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- Reactive oxygen species are implicated in multiple pathological conditions including erectile dysfunction. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of the methanolic extracts of Inula glomerata and Salacia kraussii. The plant materials were pulverized and extracted with methanol. The phytochemical analysis, ability of the crude extracts to scavenge free radicals (ABTS, DPPH, NO.) in vitro as well as the total phenolic and flavonoid contents was investigated. In vivo, antioxidant potentials of the crude extracts (50/250 mg/kg body weight) were determined in an erectile dysfunction rat model. The phytochemical analysis revealed that both plants contain flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The crude extracts at varying degree of efficiency, scavenged ABTS and DPPH radicals. The crude extracts at low concentrations (50 mg/kg bw) significantly (p< 0.05) diminished the level of malondialdehyde, augmented catalase activities and elevated glutathione levels. However, SOD activities were significantly boosted in a dose-dependent manner by the crude extracts. Therefore, I. glomerata and S. kraussii possess antioxidant properties, hence, can serve as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of oxidative stress-induced erectile dysfunction.
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- 2022| ElsevierA study was undertaken to quantify screw press-extractable oil in the seed coat of Strychnos madagascariensis (Poir.) fruits harvested from trees in the northern coastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and to determine the physiochemical properties and fatty acid composition of the oil. The seed coat constituted 19.36% of the dry fruit biomass and contained w/w 42% oil. Thus, the oil yield of the dried fruit was approx. 8.13%. Monounsaturated oleic acid accounted for between ca.70–73% of the total fatty acids in the Strychnos oil. Palmitic acid was present in amounts ranging between 15.05 and 16.27%. Also present, but in smaller amounts were cis linoleic acid (5.76–6.03%), stearic acid (1.64–4.65%), n3 linolenic acid (1.26–1.90%), and palmitoleic acid (1.10–1.65%). The oil contained trace amounts of arachidic acid (0.45–0.54%) and eicosenoic acid (approx.0.325%). Vitamin E was present in appreciable amounts, mostly in the form of α-tocopherol (approx. 5.8–14.4 mg/100 g oil) and β-tocotrienol (approx. 8.1–15.6 mg/100 g oil) homologues. The downside was that the oil had high acid values (161–181.32 mg KOH/g) and free fatty acid content (66–81 g oleic acid/100 g oil). There were 141 volatile compounds detected in the Strychnos oil, the most dominant of which were butyl-butyrate (20%), butyl hexanoate (8.2%) and glycerol (6.1–6.7%). Overall, the results indicate that Strychnos madagascariensis has potential as a source of vegetable oil.
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- Considering the global health threat posed by kidney disease burden, a search for new nephroprotective drugs from our local flora could prove a powerful strategy to respond to this health threat. In this study we investigated the antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective potential of RA-3, a plant-derived lanosteryl triterpene. The antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective effect of RA-3 was investigated using the adenine and gentamicin induced hyperuricemic and nephrotoxicity rat model. Following the induction of hyperuricemia and nephrotoxicity, the experimental model rats (Sprague Dawley) were orally administered with RA-3 at 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively, daily for 14 days. Treatment of the experimental rats with RA-3, especially at 100 mg/kg, effectively lowered the serum renal dysfunction (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) and hyperuricemic (uric acid and xanthine oxidase) biomarkers. These were accompanied by increased antioxidant status with decrease in malondialdehyde content. A much improved histomorphological structure of the kidney tissues was also observed in the triterpene treated groups when compared to the model control group. It is evident that RA-3 possesses the antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective properties, which could be vital for prevention and amelioration of kidney disease.
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- Inula glomerata Oliv. & Hiern and Salacia kraussii (Harv.) Harv are medicinal plants used by traditional healers in remote areas of Mbazwana, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa for ameliorating male sexual disorders including erectile dysfunction (ED), low sperm count and early ejaculation. The study aimed at determining the ameliorative effect of the methanolic crude extracts of Inula glomerata (I. glomerata) and Salacia kraussii (S. kraussii) on butanol-induced erectile dysfunction in Sprague Dawley rats. The crude extract was prepared by maceration using methanol. Animal study was conducted whereby thirty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven experimental groups: normal group, n-but (10 mg/kg), n-but+ Ig (50 and 250 mg/kg), n-but+ Sk (50 and 250 mg/kg) and n-but+ Cialis (5mg/kg). The experiment lasted for 28 days, after which various biochemical assays (acetylcholinesterase, ACE, arginase, testosterone, and uric acid) was done. The cytotoxicity of the crude extracts was also determined. The results revealed that n-butanol induced erectile dysfunction in the rats by decreasing mounting frequency, testosterone and nitric oxide level and simultaneously elevated the activities of arginase and acetylcholinesterase. The plants however, inhibited arginase and acetylcholinesterase when compared to the untreated. Furthermore, the plants’ extracts were able to increase the level of testosterone and nitric oxide. It can be inferred that both plants could be promising natural therapy for erectile dysfunction. Nonetheless, the plants’ extracts are toxic hence should be taken with caution.
