Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Simarouba glauca DC (Simaroubaceae) on Lipoprotein Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

Background and Purpose: Simarouba glauca is widely reported to contain a number of biologically active compounds with potentials in the treatment of numerous diseases. The study was conducted to evaluate the sub-acute effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Simarouba glauca (AESG) on lipoproteins and oxidative stress biomarkers in male Wistar rats. Methods: Oral administration of AESG was carried out in line with the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), No. 425 using a total of 24 male Wistar rats allotted to four groups (n=6); given distilled water, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day of AESG respectively for 30 days. Results: In plasma, there was a significant reduction (P?0.05) in HDL-cholesterol; elevated (P?0.05) triglycerides (TG) at 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day; elevated (P?0.05), and LDL-cholesterol at 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, relative to the control. While the level of liver total cholesterol (TC) reduced significantly, it increased in the heart. Catalase (CAT) activity in the liver increased significantly (P?0.05) at all doses. The dose of 1000 mg/kg/day significantly (P?0.05) elevated kidney CAT activity. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and heart reduced (P?0.05) at 500 mg/kg/day. At all doses, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma, liver and heart were comparable with the control. Although, there were no significant changes in plasma and liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity at all doses, animals given 500 mg/kg had reduction (P?0.05) in the heart GSH-PX activity compared to the control. Conclusion: Oral sub-acute AESG at high doses altered lipid homeostasis in plasma and heart without lipid peroxidation or oxidative stress. The extract has the potential to cause hyperlipidemia.

Effect of Cassia fistula Hydroalcoholic Extract on Testosterone Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats

Background and Purpose: Men of age 40 years and above are at risk of non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Adverse drug reactions and treatment relapse limit the effectiveness of orthodox pharmacotherapies. This study evaluated the effect of Cassia fistula hydroalcoholic extract on BPH. Methods: BPH was induced in Wistar rats by subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg/day of testosterone propionate (TP) for 7 days. The rats were randomly allotted to five groups: corn oil only; finasteride (FS) 5 mg/kg/day; and C. fistula extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day. A sixth group in which BPH was not induced received only the vehicle. At the end of 28 consecutive days of treatment, prostate and testicular weights and indices were evaluated. The in vitro antioxidant capacity of the extract was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging method. Results: The extract showed a very strong free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 1.58 µg/mL (IC50 of gallic acid = 0.63 µg/mL) due to the presence of secondary metabolites. The results also showed significant (P?0.0001) reduction in the prostate weight, prostatic index, testes weight, and testes index of C. fistula extract-treated rats when compared with the untreated BPH group. Conclusion: These results suggest that C. fistula extract possesses potentials as a remedy for the treatment of BPH.

Ameliorative Potential of Clerodendrum volubile Ethanol Leaf Extract on Doxorubicin-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicities in Rats

Background and Purpose: Hepatorenal toxicity is a side effect of the anthracycline cytotoxic antibiotics, doxorubicin that is used in cancer treatment. The study investigated the ameliorative potential of Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (CVE) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced hepatorenal toxicities. Methods: Male Wistar rats were pretreated with Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract (50 - 400 mg/kg/day, p.o) followed by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg of DOX on alternate days for 14 days. Hepatorenal toxicity was assessed using renal function parameters (serum electrolytes, blood urea and creatinine), hepatic function endpoints [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (TB)]. In addition, the antioxidant activity in the kidney and liver tissues were assayed and histological studies of these tissues were also conducted. Results: Oral pretreatment with 50 mg/kg/day, 100 mg/kg/day, 200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day of CVE remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced liver and kidney injury by lowering the serum ALT, AST, ALP, Cr and BUN levels. CVE pretreatment remarkably ameliorated DOX-induced increases in the CAT, SOD and GPx activities and MDA levels compared to the DOX-treated rats. The biochemical changes were corroborated by improvements in the DOX-induced histological lesions seen in the hepatic and renal tissues examined. Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that Clerodendrum volubile ethanol leaf extract elicits protective effect against DOX-induced hepatorenal toxicities mediated primarily via oxidative stress suppression and improvement in the free radicals scavenging activities of CVE.