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Nepal harbors a rich diversity of cultures and traditions, including the unique practice of creating an indigenous grain called Marcha by various ethnic groups such as Newar, Tamang, Sherpa, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Magar, and Tharu people. In the eastern region of Nepal, Marcha producers utilize over 42 different plants, including Vernonia cinerea, Clematis grewiae, Polygala arillata, Buddleja asiatica, Inula sp., Scoparia, and more, which shows regional diversity. The primary objective of the study was to explore the diversity of yeast present in Marcha samples. The studied Marcha samples were collected from 10 different geographic regions of Nepal, which included altogether 27 samples. The isolates were grouped into Groups A, B, and C based on morphological and physiological characteristics. Notably, Group B yeast displayed high amylase production, an enzyme responsible for starch breakdown, and exhibited the ability to produce ethanol. To further investigate the potential of these isolates, stress exclusion tests were conducted, with 30 isolates (70%) showing positive responses. The yeast isolates demonstrated resilience to high glucose concentrations of up to 36% (w/v) at a pH above 3 and a temperature of 37°C, which is the ideal growth condition. The study observed a direct correlation between the yeast isolates' ethanol production capabilities and their tolerance to different ethanol concentrations. Considering that all tested Marcha samples contained yeast capable of starch degradation and ethanol production, it was expected that these yeast isolates would actively participate in the fermentation of starch‐based alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or "insulin-independent diabetes mellitus," is a worldwide health concern. Diabetes affects roughly 415 million individuals worldwide, with 193 million undiagnosed cases. The number of people afflicted in the following decades is predicted to double. Although various synthetic medications are currently available to treat/manage T2DM, their side effects compel researchers to seek novel treatment options. Because of their affinity for biological receptors and broad bioactivity, nature has long been a source of innovative medication. V. amygdalina is one of the numerous natural productswith antidiabetic properties. Several studies have shown that the extracts have antidiabetic effects in vitro and in vivo. This review examined the antidiabetic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of phytoconstituents found in V. amygdalina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic flatworms and the disease is endemic to most countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. The current therapeutic agent for managing this disease solely relies on praziquantel. The continual dependence on this single available drug could lead to possible drug resistance. This study seeks to evaluate the antischistosomal activity of the following Ghanaian medicinal plants: Khaya senegalensis, Vernonia amygdalina, Clausena anisata, and Bridelia ferruginea. Methodology. Two concentrations (100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL) of each extract were tested in a 96-well plate containing 30 newly transformed schistosomula (NTS). Moreover, six worms of both sexes of adult Schistosoma mansoni were exposed to the extracts diluted in the RPMI medium. The assay was performed in a 24-well plate. The parasitic worms were examined using an inverted optical microscope. Results. At 100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL, all extracts performed better and showed strong activity (p < 0.001) against NTS; thus, 98.08%, 100%, 80.77%, and 100% for Clausena, Vernonia, Bridelia, and Khaya, respectively, when compared to praziquantel. Strong activity was recorded when the extracts underwent testing against Schistosoma mansoni adults at 100 μg/mL; 96.35%, 100%, and 94.55% for Vernonia, Bridelia, and Khaya, respectively, except for Clausena which exhibited weak activity, i.e., 56.02%. There was no significant difference between Vernonia, Bridelia, and Khaya when compared to praziquantel. Conclusion. At 100 μg/mL, Khaya senegalensis, Vernonia amygdalina, and Bridelia ferruginea extracts demonstrated strong activity against both schistosomula and adult Schistosoma mansoni. These data can serve as baseline information in the quest to find alternative therapeutic agents to treat schistosomiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a complex heterogeneous metabolic disorder characterized by a defect in the function of insulin, is on the rapid rise globally. Sustained hyperglycemia which is a major sign of DM is linked to the generation of reactive oxygen species which promotes adverse complications of the disorder. Traditional herbal treatment of DM is a common practice in Africa and other tropical parts of the world. Vernonia amygdalina (VA), one of the highly researched species in the Asteraceae family, has proven to possess potent antidiabetic properties. Several phytochemicals identified in multiple extracts from VA are purported to be responsible for the antidiabetic potential of the plant. