Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:13 Issue: 1, Spring 2022

This study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of Cannabis sativa local gin formulation (CSLGF) and tramadol in adult female Wistar rats.

Cannabis sativa local gin formulation (CSLGF) was prepared and was subjected to acute toxicity tests together with tramadol. In the main study, 25 rats were assigned into 5 groups (n = 5) in which the group 1 received no treatment, groups 2 and 3 received 25 and 50 mg/kg of tramadol, respectively while groups 4 and 5 received 25 and 50 mg/kg of CSLGF, respectively, for 21 days before the rats were sacrificed.

Acute toxicity results indicated narrow margins of safety for CSLGF and tramadol with LD50 values of 123.0 and 133.0 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The rats treated with CSLGF lost weight significantly while that administered tramadol had lower weight gains when compared with the control (P<0.05). The red blood cell counts, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations were significantly lowered by CSLGF (P<0.05). However, a significant increase in the number of platelets and white blood cells were observed in groups treated with both CSLGF and tramadol. Results of biochemical changes showed a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, urea and creatinine with a concurrent decrease in total protein, albumin and globulin values following treatment with both agents (P<0.05), but serum electrolytes concentrations were not significantly altered (P>0.05). Treatment with CSLGF and tramadol also significantly lowered glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities but increased malondialdehyde concentrations when compared with control.

The findings show that although the toxic effects of CSLGF and tramadol in rats are similar, CSLGF appears to have higher toxicity potentials. Extending the current control on tramadol to CSLGF (monkey tail) is urgently needed in Nigeria to protect human lives.

Free radicals play an important role in the development of some diseases, including gastrointestinal ulcers. Current gastric ulcer drugs show side effects, so the tendency to use herbs and replace them with synthetic drugs has increased. In this regard, plants of the Satureja family have been studied in terms of healing and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Satureja bachtiarica ethanolic extract on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal ulcers in rats.

Thirty rats were divided into 5 equal groups. Group 1 received 200 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of Satureja bachtiarica (EESB), group 2 received 400 mg/kg EESB, group 3 received 20 mg/kg omeprazole, group 4 received 1 mL of Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and group 5 received 1 mL of normal saline. One hour after treatment, each animal received absolute ethanol (1mL) orally by gavage. The other 30 mice were treated with oral ethanol after induction of gastric ulcer as described above, but all treatments were once a day for 14 days. At the end of both tests, ulcer index, histopathologic exams, Malonedialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured.

Ethanolic extract of Satureja bachtiarica (400 mg/kg) and omeprazole showed significant effect on reducing ulcer index and increasing ulcer inhibition. It significantly preserved the gastric wall mucosa and reduced the formation of ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Also, in this study, a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity and a significant decrease in Malonedialdehyde in gastric tissue were observed.

The anti-ulcer effect of this plant seems to be due to the reduction of oxidative stress, which is probably due to the presence of thymol and carvacrol in the plant extract. This plant may be considered officially in the treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers in the future.

The fruits of R. australis are eaten as snacks in some West and Central African countries. This study was aimed at evaluating the safety, antioxidant capacity and antihypertensive effects of these fruits.

The acute toxicity of the extract of R. australis extract (RAE) was evaluated through single and short term oral exposure of mice to RAE. Total phenols and flavonoid contents were quantified followed by 1,1‑ diphenyl‑ 2‑ picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with RAE and blood pressure (BP) was measured after once off treatment (phase I) and in the course of 4 weeks treatment (phase II).

The LD50 of RAE was greater than 5000 mg/kg. RAE had mild antioxidant capacity and significantly (P<0.001) decreased systolic and diastolic BP in both once off treatment and 4 weeks treatment while decreasing urine output and increasing feces output.

These results indicate that Raphia australis is not toxic and thus is safe for consumption. Pharmaceutically, it has mild antioxidant and significant antihypertensive properties. It also has the ability to improve appetite, increase bulk thus aiding in peristalsis and waste removal.

