Journal of Medicinal Herbs
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Autumn 2019

Citrus paradisi Macfad (Rutaceae) seed extract (CPE) is used in folkloric medicine for the management of diabetes, blood deficiencies and as immune booster, which may require long term usage. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity profile of ethanol seed extract of grapefruit in adult Wistar rats in order to determine its safety profile in whole organism’s systems.

Acute toxicity study was conducted using OECD–425 procedure. Subchronic toxicity study (90 days) was conducted using 40 adult male Wistar rats, randomly divided into four groups (10/group) and orally-treated daily, thus: Group I-Control (normal saline, 10 ml/kg), Groups II-IV received CPE (4, 40 and 400) mg/kg body weight, respectively. On the 92nd day, animals (6/group) were euthanized under diethyl ether anaesthesia and sacrificed. Vital organs were eviscerated, blotted, weighed and stored for oxidative stress measurement; some samples of the organs were fixed in formalin for histopathological examination. Other animals (4/group) were retained for reversibility studies.

Results showed significant increase and decrease in weights of the kidneys and spleen, respectively. Significant increase in malondialdehyde level and decreases in superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase activities were recorded. Histopathology of the kidney, liver, and lungs showed some degree of pathologies. Reversibility studies showed reversal of test effects on extract discontinuation. Despite the diverse biological usefulness of ethanol seed extract of C. paradisi (CPE), it may also induce an array of toxicities especially on long term use.

Contrary to the tradomedical claims that CPE is absolutely safe, the study revealed that CPE may induce oxidative stress and organ toxicity especially on long term use. It is imperative the plant seed extract and its derivatives be used with utmost caution, and where possible be avoided.

Background & Aim

Medical conditions associated with pains and inflammation are prevalent in the global population. The tubers of Chlorophytum alismifolium are widely used traditionally in Nigeria for the management of pain and inflammation. This study aims to establish the chemical profile and evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the hexane extract of C. alismifolium (HECA) tubers in experimental animals.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), phytochemical screening and acute toxicity studies were conducted according to standard protocols. Analgesic activity was investigated with graded doses of HECA (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) using acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice and formalin-induced pain in rats; while the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema model in rats.

The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of eighteen compounds covering an area of approximately 100%. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and triterpenes while the oral median lethal dose was estimated to be >5000 mg/kg in rats and mice. In the 4th and 5th hour of the carrageenan test, HECA at 500 and 1000 mg/kg significantly (P<0.01) reduced the oedema index, respectively. In the analgesic study, HECA significantly (P<0.001) reduced the mean number of writhes with the highest inhibition (79.67%) obtained at 500 mg/kg. In the formalin test, HECA at 250 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) reduced the mean pain scores in both phases of the test.

The findings depict that HECA possesses pharmacologically active compounds that can be applied in the management of inflammation and pain.

Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) is usually a wild plant and classified in Anacardiaceae family. The fruits are used as a medicine for curing fever, diarrhea, stomachache, dermatitis disease and some other important disease like cancer, stroke, diabetes and liver disease. In this study, some Iranian wild sumac ecotypes were investigated in terms of mineral compositions. Detecting medicinal plants chemical composition is useful for phytochemical scientific source.

Mature and ripe fruits were collected and dried in laboratory condition, and then the minerals content like Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, P, K, and Zn were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

In Yahya-Abad samples, potassium, sodium, zinc, phosphorous and manganes were the most abundant minerals. The amount of calcium in Yahya-Abad samples and Firizhand samples was the highest. In Firizhand samples the amount of copper and magnesium were higher than other ecotypes and in Malmir samples, iron was significantly higher than other ecotypes. Also, results from this study indicated that all samples are significantly different from each other in terms of mineral elements. The samples from Yahya-Abad was found to contain appreciable amounts of different minerals.

Minerals are vital chemical elements for the human health and must be in the diet. These findings would be useful for food scientists and nutritionists interested in the nutritive value of plants.

Medicinal plants are rich sources of substances with nutraceutical and health benefits. Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae) is a known medicinal plant used in traditional medicine throughout the world. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficiencies of three methods for antioxidant extraction from Valeriana officinalis, and the impact of extraction methods on total phenollic and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activities of valeriana root was studied.

The dried-root was extracted by three different methods including maceration, ultrasonic assisted, and Soxhlet assisted extraction. Antioxidant capacity of the extracts was assessed using DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) free radicals scavenging, reducing power and iron chelating activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also identified.

