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Phytochemical investigation of the leaves and bark of Psydrax subcordata has led to the isolation of six new iridoids, subcordatanols I-V (1-4 and 6) and 1-O-methylcrescentin I (5), along with two known analogues (7 and 8). Among them, subcordatanol I (1) is the first example of a 3,8-monoepoxy-iridoid featuring a caged 2-oxa-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane core. The absolute stereochemistry at C-4 of 3, 4, and 6 was established through their acid-catalyzed reaction products subcordatalactones A (3a), B (4a), and C (6a), respectively. Subcordatanols I (1) and II (2), as well as subcordatalactones A (3a) and B (4a), displayed inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Enzyme kinetic studies indicated that 3a and 4a are competitive inhibitors. A molecular docking study is also reported.

BACKGROUND: The third identified severe respiratory disease in the past two decades and the first to result in a pandemic is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) specifically caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). AIM: The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the basic pathology and diagnostic laboratory features of COVID-19. METHODS: This review involved search of literatures on PubMed, Science alert, Medline, and Advanced Google search using the keywords “SARS-CoV2,” “Coronavirus” along with “pathology of COVID-19” and “diagnosis of COVID-19” with related articles pooled, relevant information extracted, and properly referenced. RESULTS: The recommended method of diagnosis is by nucleic acid testing of the viral ribonucleic acid in which real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction followed by nucleic acid sequencing when required is performed while some serologic techniques developed include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunochromatographic lateral flow assay, neutralization bioassay, and specific chemosensors to detect the immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies produced, although sole use of serologic tests is highly discouraged by monitoring agencies. The hematological features display leukocytosis with lymphocytopenia, eosinopenia, reduced procalcitonin along with increased D-dimer, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrin, fibrin degradation products, and some inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, MCP10, interferon gamma-induced protein 10, and tumor necrosis factor-α. The pathologic presentations include pleurisy, lung consolidation, pulmonary edema and pericarditis along with other features of acute respiratory syndrome, myocardial injury, and acute kidney injury. CONCLUSION: There are highly efficacious and reliable methods of diagnosis of COVID-19 which also determine the stage and severity of the condition, and these methods are performed in line with specific clinical presentations. However, more studies are required to identify the capabilities, characteristics, and tendencies of this novel virus.

Four new compounds (1–4) were isolated from the stem bark of Entandrophragma angolense along with eleven known structures (5–15). The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and HRMS data, and the absolute configuration was established with the aid of electronic circular dichroism. Compound 5 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231, OVCAR3, MDA-MB-435, and HT29 cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 2.0–5.9 μM.

This study aims at investigating the antiplasmodial activity of methanolic extract of Asparagusofficinalis L. stem on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. To investigate this, the mice were infected withP.berghei to cause malaria. The mice were simultaneously given oral doses (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg bodyweight) of methanolic extract of A. officinalis L. stem. The phytochemical constituents of the extractrevealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoid and steroid. Theextract administered to the infected mice significantly suppressed the parasite. The extract also significantly(P

The antidiarrhoeal potentials of ethanolic extract of Aristolochia ringens stem back was evaluated in castor oil-induced diarrhoeal rats. The A. ringens stem back ethanolic extract was, in addition, screened for its phytoconstituents. Thirty albino rats of 150-180 g were randomized into six groups of five animals each for each of the three experiments and all administration were oral. Rats in groups I and II were administered 1.0 ml distilled water and 1% DMSO (Vehicle) respectively, while those in group III were administered 2.5 mg/kg b.wt loperamide hydrochloride as reference drug. Rats in groups IV, V and VI were administered 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg b.wt. ethanolic extract of A. ringens stem bark. The castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model was used, the weight and volume of the intestinal content was determined by enteropooling method and the intestinal motility was determined using activated charcoal method. The small intestine of the rats was also assessed for histopathological changes. The extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced the number of diarrhoeal faeces, the volume of intestinal accumulation and the distance moved by the fed charcoal in treated rats compared to the untreated diarrhoeal group (group II). The percentage inhibitions exhibited by the extract at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight were significantly higher than that of the reference drug. Furthermore, the photomicrograph of the intestine of the extract treated rats showed intact intestinal architecture. Hence, ethanolic extract of Aristolochia ringens stem bark may contain phytochemicals with better antidiarrhoeal potentials which can be explored in the development of more viable antidiarrhoeal agents.

This research was carried out to evaluate the phytochemicals constituents and nutritional values of mesocarp and seed of sweet detar(Detarium Microcarpum) fruit as supplementary feed ingredient in the diets of rats. Thirty five healthy mixed sexalbino rats of four weeks old were divided into five groups of seven rats each and fed with different ratios(M1:2R; M2:1R; S1:2R and S2:1R) of mesocarp and seed of D. microcarpum. Data were collected on feed intake and growth rate was observed. At the end of the experiments, saponins, phenolics and terpenoids were detected in both the mesocarp (fruit pulp) and seed while alkaloids and steroids were detected in the seed only. Furthermore, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides are detected only in the mesocarp. Tannins, cardenolides and anthraquinone were not detected in both the mesocarp and seed of D. microcarpum. There was depressed feed intake and daily weight gain of rats in groups C (M2:1R), D (S1:2R) and E (S2:1R) and hence their growth when compared with the control (group A). The results of this investigation suggest that fruit of D.microcarpum could have advert effect on theratsand may contain some anti-nutrients that might have interfered with its digestion and absorption, hence the observed retardation in the growth of rats fed with this fruit.