Convolvulus microphyllus Sieb. ex Spreng. (Family: Convolvulaceae) known as “Shankhpushpi” is reported to be brain tonic and useful in CNS disorder, hypertension, thyrotoxicosis and ulcer. Tissue culture technique has been optimized for the large scale production of medicinally important plant independent from climatic and geographic conditions. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were performed and compared with in vivo. Active compounds with biological activities were isolated, identified from the callus extracts. These biological constituents can be propagated in large amount with low cost use tissue culture techniques.

Cell cultures of C. microphyllus have been established using Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D). Callus was harvested at different time intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks and their antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials along with the isolation of active compounds isolation were carried out using established protocols.

Ethanolic extracts of 2 weeks-old callus demonstrated appreciable antifungal activity against Penicillium chrysogenum and Tricophyton rubrum (inhibition zone of 14.66 ± 0.66 and 14.00 ± 0.57 mm respectively) while maximum antibacterial activity was recorded in 6 and 4 weeks-old callus against Klebsiella pneumoniae (Inhibition zone of 14.66 ± 0.61 mm and 14.33 ± 0.59 mm respectively). Antioxidant potentials were more in plant extract (IC50 0.055 mg/ml and 510 ± 20.02 ascorbic acid equivalents) as compared to callus. Phenolic acids viz., caffeic-, p- coumaric-, ferulic-, gallic-, vanillic- and syringic acids were isolated and screened for antimicrobial efficacy.

The callus extract shows similar results as that of In vivo plant. Two week old callus exhibit most profound antifungal and 4 to 6 week for antimicrobial activities. Callus extract shows similar bio-potentials and secondary metabolites level, so it can be used for large scale production of biologically active phytochemicals with antimicrobial properties

Hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia play a major role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and its macro and microvascular complications. Therefore, managing hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and dyslipidemia is an effective way to control diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant potential of the aqueous extract of M. laurentii barks.

The M. laurentii barks were harvested, treated, dried, ground and an aqueous extraction was carried out (1:10 weight/volume). Subsequently, the anti-hyperglycemic (inhibition of α-amylase and invertase activity) and antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging, iron III reduction and metal chelating) properties of the aqueous extract was evaluated in vitro. In the in vivo study, 20 male Wistar strain rats with an average weight of 230 to 250 gramme divided into two groups; a negative control group (NC) and a batch of 15 rats. This last batch received an intraperitoneal injection of 45mg/kg BW of streptozotocin then subdivided into 3 groups of 5 rats: positive control group (PC) receiving distilled water, a test group receiving aqueous extract of M. laurentii barks (AEML) at the dose of 300 mg/kg BW and a reference group receiving metformin at 20 mg/kg BW. After 21 days of experimentation, the animals were sacrificed, the plasma, serum, hemolysate and liver homogenate were used to evaluate the biomarkers of oxidative stress (catalase, MDA), lipid profile (triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol) and immunological biomarkers (CRP and NFS).

It emerged that the aqueous extract presented in vitro an anti-hyperglycemic activity (inhibition of invertase and alpha amylase with IC50 values 0.015 and 0.38 mg/mL, respectively) and antioxidant activity (DPPH radicals scavenging, reduction of iron III and inhibition of haemolysis). The extract also reduced in vivo, chronic hyperglycemia by -28.44% after 21 days of treatment, improved endogenous antioxidant status, inflammation and lipid profile.

The findings show that AEML has an anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant properties. Therefore, could be used traditionally in the management of diabetes and its complications in Cameroon. Extending the current control of chronic hyperglycemia is urgently needed in Cameroon to protect human lives.

In developing countries, the use of herbal preparations has gained much attraction not only for therapeutic purposes but, also for prophylaxis. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a popular Nigeria commercial herbal preparation; Ruzu herbal bitters (RHB) on some biochemical indicators of liver function as well as histology in non-morbid rats.

