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Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex and biologically diverse disease with no curative treatment options at present. This study aims to utilize computational methods to explore potential anti-PCa compounds based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic indications or repurposing existing drugs. The methods employed in this study include DEGs-to-drug prediction, pharmacokinetics prediction, target prediction, network analysis, and molecular docking. The findings revealed a total of 79 upregulated DEGs and 110 downregulated DEGs in PCa, which were used to identify drug compounds capable of reversing the dysregulated conditions (dexverapamil, emetine, parthenolide, dobutamine, terfenadine, pimozide, mefloquine, ellipticine, and trifluoperazine) at a threshold probability of 20% on several molecular targets, such as serotonin receptors 2a/2b/2c, HERG protein, adrenergic receptors alpha-1a/2a, dopamine D3 receptor, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), epidermal growth factor receptor erbB1 (EGFR), tyrosine-protein kinases, and C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5). Molecular docking analysis revealed that terfenadine binding to inducible nitric oxide synthase (-7.833 kcal.mol−1) and pimozide binding to HERG (-7.636 kcal.mol−1). Overall, binding energy ΔGbind (Total) at 0 ns was lower than that of 100 ns for both the Terfenadine-iNOS complex (-101.707 to -103.302 kcal.mol−1) and Ellipticine-TOPIIα complex (-42.229 to -58.780 kcal.mol−1). In conclusion, this study provides insight on molecular targets that could possibly contribute to the molecular mechanisms underlying PCa. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to validate the therapeutic effectiveness of these identified drugs in PCa disease.

Diabetes is a group of medical conditions characterized by the body's inability to effectively control blood glucose levels, due to either insufficient insulin synthesis in type 1 diabetes or inadequate insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. According to this research, the PI3K/AKT pathway of Ocimum gratissimum leaf flavonoid-rich extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied. We purchased and used a total of forty (40) male Wistar rats for the study. We divided the animals into five (5) different groups: normal control (Group A), diabetic control (Group B), low dose (150 mg/kg body weight) of Ocimum gratissimum flavonoid-rich leaf extract (LDOGFL) (Group C), high dose (300 mg/kg body weight) of Ocimum gratissimum flavonoid-rich leaf extract (HDOGFL) (Group D), and 200 mg/kg of metformin (MET) (Group E). Streptozotocin induced all groups except Group A, which serves as the normal control group. The experiment lasted for 21 days, following which we sacrificed the animals and harvested their brains for biochemical analysis on the 22nd day. We carried out an analysis that included reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferases (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with GLUT4, MDA, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO, neurotransmitters, cholinergic enzyme activities, cardiolipin, and the gene expression of PI3K/AKT. The obtained result indicates that the flavonoid-rich extracts of O. gratissimum significantly enhanced the levels of GSH, GST, CAT, GPx, and SOD, as well as GLUT4 and cardiolipin. The levels of GSH, GST, CAT, GPx, and SOD, as well as GLUT4 and cardiolipin, were significantly increased by gratissimum. Moreover, the extracts decrease the levels of MDA, pro-inflammatory cytokines, NO, neurotransmitters, and cholinergic enzyme activities. Additionally, the flavonoid-rich extracts of O. gratissimum significantly improved the AKT and PI3K gene expressions in diabetic rats. gratissimum had their AKT and PI3K gene expressions significantly (p

Currently, there is no known cure for diabetes. Different pharmaceutical therapies have been approved for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), some are in clinical trials and they have been classified according to their route or mechanism of action. Insulin types, sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, sodium–glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors, and incretin-dependent therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: GLP-1R, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors: DPP-4). Although some of the currently available drugs are effective in the management of T2DM, the side effects resulting from prolonged use of these drugs remain a serious challenge. GLP-1R agonists are currently the preferred medications to include when oral metformin alone is insufficient to manage T2DM. Medicinal plants now play prominent roles in the management of various diseases globally because they are readily available and affordable as well as having limited and transient side effects. Recently, studies have reported the ability of phytochemicals to activate glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), acting as an agonist just like the GLP-1R agonist with beneficial effects in the management of T2DM. Consequently, we propose that careful exploration of phytochemicals for the development of novel therapeutic candidates as GLP-1R agonists will be a welcome breakthrough in the management of T2DM and the co-morbidities associated with T2DM.

One of the medicinal herbs utilized in treating diabetes traditionally is Annona muricata. This work investigates the effect of phytochemicals from A. muricata on the therapeutically important protein targets associated with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a computational approach. Compounds (Phytochemicals) previously identified in A. muricata were docked against proteins of interest to find therapeutic hit compounds. The stability of the ligand-protein complexes was examined after selecting proteins that bind well with the discovered hits, and ADMET properties of the ligands were also predicted to determine their toxicity and drug-likeness. In addition to studying the compounds' softness, hardness, electron affinity, and electrostatic potential, the Schrödinger material science Jaguar fast engine was used to study their frontier molecular orbital (FMO). The targets aldose reductase (ALR), 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11-HSD1), and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) exhibited the highest binding affinities from the early screening of compounds against fifteen (15) proteins linked with T2DM. While eight (8) phenolic compounds of the plants had comparatively high docking scores with 11β-HSD1 and ALR, seven (7) acetogenins had good binding affinities with DGAT1. These top-scoring compounds exhibited considerable ADMET profiles. Additionally, the phenolic compounds that are considered as hits adhered to the Lipinski rule of 5 and can be thought of as potential drug candidates. Genistein and kaempferol are the most reactive ligands in terms of quantum mechanics. The information from this study could be used to create an alternative anti-diabetic drug with better efficacy.

