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Moringa oleifera (MO) is a plant of significant medicinal importance. The dried leaves of MO were pulverized, extracted with ethanol and fractionated using column chromatography to provide seven fractions (MOF1-7) with MOF6 having the best preliminary antioxidant potential. Therefore, this study evaluated the hepatoprotective potentials of MOF6 in sodium arsenite (SA)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups of five rats each. Control Group I received normal saline. Groups II and III received 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) of SA for 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. Groups IV and V received 20 mg/kg bw of SA for 3 weeks followed by treatment with 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bw of fraction MOF6, respectively, for 6 weeks. Groups VI and VII received only 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bw of fraction MOF6, respectively, for 6 weeks. Antioxidant (lipid peroxidation) and biochemical analyses of liver enzymes of all rats were carried out after the completion of experimental procedures. Results showed statistically significant lower mean values (p ≤ 0.05) of malondialdehyde (MDA), acid phosphatase (ACP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) in rats of Groups IV and V compared with Group III. However, there were statistically significant higher mean values (p ≤ 0.05) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in Groups IV and V compared with Groups I and III. In conclusion, these results implied that fraction MOF6 has antioxidant and hepatoprotective potentials. However, results of ALP analyses implied that MOF6 possibly augmented SA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of MOF6 (isolated from Moringa oleifera leaves) and Trimyristin (isolated from Myristica fragrans seeds) on Acetylcholinesterase concentrations in cerebral cortices of rats with Sodium arsenite-induced neurotoxicity. Sixty-five adult male rats (150 g-250 g) were randomly divided into thirteen groups comprising of five rats per group. Groups 1 and 3 received physiological saline and 1 ml/200 g bodyweight of Olive oil respectively for 9 weeks. Group 2 received 20 mg/kg bodyweight of Sodium arsenite (SA) for 6 weeks and left untreated for another 3 weeks. Groups 4-5 received 20 mg/kg bodyweight of SA for 3 weeks followed by treatments with 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight of MOF6 respectively for 6 weeks. Groups 6-7 received 20 mg/kg bodyweight of SA for 3 weeks followed by treatments with 15 and 30 mg/kg bodyweight of Trimyristin respectively for 6 weeks. Groups 8-11 received 5.0 and 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight of MOF6; 15 and 30 mg/kg bodyweight of Trimyristin respectively for 9 weeks. Groups 12-13 received 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight of MOF6 and 30 mg/kg bodyweight of Trimyristin respectively for 6 weeks followed by co-administration of each extract dose with 20 mg/kg bodyweight of SA for another 3 weeks. Histological examination of cerebral cortices and biochemical analyses of Acetylcholinesterase concentrations were carried out in all rats. Computed data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 with statistical significance at p≤0.05. Histo-pathological evaluations revealed normal histo-architecture of cerebral cortices of all rats. Results showed statistically significant (p≤0.05) increases in Acetylcholinesterase concentrations in rats of Groups 1-10 and 12 compared with Group 2 (2.78±1.76 𝜇mole/min/g). 7.5 mg/kg bodyweight of MOF6 showed the best therapeutic and neuro-regenerative potential against SA-induced neurotoxicity.Conclusions: Our findings implied that MOF6 and Trimyristin reversed downregulation of Acetylcholinesterase concentrations in SA-induced neurotoxicity in rats; and possess neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative potentials.

The importance of biodiesel and its production cannot be overemphasized; biodiesel has assumed a very prominent position in the energy development of both the developed and developing nations. This is due probably to climate change and the fear of the depletion of the fossil fuel. Biodiesel being not only clean fuel but also obtained from renewable sources is believed to be a better alternative to the traditional petrodiesel. Thus, development geared toward the production and utilization of biodiesel will go a long way in conserving the ecosystem as well as serve as a source of income. This chapter therefore itemizes the protocol for production of biodiesel from plant material using base-catalyst transesterification reaction method.

The importance of biodiesel and its production cannot be overemphasized; biodiesel has assumed a very prominent position in the energy development of both the developed and developing nations. This is due probably to climate change and the fear of the depletion of the fossil fuel. Biodiesel being not only clean fuel but also obtained from renewable sources is believed to be a better alternative to the traditional petrodiesel. Thus, development geared toward the production and utilization of biodiesel will go a long way in conserving the ecosystem as well as serve as a source of income. This chapter therefore itemizes the protocol for production of biodiesel from plant material using base-catalyst transesterification reaction method.

Background: Moringa oleifera's leaves are globally used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. We evaluated lipid profile status, heart and liver histology, and the activities of alanine and aspartate transaminases of the liver in M. oleifera-treated adult Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were employed in the study. Rats of control Group I received physiological saline while rats of Groups II–IV received 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg bodyweight of methanolic extract of M. oleifera, respectively, for 21 days. Results: No gross morphological or behavioral anomalies were observed in rats of Groups I–IV. Histological examinations showed normal histoarchitecture of the heart in Group I and the liver of Groups I–III. Comparative histological analyses showed dose-dependent increased nucleated cells in heart tissues of rats of Groups II–IV than those of Group I. Furthermore, histological evaluations showed hypertrophy of central vein of the liver in rats of Group IV when compared to Group I. Statistical analyses showed dose-dependent nonsignificant higher mean levels (P > 0.05) of total cholesterol and triglycerides in the sera of rats of Groups II–IV compared to rats of Group I. Evaluations of levels of alanine and aspartate transaminases showed a statistically significant higher mean values (P < 0.05) in Group II, but statistically nonsignificant higher mean values (P > 0.05) in Groups III–IV compared to Group I. Conclusions: No significant adverse effects on lipid profile status, heart histology, and liver histochemistry were observed in M. oleifera-treated rats.

