DPPH antiradical scavenging, anthelmintic and phytochemical studies of Cissus poulnea rhizomes

Objective: To investigate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and anthelmintic activities of the crude methanol extract of Cissus populnea(C. populnea) rhizomes. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed using standard protocols, and column chromatography of silica gel was used for the compounds isolation. DPPH antiradical scavenging assay was performed in order to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The anthelmintic activity was screened on the bovine adult male forms of parasitic nematode Onchocerca ochengi, by the in vitro evaluation of the inhibition of adult worm motility and mortality. Worms were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of the plant extract and effects on survival were monitored after 24 and 48 h. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Bergenin and a mixture of phytosterol, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol were isolated from this extract and were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry and by comparison with published data. The crude methanol extract of C. populnea rhizomes showed a strong DPPH antiradical activity with a good amount of total phenolic content((20.69±2.13) g gallic acid equivalent/100 g of extract) and significant anthelmintic activity comparable to the standard drug ivermectin. Bergenin was found to be inactive even after 72 h of incubation. Conclusions: This study constitutes the first report on the anthelmintic activity of this plant and supports the traditional use of C. populnea as a natural antioxidant and anthelmintic.

Effect of alcohol infusion ofCissus populnea root on testicular function and serum hormone of male Wistar rats

Objective:To examine the effect ofCissus populnea root on testicular function of male Wistar rats.Methods:Twenty albino male Wistar rats [(100.0 ±25.5) g] were selected into four groups randomly. The control group were administered 0.20 mL of distilled water while the other groups received 0.05 mL, 0.10 mL, and 0.20 mL/kg body weight of ethanol infusion. Oral administration was done using oropharyngeal cannula once daily for 14 days. Animals were thereafter sacrificed on day 15. Data obtained from this study were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with multiple comparisons, post-hoc Tukey HSD was subsequently used and values atP<0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results:There were significant increases in serum testosterone, testes-body weight ratio, luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, respectively, compared with those in control group. Similarly, increase in acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, protein, glycogen and cholesterol levels were more significant compared with those in control group.Conclusions:The findings of this study reveals enhanced secretions of the sex hormones and other indices at 0.05 mL/kg body weight administration ofCissus populnea root ethanol infusion. However, dosages exceeding 0.05 mL/kg body weight gradually depletes the level of reproductive indices assayed for in this current study. Therefore, caution must be taken when consuming ethanol infusion ofCissus populnea root above the dosages used in this current study.

A Taxonomic Investigation of Variation Within Cissus quadrangularis L.(Vitaceae) In Kenya

Using information from literature as well as records of localities on herbarium specimen labels at the East African Herbarium Nairobi (EA), materials ofCissus quadrangularis L.,C. cactiformis Gilg. andC. quinquangularis Chiov. were collected and new localities were sought. On the basis of the nature of their stem angles, the specimens ofC. quadrangularis were sorted into two variants, A and B. Variant A has smooth stem angles while variant B has rough stem angles. The authors have proposed that variant B should be recognized as a new variety withinC. quadrangularis. Variant A is the type variety ofC. quadrangularis. A map showing the distribution of the two variants in Kenya has been prepared. The rough-edged variant was found to be absent from the low-lying semi-arid regions of northern Kenya. The variants were found occurring in distinct, separate populations but without separate geographical patterns. The results of t-test show no significant difference (p=0.05) between the means of measurements of dimensions of various organs in the two variants. The stem angles of specimens of the two variants were studied under scanning electron microscope (SEM). This showed a clear morphological difference between the two variants. The results of the investigation support the hypothesis that the variation withinC. quadrangularis represents distinct kinds that can be recognized as taxa at infra-specific level.

In-vitro comparative study of cytotoxic and thrombolytic effects of methanolic extract of Cissus pentagona and Thunbergia grandiflora(Roxb.)leaves

Objective:To compare cytotoxic and thrombolytic activity of crude methanolic extract of Cissus pentagona(C.pentagona)and Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb.(T.grandiflora)leaves.Methods:The screening of cytotoxic activity was done by using brine shrimp lethality bioassay while the thrombolytic activity was evaluated by using the in vitro clot lysis model.In brief,venous blood from five healthy volunteers was allowed to form clots which were weighed and treated with the tested plant materials to disrupt the clots.Weight of clot before and after treatment provided a percentage of clot lysis and the results with streptokinase as positive control and water as negative control were compared.Results:Moderate cytotoxicity was found for both methanol extracts,and it was compared with the standard drug vincristine sulfate in the brine shrimp bioassay.In the present study,the LC50 values of the methanol crude extract of C.pentagona as well as T.grandiflora and vincristine sulfate were 291.33,243.37 and 12.59μg/mL,respectively.In thrombolytic study,it was found that C.pentagona and T.grandiflora showed(24.27±2.61)%and(19.56±2.98)%of clot lysis,respectively.Among the herbs studied,C.pentagona showed very significant(P<0.001)percentage of clot lysis than T.grandiflora,compared with reference drug streptokinase[(63.54±2.61)%].Conclusions:The results of the study demonstrated that the leaf of the plants contains preliminary cytotoxic effect on brine shrimp and promising thrombolytic activity in vitro when it is tested on human blood.However,further study is needed to evaluate its potential as a thrombolytic agent.

