MacDonald Idu

Acanthus montanus, commonly referred to as "beer's breech," "alligator plant," or "mountain thistle," is a potent medicinal plant that belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It holds significant importance in ethnomedicine. Throughout Nigeria's history, it has been utilized for managing a diverse array of health issues including wounds, gonorrhea, heart failure, and more. Acanthus montanus is rich in phytochemicals, including alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and terpenoids. These compounds exhibit diverse biological and pharmacological properties, encompassing analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunological, anti-fertility, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and hepatocurative activities. This study investigated the reproductive toxicological effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Acanthus montanus on male and female Wistar rats. Extracts were administered at varying doses (200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg) and 0.5 ml of distilled water as control. The body and organ weights (testes, penis, uterus, ovaries) demonstrated no significant deviations from the control group. Toxicological assessments revealed no adverse impacts on lipid metabolism, as evidenced by lipid profile assays. Hormonal analyses affirmed that the extracts maintained endocrine equilibrium, with hormone levels within normal ranges in all make treated groups, while the female groups exhibited varying level of fluctuations in their hormonal levels. Antioxidant assays disclosed noteworthy antioxidant effects, particularly at the highest dose (800 mg/kg), reflecting the potential of Acanthus montanus extracts to combat free radicals and uphold cellular integrity. Histological evaluation of reproductive organs unveiled no notable structural changes, indicating the extracts' non-induction of tissue damage or morphological aberrations. In conclusion, aqueous leaf extracts of Acanthus montanus, across various dosages, exhibited negligible impact on body and organ weights, reflecting safety. Moreover, they displayed antioxidant properties without compromising reproductive health or lipid metabolism. This underlines the promising prospects of Acanthus montanus extracts as natural antioxidants in the realms of reproductive health and oxidative stress management. While these findings are encouraging, further research across diverse animal models and potentially human subjects is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the plant's benefits and mechanisms

Musanga cecropioides R. Br. ex Tedlie (Family Urticaceae) is a tree distributed across some parts of Africa including Nigeria. Ethno-medicinal surveys shows that its leaves, root and root sap are used in the management of several health conditions, but there is a dearth of information on the biological activities of these parts of the plant to substantiate the ethno-medicinal claims. This study was aimed at evaluating the phyto-constituents and phytomedicinal properties of Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap. The elucidation of phyto-constituents was done by carrying out qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, and screenings for vitamins, carotene, amino acids and mineral elements using standard protocols. Acute and sub- acute toxicity assessments of the samples were carried out in experimental an mals using established protocols. Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap were screened for antioxidant activities using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrozyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging models, while the DNA protective effect was investigated on DNA damage caused by Fenton’s reagent. The antitussive activity was analyzed using the citric acid-induced cough model and mucus expectoration experiment, while anti- asthmatic properties were elucidated using the ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Antidiarrheal and anti-diabetic properties were elucidated using the castor oil-induced diarrhoea and Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes models respectively. The screening of Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap for the phyto-constituents revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, moisture, fat, proteins, vitamins, carotene, essential and non-essential amino acids and micro and macro mineral elements in considerable quantities. The median lethal dose (LD50) for the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts, methanol root extract and crude root sap were indeterminable as no adverse effect was observed at the highest dose of 10000 mg/kg body weight, while the aqueous root extract caused absolute mortality at 5000, 7500 and 10000 mg/kg body weight leaving the LD50 at 2236 mg/kg body weight. The sub-acute toxicity study revealed that the extracts did not significantly alter the body weight and haematology parameters at 500, 1000, 2500 mg/kg. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrozyl and 2,2’-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid scavenging assays revealed the presence of antioxidants in all samples with the leaf extracts showing the best activity. The leaf and root extracts protected pCAMBIA 1301 DNA from damage by Fenton’s reagent. Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap showed significant anti-diarrhoeal activities, significantly increased mucus expectoration and suppressed cough bouts in guinea pigs at all doses in the antitussive study. In the anti-asthmatic study, the leaf extracts significantly increased the latency to pre-convulsive dyspnoea. The anti-diabetic study revealed significant reduction in glucose level by the aqueous leaf extract (50 mg/kg), methanol leaf extract (200 mg/kg), aqueous root extract (200mg/kg) and the root sap (2 ml/kg). Musanga cecropioides leaf, root and root sap possess antitussive, anti-asthmatic, anti-diarrheal and anti-diabetic activities. In conclusion, the therapeutic properties elicited by these plants extracts on selected diseases validated its ethnomedicinal reports.

Coconut oil has a unique role in human nutrition, it clinical studies reveal an effect on human health. Herbal plants are traditionally used in folklore medicine for various diseases. This work aimed at investigating the immunoprotective effects of cold-pressed coconut oil in immunosupressed Wistar rat. A standard procedure was used to carry out immunomodulatory properties of the extract with modifications. The immunomodulatory properties of coconut oil were investigated by testing the immune responses to the antigen challenges with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs). The animals were placed into six groups of five rats per group. Coconut oil was given orally at the dosage level of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0ml/kg for 21 days; also 0.3ml i.p of SRBCs. Evaluation was carried out by testing the hematological parameters. The result obtained showed a significant increase in 0.25ml dose after twenty-one (21) days. White blood cell (11.70 ± 1.25) had same value with control and HGB (15.57± 0.67), increase significantly when compare with control. The CD4 and CD8 had better result with coconut oil when compared with the control. The Anti-Oxidant activities had a positive response in 0.25ml. Histological result reveals a healthy heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidney in lower dose of oil extract. In conclusion, Coconut oil can be said to contain immunomodulatory effect in accordance with folklore report