Studies on the possibility of indomethacin-mediated hepatotoxicity have not received considerable attention over the years. The percentage of chronic users continue to rise, and its consequential hepatotoxic effect is encountered more frequently than ever. This study explored the effect of administration of ethanolic leaves extract of Lageneria breviflora on the hepatocyte and stomach of indomethacin-ulcerated rats. Ulceration was induced with indomethacin (60 mg/kg b.wt). Ulcerated rats were then administered with 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 21 days. At the end of the experiment, liver function indices and stomach oxidative status were evaluated. The study indicates that the extract significantly reduced (p< 0.05) serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as albumin and total bilirubin concentrations. The stomach catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as well as the reduced glutathione level also improved significantly (p< 0.05) following treatment with the extract. Stomach lipid peroxidation in the ulcerated rats was also normalized by the extract. Data from this study indicates that the leaves of Lageneria breviflora possess hepatoprotective and antioxidative activities. Our findings suggest that the extract exerts its antiulcerogenic activity via antioxidative

3 Abstract: The effects of three isocaloric leguminous based diets on the digestibility of neutral lipids and phospholipids in albino rats were investigated. Proximate analyses of each of the beans and formulated diets were carried out to determine crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, total ash, moisture and carbohydrate contents. A total of thirty (30) albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used for the study. The rats were divided into three groups of ten rats each and maintained on Soyabean-Based Diet (SBD) (Control), Cowpea-Based Diet (CBD) and Hyacinth Bean-based Diet (HBD) for a period of five weeks. At the end of the experiment, the brain, liver, heart and the kidney of the rats were isolated and the neutral lipids and phospholipids contents of each organ were estimated. Rats maintained on Cowpea-Based Diet (CBD) had the lowest weight gain when compared with those fed on the HBD and SBD respectively. The results revealed that the neutral lipids and phospholipids of CBD show a significantly reduced (p

The effects of some processing technique on the proximate and antinutritional factors in Leucaena leucociphala seed were evaluated. The crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, ash content and nitrogen free extract were estimated on raw, roasted and cooked samples of Leucaena leucociphala milled seed. The antinutritional factors such as phytate and tannin were also determined in the raw and processed samples of the seed. The nitrogen free extract of the raw sample was observed to be significantly lower (p

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus Leaves on Castor Oil-induced Diarrhoeal Rats Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and globally the numbers of cases of cancer are increasing gradually. There are several medicines available in the market to treat the various types of cancer but no drug is found to be fully effective and safe. The major problem in the cancer chemotherapy is the toxicity of the established drugs. However plants and plant derived products have proved effective and safe in the treatment and management of cancers. These days most of the research work on cancer drugs is targeted on plants and plants derived natural products. Many natural products and their analogues have been identified as potent anti-cancer agents and day by day the anti-cancer property of various plants is being identified. Here an attempt is being made through this review to highlights the natural products and their analogues established as anti-cancer agents and the new plant species identified with anti-cancer properties either in vivo or in vitro.Aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Phyllanthaceae) leaves was screened for its constituents. Antidarrhoeal property of the extract at the doses of 12.50, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight was also evaluated using models, such as castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, intestinal transit and enteropooling. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardenolides (0.33%), cardiac glycosides (0.51%), flavonoids (0.16%), saponins (1.21%), tannins (0.68%) and triterpenes (0.08%), while alkaloids, anthaquinones, phlobatannins and steroids were not detected.

The antidiarrheal effects of the aqueous leaf extract of C. sesamoides at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight was evaluated in female rats using gastrointestinal transit, diarrhea and enteropooling induced by castor oil models. The extract was positive for alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and phenolics. The 25 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly (p

Objective : Gastrointestinal toxicity remains a barrier to applications of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in medical practice. Plant extract with excellent therapeutic potential may proffer solution to this menace. This study investigated the gastroprotective effect of Lagenaria breviflora leaves extract against indomethacinmediated gastric ulcer in rats. Methodology and result : Ulceration in the rat was induced by a single oral dose of indomethacin (60 mg/kg body weight). Ulcerated rats were orally administered with Lagenaria breviflora extract at 200 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days prior to and after ulcer induction. Gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were then evaluated. The study indicates that indomethacin caused a significant increase in ulcer index, gastric acidity, malondialadehyde level and pepsin activity. Administration of Lagenaria breviflora in rats reversed these metabolic alterations. The extract also attenuated the reduced activity of catalase, pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats. Conclusions and application of findings : These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative attributes of the extract, which is revealed in the percentage protection offered against ulceration. The supportive evidences in this study suggest that the effect of leaves extract of Lagenaria breviflora proved to be capable of modulating indomethacin-mediated gastric ulceration and could be harnessed as preventive therapy in the treatment of gastric ulcer related disorder. Key words : Gastroprotective; H 2 receptor; Medicinal; NSAIDS; Proton pump inhibitor; Ulceration.