Showing papers by "Peter A. Akah published in 2009"
TL;DR: Oral administration of AE and ME up to 5,000 mg/kg did not produce lethality or signs of acute toxicity in mice after 24 hours and may account for the anti-ulcer property of the unripe fruit.
Abstract: The anti-ulcer potentials of aqueous (AE) and methanol (ME) extracts of whole unripe Carica papaya fruit were evaluated using ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models in rats. The effect of the extracts on small intestinal propulsion was also investigated. The extracts significantly reduced the ulcer index in both experimental models (P < .05) compared to the control group. ME showed a better protection against indomethacin-induced ulcers, whereas AE was more effective against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. The extracts also significantly (P < .05) inhibited intestinal motility, with ME showing greater activity. Oral administration of AE and ME up to 5,000 mg/kg did not produce lethality or signs of acute toxicity in mice after 24 hours. The extracts of unripe C. papaya contain terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, and steroids. The cytoprotective and antimotility properties of the extracts may account for the anti-ulcer property of the unripe fruit.
62 citations
TL;DR: Findings indicate that constituents of aerial parts of P. niruri possess wound healing and antiulcer properties.
Abstract: Problem statement: Phyllanthus niruri is widely used in many parts of the world to manage a wide range of diseases. As part of efforts to elucidate its pharmacological activities and hence medicinal potential, we studied the wound healing and antiulcer properties of extract of the aerial parts using experimentally-created wounds and ulcers in rodents. Approach: Wound healing effect was assessed using excision and dead space wound models while antiulcer activity was evaluated using indomethacin-, ethanol acid- and cold-restraint stress-induced ulcer models. Results: The extract (5,10%) significantly (p<0.05) reduced the wound diameter producing 90.9 and 93.7% wound contraction respectively on day 18 post wounding. It also reduced epithelialization time of excised wounds and increased the rate of wound closure, with WC50 of 8.7%. The extract (400 mg kg-1) also significantly (p<0.05) increased the weight of granuloma tissue. In antiulcer studies, the extract significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the development of ulcers induced by indomethacin and moderately inhibited ethanol acid-induced ulcer. It was, however, devoid of any such effect in cold-restraint stress-induced lesions at the doses used. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, reducing sugar, carbohydrates and glycosides. Conclusion: These findings indicate that constituents of aerial parts of P. niruri possess wound healing and antiulcer properties.
41 citations
TL;DR: Oral DHA had no deleterious effects on the hematological parameters, did not alter the values of serum liver enzymes and is devoid of obvious toxic effects on vital organs at the doses tested, while the effects of DHA on the WBC also suggested potentials of immunomodulatory effects.
Abstract: Problem statement: The current surge in the use of Artemisinin based Combination Therapy (ACT) in the treatment of falciparium resistant malaria in the tropics and the potentials of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a member of the artemisinin family, to produce toxic effect in the vital organs (such as the liver, heart, lungs, intestine, spleen kidney and blood cells) necessitated this research. Approach: Rats were treated once orally with DHA (2 mg kg-1) on day 1 and then (1 mg kg-1) on day 2-5 and the treatment was repeated 7 days after the first treatment. The animals were sacrificed 24 h after the second treatment for toxicity studies on the vital organs and liver enzymes activity tests: Serum Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), Serum Aspartate amino Transferase (AST) and serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) tests. Results: Results indicated that dihydroartemisinin significantly (p<0.05) elevated the Packed Cell Volume (PCV), the total White Cell Count (WBC), the percentage neutrophil count (NC) and the percentage Lymphocyte Count (LC). DHA did not affect the serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP, as all the values fell within the normal laboratory range. Histopathological studies revealed no evidence of toxicities in the heart, liver, lungs, intestine, spleen and kidney. The DHA treated and control rats exhibited 75.87 and 29.76% increase in the mean body weight respectively at the end of the second treatment. Conclusion/Recommendations: Oral DHA had no deleterious effects on the hematological parameters, did not alter the values of serum liver enzymes and is devoid of obvious toxic effects on vital organs at the doses tested, while the effects on the WBC also suggested potentials of immunomodulatory effects.
34 citations
TL;DR: Results lend credence to the traditional use of B. nitens leaves in the treatment of anaemia.
Abstract: Ethnopharmacological information indicates that the leaves of Brillantasia nitens are used in the treatment of anaemia in the south eastern states of Nigeria. In this study, the methanol extract of the leaves of B. nitens was tested for haematinic activity in rats using phenylhydrazine (PHZ- 10 mg/kg. po)- induced anaemia. The red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC) and haemotocrit (PCV) were analyzed as indices of anaemia. The phytochemical and mineral contents, as well as the acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract were determined. Oral administration of B. nitens extract (400 - 3200 mg/kg/day) to rats previously treated with PHZ increased the Hb, RBC, WBC and PVC within one week. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponin, terpernoids, carbohydrates and resins. The extract also contained substantial amounts of vitamins B6, C and E, as well as folic acid and iron. The LD50 value of the extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg. These results lend credence to the traditional use of B. nitens leaves in the treatment of anaemia.