The burden of human schistosomiasis, a known but neglected tropical disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been worrisome in recent years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle schistosomiasis with praziquantel, a drug known to be effective against all Schistosoma species, due to reports of reduced efficacy and resistance. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the antischistosomal potential of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against proteins that have been implicated as druggable targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis using computational techniques. In this study, sixty-three (63) previously isolated and characterized phytochemicals from A. indica were identified from the literature and retrieved from the PubChem database. In silico screening was conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of these phytochemicals against three receptors (Schistosoma mansoni Thioredoxin glutathione reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and Arginase) that may serve as therapeutic targets for schistosomiasis treatment. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, ligand interaction, MMGBSA, and molecular dynamics simulation of the hit compounds were conducted using the Schrodinger molecular drug discovery suite. The results show that Andrographolide possesses a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile, does not violate the Lipinski rule of five, binds with favourable affinity with the receptors, and interacts with key amino acids at the active site. Importantly, its interaction with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway rate-limiting step, shows a glide score and MMGBSA of −10.19 and −45.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the MD simulation shows its stability at the active site of the receptor. Overall, this study revealed that Andrographolide from Azadirachta indica could serve as a potential lead compound for the development of an anti-schistosomal drug.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem accounting for continuous female death in developing countries. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women globally with an estimated number of 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 273,000 mortalities annually. Cervical screening is the best cancer screening test in the history of medicine and most cost-effective of all medical screening tests. The study review aimed to highlight methods of cervical cancer prevention, identify the uptake of cervical screening among women, and explain the role of nurses in uptake of cervical screening. Cervical cancer is preventable and easily treatable if it is detected at early stages, but poor information on prevention and access to screening and treatment contributes to 90% of deaths. In the developing countries such as Nigeria, a large proportion of cervical cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages, with poor rates of survival. The three main methods for preventing cervical cancer are through primary prevention (human papillomavirus vaccination and health education), secondary prevention (cervical screening, early detection of precancerous lesions, and treatment), and tertiary prevention (measures to slow the progression or recurrence, surgical removal, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy). Nurses can help improve the acceptability of this neglected promise by focusing on health education on cervical screening and vaccination in prenatal clinics and infant welfare clinics where there are more women. Inclusion of cyberspace could also serve as a successful and popular platform for this health teaching. All nurses/midwives must preach and fervently work toward the WHO 90–70–90 plan for eradicating cervical cancer.

Purpose: Universal stress protein (USP) from Schistosoma mansoni, designated as G4LZI3, waspreviously hypothesised as a druggable target and vaccine candidate for human schistosomiasis.The purpose of this study is to characterize a purified recombinant G4LZI3 preliminarily forsubsequent structural characterization, which will provide baseline structural data for futurefunctional studies for the discovery, design and development of new schistosomal drugs for thetreatment, control and elimination of schistosomiasis.Methods: Restriction digest analysis of a GenScript-synthesised codon-optimised G4LZI3gene construct was carried out to ascertain its integrity and size. Thereafter, the pQE30-G4LZI3 construct was transformed into an M15 bacterial expression host. Transformed cellswere induced with isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside for recombinant protein expression of anappreciable amount of pQE30-G4LZI3, which was subsequently purified with fast proteinliquid chromatography (FPLC) and a size exclusion chromatographic purification scheme.Preliminary biophysical characterization of the 6X His-tagged G4LZI3 was done to determineits secondary structure characteristics and protein stability.Results: A molecular weight protein of 20.3 kDa was confirmed subsequent to restriction digestanalysis, while heterologous protein expression yielded a highly soluble and considerableamount of histidine-tagged G4LZI3 protein, which was successfully purified to homogeneity.Biophysical characterization indicated that the protein was well folded, heat-stable, had thefunctional groups and secondary structure composition required and was thus amenable tofurther structural characterization and determination.Conclusion: Biophysical characterization of purified G4LZI3 showed that further structuralstudies can be embarked upon on the use of G4LZI3 as a druggable target and possibly avaccine target against schistosomiasis via vaccinomics.

Skin aging and wrinkle formation are processes that are largely influenced by the overexpression of enzymes like tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase. This study aimed to validate the skin anti-aging properties of phytochemicals from Peperomia pellucida (PP) as well as its attendant mechanism of action. Compounds previously characterized from PP were retrieved from the PubChem database and docked to the active sites of tyrosinase, elastase, and collagenase using Schrödinger’s Maestro 11.5 and AutoDock tools to predict compounds with the best inhibitory potential to block these enzymes in preventing skin aging. It was observed that our hit compounds had favorable affinity and displayed key interactions at the active sites of these enzymes similar to those of the standards. With elastase, we observed key interactions with the amino acids in the S1 sub-pocket (especially ALA-181), Zn chelation, and histidine residues, which are key for inhibitory activity and ligand stability. The hit compounds showed H-bonds with the key amino acids of collagenase, including LEU-185 and ALA-186; phlobaphene and patuloside B were found to have better docking scores and inhibition constants (Ki) (−12.36 Kcal/mol, 0.87 nM and −12.06 Kcal/mol, 1.45 nM, respectively) when compared with those of the synthetic reference compound (−12.00 Kcal/mol, 1.67 nM). For tyrosinase, our hit compounds had both better docking scores and Ki values than kojic acid, with patuloside B and procyanidin having the best values of −9.43 Kcal/mol, 121.40 nM and −9.32 Kcal/mol, 193.48 nM, respectively (kojic acid = −8.19 Kcal/mol, 898.03 nM). Based on this study, we propose that acacetin, procyanidin, phlobaphene, patulosides A and B, palmitic acid, and hexahydroxydiphenic acid are responsible for the anti-aging effects of PP on the skin, and that they work synergistically through a multi-target inhibition of these enzymes.

