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Abstract: Ocimum gratissimumL. has attracted substantial consideration from researchers because of its anti-inflammatory uses in ethnomedicine in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. This study investigated the effect of flavonoid-rich ethylacetate fraction of O. gratissimum(EAFOg) in apoptosis induction of activated macrophages and inflammatory response in LPS-induced air pouch in rats. Apoptotic effect of EAFOg in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was evaluated using flow cytometry after staining with annexin-V and 7-aminoactinomycin D. Its effects on inflammatory cells and mediators were investigated utilizing 6 day old subcutaneous air pouch-rats. Sterile saline (0.9%) or LPS (100 ng/mL) was injected into the air pouch on 6th day after EAFOg(25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) pretreatment. Rectal body temperature was recorded hourly for 5 h after LPS injection. Thereafter, the neutrophil count, nitrite, TNF-α, PGE2, nitrite, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were determined in the pouch lavage. The activities of myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as immunohistochemical staining for cyclooxygenase-2 were also performed. EAFOg (10, 30 and 100 µg/mL) induced apoptosis in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The EAFOgreduced hyperthermia and decreased neutrophil counts, TNF-α, PGE2, nitrite, myeloperoxidase as well as cyclooxygenase-2 expression evoked by LPS in rats. It also reduced malondialdehyde, and increased GSH and SOD levels in LPS-induced air pouch in vivo. The results of this study suggest that the EAFOginduces apoptosis in activated macrophages and reduces inflammatory responses provoked by LPS via down regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in rats. Graphic abstract:

AbstractPurposePlukenetia conophora(African walnut) is an edible seed, widely cultivated for its ethnomedicinal and nutritional purposes. Consumption of African walnuts has been linked with blood sugar lowering effect.ObjectiveThe effects of P. conophoraseed oil treatment on hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress were investigated in plasma, liver and kidney of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.Materials and methodsPlukenetia conophoraseed oil (PCO) was obtained by extraction of pulverized dried seed in n-hexane. Diabetes was induced by STZ injection (65 mg/kg, i.p). Rats were assigned into non-diabetic control (NC) and diabetic control (DC; treated with vehicle), PCO (200 mg/kg) and pioglitazone (10 mg/kg). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was taken from overnight fasted animals on day 7 and 14, respectively. Plasma, liver and kidney samples were obtained on day 14 for the determination of oxidative stress parameters malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD).ResultsPCO treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced STZ-induced hyperglycaemia by lowering the elevated FBS. PCO significantly reduced MDA level and attenuated STZ-induced depletion of GSH, catalase and SOD in the diabetic rats’ plasma, liver and kidneys.ConclusionsThese results suggest that consumption of Plukenetia conophoraseed might offer protection against diabetes-induced hepatic and renal damage.

Phragmanthera incana(Schum) is a specie of mistletoe that has been mentioned in Nigeria ethnomedicine to be used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Phragmanthera incanaleaf ethanol extract (PIEE) in carrageenan-induced inflammation models in rats. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema experiment, 0.1 mL of carrageenan (1%) was injected into the paw one hour after treatment with PIEE (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg). Paw volume was measured hourly for 4 h using the plethysmometer. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using the carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation model. Leucocytes migration and pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α and IL-6) were evaluated in the air pouch exudate. Oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA, Nitrite, GSH and Catalase) were estimated in both the carrageenan-induced paw tissue homogenates and air pouch exudate. PIEE (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) administration significantly (p< 0.05) reduced paw oedema hourly post-carrageenan injection. PIEE administration displayed dose-dependent significant (p< 0.05) reduction in fluid exudates and total leucocytes counts respectively. The extract administration also decreased elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels respectively. PIEE administration demonstrated antioxidant activity by attenuating carrageenan-induced increase in malondialdehyde and nitrite as well as decrease in reduced glutathione and catalase levels in rats. Phragmanthera incanaleaf ethanol extract possess anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting protective function in inflammatory diseases.

Psychosocial stress has been implicated in the genesis of psychiatric disorders such as memory deficits, depression, anxiety and addiction. Aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus(CYC) otherwise known as lemongrass tea has antidepressant, anxiolytic and anti-amnesic effects in rodents. This study was designed to evaluate if C. citratuscould reverse the neurobehavioral and biochemical derangements induced by social defeat stress (SDS) in the resident/intruder paradigm.

The therapeutic potential of yeast in the management of depression is unknown. Thus, we evaluated the modulatory effect of nutritional yeast supplementation on antidepressant activity of fluoxetine in mice models of depressive-like behaviors (DLB).

Background:Jobelyn®(JB) is an African sorghum-based food supplement claimed to be efficacious for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although in vitro studies confirmed its anti-inflammatory property, no study had shown the effect of JB using in vivo animal models of inflammation. Thus, its effects on acute and chronic inflammation in rats were evaluated in this study. Its effect on rat red blood cell (RBC) lysis was also assessed.