The ultrasonic extract showed the highest amount of total phenolics and flavonoids contents. In DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay, the ultrasonic assisted extract, (IC50=0.546 mg/ml) showed higher activity than the other extracts. In DPPH radical scavenging activity, IC50 for ultrasonic extract, soxhlet assisted extraction and maceration extract were 0.546, 0.816 and 0.678 mg/ml, respectively. The results clearly showed that the extraction methods used in this study significantly affected antioxidant capacities and total phenolic and flavonoids contents. It was found that ultrasonic assisted extraction and Soxhlet methods are more efficient in extraction of antioxidant components from Valeriana officinalis L.

Considering result of study, it can be inferred that the herb may be a good source of bioactive compounds and can work as an antioxidant to prevent the oxidative deteriorative activity of food materials.

The plant Momordica charantia is highly valuable having a wide range of medicinal uses with tropical and subtropical regions distribution. This study was conducted to appraise the medicative properties of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The antidiabetic influence of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) was investigated in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. 50 rats allocated into five groups (A-E) (n =10) were utilized in this study: group A was normal control, groups B to E were induced with alloxan with diabetes established, while group B was not treated, group C received glibenclamide treatment while groups D and E were administered extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively, in a study that continued for 28 days. Changes in blood glucose levels, body weight, haematology, serum chemistry, antioxidant system and histopathology changes were evaluated.

MEMC elicited significant drop in blood glucose level from diabetic to near normal level, restoring the body weight, haematological and serum biochemical parameters to the basal non diabetic level; likewise the MEMC-treated group elicited a decreased level of oxidant markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but increased concentration of protein thiols (PT), non-protein thiols (NPT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) indicating its anti-oxidant potential. The pancreas section also revealed repair of distorted pancreatic architecture in MEMC-treated group compared to diabetic group.

The plant exhibited anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant abilities hence could be explored for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Bombax costatumis widely used in the African traditional medicine for the management of liver diseases, fever, epilepsy and pain but its safety on prolong administration have not been evaluated. The present study aimed at evaluating the toxicological properties of the methanol stem bark extract (MSBE) of Bombax costatum.

Oral median lethal dose (LD50) was estimated. Effects of methanol stem bark extract of Bombax costatum (MSBE)(31.25, 62.5 and 125 mg/kg) on mean body weight, relative organ weight (ROW), liver function, kidney function, lipid profile, haematological parameters and histopathological changes in some organs were evaluated following 28 days daily oral administration to mice.

Oral LD50 of MSBE of B. costatum was estimated to be >5000 mg/kg. There was significant (p>0.005) increase in mean body weight of mice over time. The extract caused significant (p<0.05) increase in ROW of liver and significant (p<0.05) decrease in ROW of the kidneys at 125mg/kg. Significant increase in alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were also observed at 125 mg/kg when compared to normal control group. Mild to moderate necrosis were also observed in the liver and kidneys of treated groups.

The results suggested that prolong oral administration of methanol stem bark extract of B.costatum at doses higher than 62.5 mg/kg might be toxic to the liver and kidneys.

Infertility in humans and animals has always been a common concern, which is important in animals economically and emotionally in humans. The reluctance to use synthetic drugs, as well as the emphasis on the use of traditional medicine to treat impotence, has led to many attempts to use of medicinal plants.

In the current literature review key words including Polygonum avicular, knotweed, fertility and sperm were searched in scientific websites such as Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar to compile the effects of Polygonum avicular on fertility of sperm.

The reviews of studies showed that knotweed (Polygonum avicular) due to the presence of phenolic compounds active in its chemical structure and therefore having strong antioxidant properties) can be a suitable alternative to synthetic assisted reproductive drugs. This herbal medicine improves the quality of semen and increases the fertility potential of sperm by disrupting the production of free radicals, dissolving the chain reactions of oxidation and reducing oxidative stress. The antioxidant properties of knotweed cause the formation of health sperm with normal morphological structure (head, middle part and tail), and more integrated chromatin. The results of various studies on the effect of knotweed on fertility indicators showed that the rate of DNA failure and mitochondrial genome damage decreased in treated sperms. The treated sperm cells have the highest progressive motility, the highest viability and the best fertility.

According to the results of previous studies, the use of knotweed in animal and human can increase sperm fertility and hatchability.