Effects of the methanolic seeds extract of Carica Papaya on plasmodium Berghei infected mice

Objective:The leaves extract of Carica Papaya（C.Papaya）papaya has been shown to possess antimalarial activity, thus this work aims at finding out if the plants antimalarial activity is present in or extended to the seeds.Methods:The seeds of C.papaya were collected from its fruit,air dried for 5 days and ground into fine powder.80.65 g of the powder was then soaked for 48hours in 300 mL of methanol.Filtration was carried out using Whatman No.1 filter paper.The filtrate was evaporated to dryness by a three-day continuous heating on a hot plate of 30℃.The dry extract yield was scraped out of the Petri dish weighed and refrigerated until required. The percentage extract yield was calculated out from the initial powder weight.A preliminary phytochemical study was done by re-dissolving the appropriate amount of the dry extract in distilled water and appropriate test reagent added.The LD50 of the seeds of C.papaya was carried out using arithmetic method.Swiss albino Mice of both sexes and of average weight of 18-25 g were used as animals for antimalarial activity.They were housed in standard animal house,fed on Rats/Mice pellets and had non restricted excess to both feed and water throughout the 60day study period.While the non pregnant female Mice were used as test animals,the male animals were used as malaria parasite donors.Precautions were taken to ensure that all animals in the study groups were free from infection with Eperythrozoon coocoides.The female animals were then divided into three main groups（A-C） of 25 animals per group.Group A was used for malaria suppressive study（early infection -day 0-3） and was further subdivided to 5 subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.Group B was used for malaria curative study（established malaria infection-day 3-7） and was further subdivided to 5subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.Group C was used for malaria prophylactic study（repository-4days treatment prior to malaria parasite infection） and was also further subdivided into 5subgroups（a-e） of 5animals per group.At the appropriate time,50 mg/kg/day,100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of crude extract of C.papaya were administered orally to the different subgroups（b-d） within the three main groups.One subgroup（a） in each main group also received orally,5 mg/kg/day of chloroquine phosphate as positive control while one subgroup （e） in each main group also received orally,0.2 mL/kg/day of distilled water as negative control.Malaria parasites infected red blood cells numbering 1×10 and suspended in 0.2 mL of physiological saline was inoculated intraperitoneally,to each animal of the subgroups（a-d） in each of the three main groups at the appropriate time.Blood smears were made from animals’tail,stained with Lieshman and examined microscopically at 100×for the presence of malaria parasite.Percentage malaria parastaemia was calculated as well as average percentage malaria parasitaemia suppression.Results:Extraction yield of 25.29%was obtained while the LD50 was 620 mg/kg.The phytochemistry showed the richly presence of alkaloids,as well as glycosides,carbohydrates, resins,fats and fixed oils.The suppressive study at doses of 200,100 and 50mg/kg/day showed 53.02%,43.43%and 19.83%suppressive activity against Plasmodium berghei respectively.This activity compared to that of chloroquine,a standard antimalaria drug that gave 95.95%suppressive anti-parasitaemia. The prophylactic study at doses of 200,100 and 50 mg/kg/day showed 63.85%,61.12%and 48.08%prevention to malaria parasitaemia respectively as against 94.78%showed by chloroquine.The curative study however,at doses of 200,100 and 50 mg/kg/day failed to suppress malaria parasitaemia with a mean survival range of 6-8days as against 27.2 days showed by chloroquine.The seeds extract of C.papaya showed a significant malaria parasitaemia suppressive activity（P≤0.05）.These activities are dose dependent and comparable to those of Chloroquine phosphate.Conclusion:The results above suggest that the seeds extracts of C.papaya possess antimalarial activity like the leaf extracts.The antimalarial activity may be attributable to the richly presence of alkaloids and or the presence of its proteolytic enzyme（Papain）.The present finding justifies the inclusion of the seeds of C.papaya in the treatment of malaria by local herbalists.The seeds extracts therefore,if well purified and characterized may be used in treatment of very early plasmodiasis as well as a good prophylactic drug in human.This work at the moment is limited to animals,thus clinical trials in humans is be recommended particularly,when C.papaya seeds are non harmful/non toxic.

Antidiabetic fallacy of Vernonia amygdalina(bitter leaves) in human diabetes

Objective:Aim of present study is to scientifically,verify the antidiabetic activity/potency of Vernonia amygdalina in human diabetes.Methods:A search was made at Nnewi,South - East Nigeria for known diabetes who use Vernonia amygdalina either as their sole or supplementary antidiabetic.A total of ten volunteers comprising, eight females and two males were recruited.They were all of age range of 36-50 and average weight of 78 kg and suffering from non - insulin form of diabetes.The purpose of the study was explained to them and their consent obtained.They were asked not to take any other antidiabetic outside Vernonia amygdalina throughout the four weeks study period.There was however,no form of restrictions to their choice of diet or life style. They were requested to abstain from any drugs a week prior to commencement of study.Their prescriber’s dosage range was followed and minimum daily dose of 210 mL(approximately 220 mg of dry extract) was administered in Week-1,followed by daily dose of 420 mL(440 mg) in Week-2.In Week-3 they received 630 mL (660 mg) daily dose and in Week-4,they received daily dose of 840 mL(880 mg).Their fasting blood sugar were estimated pre-crude drug administration and on weekly basis for the four week study period.Their weekly weights were measured to check for possible weight gain or loss.Results were subjected to statistical analysis and Students T-Test was used to calculate P-value.P-value≤0.05 were considered significant.Results:It was observed that all the volunteers in the study group were taking Vernonia amygdalina only as supplementary. Two volunteers dropped out of the study at the end of Week-3 leaving us with 8 in Week-4.There was no significant bodyweight change within the four week study.The starting mean fasting blood sugar which was 133.3 mg/dL(7.41 mmol/L) rose to 136.6 mg/dL(7.59 mmol/L) in Week-1,to 149.5 mg/dL(8.31 mmol/L) in Week-2 and to 166.5 mg/dL(9.30 mmol/L) in Week-3.Week-4 had us left with 8 volunteers with a mean of 190.6 mg/dL(10.59 mmol/L).There was significant differences in increase in sugar levels between the pre-crade extract administration and treatment period with Vernonia amygdalina(P≤0.05 for Week-1,Ps?0.02 for Week-2,P^0.01 for Week-3 and PssO.001 for Week-4).Conclusion:Claims of antidiabetic efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina in human diabetes are scientifically non verifiable based on our work hence these claims are false.We also feel bold to state that we could not demonstrate any antidiabetic activity of Vernonia amygdalina in human subjects.We recommend that NAFDAC and all relevant agencies must sit up and control all forms advertorial on Medicinal plants until such are well studied and proven.