Abstract The treatment of diabetes involves the use of herbal plants, attracting interest in their cost-effectiveness and efficacy. An aqueous extract of Persea americana seeds (AEPAS) was explored in this study as a possible therapeutic agent in rats with diabetes mellitus. The induction of diabetes in the rats was achieved by injecting 65 mg/kg body weight (BWt) of alloxan along with 5% glucose. This study was conducted using thirty-six (36) male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 6 equal groups, (n = 6) and treated for 14 days. In vitro assays for total flavonoid, phenols, FRAP, DPPH, NO, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, were performed. Biochemical indices fasting blood sugar (FBS), BWt, serum insulin, liver hexokinase, G6P, FBP, liver glycogen, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB in the serum, were investigated as well as the mRNA expressions of PCNA, Bcl2, PI3K/Akt in the liver and pancreas. The in vitro analyses showed the potency of AEPAS against free radicals and its enzyme inhibitory potential as compared with the positive controls. AEPAS showed a marked decrease in alloxan-induced increases in FBG, TG, LDL-c, G6P, F-1, 6-BP, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB and increased alloxan-induced decreases in liver glycogen, hexokinase, and HDL-c. The diabetic control group exhibited pancreatic dysfunction as evidenced by a reduction in serum insulin, HOMA-β, expressions of PI3K/AKT, Bcl-2, and PCNA combined with an elevation in HOMA-IR. The HPLC revealed luteolin and myricetin to be the phytochemicals that were present in the highest concentration in AEPAS. The outcome of this research showed that the administration of AEPAS can promote the activation of the PI3K/AkT pathway and the inhibition of β-cell death, which may be the primary mechanism by which AEPAS promotes insulin sensitivity and regulates glycolipid metabolism.

Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Several drugs have been identified and found to be active against the pathogenesis of breast cancer, however, the uniqueness each tumor cell exhibit remains a major issue. The difference in the phenotypes of tumor cells and the high metastatic activity they exhibit have heightened the incurability of breast cancer. It is completely necessary to continue to discover potentially active molecular species that can effectively treat all breast cancer types. To this end, this study employs a biomolecular simulation protocol to screen the compounds of Hibiscus sabdariffa and identify compounds that can bind to and potentially inhibit the activities of selected target enzymes and receptors. Using a molecular docking approach, several compounds were identified in each protein category and reported herein. The top five compounds had docking scores ranging from −9.52 to −11.79 kcal mol−1 on Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), −11.09 to −13.63 kcal mol−1 on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), −11.07 to −14.03 kcal mol−1 on Progesterone receptor (PR), −11.53 to −14.71 on Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and −8.16 to −9.31 on Estrogen receptor (ER). Subsequently, MM/GBSA protocol was employed to rescore the docked complexes and calculate the binding energy. Further ADMET screening on the top-scoring compounds returned good pharmacokinetic behaviors. Conclusively, the results showed that these compounds could be explored as natural alternatives to available drugs, however, validatory tests are recommended.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most predominant group of metabolic disorders wreaking havoc on the wellbeing of man, with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) accounting for most DM related cases. This study, hence, investigated the antidiabetic potential of Gongronema latifolium leaf fractionated compounds against proteins implicated in different molecular pathways related to the onset and progression of type 2 DM. A total of fifteen proteins that can act as type 2 DM therapeutic targets were identified from the literature and downloaded/modelled using respective repositories. After docking the compounds with the fifteen proteins, glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK 3β), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and human aldose reductase were chosen as the ideal targets due to their high binding affinities with the compounds. Subsequent in silico analysis like binding free energy, ADMET predictions using different servers, and machine-learning predictive models (QSAR) using kernel partial least square regression were employed to identify promising compounds against the three targets. The eleven identified compounds (Luteonin, Kampferol, Robinetin, Gallocatechin, Baicalin, Apigenin, Genistein, Rosmaric acid, Chicoric acid and Naringenin) formed stable complexes with the proteins, showed moderation for toxicity, drugability, GI absorptions and drug-drug interactions, though structure modifications may be needed for lead optimization. The predictive QSAR models with reliable correlation coefficient (R2) showed the potency of the compounds to act as inhibitors (pIC50) of aldose reductase and GSK 3β, and act as agonists (pEC50) of GLP-1R. Thus, this study experimental framework can be used to design compounds that can modulate proteins related to type 2 DM without inducing off-target effects.

Glucokinase plays an important role in regulating the blood glucose level and serves as an essential therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes management. Entada africana is a medicinal plant and highly rich source of bioactive ligands with the potency to develop new target drugs for glucokinase such as diabetes and obesity. Therefore, the study explored a computational approach to predict identified compounds from Entada africana following its intermolecular interactions with the allosteric binding site of the enzymes. We retrieved the three-dimensional (3D) crystal structure of glucokinase (PDB ID: 4L3Q) from the online protein data bank and prepared it using the Maestro 13.5, Schrödinger Suite 2022-3. The compounds identified were subjected to ADME, docking analysis, pharmacophore modeling, and molecular simulation. The results show the binding potential of the identified ligands to the amino acid residues, thereby suggesting an interaction of the amino acids with the ligand at the binding site of the glucokinase activator through conventional chemical bonds such as hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The compatibility of the molecules was highly observed when compared with the standard ligand, thereby leading to structural and functional changes. Therefore, the bioactive components from Entada africana could be a good driver of glucokinase, thereby paving the way for the discovery of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of diabetes and its related complications.