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of VA in diabetes and its associated complications. We appraise the current evidence and further suggest potential areas that could be effectively exploited in future VA research on diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increase in mortality and morbidity in the health facilities due to nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant nosocomial bacteria; hence, there is a need for new antibacterial agents. Vernonia adoensis has been found to possess medicinal value. Plant phytochemicals may have antimicrobial activity against some resistant pathogens. The antibacterial efficacy of root extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated using the microbroth dilution method. All extracts from the roots had an inhibitory effect on the growth of both bacteria, with the most susceptible being P. aeruginosa. The most potent extract was the ethyl acetate extract which caused a percentage inhibition of 86% against P. aeruginosa. The toxicity of the extract was determined on sheep erythrocytes, and its effect on membrane integrity was determined by quantifying the amount of protein and nucleic acid leakage from the bacteria. The lowest concentration of extract used, which was 100 µg/ml, did not cause haemolysis of the erythrocytes, while at 1 mg/ml of the extract, 21% haemolysis was observed. The ethyl acetate extract caused membrane impairment of P. aeruginosa, leading to protein leakage. The effect of the extract on the biofilms of P. aeruginosa was determined in 96-microwell plates using crystal violet. In the concentration range of 0–100 µg/ml, the extract inhibited the formation of biofilms and decreased the attachment efficiency. The phytochemical constituents of the extract were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results of analysis showed the presence of 3-methylene-15-methoxy pentadecanol, 2-acetyl-6-(t-butyl)-4-methylphenol, 2-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanoyl) cyclohexane-1,4-dione, E,E,Z-1,3,12-nonadecatriene-5,14-diol, and stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol. Fractionation and purification will elucidate the potential antimicrobial compounds which are present in the roots of V. adoensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia glabra is used by Malawian traditional healers to treat a myriad of ailments including shingles, diabetes, dysentery, diarrhoea, cough, wounds, gonorrhoea, and gastrointestinal problems. This study evaluated phytoconstituents and the in vitro antimycobacterial activities of the crude extracts and fractions from roots of Vernonia glabra. Agar disk diffusion and modified broth microdilution assays were used to determine the antimycobacterial activities of dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) crude extracts and fractions from the roots. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were used to characterise the major compounds in the crude extracts and fractions. The EtOAc fraction exhibited the highest antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The EtOAc fraction achieved a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4.88 μg/mL and a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 38.37 μg/mL, whereas gentamycin, a standard drug, achieved MIC and IC50 values of 3.13 μg/mL and 3.88 μg/mL, respectively. GC-MS and FTIR analyses of the EtOAc fractions revealed the presence of hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester (0.39%), diisooctyl phthalate (24.56%), oxalic acid, allyl undecyl ester (4.66%), bis(2-ethylhexylphthalate) (5.41%), octacosane (51.12%), tetradecane (12.63%), phenol, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) (0.07%), and 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde (6.47%). The identified compounds are reported in the literature to possess antimicrobial and anticancer activities. It was evident from the comparison of the hill slope (HS) values of the dose-response curves of the fraction (−1.005) and its crude extract (−1.322) that repeated fractionation improved the activity. Therefore, this study showed that the roots of Vernonia glabra present a potential source of new leads for antimycobacterial drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated how to minimize minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and functional group losses during the processing of Vernonia amygdalina leaf as a functional food ingredient. Fresh V. amygdalina leaf was subjected to hot oil‐aqueous mixtures (soybean oil: water and palm oil: water) treatments at 1:40 and 1:30 (v/v), respectively. Results showed that V. amygdalina treated with hot‐soybean oil: water had retention rates of 45.39%–96.91% for mineral contents, pyridoxine (97.73%–98.24%), total phenolic (84.30%–92.87%), DPPH (89.56%–98.18%). Hot‐palm oil: water had retention rates of 33.33%–89.21% for mineral, pyridoxine (75.82%–80.35%), total phenolic (82.0%–88.11%), and DPPH (74.12%–92.69%). Hot‐water had retention rates of 28.37%–71.69% for mineral, pyridoxine (30.23%), total phenolic (63.06%), and DPPH (56.29%). Amide functional group decreased by 21.09%–44.48%, 37.53%–41.23%, and 70.61% for hot‐soybean oil: water, hot‐palm oil: water, and hot‐water, respectively. Hot‐soybean oil: water mixture is a good alternative for the processing of V. amygdalina as a functional food ingredient. The process is scalable and could be employed for domestic and industrial utilization. Practical Application: In tropical Africa and Asia, Vernonia amygdalina is one of the potential nutritional and functional plants. Saponins, flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, and terpenoids are only a few of the secondary metabolites found in V. amygdalina leaf extracts. Its anti‐diabetic, anti‐microbial, anti‐allergic, anti‐malaria, anti‐fungal, anti‐cancer, antileukemia activities, and hypolipidemic physiological properties may be attributed to these phytochemicals. With such potential as an active ingredient, functional meals can be developed domestically and industrially to treat a wide range of illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is a common bush or small tree that grows in tropical Africa. In the Ethiopian highland, the bitter leaf has been classified by the farmer as a versatile tree with high biomass yield and easy propagation. It is also well known in traditional medicine and nutritional use. The objective of this study was extraction and optimization of