Evaluation of Subacute Toxicity of Hydroethanolic Extracts Combinations from Gnetum africanum (Welv.) and Gnetum buchholzianum (Engl.) (Genetaceae) Leaves: Two Botanical with Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Potential

This study was conducted to assess the toxic effect of hydroethanolic extract combinations of Gnetum africanum Welv. leaves and Gnetum buchholzianum Engl. (Gnetaceae) in experimental rats to test the validity of the treatment of liver disorders related to oxidative stress. The Combinations (m/m) 50-50 for E2 and 75-25 for E3 of ethanol-water extracts from plant leaves at the respective doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of body weight were used for 32-day toxicity. They were obtained after harvesting leaves, sorting, drying in the air cover for three weeks, and grinding. The resulting powder was doubly macerated with 70% ethanol for 48 hours and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated with the Heidolph-brand rotary rotavapor and each extract obtained was preserved. The administrations were carried out by gavage to wistar, male and non-pregnant female albino rats. In the end, the animals were sacrificed. The serum and organ homogenates were obtained for biochemical, tissue, and histopathological analyses respectively. The analyses revealed insignificant variations at the 5% probability threshold of the weight growth of experimental animals. These variations were found to be statistically significant at the same probability for biochemical and tissue parameters based on the dose of plant extracts and compared to control animals. Histopathological analysis of liver tissue showed leukodate infiltration that indicates extract-induced inflammation of the hepatocytes at the 400 mg/kg dose of body weight in females. However, this infiltration of the cells would have improved the regeneration of hepatocytes justified by the normal rate of transaminases. These results showed that combinations of hydroethanolic extracts of G. africanum and G. buchholzianumare non-toxicand may be potential candidates in the Cameroonian flora medicinal plant database shown in the monitoring of oxidative stress-related diseases.

Antioxidant activity of dichloromethane fraction of Dichrocephala integrifolia in Salmonella typhi-infected rats

Objective: Infectious diseases such as typhoid fever lead to the formation of free radicals which can damage the body. Many medicinal plants have antioxidant molecules that neutralize free radicals. The present work evaluated the antioxidant activity and histopathological effects of the dichloromethane fraction of Dichrocephala integrifolia in Salmonella typhi-infected rats.Methods: The S. typhi-infected rats concurrently received daily doses of D. integrifolia extract at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight or ciprofloxacin(5 mg/kg body weight) for 15 days. Body temperature was measured daily during infection and treatment periods. At the end of treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and biological responses including hematological parameters, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and glutathione, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide concentrations were evaluated.Results: The elevated body temperature induced by infection was significantly decreased in animals treated with 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg of the extract. Platelet levels decreased slightly in infected rats, while treatment with the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia significantly increased platelet levels;this response was greater than that elicited by ciprofloxacin. The doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg of the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia notably decreased monocyte and neutrophil values. Activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase and levels of glutathione in the tissues of treated animals were increased significantly(P < 0.01), while malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were significantly decreased(P < 0.01), following treatment with the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia.Conclusion: The results of this study show that the dichloromethane fraction of D. integrifolia has protective effects against a series of pathological conditions initiated by oxidation and tissue damage in the course of a S. typhi infection.