The antioxidant, cholinergic, monoaminergic, and purinergic activities of flavonoid-rich extract from Dalbergiella welwitschii leaf (FEDW) were investigated on oxidative testicular injury (ex vivo) due to the local report on the use of this plant as anti-testicular injury. Flavonoid extract was obtained from FEDW using a standard procedure. Five male albino rats were used, testes harvested and incubated with FeSO 4 for accessing the cholinergic, monoaminergic, and purinergic activities of the FEDW (ex vivo). Testicular tissues incubated with FeSO 4 demonstrated a significant decrease in antioxidant biomarkers, arginase, ATPase, ENTPDase, 5ʹ-nucleotidase, and PDE-5 activities, as well as Zn and sialic acid levels with an upsurge in malondialdehyde (MDA), and NO levels, myeloperoxidase, cholinesterases, monoamine oxidase (MAO), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activities. Treatment of testicular tissues incubated with FeSO 4 via different concentrations of FEDW significantly increased the activities of antioxidant, arginase, ATPase, E-NTPDase, 5ʹ-nucleotidase, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), as well as Zn and sialic acid levels with a significant decrease in MDA, nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase, cholinesterases, MAO, and ACE levels. Molecular docking revealed the molecular interactions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with ellagic acid, piperine, and caffeine with piperine and caffeine obeyed the druggability and pharmacokinetic. These findings point to FEDW as a possible potential for the treatment of oxidative testicular injury.

Background: The genus Pennisetum contains remarkable natural bioactive components, and its 140 species are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical countries, where they are frequently used for therapeutic purposes such as the treatment of dysentery, fever, diabetes, and abdominal pain by indigenous people. However, the available information for this genus has not been thoroughly researched in terms of their bioactive principles and extracts. Aim of the review: The current review provides a profound perception, enhanced understanding, and comprehensive information on the traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and biological activities of the genus Pennisetum, as well as toxicological perspectives. Furthermore, the significance of ethnopharmacological uses, application, and the beneficial potential of Pennisetum species for the management of a variety of diseases were thoroughly discussed. Materials and methods: The significant data of Pennisetum species was obtained through a thorough review of scientific articles published in a variety of databases, including Elsevier, Wiley, Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, Taylor and Francis, and Google Scholar. Furthermore, PhD and MSc theses were used in compiling and evaluating data obtained. Results: The ethnopharmacological applications of Pennisetum genus plants in various countries were established through detailed analysis of the aforementioned databases and thesis. So far, only a few species' chemical compositions and a total of 35 metabolites (excluding amino acids and fatty acid constituents) have been studied, including saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, anthocyanin phenols, terpenoids, and others. The crude extracts were found to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cytotoxic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, the significance of ethnopharmacological applications, application, and the positive potential of Pennisetum species for the management of a variety of disorders was thoroughly examined. Conclusions: Although there are significant gaps in comprehending the traditional applications in the current available data, Pennisetum spp. are known to be rich in flavonoids, phenols, fatty acids, and amino acids with favorable medicinal characteristics. However, more research into the chemical makeup of innovative plant-derived medications is still needed. Furthermore, high-quality preclinical studies using a unique strategy are needed to assess the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of these plants.

The increasing global burden of diabetes mellitus has called for the search for a therapeutic alternative that offers better activities and safety than conventional chemotherapy. Herein, we evaluated the neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of different fractions (ethyl acetate, N-butanol and residual aqueous) of Clompanus pubescens leaves in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Our results revealed a significant elevation in the levels of blood glucose, pro-inflammatory cytokines, lipid peroxidation, neuronal activities of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, nitric oxide, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and Na+/K+-ATPase in diabetic non treated rats. In addition, decreased levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were observed. Treatment with different fractions of C. pubescens leaves resulted in significant reversal of the biochemical alteration and improved the neurocognitive deficit in STZ induced diabetic rats. However, the ethyl-acetate fraction demonstrated higher activities than the other fractions and was characterized for its phytoconstituents, revealing the presence of Gallic acid (713.00 ppm), catechin (0.91 ppm), ferulic acid (0.98 ppm), rutin (59.82 ppm), quercetin (3.22 ppm) and kaempferol (4.07 ppm). Our molecular docking analysis revealed that these compounds exhibited different binding affinities and potentials for targeting BChE/AChE/ IL-1 β/Na+ -K+ -ATPase. However, only Kampferol and ferulic exhibited good drug-like, ADMET, and permeability properties suitable for use as a neuronal drug target agent. Hence, the ethyl-acetate fraction of C. pubescens leaves could be considered as a source of promising bioactive metabolite for the treatment and management of cognitive impairments related to type II diabetes mellitus.

Background: Chrysobalanus orbicularis is commonly used as food, the seeds as a spice for the popular pepper soup, and the leaves are traditionally utilized for managing Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. Due to the limited scientific evidence on C. orbicularis, this study investigated its antioxidant and inhibitory properties against major enzymes linked to T2DM. Methods: The antioxidant activity was measured via methods for possible scavenging potentials. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were examined using a standard model. Results: The C. orbicularis aqueous leaf extract compared well with the standard compounds, revealing the high antioxidant and inhibitory properties against α-amylase and α- glucosidase. Conclusion: The findings validate the conventional application of C. orbicularis in the treatment of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and other oxidative stress-related disorders.