27 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Findings indicate that the leaf extract of Spathodea campanulata has both analgesic and anti- inflammatory properties and could be beneficial in alleviating painful inflammatory conditions.
Abstract: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of the ethanol leaf extract of Spathodea campanulata, a Nigerian traditional medicinal plant was studied using cold, thermal and chemical-induced pain models, and carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats. The acute toxicity and the phytochemical constituents of the extract were also determined. The results showed that the extract (250-1000 mg/kg) significantly (P＜0.05) and dose-dependently prolonged the pain reaction times in hot-plate and tail flick pain models, and reduced acetic acid-induced writhing. The extract demonstrated significant anti-inflamm atory activity against acute inflammation induced by carrageenan. The estimated LD50 of the extract was 4500 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, anthraquinone glycosides and flavonoids. These findings indicate that the leaf extract of Spathodea campanulata has both analgesic and anti- inflammatory properties and could be beneficial in alleviating painful inflammatory conditions.
26 citations
TL;DR: Strong immunomodulatory activities of A. cordifolia leaf extracts are demonstrated which could explain some of the therapeutic benefits attributed to the plant in traditional medicine and could also be exploited as a source of novel immunoregulating substances.
Abstract: The immune system is highly complex, intricately regulated group of cells whose integrated function is essential to health. Modulating the functions of these cells offers important pharmacological and therapeutic approaches in many disease conditions.This study reports on the in vitro immunostimulant activities of two flavonoid-rich fractions of Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract: EAC and AAC, obtained by fractionating the methanol extract into ethylacetate and acetone soluble fractions, respectively.The lymphoproliferative effect of the fractions on naive murine splenocytes and thymocytes as well as the modulatory effects on the phagocytic and lysosomal enzyme activities of elicited murine macrophages was investigated. A. cordifolia fractions, EAC and AAC, produced significant (P<0.05) and concentration-related (10-250 microg/ml) increases in the proliferation of splenocytes and thymocytes cultures which were comparable to the mitogenic effects of lipopolysaccharide, LPS (10 microg/ml) and concanavalin A, ConA (2 microg/ml) used as standard mitogens. EAC and AAC (15.6-250 microg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) increased phagocytosis and intracellular killing capacity measured as percentage increase in nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction. Lysosomal phosphatase activity of peritoneal macrophages, measured by p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-NPP) hydrolysis, was also increased significantly (P<0.05) by EAC and AAC (15.6-250 microg/ml). Treatment of macrophage cultures with EAC and AAC (15.6-250 microg/ml) decreased the expression of nitric oxide significantly (P<0.05) in the supernatant. This study demonstrates strong immunomodulatory activities of A. cordifolia leaf extracts which could explain some of the therapeutic benefits attributed to the plant in traditional medicine and could also be exploited as a source of novel immunoregulating substances.
13 citations
TL;DR: The methylene chloride-methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides is investigated, a plant believed to possess potent antidiarrhoeal properties in folk medical practice and claimed benefits in traditional medical management of diarrhoea could be supported by the results.
Abstract: Diarrhoea is a leading cause of deaths in developing countries, especially in children, and contributes to one in five deaths of children all over the world. The burden and mortality due to diarrhoea diseases have encouraged the development and the patronage of herbal alternatives. In this study we investigated the methylene chloride-methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (PSE), a plant believed to possess potent antidiarrhoeal properties in folk medical practice. The antidiarrhoeal and anti-enteropooling activity of PSE were investigated in castor oil induced diarrhoea in rats. The effect on gastrointestinal motility was studied by the charcoal meal transit in mice. Smooth muscle activity of the extract was investigated in isolated guinea pig ileum. P. santalinoides extract (100-500 µg/ml) caused a significant and dose-related inhibition of the frequency of diarrhoeic drops in rats (P< 0.05) and prolonged the time for diarrhoea induction. The extract also exhibited significant anti-enteropooling activity (P<0.05). The extract (500 mg/kg) inhibited propulsion of the charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract in mice, and this effect was comparable to that of atropine (2.5 mg/kg). In vitro, the contractile responses produce by histamine and acetylcholine were inhibited by PSE with IC50 of 59.93 and 57.01 µg/ml, respectively; but serotonin-evoked contraction was unaffected. The claimed benefits of P. santalinoides in traditional medical management of diarrhoea could be supported by the results of this investigation.
9 citations
Journal Article•
1 citations