AQUEOUS EXTRACT

This study investigated the comparative effects of co-administration of aqueous and methanol fractions of Cleome rutidosperma and Hunteria umbellata on hematopoiesis in L-NAME/STZinduced hypertensive and diabetic male Wistar rats. Hypertension and diabetes are chronic metabolic disorders that frequently coexist and contribute to cardiovascular complications through oxidative stress and hematological alterations. Traditional medicinal plants such as Cleome rutidosperma and Hunteria umbellata have been reported to possess antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties, yet their combined effects on blood cell formation remain underexplored. Hematological indices were evaluated to determine their effects on erythropoiesis, leukopoiesis, and thrombopoiesis. The findings revealed that both extracts produced beneficial effects on altered hematological parameters, with the methanol fraction showing greater hematoprotective efficacy. The methanol fraction significantly improved total lymphocyte, mid- sized cell percentage, and platelet indices, indicating enhanced immune response, erythropoietic stability, and hemostatic balance. These results suggest that the methanol fraction of Cleome rutidosperma and Hunteria umbellata exerts superior restorative effects on hematopoiesis in L- NAME/STZ-induced hypertensive and diabetic rats, highlighting its therapeutic potential in managing hematological disturbances associated with cardiometabolic disorders.

To evaluate the effect of aqueous petal extracts of Musa sapientum (banana) and Musa paradisiaca (plantain) on ovarian morphology, reproductive hormones, and oxidative stress markers in female Wistar rats. Forty-two (42) female Wistar rats weighing between 100 g and 180 g were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into seven groups of six rats each. Group 1 served as the control and received water and feed only, while groups 2, 3, and 4 received graded doses of banana petal extract (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml respectively), and groups 5, 6, and 7 received graded doses of plantain petal extract (0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml respectively). The study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy (Animal House), Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, between . Dried petals of banana and plantain were ground and extracted using distilled water. The extracts were reconstituted in distilled water and administered orally for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, blood samples were collected for hormonal analysis, including estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle- stimulating hormone, while ovarian tissues were harvested for histological and oxidative stress analyses. The extracts exhibited varying effects on ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones. Histological assessments showed dose-dependent changes in follicular development and corpus luteum formation, while biochemical analyses indicated modulation of oxidative stress markers. These findings suggest that banana and plantain petal extracts may exert protective or modulatory effects on ovarian function. The study highlights the potential of these widely available botanical materials in supporting female reproductive health and underscores the importance of dose considerations in therapeutic applications.

Consuming toxic chemicals and substances can induce gastric damage to the stomach, which can result in serious medical disorders, cancer, and even death. Traditional herbs are being studied and processed into contemporary medications that are used to treat a variety of illnesses and medical issues. Mistletoe extracts have a long history of usage as secondary treatments for a variety of illnesses. Additionally, they include antioxidants such flavonoids, which have effects both in vitro and in vivo, and they have also been documented to exert specific pharmacological actions (such as cytotoxic and immunomodulatory). This study was carried out to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of mistletoe on lead acetate˗induced gastric damage in adult Wistar rats. Thirty (30) Wistar rats weighing between 150g and 250g were grouped into six; Group A, B, C, D, E and F. Each groups was made of up 5 rats and the rats were fed with grower mash feed (Primer Feed mill, Nigeria) and had free access to water throughout the entire period of study. Group A served as control. Group B rats were given 10mg/kg of lead acetate and 200mg/kg extract of Mistletoe (low dose). Group C rats were given 10mg/kg of lead acetate and 400mg/kg extract of Mistletoe (intermediate dose). Group D were given 10mg/kg of lead acetate and 800mg/kg extract of Mistletoe (high dose). Group E were given 10mg/kg of lead acetate only. Group F were given 10mg/kg of lead acetate and standard drug 500mg/kg (Omeprazole). After receiving the treatment for 28 days, the rats were sacrificed. Choloform was used to render the rats unconscious. The stomach was removed, weighed, and placed in 10% formal˗saline to prevent autolysis before being sent to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) histopathology department for tissue processing and histological evaluation. The results from this research shows that there was significant increase (P<0.05) of body weight in Group A, B, C, D and F when the initial body weight were compared to the final body weights. There was no significant difference (P˃0.5) of gastrosomatic index across all the groups. There was no significant difference (P˃0.05) of gastric weight across all the groups. The Viscum album extract had a dose dependent ameliorative, therapeutic and protective effect on the gastric damage caused by lead acetate on the stomach as revealed and seen in the histology results.