The African nutmeg (Monodora myristica) is a medically useful plant. We, herein, aimed to critically examine whether bioactive compounds identified in the extracted oil of Monodora myristica could act as antimicrobial agents. To this end, we employed the Schrödinger platform as the computational tool to screen bioactive compounds identified in the oil of Monodora myristica. Our lead compound displayed the highest potency when compared with levofloxacin based on its binding affinity. The hit molecule was further subjected to an Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion (ADME) prediction, and a Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation was carried out on molecules with PubChem IDs 529885 and 175002 and on three standards (levofloxacin, cephalexin, and novobiocin). The MD analysis results demonstrated that two molecules are highly compact when compared to the native protein; thereby, this suggests that they could affect the protein on a structural and a functional level. The employed computational approach demonstrates that conformational changes occur in DNA gyrase after the binding of inhibitors; thereby, this resulted in structural and functional changes. These findings expand our knowledge on the inhibition of bacterial DNA gyrase and could pave the way for the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of multi-resistant bacterial infections.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) are one of the major health concerns around the globe; Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the most prevalent form of NDD. Protein kinases (PKs), common protein domains implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, are regulatory protein of cell functions; and play a pivotal role in signal transduction. Hence, this study considered the computational screening of secondary metabolites form Gongronema latifolium leaf for their inhibitory activities against the three prevalent PKs leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), GSK3β (glycogen kinase 3β) and MAPK14 associated with the onset of AD and PD. The compounds were initially screened against LRRK2, GSK3β and MAPK14 by molecular docking to retrieve the hits. Nine (9) compounds were chosen and calculated for binding free energy to determine their stability with the proteins. The Lipinski, Ghose, Veber and Egan rules were considered to predict the compounds drug-likeness, in addition to drug-drug interaction and GI absorption. 2D QSAR models were constructed using a Kernel-based PLS regression model with Canvas binary fingerprint as the X variable. From the selected nine-hit with favourable stability with the proteins, 4 flavonoids (Catechin, Gallocatechin, Butein and Isorhamnetin) showed drug-likeness attributes with a low tendency for drug-drug interaction and high GI absorption. The generated QSAR models also predicted moderate pIC50 values for these compounds against the three PKs. This study will help in future endeavours for finding effective therapy for AD and PD.

Chlorotoxin (CTX) is a minute 4 kDa protein made up of 36 amino acid residues, commonly known for its binding affinity to chloride channels and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) of glioma tumors of the spine and brain. This property and the possibility of conjugating this peptide to nanoparticles have enabled its diverse use in various biotechnological and biomedical applications for cancer treatment, such as in tumor imaging and radiotherapy. Because of the fascinating biological properties CTX possesses, elucidating its mechanism of action may hold promise for the development of new and effective therapeutic drugs, as well as more sensitive and highly specific cancer-screening kits. This article therefore reviews the currently known applications of CTX and suggests diverse ways in which it can be applied for the design of improved drugs and diagnostic tools for cancer.

Abstract Background Ocimum gratissimum L. is a medicinal plant widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions with the leaf decoction usually taken in folk medicine to enhance erectile performance in men although the probable mechanism of actions remains undetermined. This study examined the inhibitory potentials of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on some key enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction in penile and testicular tissues of the rat. Methods Inhibitory effect of aqueous extract (1:10 w/v) of O. gratissimum leaves on the activities of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), arginase, angiotensin I –converting enzyme (ACE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in penile and testicular tissues were assessed. Also, the extract was investigated for ferric reducing antioxidant property(FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities. Results The extract showed higher PDE-5 (IC50 = 43.19 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 44.23 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 55.51 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 46.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the penile tissue than PDE-5 (IC50 = 44.67 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 53.99 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 60.03 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 49.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the testicular tissue homogenate. Furthermore, the extract scavenged free radicals and in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion The enzyme activities displayed might be associated with the bioactive compounds present in the extract which could possibly explain its use in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Chrysobalanus orbicularis is a medicinal plant present in West Africa in the Itsekiri speaking part of Nigeria. It is used conventionally in diabetes mellitus management. This research investigates the ameliorative activity of the aqueous leaf extract of C. orbicularis in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Freshly prepared streptozotocin (40 mg/kg body weight [BW]) was administered intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Three diabetic groups were placed on aqueous leaf extract of C. orbicularis at 11.076, 22.134, and 44.268 mg/kg BW respectively; a group was placed on metformin (44.28 mg/kg BW), and the other two groups were the diabetic control and normal control. The experiment lasted for 28 days, thereafter, fasting blood glucose levels and body weight variations were recorded. Also, glycogen level, antioxidant enzyme, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities, malonaldehyde (MDA) as well as glucose transporters 2 and 4 levels were analyzed using standard procedures. Diabetic rats administered aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the fasting blood glucose and MDA levels, and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. In addition, administration of aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf to diabetic rats demonstrated a momentous increase in liver glycogen level, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, glutathione transferase, and hexokinase activities as well as GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 levels. The data from this study suggest that the aqueous extract of C. orbicularis leaf may be beneficial in the management of diabetic mellitus and its secondary effects.

