the fruit were soaked in 20mls of distilled water,1% volume per volume (v/v), 2% v/v, 3%v/v, 4%v/v and 5%v/v of ethanol, ethylacetate and methanol separately. The mixtures were left for 24 hours after which they were sieved to obtain the extracts. The presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, volatile oil, phenol and flavonoid were determined qualitatively in the extracts at selected concentrations. Results: The results obtained showed that alkaloids are more concentrated in the mesocarp of Solanum aethiopicum Linn; volatile (essential) oil is more pronounced in the mesocarp and endocarp of Solanum aethiopicum Linn; saponin is confirmed in all anatomical parts of the fruit at reasonable quality except in the seed; tannin is found to be moderately present only in the aqueous extract of mesocarp of Solanum aethiopicum Linn fruit while the presence of phenol and flavonoids were confirmed in trace amount at few tested concentrations of the extracts. Conclusion: Taken together, the presence of a variety of phytochemicals in the different anatomical parts of Solanum aethiopicum Linn fruit indicate that the fruit might be pharmacologically active against a number of diseases. However, this should be subjected to subsequent researches.

This study assessed the phytochemical contents of the aqueous, ethanol, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the fruit, leaves, root, and stem of F. thonningii at selected concentrations. The contents of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, volatile oils, phenols and flavonoids were determined qualitatively in these extracts at selected concentrations. The results obtained showed that alkaloids are present in the leaves, roots and stem barks of Ficus thonningii. The volatile oil is found in the stem bark, root bark, and fruit (aqueous only) of the plant. Saponin is found to be concentrated in all the extracts of the plant. Phenol is found to be concentrated in the fruit of the plant. Its presence is also confirmed in the leaves (at few concentrations) and present in trace amount in the stem bark. Tannin is found in the fruit, root bark and leaves of Ficus thonningii.  Flavonoids are found in all the parts of Ficus thonningii. The variety of phytochemicals confirmed in the fruit, leaves, stem, and root barks of Ficus thonningii show that the plant is pharmacologically active.

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Background: Oxidative Stress (OS) can result in several diseases, such as cancer or neurodegenerative illnesses. Plant antioxidants can supplement the body’s antioxidant system, thereby reducing cell oxidation resulting from OS. Objectives: In this research, the antioxidant potential of aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera was evaluated and compared. Methods:Total Phenolic Contents (TPCs), iron-chelating ability, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging antioxidant activity of aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera are determined spectrophotometrically at varying concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, 125µg/mL) and 1-sample t test statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism. The statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results: The aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera possess antioxidant activities at all tested concentrations. Significant increases were observed in TPCs, iron-chelating ability, and FRAP of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera compared with aqueous husk extracts of Cocos nucifera at the same concentration. In contrast, a significant decrease in DPPH scavenging activities was observed. Conclusion: Both aqueous husk extract of Cocos nucifera and aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera are potent antioxidant agents and could be useful in supplementing the endogenous antioxidant system. Albeit, the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera is a more powerful antioxidant agent.