Evaluation of the anxiolytic effect of the methanol stem extracts of Cissus quadrangularis

Objective:To investigate the potentials of the stem of Cissus quadrangularis(C.quadrangularis)in the control of anxiety and related motor coordination effects in mice using experimental models.Methods:The methanol extract of the stem of C.quadrangularis was studied in mice using elevated plus maze,hole board,open field and stair case tests.Acute toxicity and phytochemical analysis were also carried out.Results:The methanol extract(100,200,300 and 400 mg/kg)exhibited significant anxiolytic effects,as evident by significant(P<0.05)increase in the number of crossings at 100,200 and 300 mg/kg dose and number of rearing at 200,300 and 400 mg/kg dose in open field behavior test.Time spent in the open arms and number of entrances in the open arms increased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01)at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg in elevated plus maze test.Post hoc analysis showed that C.quadrangularis at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg significantly(P<0.05)increased the number of steps taken and number of head dips.Significant(P<0.05)reduction in time duration on the bar and number of rearing were observed at the dose of 200,300 and 400 mg/kg.The acute toxicity test revealed an oral LD_(50)above 5000 mg/kg,while phytochemical studies showed the presence of phytosterols,terpenoids,saponins,flavanoids,tannins,carbohydrates and aminoacids.Conclusions:The stem extracts of C.quadrangularis is anxiolytic in nature,which contribute to its use in traditional medicine as anxiolytic.

不同生长调节剂对翅茎白粉藤扦插生根的影响

为探索不同浓度植物生长调节剂对翅茎白粉藤(Cissus hexangularis)扦插生根的影响,促进其大量扦插繁殖。以一年生翅茎白粉藤枝条为试验材料,用不同浓度的NAA(萘乙酸)、IAA(吲哚乙酸)、ABT(生根粉)3种生长调节剂对翅茎白粉藤插穗预处理后进行扦插,60 d后测定插穗生根率、单株生根数、最长根长、可溶性糖含量、可溶性蛋白质含量和过氧化物酶(POD)活性。结果显示,3种生长调节剂均对翅茎白粉藤扦插繁育有促进作用,不同浓度生长调节剂对赤茎白粉藤扦插生根综合评定,最适浓度为ABT 100 mg/L、IAA 400 mg/L、NAA 100 mg/L,浓度高于最适浓度,促进扦插生根效果减弱。

Science of weight loss supplements:Compromised by conflicts of interest?

Weight loss supplements often contain powerful pharmacoactive ingredients with the potential to cause harm. Trials used to determine product safety and effectiveness, meanwhile,tend to be small, of short duration, and frequently lack financial conflict of interest disclosures. These factors could conspire to place consumers at risk, especially when published research cited in advertising cloaks products with the suggestion that their safety and effectiveness have been proven by science. Examples of current and former weight loss products backed by potentially con? icted or low quality research include Metabolife-356, Hydroxycut, Xenadrine and LeptiCore. Published research, especially in the field of weight loss supplements, needs better conflict of interest disclosure, and regulators should consider how research f indings are used in marketing claims.

Evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of some herbs used in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria

Objective: To examine antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of Cissus populnea (C. populnea) root and Securidaca longipedunculata (S. longipedunculata) leaf and root extracts using aqueous, ethanol and petroleum-ether media. Methods: The free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was used to measure scavenging activities of extracts, while phenol and flavonoid contents were estimated by spectrophotometry and the antibacterial screening of extracts was done using disc diffusion method. The extracts were tested against five strains of Gram positive and negative bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration of extracts in the screening assay was according to micro-broth dilution, and minimum bactericidal concentration was carried out by agar diffusion method. Results: The ethanol extract of the S. longipedunculata leaf recorded the highest [(83.00 ± 2.97) μg/mL] radical scavenging potential while the least value [(48.50 ± 2.55) μg/mL] was recorded for C. populnea root ethanol extract. The highest phenol content was found in the ethanol extract of C. populnea [(145.60 ± 0.85) mg gallic acid equivalent/g], while the least value [(87.75 ± 3.46) mg gallic acid equivalent/g] was recorded in petroleum ether extract of S. longipedunculata. The highest and lowest values [(81.30 ± 0.99) and (46.60 ± 1.98) mg rutin equivalent/g] of flavonoid were recorded with ethanol extracts of S. longipedunculata leaf and root, respectively. The aqueous and ethanol leaf and root extracts of S. longipedunculata were active against the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. Similar results were observed with ethanol and aqueous root extracts of C. populnea for the same bacteria. Conclusions: All the crude plant extracts possessed strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities qualifying them as medicinal herbs that could be included in animal feed production.