The ability of Natural Killer (NK) cells to eliminate cancerous cells is largely dependant on the activation of the stimulatory or co-stimulatory natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) receptor. This receptor recognises ligands that are structural homologs of MHC class I molecules such as the UL-16 binding protein 2 (ULBP2). ULBP2 has been reported to have the ability to mediate natural resistance against tumours in vivo, thus promoting its use as a potential target for developing immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancers and some viral infections. In this study, we generated a reliable and quality 3-D structure of the protein using SWISS-MODEL. Furthermore, the ULBP2 was forecasted to be antigenic in nature and possesses six linear B-cell epitopes and 11 discontinuous B-cell epitopes. The protein contains seven cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and two helper T lymphocytes (HTLs). Overall, potential epitopes that might be effective to produce the B-cell and T-cell mediated immunity towards the needed immune response to tumour growth was predicted.

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam (Moraceae) stem bark has been used locally in managing diabetes mellitus with sparse scientific information. This study investigates the in vitro antioxidant potential of polyphenolic-rich extract of A heterophyllus stem bark as well as its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fifty male Wistar rats were used with the induction of diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) and were orally administered 400 mg/kg free and bound phenols of A heterophyllus stem bark. The animals were sacrificed on the 28th day of the experiment using the cervical dislocation method; antihyperglycemia and anti-inflammatory parameters were subsequently assessed. The polyphenolic extracts demonstrated antioxidant potentials (such as hydrogen peroxide and diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), as well as strong inhibitory activity against amylase and glucosidase. There was a significant ( P < .05) increase in glycogen, insulin concentration, pancreatic β-cell scores (HOMA-β), antioxidant enzymes and hexokinase activities, as well as glucose transporter concentration in diabetic animals administered the extracts and metformin. Also, a significant ( P < .05) reduction in fasting blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, glucose-6-phosphatase, and all anti-inflammatory parameters were observed in diabetic rats administered the extracts and metformin. The extracts demonstrated antidiabetic potential, which may be useful in the management of diabetes mellitus

In Africa, the fruit, leaf, seed and roots of Carica papaya Linn. are generally used to treat a variety of diseases such as malaria, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we evaluated the protective potentials of aqueous extract of C. papaya roots on arsenic-induced biochemical and genotoxic effects in Wistar rats. Rats were induced intraperitoneal with sodium arsenate (dissolved in distilled water at 3 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days and the animals were administered simultaneously with 200 mg/kg body weight vitamin C, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight of the C. papaya Linn. root aqueous extract once daily for three weeks. Results obtained reveals that activities of plasma 8-OHdG, serum lipids concentration, atherogenic index (AI), coronary artery index (CRI), aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin levels were elevated significantly (p

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is one of the major endocrine disorders, characterized by impaired insulin action and deficiency. Traditionally, Artocarpus heterophyllus stem bark has been reputably used in the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. The present study evaluates the ameliorative activity of ethanol extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus stem bark in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes mellitus was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg body weight of alloxan and the animals were orally administered with 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight ethanol extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus stem bark once daily for 21 days. Results: At the end of the intervention, diabetic control rats showed significant (p0.05) different with non-diabetic rats. Conclusion: The results suggest that ethanol extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus stem bark may be useful in ameliorating complications associated with diabetes mellitus patients.

Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray leaves have long been used to manage neurodegenerative diseases without scientific basis. This study characterized the phenolic constituents, evaluated the antioxidant properties of phenolic extracts from T. diversifolia leaves used as traditional medicine in Africa and its inhibition of key enzymes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The extract was rich in phenolic acids (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid) and flavonoids (apigenin) and had 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil radical scavenging abilities (IC50 = 41.05 μg. mL−1), 2,2-Azino-bis3-ethylbenthiazoline-6sulphonic acid radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 33.51 μg. mL−1), iron chelation (IC50 = 38.50 μg. mL−1), reducing power (Fe3+- Fe2+) (7.34 AAEmg/100 g), inhibited acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 39.27 μg mL−1) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 35.01 μg mL−1) activities. These results reveal the leaf as a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Keywords: Tithonia diversifolia leaves, Antioxidant activity, Cholinergic enzymes, Alzheimer’s disease

In this study, the antioxidant, carbohydrate metabolism, cholinergic, monoaminergic, and purinergic enzyme activities of ethyl acetate leaf fraction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius were evaluated with the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The ethyl acetate fraction of the plant leaf was tested for antioxidant properties, key carbohydrate metabolism, cholinergic, monoaminergic, and purinergic enzyme activities using standard procedures, while the chemical composition of the fraction was evaluated using HPLC. The results revealed that the fraction has higher phenolic compounds than flavonoid and exhibited the ability to scavenge iron chelation and ABTS. The fraction also inhibited the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, tyrosinase, arginase, Ecto-5’-nucleotidase, phosphodieterase-5, angiotensin-I-converting enzyme and encouraged the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. The HPLC analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction contained coumaric acid, amentoflavone, hesperidin, protocatechuic acid, kaempferol, dihydromyricetin, quercetin,and rutin. The obtained results in this study suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from aqueous extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf possessed outstanding antioxidative potentials. Thus, excellent enzyme inhibitory activities probably due to bioactive compounds are also observed in the leaf.

