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Background: Sida linifolia L. is a weed ubiquitously found in Africa with several folkloric applications. Traditional healers in the Southeastern part of Nigeria employ the alcoholic concoction of S. linifolia leaves as antidepressants, anti-malaria, antihypertensive, anti-abortifacients, and for managing painful whitlow; however, these claims lack scientific validation. The present study was aimed to explore the phytochemical profile of the plant, S. linifolia with special emphasis to its antioxidant and inhibitory actions on enzymes linked to inflammation, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Phytochemical profiling and in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assays were employed to assess the pharmacological profile of S. linifolia ethanolic leaf fraction (SLELF). Results: Preliminary phytochemical screening of SLELF revealed appreciable amounts of total phenolics (91.64 ± 7.61 mg GAE/g), total tannins (62.44 ± 3.86 mg TAE/g), and total flavonoids (27.35 ± 1.48 mg QE/g) present in SLELF. Results of HPLC analysis of SLELF revealed rich composition in bioactive compounds such as ellagic acid, quercetin, ferulic acid, 3,4-dimethoxy benzoic acid, gallic acid, 4-methoxy cinnamic acid, sinapic acid, vanillic acid, and chlorogenic acid. Enzymatic antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione (GSH), Vit A, C, and E), elemental minerals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr, Fe, and Ca), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were present in SLELF in appreciable levels. At various concentrations (0.2–1.0 mg/ml), SLELF exhibited potent and concentration-dependent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and exerted moderate inhibitory actions on enzymes associated with inflammation (cyclooxogenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxygenases (LOXs), diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), and neurological disorders (butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T), compared to respective standards (ascorbic acid, acarbose, indomethacin, galanthamine, and vigabatrin). Perhaps, the observed potent pharmacological activities of SLELF could be anchored to its phytoconstituents. Furthermore, the slightly higher ranges of IC50 values (0.57–0.87 mg/ml) of SLELF compared to standards (0.44–0.68 mg/ml) suggest moderation in enzyme inhibition that may preclude adverse side effects. Conclusion: This study lends credence to the folklore claims of S. linifolia leaves and revealed its potential as possible source of bioactive compounds for medicinal and pharmaceutical exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbalists in Nigeria use a variety of herbal remedies to treat various types of illness. Thirteen commonly used herbal plants in the Anambra State of Nigeria were identified and collected. Extracts were prepared and studied pharmacologically on various isolated and intact preparations. Toxicological and phytochemical studies were also conducted on most of these plants.

This study was undertaken to confirm or otherwise disprove the alleged effectiveness of Dioscorea dumetorum tuber in the traditional treatment of clinical diabetes mellitus. Hydroalcoholic extracts of the tuber were fractionated by precipitation or solvent partition and the various extracts or fractions subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological tests. Whereas the alkaloid-containing fraction was hyperglycaemic in fasting normal mice, the whole extract and the fractions containing steroidal derivatives evinced significant hypoglycaemic activities in fasting normal mice or rabbits and in fasting alloxan-diabetic rabbits. The hypoglycaemic action of the glycosidic portion in particular was prompt and potent, in normal as well as in severely alloxan-diabetic rabbits suggesting thereby the possibility of obtaining an agent that could act in conditions of even severe insulin lack.

