Objective: Phaseolus vulgaris, like other beans, is endowed with rich nutritional contents. This study evaluated the effects of raw and cooked aqueous and methanol extracts of P. vulgaris on renal function in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Oral acute toxicity (LD50) study of both extracts was conducted in two phases. In the main design, a total 36 Wistar albino rats were used and divided into nine groups of four rats and oral administration lasted for 7 days. Group 1 served as control and 2 – 9 treated groups. Groups 2 and 3; 4 and 5 were administered aqueous extracts while groups 6 and 7; 8 and 9 were administered methanol extracts of 350mg/kg and 550mg/kg body weight raw and cooked P. vulgaris respectively. Results: Results of LD50 of all extracts were greater than 5000mg/kg. Results showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in concentrations of urea and chloride across test groups administered aqueous extracts, than methanol extracts; a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum creatinine in test groups administered methanol extracts; a significant (P<0.05) increase of serum total protein of test groups compared to control; no significant (P<0.05) difference in the concentration of potassium in test groups administered compared to control group. Conclusion: It may be concluded that P. vulgaris portrays potentials capable of improving renal function and its consumption may contribute to the wellness of a person due to its rich nutrients, and based on the duration of this work and standard scale of toxicity; the extracts are practically non- toxic since the LD50 was greater than 5000mg/kg.   Peer Review History: Received 7 June 2020; Revised 25 June; Accepted 3 July, Available online 15 July 2020   UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Name: Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf Affiliation: Sana'a university, Yemen E-mail: alialkaf21@gmail.com   Name: Ahmad Najib Affiliation: Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia E-mail: ahmad.najib@umi.ac.id   Comments of reviewer(s): Similar Articles: ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF BAPHIA NITIDA EVALUATION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF EUPHORBIA NERIIFOLIA STEM BARK ON BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS, SERUM AND TISSUE LIPIDS IN A PRECLINICAL MODEL ANTI-HYPERGLYCEMIC AND ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM

Objectives: High lipids and carbohydrate have been seriously implicated to cardiovascular problems, which has led to several uses of medicinal plants for traditional remedies. The present study investigated the lipid lowering activity of fresh leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata in Albino wistar rats. Methods: Twenty (20) rats used for the study were grouped into four groups of five (5) rats each. Group I served as normal control, group II, III and IV served as test groups, fed 75, 108 and 148 g of cholesterol enriched diet for one week and thereafter, administered with 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of fresh leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata respectively for four (4) days. Lipid profile and blood glucose were assayed at fed state and after administration. Results showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low density lipoprotein, blood glucose concentration and body weight compared with control group in fed state. Results: Administration with fresh leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in high density lipoprotein, significant (p<0.05) decrease in blood glucose concentration, low density lipoproteins, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and body weight of rats. The oral treatment with 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of the fresh leaf extract of this study demonstrated a general hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity not necessary a dose dependent pattern. Conclusion: It may therefore be concluded that the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity of Chromolaena odorata taken freshly squeezed could be due to its phytochemical and antioxidants content.

Plant chemicals abound in different parts of plants, in different compositions. Thus, the comparative screening of the leaf, stem-bark and root of Azadirachta Indica becomes imperative. The presence of nine phytochemicals which include; Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Glycosides, Phenols, Steroids, Tannins, Reducing sugars and Anthraquinones, and the quantity of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and glycoside in the leaf, stem-bark and root of Azadirachta indica were investigated. The plant parts were collected from a plantation grown in Okpotegu Echara, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Plant samples were  air dried at room temperature, ground into uniform powder, sieved, bottled and labeled, ready for physico – chemical analysis. Results of the investigation revealed that anthraquinones were beyond detection limits in all the plant parts tested in both ethanol and aqueous extracts. Alkaloids were not detectable in leaf, stem-bark and root samples of aqueous extract. Glycosides were not detectable in leaf sample of ethanol and aqueous extracts. Quantitatively, the phytochemical compositions of each part showed higher concentrations of Alkaloids in the leaf, stem-bark and root (11.63%, 4.93% and 3.79%), compared to flavonoids (2.19%, 2.72% and 0.92%), saponins (0.70%, 1.12% and 0.44%), tannins (0.33 mg/100, 0.50mg/100 and 0.17mg/100) and glycosides (0.23%, 0.27% and 0.19%), respectively. Obviously, except for the higher percentage (11.63%) of alkaloids in the leaf, the phytochemicals in the stem-bark are higher as shown by the results, which could support the reason that the bark is preferably chewed commonly together with the stem as chew stick for its germicidal and antifungal action.

Ambiguity associated with cholesterol portrays its significance and concern. Cholesterol is a steroid biomolecule of animal cells with several important functions in living system, such as steroid hormone production, structural architecture of cell membranes, production of vitamin D, sources of bile salts and bile acids. Its sources include endogenous (de novo production by body’s tissues) and exogenous (dietary), contributing to cholesterol pool in the body. Cholesterol homeostasis is essentially regulated by the body. This review focuses on the following; basis of cholesterol, biological functions of cholesterol, structural description of cholesterol, Biosynthesis of cholesterol, cholesterol and its derivatives e.g bile acids, bile salts, steroid hormone, absorption and utilization of dietary cholesterol and current advancement in cholesterol management against risk factors. Hypercholesterolaemia is known to be an important precondition to the etiology of cardiovascular disorders which include atherosclerosis, stroke and coronary heart diseases. Interventions for the management and prevention of hypercholesterolaemia currently advocated include pharmaceuticals (drugs) and non pharmaceuticals, but more concern on non pharmacological therapeutic interventions such as the use of Medicinal Plants and herbs, Nutraceuticals, Diet and Exercises (lifestyle) and Functional and Mediterranean Foods. It is thus glaring that the disease linked implication of cholesterol can be prevented and managed using the appropriate interventions.                        Peer Review History: Received 4 November  2020; Revised 12 Decembe; Accepted 2 January, Available online 15 January 2021 UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                           Comments of reviewer(s):         Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Rawaa Souhil Al-Kayali, Aleppo University, Syria, rawah67@hotmail.com Dr. U. S. Mahadeva Rao, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu Malaysia, raousm@gmail.com Similar Articles: USE OF DIOSGENIN, YAMOGENIN, TIGOGENIN AND NEOTIGOGENIN FOR TREATMENT OF HYPERLIPIDEMIA BY INHIBITING CHOLESTEROL ABSORPTION IN GIT