Introduction: Spondias mombin has been reported to possess medicinal properties. Material and Methods: This study evaluated the anti-ulcer properties of Spondias mombin. Rats of Group I received physiological saline only while 40mg/kg/bodyweight of Indomethacin (an ulcerogen) was administered to rats of Groups II - VI. Four hours after administrations of the ulcerogen; rats of Groups III - VI were treated daily with oral administrations of 250, 500 and 1000mg/kg/bodyweight of Spondias mombin bark extract and 40mg/kg/bodyweight of Omeprazole respectively for four days. Rats were euthanized on Days 1 (Group II) and 5 (Groups I and III - VI); stomach and liver samples were removed for evaluations of gastric acidity, histo-pathological and lipid profile status. Results: AAnalyses of gastric acidity and lipid profile status in the stomach and liver samples of rats of Group II showed statistically significant higher levels (P≤0.05) of gastric acidity, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides but lower high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (P≤0.05) when compared to rats of Groups I, and III - VI. Histo-pathological evaluations showed dose-dependent restorations of stomach and liver histology to pre-ulceration states in rats of Groups III - VI. Conclusions: This study concluded that Spondias mombin administrations promoted histo-pathological restorations of the stomach and liver; and lipid profile status of male wistar rats in Indomethacin - induced gastric ulceration.

Objectives : Cuprizone is a neurotoxicant used in modeling demyelinating disorders. This study explored the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) on oxidative, histomorphological and behavioural changes in cuprizone-damaged cerebellum. Methods : Twenty adult female Wistar rats were grouped into 4, each group having five animals. Group A received 1 ml of normal saline (Control); group B received 0.4% cuprizone; group C received 15.6 mg/kgBW Moringa oleifera leaf extract; group D received 0.4% cuprizone and 15.6 mg/kgBW Moringa oleifera , orally for 5 weeks. The animals were assessed for exploratory and locomotor activities, while the cerebellum was processed for histology and assayed for nitric oxide (NO), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Results : Cuprizone treatment caused weight reduction, disruption of Purkinje cell layer, cellular degeneration, reduction in NO, CAT and SOD activities. However, these changes were ameliorated when co-administered with MO. Conclusion : The anti-oxidative property of Moringa oleifera is responsible for its ameliorative effect in cuprizone neurotoxicity. Keywords : demyelination, cuprizone, cerebellar damage, Moringa oleifera, oxidative enzymes

Seeds from Neem plants were ground and defatted to obtain the meal, the neem seed cake (NSC). The seed cake was fermented with two different fungi Aspergillus niger and Mucor mucedo. Proximate compositions as well as antinutrient factor of the treated cakes were analyzed. The results obtained reveals that the defatted Neem seed cake treated with A. niger contains protein of 47.70% which is higher than the seed cake treated with M. mucedo and the untreated sam- ple. The untreated sample which is the control contains more dry matter and crude fiber of 80.67% and 0.51% respectively. It was also observed that the sample treated with A. niger contains more phytate and tannin of 7.95% and 1.30% respec- tively. Though the treatment has increased the crude protein content of Neem seed cake, but the biological treatment may not be suitable for the detoxification of neem seed cake as the antinutrient factors (oxalate, phytate, tannin and cyanide) determined were significantly higher in the treated than the untreated seed cake.

Objective: This study evaluated the anti-ulcer properties of Croton zambesicus leaves. Materials and Methods: Group 1 was Control. 40mg/kg/bodyweight of Indomethacin (the ulcerogen) was administered to rats of Groups II and #8211; VII. Four hours after administrations of ulcerogen; rats of Groups III and #8211; VII were treated daily with oral administrations of 40mg/kg/bodyweight of Omeprazole, 5 and 10mg/kg/bodyweight of essential oils, 250 and 500mg/kg bodyweight of methanolic extract of Croton zambesicus leaves respectively for four days. Rats were euthanized on Day 1 (Group II) and Day 5 (Groups I and III and #8211; VII); thereafter, stomach and liver samples were removed for evaluations of gastric acidity, histo-pathological and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) status. Results: Analyses of gastric acid assays and histo-pathological examinations showed dose-dependent statistically significant higher levels (P and #8804;0.05) of gastric acidity and non-restorations of the gastric mucosa layer to pre-ulceration states in rats of Groups IV and #8211; VII treated with extract doses when compared to Group III. Statistically non-significant (Group IV) or significant (Groups V - VII) higher ALT levels (P and #8804;0.05) were observed in liver samples of rats treated with doses of essential oils and methanolic extract of Croton zambesicus leaves when compared to Group II. Conclusion: Our study observed low anti-ulcerogenic potentials of doses of essential oils and methanolic extracts of Croton zambesicus leaves. [J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2014; 3(3.000): 97-102]