Evaluation of the Anti-ulcer Effect of Extra Virgin Avocado (Persea americana) Oil in Rats

Peptic ulcer disease is a gastrointestinal disorder of high mortality and morbidity. Therapy of this disease condition with conventional drugs presents therapeutic challenge due to incidents of unwanted side effects, and the high cost of these medications. The use of products from natural sources will provide useful alternatives due to their minimal side effects, being inexpensive, and readily available, especially in resource-challenged nations of the continent of Africa and other developing economies. Oils derived from plants are increasingly being used in management of several disease conditions. This study aims at evaluating the antiulcer activity of extra virgin avocado oil in rodents using ethanol-induced, and indomethacin-induced ulcer models. Test group was given extra virgin avocado oil (1ml per 250g weight) for 7 days before induction of ulcer. Positive controls received omeprazole 30 mg/kg, while negative control animals were given distilled water (10ml/kg) for 7 days respectively, before induction of ulcer. The stomachs were excised and their histopathological examinations carried out. Avocado oil significantly reduced the ulcer index in both models when compared to the negative control group, and histopathological findings corroborate that the oil ameliorates ulcerations in both models. The present study has demonstrated that extra virgin avocado oil possesses significant antiulcer activity.

Assessment of Anti-oxidant Activity of Aerial Parts of Mangrove Plant, Derris trifoliata ( Leguminosae)

The current study was conducted to verify the traditional medicinal use and to carry out the in-vitro antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of Derris trifoliata (aerial part). The percentage yield of ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts were found 2.5% w/w. Freshly prepared extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening. All extracts revealed the presence of several important phytochemicals which might be responsible for its medicinal properties. In vitro Electron transfer (ET) reaction-based assays of ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts have been investigated using various model systems viz., DPPH, total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and reducing power assay. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction-based assays have been conducted using Nitric Oxide (NO) scavenging and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity assay methods. Ethanol extract was found to possess highest DPPH (IC50=16.824 µg/ml), total phenolic content (44.51 GAE/g of dried plant extract), reducing power assay (0.387±0.0006), FRAF assay (IC50=133.51 µg/ml), hydrogen peroxide scavenging (IC50=144.888 µg/ml) and nitric oxide scavenging activities (IC50=152.655 µg/ml). Whereas ethyl acetate extract was found to possess the highest total tannin content (42.56 GAE/g of dried plant extract) and total flavonoid content (78.08 QE/g of dried plant extract). In vitro antioxidant study was also performed in terms of chelation power on ferrous ions. The highest chelation power was found for ethyl acetate extract (IC50=62.489 µg/ml). The above study suggests that Derris trifoliata may be a vital source of nutraceuticals.