Objective: To investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus (A. heterophyllus) stem bark and its inhibitory effect on a-amylase and a-glucosidase. Methods: The A. heterophyllus stem bark was extracted using methanol and tested for antioxidative activity. Results: The results revealed that the ethanolic extract has polyphenolics and free radical scavenging compounds which were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than their respective standard, at concentration dependent manner. The ethanolic extract of A. heterophyllus stem bark was observed to show inhibitory activities on a-amylase and a-glucosidase with IC50 of (4.18 ± 0.01) and (3.53 ± 0.03) mg/mL, respectively. The Lineweaver-Burk plot revealed that ethanolic extract of A. heterophyllus stem bark exhibited non-competitive inhibition for a-amylase and uncompetitive inhibition for a-glucosidase activities. Also, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the presence of different bioactive compounds in extract. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be inferred from this study that ethanolic extract of A. heterophyllus stem bark may be useful in the management of diabetes mellitus probably due to bioactive compounds observed in the extract.

Excessive free radical generation, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to oxidative stress in the biological system, has been implicated in the pathogenesis and pathological conditions associated with diverse human inflammatory diseases (HIDs). Although inflammation which is considered advantageous is a defensive mechanism in response to xenobiotics and foreign pathogen; as a result of cellular damage arising from oxidative stress, if uncontrolled, it may degenerate to chronic inflammation when the ROS levels exceed the antioxidant capacity. Therefore, in the normal resolution of inflammatory reactions, apoptosis is acknowledged to play a crucial role, while on the other hand, dysregulation in the induction of apoptosis by enhanced ROS production could also result in excessive apoptosis identified in the pathogenesis of HIDs. Apparently, a careful balance must be maintained in this complex environment. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed in this review as an excellent candidate capable of playing prominent roles in maintaining this balance. Consequently, in novel drug design for the treatment and management of HIDs, AMPs are promising candidates owing to their size and multidimensional properties as well as their wide spectrum of activities and indications of reduced rate of resistance.

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease of poverty ranks second among the most widespread parasitic disease in various nations in sub-Saharan Africa. Neglected tropical diseases are causes of about 534,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa and an estimated 57 million disability-adjusted life-years are lost annually due to the neglected tropical diseases. The neglected tropical diseases exert great health, social and financial burden on economies of households and governments. Schistosomiasis has profound negative effects on child development, outcome of pregnancy, and agricultural productivity, thus a key reason why the “bottom 500 million” inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa continue to live in poverty. In 2008, 17.5 million people were treated globally for schistosomiasis, 11.7 million of those treated were from sub-Saharan Africa. This enervating disease has been successfully eradicated in Japan, as well as in Tunisia. Morocco and some Caribbean Island countries have made significant progress on control and management of this disease. Brazil, China and Egypt are taking steps towards elimination of the disease, while most sub-Saharan countries are still groaning under the burden of the disease. Various factors are responsible for the continuous and persistent transmission of schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa. These include climatic changes and global warming, proximity to water bodies, irrigation and dam construction as well as socio-economic factors such as occupational activities and poverty. The morbidity and mortality caused by this disease cannot be overemphasized. This review is an exposition of human schistosomiasis as it affects the inhabitants of various communities in sub-Sahara African countries. It is hoped this will bring a re-awakening towards efforts to combat this impoverishing disease in terms of vaccines development, alternative drug design, as well as new point-of-care diagnostics. Keywords: Neglected tropical diseases, Praziquantel, Schistosomiasis, Sub-Saharan Africa

Reports from previous studies now provide evidence that dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress play crucial roles in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetes and its related complications. This research is aimed to investigate the potential effects of protein isolate from Parkia biglobosa seeds (PBPI) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats by measuring blood glucose levels, changes in lipid metabolism and biomarkers of oxidative stress. Diabetic rats were treated orally with graded doses of PBPI, 200 mg/kg bw and 400 mg/kg bw, and 5 U/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) of insulin once daily for 28 days with the fasting blood glucose (FBG) monitored weekly. The effect of PBPI on the serum lipid profile was measured while the extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO), as well as antioxidant parameters (superoxide dismutase; SOD, catalase; CAT, glutathione-S-transferase; GST and total glutathione; total GSH), was determined in the cardiac homogenates of diabetic rats. At the tested doses, treatment with PBPI was significantly effective in lowering FBG, serum triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), while concurrently increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). PBPI also significantly decreased the elevations witnessed in LPO levels and restored the biomarkers of oxidative stress in the cardiac homogenate of experimental rats. The results from this study demonstrate that PBPI could improve dyslipidaemia and cardiac oxidative stress in the experimental diabetic animal model possibly by reducing and effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as by increasing antioxidant capacity in combating oxidative stress. Therefore, it can be concluded that PBPI could be explored in the development of a potent cardioprotective supplement or adjuvant therapy towards the management of diabetes and its related complications.

Cancer and infectious diseases such as Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, Zika, hepatitis, measles and human schistosomiasis are serious global health hazards. The increasing annual morbidities and mortalities of these diseases have been blamed on drug resistance and the inefficacy of available diagnostic tools, particularly those which are immunologically-based. Antibody-based tools rely solely on antibody production for diagnosis and for this reason they are the major cause of diagnostic delays. Unfortunately, the control of these diseases depends on early detection and administration of effective treatment therefore any diagnostic delay is a huge challenge to curbing these diseases. Hence, there is a need for alternative diagnostic tools, discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents. Studies have demonstrated that aptamers could potentially offer one of the best solutions to these problems. Aptamers are short sequences of either DNA or RNA molecules, which are identified in vitro through a SELEX process. They are sensitive and bind specifically to target molecules. Their promising features suggest they may serve as better diagnostic agents and can be used as drug carriers for therapeutic purposes. In this article, we review the applications of aptamers in the theranostics of cancer and some infectious diseases.

