Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Alchornea cordifolia (A.cordifolia) leaf extract.Methods:Various solvent fractions of the methanol extract of the leaf of the plant.4.cordifo...Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Alchornea cordifolia (A.cordifolia) leaf extract.Methods:Various solvent fractions of the methanol extract of the leaf of the plant.4.cordifolia Mull.Arg(Fam:Euphorbiaceae) were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity by carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats.The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxalate transaminase(SGOT/ AST),serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase(SCPT/ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and total bilirubin.The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated by the I,I-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical scavenging assay.The extract was subjected to preliminary phytoehemical screening.Results:The ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions,at a dose of 300 mg/kg,produced significant(P【0.05) hepatoprolection by decreasing the activities of the serum enzymes and bilirubin while there were marked scavenging of the DPPH free radicals by the fractions.The effects were comparable to those of the standard drugs used for the respective experiments,silymarin and ascorbic acid.Alkaloids,flavonoids,saponins and tannins were delected in the phylochemical screening.Conclusion:From this study,it was concluded that the plant of A.cordifolia possesses hepatoprotective as well as antioxidant activities and these activities reside mainly in the ethyl acetate and acetone fractions of methanol leaf extract.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the calcium and phosphorus contents of four domestic animals used as sources of meat in Nigeria.Methods:The calcium contents of the body parts of the animals were determined using atomic absor...Objective:To investigate the calcium and phosphorus contents of four domestic animals used as sources of meat in Nigeria.Methods:The calcium contents of the body parts of the animals were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer.Their phosphorus contents were determined colorimetrically using the molybdenum blue method.Results:The calcium and phosphorus contents were significantly higher in the bone samples than in the other animal parts investigated (P【0.05).The calcium contents of all the edible parts were higher in chicken than in the other animals.High calcium and phosphorus contents were detected in the faeces of chicken and goat, and that of cattle and goat,respectively.Low calcium and phosphorus contents were detected in the urine samples.Calcium:phosphorus ratios calculated for the bones of chicken,cattle and goat were satisfactory.Conclusions:In conclusion,calcium and phosphorus contents of the animal parts vary significantly and their relative contents may be related to the animal’s diet.Chicken parts may be the preferred dietary source of these minerals.This study highlights the need for routine investigation of the mineral contents of food,which is necessary for proper nutritional guidelines.展开更多
Objective:Alchornea floribunda leaves are widely used in ethnomedicinal management of inflammatory disorders. The present work is aimed at investigating this folkloric use.Methods:The anti-inflammatory effect of the l...Objective:Alchornea floribunda leaves are widely used in ethnomedicinal management of inflammatory disorders. The present work is aimed at investigating this folkloric use.Methods:The anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf extracts and fractions was investigated in experimental animal models of acute and chronic inflammation. The possible mechanisms by which the two most active fractions,hexane(HE) and ethyl acetate(EF) exert their effects were also investigated.Results:The crude extract(200 mg/kg) showed moderate inhibition of egg albumen-induced edema in rats(%edema inhibition = 54.69) at 4 h.HE and EF showed very high activity(%edema inhibition of 81.25 and 67.19 respectively at 200 mg/kg) at 4h as compared to the control. Both fractions ameliorated arthritis induced by formaldehyde in rats.At 400 mg/kg,HE evofeed a significant irritation of gastric mucosa in rats.EF(200 mg/kg,p.o.) significantly inhibited leucocytes(%inhibition = 36.79) migration in vivo,but could not stabilize heat and hypotonicity-indueed lysis of human erythrocyte at 200 and 400μg/mL in vitro.Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of terpenoids and steroids in HE and flavonoids,tannins and saponins in EF.Conclusion:These results suggest that the leaves of Alchornea floribunda possess anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammation.The activity may derive from a combination of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and leucocytes migration.The phytochemical constituents detected in HE and EF may account for the anti-inflammatory activity.展开更多
文摘Objective:To investigate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of Alchornea cordifolia (A.cordifolia) leaf extract.Methods:Various solvent fractions of the methanol extract of the leaf of the plant.4.cordifolia Mull.Arg(Fam:Euphorbiaceae) were evaluated for hepatoprotective activity by carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats.The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxalate transaminase(SGOT/ AST),serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase(SCPT/ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and total bilirubin.The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated by the I,I-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical scavenging assay.The extract was subjected to preliminary phytoehemical screening.Results:The ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions,at a dose of 300 mg/kg,produced significant(P【0.05) hepatoprolection by decreasing the activities of the serum enzymes and bilirubin while there were marked scavenging of the DPPH free radicals by the fractions.The effects were comparable to those of the standard drugs used for the respective experiments,silymarin and ascorbic acid.Alkaloids,flavonoids,saponins and tannins were delected in the phylochemical screening.Conclusion:From this study,it was concluded that the plant of A.cordifolia possesses hepatoprotective as well as antioxidant activities and these activities reside mainly in the ethyl acetate and acetone fractions of methanol leaf extract.
文摘Objective:To investigate the calcium and phosphorus contents of four domestic animals used as sources of meat in Nigeria.Methods:The calcium contents of the body parts of the animals were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer.Their phosphorus contents were determined colorimetrically using the molybdenum blue method.Results:The calcium and phosphorus contents were significantly higher in the bone samples than in the other animal parts investigated (P【0.05).The calcium contents of all the edible parts were higher in chicken than in the other animals.High calcium and phosphorus contents were detected in the faeces of chicken and goat, and that of cattle and goat,respectively.Low calcium and phosphorus contents were detected in the urine samples.Calcium:phosphorus ratios calculated for the bones of chicken,cattle and goat were satisfactory.Conclusions:In conclusion,calcium and phosphorus contents of the animal parts vary significantly and their relative contents may be related to the animal’s diet.Chicken parts may be the preferred dietary source of these minerals.This study highlights the need for routine investigation of the mineral contents of food,which is necessary for proper nutritional guidelines.
文摘Objective:Alchornea floribunda leaves are widely used in ethnomedicinal management of inflammatory disorders. The present work is aimed at investigating this folkloric use.Methods:The anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf extracts and fractions was investigated in experimental animal models of acute and chronic inflammation. The possible mechanisms by which the two most active fractions,hexane(HE) and ethyl acetate(EF) exert their effects were also investigated.Results:The crude extract(200 mg/kg) showed moderate inhibition of egg albumen-induced edema in rats(%edema inhibition = 54.69) at 4 h.HE and EF showed very high activity(%edema inhibition of 81.25 and 67.19 respectively at 200 mg/kg) at 4h as compared to the control. Both fractions ameliorated arthritis induced by formaldehyde in rats.At 400 mg/kg,HE evofeed a significant irritation of gastric mucosa in rats.EF(200 mg/kg,p.o.) significantly inhibited leucocytes(%inhibition = 36.79) migration in vivo,but could not stabilize heat and hypotonicity-indueed lysis of human erythrocyte at 200 and 400μg/mL in vitro.Phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of terpenoids and steroids in HE and flavonoids,tannins and saponins in EF.Conclusion:These results suggest that the leaves of Alchornea floribunda possess anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammation.The activity may derive from a combination of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and leucocytes migration.The phytochemical constituents detected in HE and EF may account for the anti-inflammatory activity.
