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We earlier reported the protective effect of Solanum dasyphyllum against cyanide neurotoxicity. In furtherance to this, we investigated the protective effect of S. dasyphyllum against rotenone, a chemical toxin that causes brain-related diseases. Mitochondria fraction obtained from the brain of male Wistar rats was incubated with various solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and methanol) extracts of S. dasyphyllum before rotenone exposure. Mitochondria respiratory enzymes (MRE) were evaluated along with markers of oxidative stress. The inhibition of MRE by rotenone was reversed by treatment with various fractions of S. dasyphyllum. The oxidative stress induced by rotenone was also reversed by fractions of S. dasyphyllum. In addition, the ethylacetate fraction of S. dasyphyllum was most potent against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. In conclusion, S. dasyphyllum is rich in active phytochemicals that can prevent some neurotoxic effects of rotenone exposure. Further study can be done in an in vivo model to substantiate our results.

Potassium cyanide (KCN) is a salt that release cyanide upon degradation in living system. Cyanide is a chemical that induced its toxicity and lethal effect through the inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase activity. Trevo, a phytochemical rich product is majorly used for its antiaging and disease prevention among individuals. We evaluated the potential of trevo to reverse the biochemical toxicity of cyanide in the brain of male wistar rats. The biochemical changes assessed are- cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), neurochemicals (acetylcholine esterase (ACHE), dopamine and serotonin), and p53, antioxidants (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonedialdehyde (MDA). KCN significantly inhibited the activity of CCO, CAT and SOD, increased the level of p53, AChE and MDA as well as decreased the level of dopamine and serotonin. Early administration of trevo caused a reversal of all these biochemical at varying degree. Histological results showed that KCN had no observable effect on the morphology of the brain. Further work can be done on the effect of trevo on long-term exposure to KCN.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Different parts of Antiaris africana Englea (Moraceae) are used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases, including epilepsy and other nervous system disorders. Aims of this study The current study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of flavonoids isolated from A. africana against potassium cyanide (KCN)-induced oxidative damage in brain homogenate. Materials and methods Dried and ground leaves of A. africana were extracted with methanol and fractioned into n-hexane (HFA), dichloromethane (DFA), ethyl acetate (EFA) and methanol (MFA). Each fraction was assessed for neuroprotective potential by anticholinesterase activity test. The fraction with the best anticholinesterase activity was subjected to various chromatographic techniques through bioassay-guided fractionation to isolate the bioactive compounds. The protective ability of the extract, fractions and compounds against Potassium cyanide (KCN)-induced mitochondrial damage in rat brain homogenate was evaluated. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined using 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry and by comparison with literature data. Results and discussion The ethyl acetate fraction showed the best anticholinesterase activity with an IC50 of 23.23 ± 1.12 μg/ml. Quercetin and a biflavonoid glucoside identified as 3′-4′-bisquercetin-3β-D-diglucoside from this fraction displayed a remarkable antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay and showed significant (P Conclusion Quercetin and the bisquercetin-diglucoside isolated from the leaves of A. Africana for the first time, are major contributors to the observed neuroprotective property of the plant which supports its folkloric usage in the management of seizures, epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

Avermectins are a group of drugs that occurs naturally as a product of fermenting Streptomyces avermitilis, an actinomycetes, isolated from the soil. Eight different structures, including ivermectin, abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin, and selamectin, were isolated and divided into four major components (A1a, A2a, B1a and B2a) and four minor components (A1b, A2b, B1b, and B2b). Avermectins are generally used as a pesticide for the treatment of pests and parasitic worms as a result of their anthelmintic and insecticidal properties. Additionally, they possess anticancer, anti-diabetic, antiviral, antifungal, and are used for treatment of several metabolic disorders. Avermectin generally works by preventing the transmission of electrical impulse in the muscle and nerves of invertebrates, by amplifying the glutamate effects on the invertebrates-specific gated chloride channel. Avermectin has unwanted effects or reactions, especially when administered indiscriminately, which include respiratory failure, hypotension, and coma. The current review examines the mechanism of actions, biosynthesis, safety, pharmacokinetics, biological toxicity and activities of avermectins.

