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Commelina diffusa is a plant rich in antioxidant compounds, used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Commelina diffusa. Total phenolic and flavonoids content of extracts were determined. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by administration of gentamicin (80 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 10 days. Simultaneously, extracts were given at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. At the end of treatment, body weight of rats was measured; blood and liver tissues were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. The results showed that aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. diffusa contain significant amounts of total phenols and flavonoids. These extracts significantly decreased (pCommelina diffusa could protect against hepatotoxic effects of gentamicin. Keywords: Commelina diffusa, Gentamicin, Hepatoprotective activity, Antioxidant.

Background Globally, Termitomyces letestui is used by different communities to treat various illnesses, including bacterial infection, although with limited scientific evidence. The current study aims to assess the immunomodulatory and antibacterial properties of the water extract of a wild mushroom, T. letestui in mice model. Methods The base study was completed following the standard methods and procedures using white mice Mus musculus. The immunomodulatory was investigated for humoral and cell-mediated response in both the normal and dexamethasone-immunosuppressed mice. An immunostimulatory drug, levamisole, was used as reference. The treatment was done daily and the extract doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg bwt were used. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH), mice lethality rate and hemagglutination antibody titer were determined. Disc diffusion assay was performed using the Muller-Hinton agar to assess the effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad prism 5.0 a Software. Results T. letestui water extract (TLAE) provided significant inhibition zones against E. coli and S. aureus. TLAE=, along with the antigen (Salmonella typhi) showed a significant increase in the circulating antibody titer and reduced the lethality rate in mice. The extract also showed significant increase in the DTH response against S. typhi. Conclusions This preliminary study demonstrated that TLAE caused a significant immunostimulatory effect on both the cell-mediated and humoral immune systems in the mice and antibacterial property against E. coli and S. aureus.

Background Termitomyces clypeatus (T. clypeatus) is an edible mushroom specie which grows in various areas in Cameroon. It is indicated by several healers in treatment of several infectionsand is frequently used for this purpose. However, no study has been reported on its antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities which were the aim of this study. Methods Disc diffusion method was used to appreciate the bactericidal activity against 4 bacteria and 2 yeast species. The immunomodulatory activities were assessed in mice, where the extract was administered by gavage and as supplement in the feed. The treatment was done for 10 days. Delayed type hypersensitivity test was carried out to assess the cell mediated immune response while the effect on humoral immunity was evaluated using hemagglutination assay and mice lethality test.. The body weight was also recorded in mice used for delayed hypersensitivity. Results It was found that extract of T. clypeatus highly inhibited the growth of bacteria and yeast at different ratios compared to the medium (P

Background Macrophages are the first cells to recognize invading foreign bodies and are central to cell mediated and humoral immunity. Therefore, the activation of macrophages is a key event for effective innate and adaptive immunity. Pterocarpus erinaceus has been reported to control infectious diseases, but the mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated the immune-modulatory effect of aqueous extract of P. erinaceus using human macrophages and lymphocytes, as well as mice. Methods Hot water was used to extract P. erinaceus from the stem bark. Its effect on lymphocytes was measured by evaluating proliferative response and delayed hypersensitivity. Phagocytic activity of macrophages were measured based on neutral red uptake assay, nitric oxide production and myeloperoxidase and phosphatase acid activity. Hematopoietic and infectious activities were analyzed using the effect on infectious stress and chloramphenicol-induced leucopenic mice model. Results Aqueous extract showed stronger stimulatory effects on the neutral red uptake, production of nitric oxide and phosphatase acid activity in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. In addition, aqueous extract significantly stimulated the proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-activated lymphocytes, enhanced delayed hypersensitivity response to erythrocytes and attenuated infection-induced fever. Furthermore, aqueous extract also significantly increased the rate of recovery of white blood cell levels in chloramphenicol-induced leucopenia mice. Conclusions The results suggest that aqueous extract of P. erinaceus stem bark is able to modulate the immune system and has potential effects in clinical conditions when an immune-enhancing and anti-infectious effect is desired.