Therapies directed towards controlling hyperglycemia, the hallmark of type-2 diabetes mellitus, go a long way in managing diabetes and its related complications. Reducing glucose level through the inhibition of the relevant carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes is one among many routes in the management of diabetes. This study investigates the in vitro enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties of solvent-partitioned fractions of Spondias mombin and Mangifera indica leaves; which are used extensively in the treatment of diabetic patients locally. The leaves of S. mombin and M. indica were extracted with methanol and fractionated to obtain n-hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), n-butanol (BF), and aqueous (AF) fractions successively. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of fractions of S. mombin and M. indica leaves were investigated while the antioxidant activity of each fraction was analyzed using iron chelating and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging assay. Our findings indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of M. indica leaves contained a considerably higher (p < 0.05) amount of total phenolic, flavonoids, metal ion, and ABTS radical scavenging activity than the ethyl acetate fractions of S. mombin. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction of M. indica had a considerably higher (p < 0.05) inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 = 25.11 ± 0.01 μg mL−1), and α-amylase (IC50 = 24.04 ± 0.12 μg mL−1) activities than the S. mombin fraction. Hence, the inhibitory activities of S. mombin and M. indica leaves suggest that they are a potential source of orally active antidiabetic agents and could be employed to formulate new plant-based pharmaceutical and nutraceutical drugs to improve human health.

Protein isolate from Parkia biglobosa seeds is believed to possess excellent anti-diabetic properties. The purpose of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with Parkia biglobosa seeds protein isolate (PBPi). In this study, total proteins extracted from rat liver were separated on one-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel (1D SDS-PAGE) and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) to visualize protein bands. We observed that protein bands in the region of 10–15 kDa were altered by the different treatments; these bands were selected and excised for in-gel digestion and peptide extraction followed by nLC-MS, MALDI-TOF MS, and LIFT MS/MS. A database search with the Mascot algorithm positively identified four differentially expressed proteins. These proteins are known to be responsible for diverse biological functions within various organs and tissues. The present result gives insight and understanding into possible molecular mechanisms by which streptozotocin causes various alterations in proteins found in the liver of diabetic rats and the possible modulatory role of PBPi in the management of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play cytoprotective activities under pathological conditions through the initiation of protein folding, repair, refolding of misfolded peptides, and possible degradation of irreparable proteins. Excessive apoptosis, resulting from increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) cellular levels and subsequent amplified inflammatory reactions, is well known in the pathogenesis and progression of several human inflammatory diseases (HIDs) and cancer. Under normal physiological conditions, ROS levels and inflammatory reactions are kept in check for the cellular benefits of fighting off infectious agents through antioxidant mechanisms; however, this balance can be disrupted under pathological conditions, thus leading to oxidative stress and massive cellular destruction. Therefore, it becomes apparent that the interplay between oxidant-apoptosis-inflammation is critical in the dysfunction of the antioxidant system and, most importantly, in the progression of HIDs. Hence, there is a need to maintain careful balance between the oxidant-antioxidant inflammatory status in the human body. HSPs are known to modulate the effects of inflammation cascades leading to the endogenous generation of ROS and intrinsic apoptosis through inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors, thereby playing crucial roles in the pathogenesis of HIDs and cancer. We propose that careful induction of HSPs in HIDs and cancer, especially prior to inflammation, will provide good therapeutics in the management and treatment of HIDs and cancer.

Major histocompatibility complex class 1 chain-related gene sequence A is a polymorphic gene found at about 46.6 kb centromeric to HLA-B. It encodes a transmembrane protein, which is a non-classical human leukocyte antigen whose expression is normally induced by stress conditions like cancer and viral infections. The expression of MIC-A leads to the activation of NKG2D receptors of natural killer and T cells, leading to the generation of innate immune response that can easily eliminate/cleanse tumour cells and other cells that express the protein. Several bioinformatics and immunoinformatics tools were used to analyse the sequence and structure of the MIC-A protein. These tools were used in building and evaluating modelled structure of MIC-A, and to predict several antigenic determinant sites on the protein. The MIC-A protein structure generated an average antigenic propensity of 1.0289. Additionally, the hydrophilic regions on the surface of the MIC-A protein where antibodies can be attached were revealed. A total of fourteen antigenic epitopes were predicted, with six found in the transmembrane protein topology, and are predicted to play a role in the development of vaccines that can reactivate the functionalities of the MIC-A protein on the surface of cancer cells in order to elicit a desired immune response.

This study sought to investigate the possible protective role of Parkia biglobosa seed protein isolate (PBPi) against streptozotocin-induced hepatic damage and oxidative stress in diabetic male rats. Prior to animal experiments, a HPLC fingerprint of PBPi was recorded. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg body weight). Diabetic rats were orally treated daily with PBPi (200 or 400 mg/kg body weight) or insulin (5 U/kg, i.p.) for 28 days. The degree of protection was evaluated using biochemical parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, serum transaminases (ALT and AST), total protein, total glutathione (Total GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) activities. Histology of liver sections was also performed. The HPLC fingerprint of PBPi revealed eleven distinct peaks; PBPi at tested doses significantly attenuates STZ-induced elevated levels of serum IL-6, ALT and AST; and hepatic TBARS levels. Hepatic antioxidants (Total GSH, GST, SOD, CAT) as well as total protein were markedly restored in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological results strongly support the protective role of PBPi. These results suggest PBPi could confer protection by ameliorating hepatic damage and oxidative stress caused by STZ in animal model possibly via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.