Preliminary Evaluation of Hepatorenal Protective Potentials of <i>Kigelia africana</i>Ethanolic Leaf Extract on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Toxicity in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Background and aim: Hepatorenal toxicity is a very common ailment with resultant deleterious burden on the overall body systems and high mortality rate. Although myriads of drug agents are in circulation, its medical management is still inadequate as no effective treatment which inhibits disease progression and complications, has been synthesized yet. Therefore, this study focused on the potentials of Kigelia africana ethanolic leaf extract (KAELE) in preventing hepatorenal toxicity using CCl4 model of toxicity in rats. Method: KAELE was subjected to phytochemical screening. Following two-week acclimatization, thirty-six (N = 36) adult male Wistar rats were grouped into six consisting of six animals each (n = 6). Group I was given distilled water as control while groups II to VI received silymarin (100 mg/kg), CCl4 (1 ml/kg), KAELE (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) respectively. All groups pre-treated with silymarin and Kigelia africana ethanol leaf extract lasted for a period of fourteen (14) days using a gastric tube. CCl4 was administered intraperitoneally to groups II, III, IV, V and VI 48 hours after the last pretreatment on day 14. Post treatment, animals were sacrificed and the blood obtained and sera used for biochemical analysis while the tissues for histological evaluations. Results: The phytochemical tests revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, and phenols. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the level of all serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) in the extract-treated groups. KAELE showed a dose-dependent hepato-protective property as it significantly mitigated the effects of carbon tetrachloride on the liver function markers studied (total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, albumin and total protein). KAELE showed the decrease necrotic hepatic plates around the portal areas and damaged blood vessels with less fatty acids infiltrations in this study. Conclusion: KAELE possesses hepatorenal protective potentials.

The Use of <i>Kigelia africana</i>in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

This paper reports the beneficial effect of twice daily ingestion (a table spoonful) of dried Kigelia africana fruit powder in the management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in two patients. Both patients had the classical triad of Amenorrhoea, acne and hirsutism. The two were 25 years old and 22 years old spinsters respectively. The ultrasonography was suggestive only in the latter;unfortunately there were no facilities to do the confirmatory serum enzymes assay. The use of herbal preparation restored the menstrual flow in both of them as well as leading to significant reduction in the acne but there was no noticeable effect on the hirsutism. There was no observable side effect associated with the use of the powder. These preliminary data thus suggest that Kigelia africana fruit powder may be beneficial for cases of PCOS especially in the developing countries where the new generation oral contraceptives, presently being used for the condition, may not be readily available.

Kigelia africana Fruit:Constituents,Bioactivity, and Reflection on Composition Disparities

Objective: Kigelia africana, a tropical tree, which has long been used in African traditional medicine. The objective of the current study has been identifying the constituents of K. africana and verifying its utilities in traditional medicine. Materials and Methods: The methanol extract of K. africana fruits was subjected to chromatographic fractionation utilizing different techniques. The methanol extract together with the isolated compounds were tested for their bioactivities in a series of cell-based assays. Results: The current work led to isolation and characterization of nine constituents including iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid derivatives, and a eucommiol derivative. The hexanes extract caused inhibition of the opportunistic yeast; Cryptococcus neoformans Pinh. The chloroform extract exhibited substantial antileishmanial activity of Leishmania donovani. Verminoside(1) showed weak inhibition of the CB1, CB2, and Kappa opioid receptors. Compound 4 exhibited weak inhibition of the Kappa and Mu opioid receptors. The hexanes and the chloroform extracts of K. africana exhibited inhibitory activity against the pathogenic parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The ethyl acetate extract showed the same activity. Conclusions: This is the first report on the isolation of coniferyl 4-0-(3-D-glucopyranoside(7), a eucommiol derivative(crescentin IV)(6), and 6-feruloylcatalpol(4) from the genus Kigelia. It is also the first report on the separation of ajugol(2), catalpol(3), and specioside(5) from the fruits of K. africana. Revision of the^1 H and ^(13)C-NMR spectra of 6-feruloylcatalop(4) and 6-p-hydroxycinnamoylcatalpol(5, specioside) is described. Further, the results of the in vitro assays corroborate the traditional utility of this plant in medicine.