P.O. OBARO

This study evaluated the effect of N-hexane leaf extract of bi-herbal formulation of Carica papaya and Vernonia Amygdalina on the reproductive system of male reproductive system. A total of 25 Wistar rats were used in total for the conduction of the experiment. The animal was distributed into six groups comprising of five rats and fed with grower feed for a period of 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and subjected to laparotomy after which the testes, prostate, seminal vesicles and right epididymis were isolated, blood and sperm samples were also collected for hormonal assay, sperm analysis and histopathology analysis. The study revealed no mortality, loss of cognitive/ loss of agility or any physical morphology associated with toxicity in any of the treatment group. A significant reduction in weight index was recorded in the extract treated groups. Previous studies done on this plant showed Vernonia amygdalina and Carica papaya exhibiting weight loss properties individually, hence, the reduction can be attributed to the rich mileu of phytochemicals in both plants. Another mechanism suggested for the weight loss, is the interference of pancreatic lipase by the extract. This causes inhibiting or delay in the digestion and absorption which consequently result in a reduction in body weight. However, there was no significant difference in the organ weight and relative organ weight of the extract when compared to that of the control group. Total sperm count was significantly lowered in all treatment groups. Decrease in the progressive motility and normal cell counts were respectively recorded. The result of the study shows that the bi-herbal
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Inflammation is a protective biological response; however, when uncontrolled it contributes to the development of chronic diseases. Conventional anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective but often associated with adverse effects during prolonged use. This study evaluated the synergistic anti-inflammatory activity of juices from Pineapple and Watermelon as a potential safer alternative for managing inflammation.

Fresh juices were prepared and administered to albino mice at doses of 10 and 20 ml/kg following acute toxicity testing. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using formalin-induced paw oedema, egg albumin-induced oedema, and Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema models. The combination of pineapple and watermelon juice significantly reduced inflammation in a dose-dependent manner across all experimental models. In some instances, the anti-inflammatory effects were comparable to those produced by standard drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin. No signs of severe toxicity or mortality were observed during the experiment.

The observed anti-inflammatory activity is attributed to the combined effects of bioactive compounds such as Bromelain, Lycopene, and L-Citrulline, which are known to regulate oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. The findings suggest that pineapple and watermelon juice may serve as a safe, affordable, and natural functional food-based intervention for managing inflammatory conditions.

Diarrhea is a common medical condition that is characterized by increased frequency of bowel movements and increased liquidity of stool (Gidudu et al., 2011). Diarrhea is responsible for 2.5 million fatalities worldwide per year. It is responsible for one out of every nine deaths in children globally. When combined with other illnesses, diarrhea is considerably more lethal; the death rate is many times that of the rate without other complications.