Establishing factors that affect contaminants including potentially toxic metals in a freshwater and its surrounding soil is necessary to control the transfer of toxins into the food chain. We documented the seasonality in temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, and water color on the behavior of toxic metals in water and soil of Lake Nike. Slope and seasons statistically related significantly (p < 0.05) with DO and SOC. Only Ni was not statistically related significantly to pH, water color, and temperature of the water, while mercury and cadmium statistically related significantly to the soil pH. Temperature and pH were within the WHO safety limits which are 20–32 °C and 6.5–8.5, respectively, in both water and soil samples. Potentially toxic metals levels for lead (Pb) (0.47–2.10 mg/L), mercury (Hg) (0.57–2.01 mg/L), cadmium (Cd) (0.34–1.82 mg/L), and nickel (Ni) (0.56–2.09 mg/L) exceeded the 0.01, 0.001, 0.003, and 0.02 mg/L WHO safety limits, respectively, while Zinc (Zn) level which ranged from 0.24 to 2.51 mg/L was within the WHO limit (5 mg/L) and the standard organization of Nigeria (SON) limit (3.0 mg/L) in both seasons. From our study, Lake Nike could be relatively toxic, and unsafe for aquatic habitation and human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schumanniophyton magnificum Harms (Rubiaceae) is used traditionally in Nigeria for the treatment of snake bites. Snake venom contains phospholipase A2 (PLA2) which plays a key role in causing inflammation and pain. To assess the anti-inflammatory effect of the methanol extract of Schumanniophyton magnificum (MESM) leaves through the inhibition of PLA2 and investigate the compounds responsible for the effect. PLA2-inhibitory activity of MESM was assessed at concentrations of 0.1–0.8 mg/mL using human red blood cells as substrate. Prednisolone was used as the standard control. MESM was subsequently partitioned using n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and aqueous-methanol (90:10 v/v), after which PLA2-inhibitory activity of the partitions was determined. The best partition was subjected to chromatographic techniques and the fractions obtained were assessed for PLA2 inhibition at 0.4 mg/mL. Compounds in the most active fraction were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MESM significantly inhibited PLA2 activity at 0.8 mg/mL (44.253%) compared to prednisolone (35.207%). n-Hexane partition (SMP1) proved more active with inhibition of 55.870% observed at 0.1 mg/mL. Fraction 1 (SMF1) showed the highest PLA2-inhibitory activity of 58.117%. FTIR studies revealed the presence of some functional groups in SMF1, and GC-MS confirmed the presence of 9 compounds which are first reported in this plant. Hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester was identified as the major compound (24.906%). The PLA2-inhibitory activity of MESM suggests that its compounds may be explored further in monitoring anti-inflammatory genes affected by the venoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals are leading causes of environmental contamination and arsenic (As) is currently one of the most important metal contaminants particularly in the developing countries such as Nigeria. The effects of chromatographic fractions of Spondias mombin L. (SM) leaves on sodium arsenite-induced toxicities in male Wistar rats were evaluated. Thirty-five male rats allotted equally into seven groups (A - G): Groups A and B were treated with 0.1 mL 1% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and distilled water respectively, Group C: sodium arsenite (SA) 2.5 mg/kg, Group D: 100 mg/kg ethyl acetate fraction of SM, Group E: 100 mg/kg ethyl acetate fraction of SM and 2.5 mg/kg SA, Group F: 100 mg/kg methanol fraction of SM and SA, Group G: 100 mg/kg methanol fraction. SM was administered orally for 14 days, while SA was administered as a single oral dose on the 14th day of treatment with SM. Blood was taken 24 hours after SA administration and the animals were sacrificed. Phytochemical, haematological, biochemical, histopathological analyses and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) induction in the bone marrow cells were evaluated at the termination of the experiment. Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, tannins, phenols and flavonoids in all the fractions. Ethyl acetate and methanol fractions contained cardiac glycosides and carbohydrates whereas only hexane and ethyl acetate fractions contained steroids. Results showed normocytic hypochromic anaemia, genotoxicity, kidney and perilobular hepatic damage in the group that received SA alone, which were significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated by the fractionated extracts. The PCV, Hb, MCV and MCH values for group G, which was treated with methanol fraction alone were significantly higher (p<0.05) while the differential Lymphocytes and Neutrophils counts were significantly increased (p<0.05) in group D. The changes in the mean values of AST, ALP and BUN for Groups D and G were significantly lower (p<0.05) when compared with group B. In conclusion, the methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of S. mombin, exhibited hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and genoprotective properties against sodium arsenite-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]