essential oil (EO) from the bitter leaf by using the ultrasonic extraction method and response surface methodology. The experiment was designed by Box–Behnken Design (BBD) with three factors to investigate the effect of sonication time (10 min to 30 min), ultrasonic power (100 to 200 W), and liquid-solid ratio (4 to 8 ml/g (ml of solvent per g of bitter leaf powder)). The significance of the process variables was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the quadratic model was fitted to the experimental results. Thus, the independent variables, sonication time, sonication power, liquid-solid ratio, and their interactions contributed a significant effect on the yield of extraction. As the result of RSM optimization, the best yield of EO was found at sonication time (17.263 min), sonication power (150.677 W), and liquid-solid ratio (6.811 ml/g). Experiments conducted under these conditions resulted in an EO yield of (4.185% g/g). The results exhibited that the RSM and BBD were effective for optimization of studied ultrasonic process variables for the maximum yield of EO from the bitter leaf (V. amygdalina). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity of Vernonia cumingiana Benth, in this study, spectrophotometry assays were used to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity indexes in vitro, including 1,1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capacity and total antioxidant capacity, aiming to understand its pharmacodynamic components. The results showed that different component extracts had high DPPH scavenging ability in vitro, and the highest scavenging rate was obtained when chloroform extract of branches was 0.60 mg·mL−1, ethylene acetate 0.10 mg·mL−1, and 0petroleum ether extraction 0.90 mg·mL−1; maximum clearance of DPPH•, •OH, and O2-• was 104.71%, 99.04%, 93.05%, and 0.90 mg mL−1; 95% ethanol extract had inhibitory effect on E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis indicating that it had good anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous extracts sequentially obtained from the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were investigated for their antidiabetic and antioxidant protective effect in oxidative hepatic injury. The extracts showed significant (p <.05) free radical scavenging and reducing power activities. They significantly (p <.05) elevated reduced glutathione level, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, with concomitant depletion of malondialdehyde level. The ethanol and aqueous extracts caused a removal of oxidative‐included chemical functional group at 1,500–1,200 (amide II)/cm region, with the inclusion of a functional group at 3,000–2,800 (carboxylic acid)/cm region. The extracts significantly (p <.05) inhibited the activities of α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase and stimulated glucose uptake in rat muscles. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometric (GC‐MS) analysis revealed phytol as the predominant compound, with ethanol having the highest concentration. Based on the IC50 values, the ethanol extract exhibited the best activities, followed by the ethyl acetate extract, while the aqueous extract was the least. These results suggest the antioxidative and antidiabetic properties of V. amygdalina as evident by their modulation of antioxidant biomarkers and oxidative‐induced chemistry changes and stimulate muscle glucose uptake. Practical applications: Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) is amongst the common leafy vegetables in West Africa reported for its various medicinal and nutritional properties. It is utilized as a food ingredient as well as supplement for the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. The ability of its extracts to stimulate glucose uptake and protect against diabetic‐induced changes in the chemical functional groups of the liver gives more credence to its reported antidiabetic properties. Being a common leafy vegetable, V. amygdalina can be a cheap source of nutraceutical for the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to assess the agronomic performance, variance components, and clustering analysis of 80 accessions of Vernonia galamensis, in alpha-lattice design with two replications at Melka Werer and Wondo Genet agricultural research centers in 2018/19. The one-way ANOVA showed that the high significant variation (p < 0.05) for most of the quantitative traits among accessions except for days to emergence, and the mean performance of seed yield per hectare ranged from 348.9 to 624.3 kg ha−1, with an average of 474.4 kg ha−1. The result of principal component analysis indicated that those exhibited more than one eigenvalue were about 71.0% of variability. While the cluster analysis based on 80% of similarity into eight clusters from the eighty accessions, the first cluster had the largest number of accessions. Overall, the study confirmed that the agromorphological characters such as the number of heads per plant, number of seeds per head, seed yield per plant, and seed weight per plot were the main contributors for seed yield per hectare in V. galamensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia camporum is used ethnomedicinally to treat diseases such as malaria, fever, hypertension, mouth sores, pains, inflammation, and skin rashes in Africa. This study aims at investigating the biological activities (anthelminthic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial) and separating some of the biologically active components in the methanol crude extract of the stem-bark of Vernonia camporum. Phytochemical screening, anthelminthic (Lumbricus terrestris (earthworm)), anti-inflammatory (egg albumin denaturation), antioxidant (DPPH and H2O2 scavenging and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)), and antimicrobial (agar and broth