Objective: The barks of Lannea acida (L. acida) are used in traditional medicine as aphrodisiac. This work was undertaken to evaluate the effects of L. acida on vas deferens contractility (in vitro test) and seminal vesicles pressure (ex-copula test) of mature rat.Methods: For the in vitro test, rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the vas deferens removed and mounted in an isolated organ bath containing aerated physiological Krebs solution for the recording of the effects of aqueous extract of L. acida (0.91-14.54 mg/ml) and KCl (13.25-106 mg/ml). For the ex-copula test, the seminal vesicles pressure of urethane-anesthetized rats was measured after urethral and tactile stimulations, intravenous administration of NaCl 0.9% (1 ml/kg), dopamine (5 mg/kg) or plant extract (5-40 mg/kg).Results: Similar to KCl (13.25-106 mg/ml), the aqueous extract of L. acida concentration-dependently contracted the vas deferens. Furthermore, urethral and tactile stimulations as well as intravenous administration of dopamine or plant extract induced contractions of the seminal vesicles characterized by an increase of the pressure. This increase induced by the plant extract was dose-dependent with significant effects obtained at doses 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg.Conclusion: These results show that L. acida improves the emissive phase of ejaculation through contraction of vas deferens and seminal vesicle smooth muscles.Keywords: Lannea acida, emission phase of ejaculation, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, rat

Background and objectives: The leaves of Alchornea laxiflora are used in herbal medicine as a remedy for threatened abortion. This study was designed to scientifically evaluate the tocolytic effect of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Alchornea laxiflora leaves on implantation and last term of pregnancy in rats.Methods: For the implantation test, spermpositive females were orally given either distilled water (10 ml/kg), salbutamol (0.2 mg/kg), aqueous or methanolic extract (55 and 100 mg/kg) of Alchornea laxiflora from day 1 to day 7 of pregnancy. For the late pregnancy study, some gestational parameters (duration of pregnancy, number and weight of pups at birth) were measured after treating pregnant females, as in the implantation test, from day 17 to day 25.Results: For the implantation test, all sperm-positive females showed implantation sites and, the duration of gestation, the resorption rate, the litter size and the weight of pups at birth were unaffected at delivery compared to control. For the last term pregnancy, Alchornea laxiflora extracts also expressed a tocolytic activity ranking from 28.57% (aqueous extract, 100 mg/kg) to 71.4% (methanolic extract, 55 mg/kg). No significant differences were observed regarding the mean litter size and the variation in body weight between the treatment groups. Salbutamol produced similar effects.Conclusion: Treatment of females at late gestation stage with plant extracts and salbutamol extended the expected delivery period. These results support the tocolytic traditional claim regarding Alchornea laxiflora.Keywords: Alchornea laxiflora, implantation, parturition, tocolysis, rat

Recent studies have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is associated with infertility. This work was undertaken to evaluate the protective effects of Aframomum melegueta on testicular functions and fertility of hypothyroid male rats. Male rats were orally treated with propylthiouracil (PTU: 10 mg/kg) in combination with plant aqueous or methanol seed extract (20 and 100 mg/kg) for 56 days. Vitamin E and clomiphene citrate served as positive controls. On day 47 of treatment, each male was mated with two adult females for fertilization potential evaluation. At the end of the treatment, genital sex organ weights, sperm characteristics, testicular histology, oxidative status, plasmatic hormones and fertility potential were evaluated. Results indicated that PTU created hypothyroidism characterised by a significant increase in TSH with reduction of T3 and T4. PTU also lowered genital sex organ weights, sperm count, viability and motility, plasmatic levels of luteinising hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone, and increased prolactin, cholesterol and testicular oxidative stress. Alteration in sperm morphology, testis and epididymis histology, and fertilization potential was also noticed. Co-administration with A. melegueta extracts successfully reversed PTU-induced infertility without any effect on thyroid hormones. These results provide evidence that A. melegueta has a protective effect on fertility in hypothyroid condition.

Background Distemonanthus benthamianus is used in the Western part of Cameroon to treat diarrheal episodes and infections. This study assessed its trunk-bark extracts activity against enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 31 (EPEC 31)-induced diarrhea in rats. Methods Aqueous and methanolic extracts were analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MICs/MBCs) were evaluated on Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 10,541), E. coli (ATCC 6539), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13,883), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539) strains and on Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA 01) and Shigella flexneri isolates using the microdilution method. Diarrhea was induced by inoculating rats with EPEC 31 (1.5 × 108 CFU/mL; p.o). Serum transaminases level assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokines determination were performed. Hematoxylin–eosin (H–E) staining was used for intestinal tissue analysis. Results HPLC fingerprints of extracts showed presence of gallic acid and other unidentified compounds. The lowest MIC of 256 µg/mL was obtained with methanolic extract. At 100 mg/kg, both extracts significantly (p Conclusion These findings suggest that D. benthamianus trunk-bark extracts displayed therapeutic effects against infectious diarrhea in rats.