Non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and glaucoma cause serious health issues and hardships in sub-Saharan Africa, often made worse by a lack of access to regular medical services. This research examines how the leaf extracts from Sorghum bicolor and Andrographis paniculata affect blood pressure, blood sugar, and eye pressure in healthy adults, both separately and together. One hundred and seventy-four (174) participants (mean age 34.3 ± 7.1 years) received single administrations of hot aqueous extracts of S. bicolor, A. paniculata, or a 1:1 mixed extract. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) and IOP (mmHg, right eye [RE] and left eye [LE]) were measured at baseline and four hours post- administration. The results revealed statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) across all parameters in all treatment groups. For Sorghum bicolor, systolic pressure decreased from 126.15 ± 15.9 to 120.80 ± 15.0 mmHg, diastolic pressure from 85.60 ± 11.1 to 80.03 ± 10.4 mmHg, blood glucose from 82.86 ± 14.61 to 70.39 ± 11.99 mg/dL, and IOP from 16.88 ± 2.5 to 15.83 ± 1.6 mmHg (right eye) and from 17.14 ± 1.93 to 16.12 ± 1.8 mmHg (left eye). Similar reductions were observed with Andrographis paniculata, where systolic pressure fell from 129.44 ± 14.7 to 121.20 ± 16.9 mmHg, diastolic pressure from 84.60 ± 13.3 to 77.13 ± 11.4 mmHg, and blood glucose from 83.61 ± 13.2 to 75.26 ± 11.43 mg/dL, while IOP decreased to 14.49 ± 2.0 mmHg (right) and 15.98 ± 2.0 mmHg (left). The combined extract produced the greatest effect, with systolic pressure reducing from 134.63 ± 15.7 to 128.68 ± 15.9 mmHg, diastolic pressure from 87.10 ± 22.1 to 77.90 ± 12.2 mmHg, blood glucose from 80.42 ± 12.04 to 74.40 ± 10.20 mg/dL, and IOP from 15.94 ± 1.8 to 14.94 ± 2.0 mmHg (right) and 15.67 ± 1.5 to 15.13 ± 2.7 mmHg (left). These results demonstrate that both Sorghum bicolor and Andrographis paniculata extracts—singularly and in combination—can significantly lower blood pressure, blood glucose, and intraocular pressure within a short period following administration. The enhanced effects observed with the combined extract suggest possible synergistic interactions between their phytochemical constituents.

Acute diarhoea is one of the major illness that cause death in children, despite clinical intervention and the use of oral rehydration therapy. Thus, there is need to discover other effective, affordable and accessible treatments for this disease. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of citrus sisnensis peel on castor oil-induced diarhoea in mice

Ethnomedicine or traditional systems of medicines have suggested means to increase the body’s natural resistance to microbial infections. A number of medicinal plants have been reported to possess antimicrobial activities. This study aimed at determining phytochemical constituents, proximate composition, and the antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of Costus afer (Monkey Sugarcane) on clinical isolates such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The plant samples were collected from a farmyard in Ughelli, Delta State. Samples were air dried for ethanol and aqueous extraction, using standard method. The antibacterial activities of the ethanol and aqueous extract of Escherichia coli,Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were determined by the disc diffusion method. The result of this study revealed the presence of phytochemical constituents including; flavonoids (2.69 ± 1.53), saponins (4.86 ± 0.23), alkaloids (1.93 ± 0.11), tannins (88.96 ± 5.77) and phenols (59.70 ± 3.29). Proximate analysis revealed the moisture content 22.4%, ash content was 11.2%, crude fibre content was 3.9%, crude protein content was 8.0%, crude fat content was 0.7%, while carbohydrate content accounted for 53.8% of its total composition. The study investigated the determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and the identification of bacterial isolates, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of Costus afer on clinical isolates such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that the organism was not sensitive to the aqueous extract. The bacterial isolates showed greater resistance to commercially available antibiotics against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the susceptibility test. Antioxidant assays such as the DPPH radical scavenging activity, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were conducted to assess the extract’s free radical scavenging ability.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD’s) remain the dominant course of mortality in developed and developing countries. Due to changing life styles, socio-economic status and decline in provision of healthcare services in developing countries such as Nigeria, myocardial infraction is making a significant contribution to national healthcare burden and mortality statistics.
Aim: This present study evaluated the effect of aqueous extract of Gnetum africanum on some cardiac function biomarkers in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction in rats.
Methodology: Acute toxicity test and haemotological and biochemical analysis of the extract was done using standard methods. Wister rates aged 2 – 3 months weighing 150 to 200 grams were acclimatized for 2 weeks and grouped into 4 (A– D) groups. B and C orally received graded doses of extracts (B = 50, C = 100, mg/kg body weight) daily for 28 days. Group A served as control and group D served as standard group 2ml/kg of cargradenol Blood samples (5ml) were collected into ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) containers and analysed using haemetological automety following manufacturers guidelines. Isoprenaline was induced 85mg/kg on 26th and 27th day in all groups.
Result Gnetum africanium extract displayed no accurate toxicity up to 5g/kg; at doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg, it demonstrated no significant effects on cardiac biomarkers when compared with the control against isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats across parameters including organ weight, body weight changes, cardiac biomarkers and oxidative-antioxidant balances