dilution method) assays were performed on the extracts. Column chromatography and FTIR spectroscopic analysis were employed to separate and analyze the least polar constituents of the methanol extract. The preliminary phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenols, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, phytosterols, proteins and amino acids, phlobatannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, and anthocyanins. The extracts (methanol and hexane) showed a higher concentration-dependent anthelminthic activity. The extracts exhibited high concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 values of 35.83 ± 3.984 and 53.91 ± 5.8413 µg/mL, respectively. The IC50 values for methanol and hexane extracts in the DPPH assay were 17.70 ± 3.430 and 29.54 ± 1.5437 µg/mL, and those of the H2O2 assay were 243.20 ± 0.1528 and 352.20 ± 12.64 µg/mL, respectively. TAC results for methanol and hexane extracts were recorded as 31.592 ± 1.682 and 30.232 ± 0.445 gAAE/100 g, respectively. The extracts were observed to exhibit antimicrobial activity against test organisms with MICs ranging from 0.1953 to 25.00 mg/mL. Chromatographic separations gave four fractions. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of various functional groups in purified fractions of the methanol extract that confirms the presence of the phytochemicals identified in the screening test. The results indicate that both extracts of V. camporum possess anthelminthic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities supporting the traditional usage of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) infestation results in a substantial reduction in the quantity and deterioration of the quality of stored maize. Most farmers control weevils using conventional pesticides which are usually associated with several human health risks as well as intoxication of the fauna and flora. However, bioinsecticides form an alternative intervention since they possess fewer side effects on human health, are ecofriendly, and are readily available. This study sought to validate and document, in a systematic way, the pesticidal properties of the species Tithonia diversifolia and Vernonia lasiopus used for many years by many people of the world on S. zeamais. The plant leaf samples were obtained from Embu County, Kenya. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate solvents were used to extract active phytochemicals from the dried plant sample powder. The GC-MS analysis of the obtained extracts was performed at ICIPE laboratories to identify their phytochemical compositions. Twenty grams of maize grains were put in 50 ml plastic vials and admixed with different treatments. The positive control group was treated with Actellic Super™, while the negative control was treated with the respective extracting solvent only. The experimental groups were separately treated with the plant leaf extracts at doses of 25, 50, 75, and 100%. After treatment, each of the six groups was infested with 10 male S. zeamais and weevil mortality as a result of contact toxicity of the treatments was assessed at 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the insects were exposed to the extracts. Results of the study indicate that the selected organic leaf extracts of T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus possessed significant contact insecticidal effects that ranged between 1.67 to 99.98%. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis revealed several active biocompounds in T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus extracts, which are known for their considerable insecticidal effects. Our data suggest that the organic leaf extracts of T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus have considerable insecticidal properties and would, therefore, be a valuable bioprotective agent for stored maize grains against S. zeamais. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sitophilus zeamais infestation is among the major setbacks to sustainable maize farming and availability. It causes an estimated annual loss of 5-10% and 20-30% of the total maize grains loss in the temperate and tropical zones, respectively. Although synthetic pesticides are quick and effective in managing crop pests, their overuse and misuse is discouraged due to their detrimental effects on human and environment. Natural pesticidal products that are extracted from plants are particularly gaining importance as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. They are available, easily biodegraded and have low toxicity to nontarget organisms. Most botanical pesticides act on insects by repelling them away from the crops in the field or in the stores. Therefore, this study aimed to determine repellency potential of organic leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Vernonia lasiopus on S. zeamais. Materials and methods. The phytochemical profile of T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus was determined using GC-MS. Laboratory-based experiments were carried out using area preference method to assess the efficacy of the extracts against weevils for a test period of 5 h. Six groups of experiments were set up with ten S. zeamais in each test: positive control (Actellic), negative control (solvent only), and four different experimental extract concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%).Results: The results indicated that T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus leaf extracts possess potent repellency effect on weevils. All the extracts simply discouraged S. zeamais from the treated areas recording significantly good levels of repellent activities between 26 and 96%. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis manifested the presence of bioactive compound in the extracts which are associated with the repellency effects.Conclusion: The study scientifically confirms the traditional use of the T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus and provides important platform for further study on the extracts as bioresource of botanical repellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Sitophilus zeamais infestation is among the major setbacks to sustainable maize farming and availability. It causes an estimated annual loss of 5-10% and 20-30% of the total maize grains loss in the temperate and tropical zones, respectively. Although synthetic pesticides are quick and effective in managing crop pests, their overuse and misuse is discouraged due to their detrimental effects on human and environment. Natural pesticidal products that are extracted from plants are particularly gaining importance as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. They are available, easily biodegraded and have low toxicity to nontarget organisms. Most botanical pesticides act on insects by repelling them away from the crops in the field or in the stores. Therefore, this study aimed to determine repellency potential of organic leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Vernonia lasiopus on S. zeamais. Materials and methods. The phytochemical profile of T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus was determined using GC-MS. Laboratory-based experiments were carried out using area preference method to assess the efficacy of the extracts against weevils for a test period of 5 h. Six groups of experiments were set up with ten S. zeamais in each test: positive control (Actellic), negative control (solvent only), and four different experimental extract concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100%). Results. The results indicated that T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus leaf extracts possess potent repellency effect on weevils. All the extracts simply discouraged S. zeamais from the treated areas recording significantly good levels of repellent activities between 26 and 96%. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis manifested the presence of bioactive compound in the extracts which are associated with the repellency effects. Conclusion. The study scientifically confirms the traditional use of the T. diversifolia and V. lasiopus and provides important platform for further study on the extracts as bioresource of botanical repellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large-scale production of high-quality graphene is the major focus of scientists and engineers recently. However, its massive manufacturing routes from its precursor graphene oxide (GO) are involved in the production of toxic gasses and consist of hazardous explosive steps that severely hurt and threaten ecological balance and human health. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the green, effective, and economical approach for the synthesis of graphene by using Vernonia amygdalina (VA) plant leaf extracts for the effective and efficient reduction of GO. The nonexplosive two-step synthesis of GO in a short period of time in the absence of an ice bath was used in this study. The appropriate solvent for the extraction of VA for the green synthesis of graphene was methanol, and the reducing and capping agent in the plant extract was identified to be terpenoids and polyphenols. The graphene/rGO obtained this way was characterized by UV-VIS, XRD, FTIR, SEM, HR-TEM, and EDAX that confirmed the successful reduction of GO to graphene under the hydrothermal process. The HR-TEM images showed the development of few layers of graphene. The FTIR result also shows the complete reduction of GO. Hence, methanol extracted VA leaves consisted of the most appropriate compounds for reducing and capping agent in the green synthesis and could be the preferred method for the large-scale production of graphene-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In traditional Chinese medicine, the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd. have been widely used for treatment of cough, skin diseases, diarrhea, fever, schistosomiasis, amoebic dysentery, and gastrointestinal problems, especially in the treatment of vitiligo for thousands of years in China. In this study, an effective, reliable, and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method was developed for quantitative analysis of 3 marker bioactive compounds and chemical fingerprint of the seeds of V. anthelmintica. Data corresponding to common peak areas and HPLC chromatographic fingerprints were analyzed by exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to extract information of the most significant variables contributing to characterization and classification of the analyzed samples. Based on variety and origin, the high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method validated the chemical fingerprint results used to screen the in vitro antioxidant activity of V. anthelmintica. The results show that the developed method has potential application values for the quality consistency evaluation and identification of similar instant V. anthelmintica samples. When considered collectively, this research results provide a scientific basis for the improvement of standardization and specification of V. anthelmintica medicinal materials and provide a pathway for the development and utilization of references for the identification of V. anthelmintica herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake substituted with dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves' meal on feed intake, body weight change, and digestibility of Bonga sheep fed on Rhodes grass hay at Teppi Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted using 25 yearling lambs with an average initial body weight of 20.83 ± 1.66 kg. Five lambs were allotted per treatment in randomized complete block