Experimental:

 Thirty-five adult Wistar rats divided into seven experimental groups (A-G) of five rats each were used for this investigation. Rats in group A were not treated with RHB and served as control. Rats in groups B-G received 0.2 mL, 0.4 mL, 0.6 mL, 0.8 mL, 1.0 mL and 1.2 mL of RHB twice daily by gavage, respectively. All rats were exposed to experimental conditions for two weeks. Blood was collected and analyzed for Total bilirubin (TB), Direct Bilirubin (DB) as well as activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST). Liver and testicular tissues were processed by standard histological method and stained for microscopy.

Rats treated with experimental doses of RHB exhibited lower levels of TB, DB, AST, ALT and ALP in comparison with rats in the control group which had higher values. Rats in the control group had normal liver and testicular tissue morphology while rats given experimental doses of RHB exhibited hepatocellular degeneration, cytoplasmic degeneration, vacuolation, presence of haemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, condensed nuclei and minimal fibrosis in the periportal area. Testicular tissue appeared normal in RHB treated rats. Thus, administration of RHB on non-morbid rats within experimental conditions appears to significantly improve the biochemical indices of liver function (TB, DB, AST, ALT and ALP) but with residual degenerative effects on liver morphology.

Management/ treatment of illness and maintenance of well-being using herbal medicines is the oldest and most popular form of healthcare practice known to humankind that has been practiced by all cultures in all ages throughout the history of evolution. The ethanol extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leave was evaluated for it pharmacological potency in alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats.

Twenty-four adult male albino rats weighing 120-180g were randomly divided into six groups of four rats per group. Group I (Normal control) were given 0.2 mL of water. Group II (Negative control): were untreated diabetic rats. Group III were Diabetic rats treated with reference drug (glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg b.wt) which served as positive control. Group IV – VI were Diabetic rats treated with Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt, 400 mg/kg b.wt, and 600 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. Administrations were done orally for 14 days. Blood was collected from the tail of the rats to determine the blood glucose level on the 4th, 9th and 14th day of the study.

The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose level. The Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract showed dose dependent significant (P<0.05) decrease in the triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), Cholesterol, total white blood cell (TWBC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, urea, creatinine level as well as significant (P<0.05) increase in hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and albumin level when compared with diabetic untreated group (negative control). Diabetic-related alteration in rat serum biochemical indices were significantly improved by the extract.

 The outcome of the research gave credence to the folk use Jatropha tanjorensis leaf in the treatment of diabetes and its health related dysfunctions

In folk medicine, red clover (Trifolium pratense) use to treat some diseases such as whooping cough, asthma, eczema, and some ophthalmic dysfunction. Due to its phytoestrogens and antioxidant-rich compounds, it is recommended to alleviate some cancers. This paper was conducted to study the anti-cancer and apoptosis effects of red clover extract (RCE) on the Raji cell line in Burkitt's lymphoma.

Experimental:

 Red clover lyophilized powder (CAS = 85085-25-2) with a fixed ratio of Formononetin, Biochanin A, Daidzein, and Genistein was acquired from Sigma Aldrich German company. Raji cells were obtained from the Pasteur Institute of Iran-Tehran. Raji cells were treated with different concentrations of RCE, and viable cells were measured at an interval of 24, 48, and 72 hours incubation in three days by MTT assay. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine the DNA degradation. Annexin V-FITC/PI kit and flow cytometry assay were used to determine the percent of apoptotic and necrotic treated Raji cells. Also, expression changes in cMYC, ID3, and P53 genes were measured by real-time PCR.

Red clover extract can prevent in vitro proliferation of the Raji cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. RCE, as well as c-MYC gene suppression and induction of ID3 and P53 genes, enters the Raji cells in the apoptosis stages with an acceptable percentage and has complication cure potential in Burkitt's lymphoma.

Recommended applications/industries:

 The extract used in this study combines four components. The individual evaluation effects of Formononetin, Biochanin A, Daidzein, and Genistein on Raji cells are recommended.