Cissus populnea has been reported to have high antioxidant content which is beneficial to health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects aqueous extract of Cissus pulpolnae on the liver of Wistar rats. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats were allowed to acclimatize for two weeks under standard laboratory conditions (temperature 24-28°C and 12 hour light-dark cycle) before commencement of the experiment. The rats in each group were allowed access to standard rat chow and water ad libitum throughout the experimental period. The rats were randomly assigned into a control group and three treatment groups (5) rats each. The rats in Group A served as control and received feed and water ad libitum only. The treatment groups B received intraperitoneal injection of 30% CCl4 only; group C received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populnea only; group D received 500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Cissus populnea and intraperitoneal injection of 30% CCl4. The experimental period lasted for 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia. Blood samples were collected, in plain bottles, from the Inferior vena cava of each rat for biochemical assay. The liver was excised and fixed in 10% buffered formalsaline for routine histological processing. The data generated were subjected to statistical analysis. Significant difference in the means of all parameters was determined using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA; 95% confidence interval). The result obtained showed that CCL4 induced some pathologies on the liver tissue ranging from formation of lipid vacuoles (steatosis) to degeneration of the hepatocyte and obliteration of the sinusoids. Cissus populnea ameliorated the pathologies induced by CCL4 on the liver tissue. It is concluded however that Cissus populnea possess hepatoprotective potential against CCL4 insult.

Sphenocentrum jollyanum is an important West African medicinal plant traditionally used for treating fever, digestive disorders, and metabolic ailments. Despite its widespread use, limited information exists regarding its biochemical safety and systemic effects during prolonged exposure. This study investigated the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum on renal and hepatic biochemical parameters in Wistar rats following 28 days of sub-chronic oral administration. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of five animals each: a control group that received distilled water and three experimental groups treated with 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of the aqueous leaf extract, respectively, for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples were analyzed for creatinine, urea, uric acid, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) using standard spectrophotometric methods. The mean biochemical values obtained were as follows: creatinine (4.25 ± 2.07–8.96 ± 3.32 mg/dL), urea (99.82 ± 7.00–161.54 ± 22.92 mg/dL), uric acid (8.18 ± 3.75–13.57 ± 3.88 mg/dL), and AST (54.41 ± 7.28–74.03 ± 18.06 U/L). The results showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between treated and control groups across all parameters. A slight, non-dose-dependent variation in creatinine and a mild reduction in urea and AST levels at higher doses indicated stable renal and hepatic function. These findings suggest that the extract does not induce nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity but may
support metabolic and antioxidant balance. In conclusion, sub-chronic administration of S. jollyanum aqueous extract in Wistar rats was well tolerated and biochemically safe at all tested doses. The study validates the plant’s traditional use as a detoxifying and restorative agent and supports its potential as a natural source of hepatoprotective and nephroprotective compounds.

Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre is a medicinal plant widely used across West Africa for the treatment of various ailments, yet the chemical constituents responsible for many of its reported therapeutic effects remain underexplored in scientific literature. This study aimed to identify the major fatty acids and ester compounds present in the aqueous stem extract of S. jollyanum using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with the goal of contributing to phytochemical profiling and supporting the plant’s ethnomedicinal applications. Fresh stems were cleaned, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted by cold maceration. The resulting filtrates were freeze-dried and the crude aqueous extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis under optimized chromatographic and mass spectrometric conditions. The GC-MS scan revealed a spectrum of bioactive constituents including compounds known for antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulatory activities. This study provides scientific support for the medicinal uses of S. jollyanum and establish a biochemical basis for its reported bioactivities. It further highlights the importance of GC-MS as a robust analytical tool for identifying volatile and semi-volatile compounds in medicinal plant extracts. Overall, the results strengthen the pharmacognostic understanding of S. jollyanum and lay groundwork for future studies on its biological mechanisms, safety, and potential drug development applications.