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- Lignin recalcitrance is a key issue in producing value-added products from lignocellulose biomass. In situ biodegradable lignin-modifying enzymes-producing bacteria are considered a suitable solution to lignin biodegradation problems, but exploitation of ligninolytic bacteria is still limited to date. Hence, this study aimed to isolate and characterize potential lignin peroxidase ligninolytic bacteria from decomposing soil, sawdust, and cow dung at Richard Bay, South Africa. The samples were collected and cultured in the lignin-enriched medium. Pure isolated colonies were characterized through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The ability of the isolates to grow and utilize aromatic monomers (veratryl and guaiacol alcohol) and decolorize lignin-like dyes (Azure B, Congo Red, Remazol Brilliant Blue R) was evaluated. Of the twentysix (26) bacteria isolates 10 isolates, including Pseudomonas spp.(88%), Enterobacter spp.(8%), and Escherichia coli (4%) were identified as true lignin peroxidase producers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CP031449. 2) and E. coli (LR025096. 1) exhibited the highest ligninolytic activities. These isolates could potentially be exploited in the industry and wastewater treatment as effective lignin degrading agents.
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- Diabetes mellitus remains a global health issue despite the advance in orthodox medicine. This study investigated the in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of crude extracts from the seed coat and pulp of Strychnos madagascariensis. The phytochemical screening was carried out using standard protocols. Different extracts were prepared from the fruit parts by maceration using methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and water for antioxidant and antidiabetic assays, and their percentage yield was calculated. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was determined using 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and 2’2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Antidiabetic activities of the extracts were investigated using α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase assays. Terpenoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides were present in both the fruit parts. However, saponin present in the fruit pulp was absent in the seed coat (testa). The percentage yields are as follows; water > ethyl acetate > hexane > methanol (seed coat) and methanol > water > ethyl acetate > hexane (fruit pulp), respectively. The crude extracts scavenged ABTS and DPPH radicals in different degrees. The aqueous extract of the pulp and seed coat (testa) showed significant (P < 0.05) higher scavenging activity against ABTS (IC50; 0.012 and 0.006 mg/ml) and DPPH (IC50; 0.06 mg/ml and 0.064 mg/ml) radicals than other extracts. The crude extracts inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase. The aqueous and methanol extracts of the fruit parts showed better amylase inhibitory activity than other extracts. The aqueous extract of the seed coat (IC50; 0.0785 mg/ml) showed the highest glucosidase inhibitory activity. In addition, methanol extract of the seed coat (IC50; 0.069 mg/ml) exhibited the highest inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase compared to the extracts in other solvents. Hence, the aqueous and methanol crude extracts of Strychnos madagascariensis seed coat and fruit pulp could be used in the preparation of nutraceutical products for managing diabetic mellitus.
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- The treatment of diseases is under threat due to the increasing resistance of disease-causing bacteria to antibiotics. Likewise, free radical-induced oxidative stress has been implicated in several human disease conditions, such as cancer, stroke and diabetes. In the search for amino acid analogues with antibacterial and antioxidant properties as possible mimics of antimicrobial peptides, substituted N-(2′-nitrophenyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamides 4a–4k and N-(2′-nitrophenyl)piperidine-2-carboxamides 4l–4n have been synthesized via a two-step, one-pot amidation of the corresponding acids, using thionyl chloride with different amines in dichloromethane. The carboxamides were characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Carboxamides 4a–4n were assayed against five Gram-positive and five Gram-negative bacterial strains using the broth micro-dilution procedure and compared to standard antibiotic drugs (streptomycin and nalidixic acid). 4b showed the highest antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 15.6 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. Pertinently, 4b and 4k are promising candidates for narrow-spectrum (Gram-positive) and broad-spectrum antibiotics, respectively. The antioxidant properties of the carboxamides were also evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation. 4a and 4k recorded the lowest IC50 values of 1.22 × 10–3 mg/mL (with DPPH) and 1.45 × 10–4 mg/mL (with ABTS), respectively. Notably, 4k recorded about 2.5 times better antioxidant capacity than the positive controls – ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxyanisole. These results bode well for N-aryl carboxamides as good mimics and substitutes for antimicrobial peptides towards mitigating bacterial resistance to antibiotics as well as ameliorating oxidative stress-related diseases.
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- This study investigated anti-viral, antioxidant activity and anti-pyretic of crude extract from Artemisia afra, Artemisia absinthium and Pittiosporum viridflorum leaves. The crude extracts were prepared by maceration using aqueous, methanol and dichloromethane respectively. Antiviral studies were evaluated with influenza virus using Fluorescence based - Neuraminidase inhibitors. Antioxidant activities determined with DPPH, Nitric oxide, hydroxyl and super oxide anion radicals’ Anti-pyretic activities were evaluated using rats with yeast induced pyrexia. Total phenol, flavonoids, and proanthocyanin contents of the plants samples were evaluated using standard protocols. The crude extracts exhibited neuraminidase inhibitory activity against the influenza virus at different thresholds. Artemisia absinthium aqueous extract showed the best activity against A/Sydney/5/97. Whereas Artemisia afra methanol crude extract displayed highest antioxidant potential against the tested antioxidant parameters. All the crude extracts significantly reversed yeast induced pyrexia in rats, similar to paracetamol. Thus, they could serve as natural remedy for respiratory diseases such as Influenza.
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