design. Treatments were isonitrogenous supplements of 100% concentrate (49.5% NSC, 49.5% ground maize grain, and 1% salt) offered at 400 g DM/head/day (T1), 25, 50, 75, and 100 of NSC CP substituted by dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves' meal in T2 = 429.8 g/day, T3 = 459.5 g/day, T4 = 489.3 g/day, and T5 = 519 g/day, respectively. The sheep were fed Rhodes grass hay adlibitum and had free access to water and salt block. Intake and growth trail lasted for 90 days followed by 10 days of digestibility trial. The CP, NDF, and ADF contents of Rhodes grass hay were 7.9, 74.8, and 46.8 percent. The CP content of NSC, ground maize grain, dried mulberry, and Vernonia leaves was 32.4, 8.3, 18.5, and 22.5%, respectively. Total DM intake (g/day) was significantly higher for lambs in T3 (771.4) than in T1 (722.8) and T5 (642.8) but similar to T2 (754.9) and T4 (759.7). The CP intake was highest (P < 0.001) for sheep in T2 and T3, but lowest in T5. The apparent DM digestibility for T1 (70.8%), T2 (68.8%), and T3 (69.1%) was significantly higher than for T5 (64.4%), while T4 (67.9%) and T5 were not significantly different. The attained average daily gain (g/day) of sheep in T1 (87.7), T2 (82.0), T3 (83.4), and T4 (75.2) was higher (P < 0.01) than in T5 (56.0). The result of this study indicated that dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves' meal can substitute NSC as a protein supplement up to 75% inclusion level resulting in optimum DM and nutrient intakes and body weight gain of yearling Bonga sheep. This study also highlights the positive potential of dried mulberry and Vernonia mixed leaves' meal as a supplement to ruminants on a basal diet of fibrous feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal toxicity contributes to liver and kidney dysfunction and damage through oxidative stress mechanisms; however, from previous studies, extracts from the Vernonia amygdalina plant have shown to possess potent antioxidant properties. This study was aimed at uncovering the potential ameliorative effects of ethanolic extract from Vernonia amygdalina plant in heavy metal toxicity-induced liver and kidney dysfunction. For this study, 44 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The control group received a basal diet and water only while the treatment groups received varied dosages of the heavy metals. The copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) groups had five subgroups. The Cu only and Cu recovery subgroups were administered with 16 mg/kg Cu intraperitoneally daily for 14 days, whereas the Pb only and Pb recovery subgroups were administered with 13 mg/kg Pb intraperitoneally daily for 14 days. Subsequently, the Pb only and Cu only subgroups were sacrificed. The three Pb and Cu treatment subgroups received oral graded doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of the extract for 21 days. The Cu recovery and Pb recovery subgroups were left to recover for 21 days. After histological examinations, the Pb and Cu pretreatment groups showed evidence of focal necrosis accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltrations. The serum levels of liver biomarkers AST, ALT, and GGT, as well as urea and creatinine, were significantly elevated (P = 0.01) following copper and lead exposure. Upon posttreatment of the rats with the extract, the physiological levels of the biomarkers were restored and tissue architecture of the organs improved. Thus, the ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina is capable of ameliorating the effects of heavy metal toxicity through potent antioxidative mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community consumption of herbal plants in developing countries is a common practice, however, scarcity of information on their physiochemical composition is a major public health concern. In Uganda, Vernonia amygdalina is of interest in rural communities due to its therapeutical action on both bacterial and protozoal parasites, however no studies have been conducted to assess the heavy metal concentrations in traditional plants used in alternative medicine. The aim of the study was to establish concentrations of heavy metals in Vernonia amygdalina, model the estimated daily intake (EDI), and assess both the non-cancer-related health risk using the target hazard quotient (THQ), and the risk related to cancer through the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for the Ugandan population.Methods: Leaves of Vernonia amygdalina were collected from 20 georeferenced villages and processed into powder in the laboratory using standard methods. These were then analyzed in the laboratory using an atomic absorption spectrometer for lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni). Concentrations were compared against the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The EDI, THQ, and ILCR were modelled and significance was measured at 95% confidence.Results: The study showed that mean ± SEM concentrations of heavy metals were highest in the order of Cr, 121.8 ± 4.291 ppm > Ni, 84.09 ± 2.725 ppm > Zn, 53.87 ± 2.277 ppm > Pb, 40.61 ± 3.891 ppm > Cu, 28.75 ± 2.202 ppm > Fe, 14.15 ± 0.7271 ppm > Co, 7.923 ± 0.7674 ppm > Cd, 0.1163 ± 0.005714 ppm. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn, Co, and Ni were significantly higher than the WHO limits. The EDI was significantly higher in children than in adults, demonstrating an increased risk of toxicity in children. The THQ and ILCR were over 1000 times higher in all Ugandans, demonstrating the undesirable health risks following oral consumption of Vernonia amygdalina due to very high Cr and Ni toxicities, respectively.Conclusion: Consumption of raw Vernonia amygdalina was associated with a high carcinogenic risk, demonstrating a need to enact policies to promote physiochemical screening of herbal medicines used in developing countries against toxic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia amygdalina is traditionally used in Ethiopia to treat various diseases. This prompted us to isolate bioactive compounds from the flowers of this plant. The CHCl3 extract after silica gel column chromatography has led to the isolation of two compounds identified as tricosane (1) and vernolide (2), while the acetone extract furnished isorhamnetin (3) and luteolin (4). The acetone extract and isorhamnetin significantly scavenged the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical by 91.6 and 94%, respectively. It was also shown that the acetone extract and isorhamnetin inhibited lipid peroxidation by 74 and 80%, respectively. The extracts and isolated compounds were also evaluated for their antibacterial activity with the CHCl3 extract and vernolide showing strong activity against S. aureus with an inhibition zone of 21 and 19 mm, respectively. On the other hand, the acetone extract and isorhamnetin were active against all bacterial pathogens tested. The work presented herein has demonstrated that vernolide and isorhamnetin had antibacterial activity. The antioxidant activity displayed by the flowers of V. amygdalina is accounted to the presence of isorhamnetin. Therefore, the biological activities displayed by the extracts and isolated compounds from this plant corroborate the traditional uses of this plant by the local people against various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We wish to credit our own Research Integrity and Research Publishing teams and anonymous and named external researchers and research integrity experts for contributing to this investigation. This article has been retracted by Hindawi following an investigation undertaken by the publisher [[1]]. Wiley and Hindawi regrets that the usual quality checks did not identify these issues before publication and have since put additional measures in place to safeguard research integrity. [Extracted from the article]

The study determined if administration of Vernonia amygdalina and Carica papaya plants provides synergistic effects in ameliorating plasmodium infection in mice. Thirty mice (17.88–25.3 g) were divided into 6 groups of 5 mice each. Group 1 was normal control, while groups 2–6 were intraperitoneally inoculated 2.5 × 107 Plasmodium berghei parasitized red blood cell, followed by daily administration of 350 mg/kg aqueous leaf extracts after establishment of infection. Group 2 was disease control, while group 6 was treated with standard drug for four consecutive days. The results showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in percentage of parasite load between the infected treatment groups and disease control group at day 3 after infection, which remained consistent until the end of the experiment. All infected treated groups showed significant (P<0.05) increases in RBC and PCV recovery compared to the disease control, with the exception of WBC. There was insignificant (P>0.05) change in mean body weight of all treated groups except in disease control group. Histological studies of the infected mice indicate recovery of hepatic cells from congested black pigmentation. The reduction in parasite load and recovery of hepatic cell damage/hematological parameters were induced by these plant extracts. This highlighted the important usage of the plant in traditional remedy of malaria infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The young leaves of Vernonia amygdalina are often utilized as vegetable and for medicinal purpose compared to the old leaves. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the antidiabetic effects between ethanolic leaf extracts of old and young V. amygdalina on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat for four weeks. Preliminary screening of both young and old ethanolic extracts revealed the presence of the same phytochemicals except flavonoids which was only present in the old V. amygdalina. Difference in antioxidant power between the young and old leaf extracts was statistically significant (p<0.05). Both leaf extracts produced a significant (p<0.05) antihyperglycaemic effect. Also results from treated rats revealed increasing effect in some haematological parameters. Similarly, the higher dose (300 mg/kg) of both extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels as compared to the diabetic control rats. Results also showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in LDL-C and VLDL-C in the extract-treated rats with a corresponding increase in HDL-C, as compared to the diabetic control rats. Moreover histopathological analysis revealed ameliorative effect of pathological insults induced by the STZ in the pancreas, liver, and spleen, most significantly the regeneration of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in treated rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new antibiotics from new chemical entities is becoming more and more expensive, time-consuming, and compounded by emerging strains that are drug resistant. Alkaloids are plant secondary metabolites which have been shown to have potent pharmacological activities. The effect of alkaloids from Callistemon citrinus and Vernonia adoensis leaves on bacterial growth and efflux pump activity was evaluated on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At a concentration of 1.67 mg/mL, the alkaloids inhibited bacterial growth with comparable effects to ampicillin, a standard antibiotic. The alkaloids from C. citrinus were the most potent against S. aureus with an MIC of 0.0025 mg/mL and MBC of 0.835 mg/mL. It was shown that effects on P. aeruginosa by both plant alkaloids were bacteriostatic. P. aeruginosa was most susceptible to drug efflux pump inhibition by C. citrinus alkaloids which caused an accumulation of Rhodamine 6G of 121% compared to the control. Thus, C. citrinus alkaloids showed antibacterial activity as well as inhibiting ATP-dependent transport of compounds across the cell membrane. These alkaloids may serve as potential courses of compounds that can act as lead compounds for the development of plant-based antibacterials and/or their adjunct compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Bitter leaf is a popular vegetable commonly consumed and which has been employed in traditional medicine for the prevention/management of diabetes and hypertension for centuries in the tropical Africa. However, possible mechanism underlining its hypoglycemic and antihypertension is not clear. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of free and bound phenol extracts of bitter leaf on key enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and hypertension (angiotensin-I converting enzyme [ACE]). The free and bound phenol extracts significantly ( P < 0.05) inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in vitro in a dose-dependent pattern (4-16 µg/mL). However, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the extracts were significantly ( P < 0.05) higher than their α-amylase inhibitory activity. Furthermore, the ACE inhibitory activity of the extracts also followed a dose-dependent pattern (5-20 µg/mL), and the bound phenol extract significantly ( P < 0.05) inhibited ACE more than the free phenol extract. However, there exists a strong correlation between the enzyme inhibitory activities and the phenol content of the extracts. Therefore, the inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and ACE, coupled with the antioxidant activities of bitter leaf phenolic-rich extracts, could be a possible mechanism through which Vernonia amygdalina exert its antidiabetes and antihypertension properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION This manuscript deals with the possibilities of using phenolic extracts of bitter leaf as a nutraceutical source for the management of diabetes and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The erectogenic potential of alkaloids extracted from Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) was investigated in this study. Fresh leaves obtained from Bitter leaf and Black night shade were air‐dried, pulverized, and extracted for alkaloids. The inhibitory potential of the alkaloid extracts on arginase and phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE‐5) activities in rats penile tissue was determined in vitro. The antioxidant properties were also evaluated and the constituent alkaloids quantified using GC‐MS. The alkaloid extracts inhibited arginase (0–30.51 μg/ml) and PDE‐5 (0–133.69 μg/ml) activities in a concentration‐dependent pattern. Similarly, the alkaloid extracts inhibited Fe2+‐induced lipid peroxidation in rats penile tissues, scavenged DPPH, OH, and NO radicals as a function of concentration. GC‐MS characterization revealed over 20 alkaloid compounds. The inhibition of PDE‐5‐, arginase‐, pro‐oxidant‐induced lipid peroxidative‐, and free radicals‐scavenging activities by the alkaloids is suggestive of putative mechanisms underlying their therapeutic use for managing erectile dysfunction in folklore medicine. Practical applications: Alkaloids extracted from Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) and Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) were characterized and investigated by standard procedures for inhibitory action against key erectile dysfunction‐linked enzymes and antioxidant activity. The alkaloids inhibited erectile dysfunction‐linked enzymes (arginase and PDE‐5) and showed considerable antioxidant activity in a concentration‐dependent manner. In view of this, we suggest the application of these results in the development of erectile dysfunction drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, with probable minimal or no adverse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernonia amygdalina leaves were investigated for their histochemical properties and antidiabetic activities. Histochemical analysis of the leaf revealed distributions of acidic lipid, mucilage, and pectin, lipids, polyphenols, and alkaloids at the mid rib, glandular trichome, and epidermis. HPLC analysis of the leaves hot water infusion revealed the presence of quercetin and (‐)‐epi‐catechin. The infusion had significant (p < 0.05) 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power. Ex vivo antioxidative analysis revealed the ability of the infusion to increase glutathione level, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, while concomitantly depleting malondialdehyde level and DNA fragmentation in Fe2+‐induced hepatic injury. The infusion showed significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory activity against α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. It also inhibited intestinal glucose absorption and enhanced muscle glucose uptake, respectively. The ability of the infusion to abate oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation and stimulate muscle glucose uptake may suggest the antioxidative, anti‐apoptotic, and insulin‐sensitizing activity of V. amygdalina. Practical applications: Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) is among the common leafy vegetables in West Africa reported for its various medicinal and nutritional properties. It is utilized as a food ingredient as well as supplement for the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Its ability to inhibit intestinal glucose absorption, enhance muscle glucose uptake, and protect against hepatic oxidative stress gives more credence to its reported antidiabetic properties. Being a common leafy vegetable, V. amygdalina can be a cheap source of nutraceutical for the treatment and management of T2D and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]