Background: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in stroke pathogenesis. Hence, plants rich in antioxidant phytochemicals have been suggested as effective remedies for prevention and treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases. Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the management of brain-related problems but there is paucity of data on its anti-stroke potential. Materials and Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by a 30 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion/ 2 h reperfusion (BCCAO/R) in the brain of male Wistar rats. A sham-operated group which was not subjected to BCCAO/R and a group subjected to BCCAO/R without treatment with MEA served as controls. The ameliorative effect of 14 days of pretreatment with 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg A. africana methanol leaf extract (MEA) on BCCAO/R-mediated alterations to key markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and neurochemical disturbances and excitotoxicity (myeloperoxidase, glutamine synthetase, Na+/K+ ATPase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosine hydroxylase), was evaluated and compared with the effect produced by treatment with 20 mg/kg quercetin as a reference standard. Results: Results show that pretreatment with MEA significantly mitigated or reversed BCCAO/R-induced changes in the level or activity of the evaluated biochemical markers of oxidative stress, neurochemical dysfunction and excitotoxicity compared with the BCCAO/R untreated control group (p < 0.05). The effect produced by 100 mg/kg MEA was similar to that of the reference standard, quercetin. Conclusion: These results revealed the neuroprotective potential of A. africana in stroke and other ischemia-related pathologies. Key words: brain ischemia

The increasing popularity of herbal medicine and the well-established health benefits of phytochemicals have spurred the multiplicity of nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical products. In this study, TrévoTM, a nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical product, was evaluated for beneficial effects in acetaminophen-induced hepatic toxicity in Wistar rats. Animals received TrévoTM (1.5 mL/kg, 3.0 mL/kg or 4.5 mL/kg) orally for 14 days. Hepatotoxicity wasinduced by the oral administration of acetaminophen (2 g/kg), 24 h priorto sacrifice.Biochemical liverfunction tests, oxidative stress indicators and histoarchitectural changes were evaluated. Acetaminophen administration occasioned significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum bilirubin level and activities ofthe aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, -glutamyltransferase and lactate dehydrogenase accompanied by a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in albumin level as well as histopathological alterations in liver sections. Promotion of hepatic oxidative stress by acetaminophen wasrevealed by significant (P < 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation, depletion of reduced glutathione, and decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Administration of TrévoTM remarkably ameliorated acetaminophen-induced histopathological alterations and changes in serum and tissue biochemical markers. The protective effect of TrévoTM (4.5 mL/kg) was at par with that of Silymarin (25 mg/kg). The present study indicates that TrévoTM has notable salubrious effects.

Background The physiopathologies of many neurologic diseases are characterized by related biochemical dysfunctions that could be explored as drug targets. This study evaluated the effect of a methanol leaf extract of Antiaris africana (MEA) on critical bioindices of Parkinsonism and related neurologic dysfunctions in rats with rotenone-induced neurotoxicity. Methods Animals were administered 50 or 100 mg/kg MEA for 14 consecutive days. Rotenone (1.5 mg/kg) was administered three times per day on days 13 and 14. Coenzyme Q10 (5 mg/kg) was the reference drug. Complex I activity, dopamine level, activities of acetylcholinesterase, myeloperoxidase, Na+/K+ ATPase and glutamine synthetase, as well as oxidative stress indices were evaluated at the end of the period of treatment. Results Rotenone-intoxicated group showed disruption of complex 1 activity, dopamine level, and glutamine synthetase activity with negative alterations to activities of acetylcholinesterase, myeloperoxidase, and Na+/K+ ATPase as well as heightened cerebral oxidative stress. MEA restored brain mitochondria functionality, mitigated altered neurochemical integrity, and ameliorated cerebral oxidative stress occasioned by rotenone neurotoxicity. The activity of A. Africana was comparable with that of 5 mg/kg coenzyme Q10. Conclusions These results indicated that A. africana displayed therapeutic potential against Parkinsonism and related neurologic dysfunctions and support its ethnobotanical use for the treatment of neurologic disorders.

Background In the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of plant-based health supplements with respect to their safety and efficacy in diseases treatment and prevention. Solanum dasyphyllum, also known as Africa eggplant is ethnomedicinally used as an antivenom, pain reliever and anticonvulsant in various part of Nigeria, however, there is no scientific data to support some of these claims. Methods This study evaluated the protective effect of solvent fractions of Solanum dasyphyllum, hexane fraction of S. dasyphyllum (HFSD), dichloromethane fraction of S. dasyphyllum (DFSD), ethylacetate fraction of S. dasyphyllum (EAFSD), methanolic fraction of S. dasyphyllum (MFSD) and crude fraction of S. dasyphyllum (CFSD) on cyanide-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in vitro in the cerebral cortex. Neuroprotective activities were evaluated by assaying for markers of oxidative stress, neurotoxicity and electron transport system enzymes via evaluating lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC), reduced glutathione (GSH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), NADH-succinate dehydrogenase (NSD), NADH-cytochrome c reductase (NCR), and succinate-cytochrome c reductase (SCR) in the homogenate of cerebral cortex. Results The results showed that all solvent fractions of S. dasyphyllum significantly ameliorated cyanide-induced oxidative stress (P