Nutrient Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Natural Products in Livingstone Potato (Plectranthus esculentus )

Effect of methanol extract of Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br tuber and its fractions on indices of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Wistar rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Many ethnopharmacological properties (anti-tumor, etc.) have been credited to Plectranthus esculentus tuber but the scientific basis has not been established.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effect of methanol extract of P. esculentus tuber (MEPET) (phase 1) and its fractions (phase 2) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1, thirty-five male albino rats (6 weeks old) were divided into seven groups of five rats each: normal control (NC) received olive oil (subcutaneously) and water (orally); disease control (DC) received testosterone propionate (TP) (3 mg/kg) and water; test groups (1,2,3 and 4) received TP + MEPET at 100, 200, 400, 600 mg/kg respectively; positive control, received TP + finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their relative prostate weights (RPW) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) were determined. Phase 2, thirty rats were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each: NC received olive oil (subcutaneously daily) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (orally); DC received TP (3 mg/kg), and DMSO; test group 1 received TP and aqueous fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 2 received TP and methanol fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); test group 3 received TP, and ethyl acetate fraction of MEPET (400 mg/kg); positive control received TP and finasteride (5 mg/70 kg). After 28 days, their erythrocyte sedimentation rates, RPW, prostate levels of PSA, DHT, inflammatory, apoptotic markers and prostate histology were determined.

RESULTS

Ethyl acetate fraction of MEPET modulated most of the parameters of BPH in the rats in a manner akin to finasteride as corroborated by prostate histology.

CONCLUSIONS

EFPET could be useful in the treatment of BPH.

Storable, neglected, and underutilized species of Southern Africa for greater agricultural resilience

The Southern African region suffers from drought and food system uncertainty with increased risks due to climate change, natural disasters, and global catastrophes. Increasing crop diversity with more appropriate and resilient crops is an effective way of increasing food system resilience. We focus on crop species that are native or naturalized to an area because of their increased resilience than those that are not naturally occurring. Additionally, crops that are easily stored are more useful in times of drought and disaster. In this systematic review, we use scientific interest in neglected and underutilized species (NUS) from Southern Africa to help define next steps toward their cultivation and development as a marketable crop. We found that although scientific interest is minimal for storable Southern African NUS, these crops are worth scaling up due to their economic and nutritional value. We outline next actionable steps and specific NUS for production in a more agrobiodiverse and resilient agriculture system.

Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) modulates some parameters of testosterone propionate-induced rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia

The increased global prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the promising potentials of functional foods in ameliorating it led to this study which reported the effect of aqueous ethanol extract of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) tuber on some biochemical indices in testosterone propionate (TP) induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rats. Thirty male albino rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 (negative control) received 3 mg/kg of TP and normal saline, group 2 (positive control) received 3 mg/kg of TP and 5 mg/kg of finasteride; groups 3, 4, and 6 rats received 3 mg/kg of TP and 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanol extracts of cocoyam respectively while group 5 (normal control) received olive oil + normal saline. The study lasted for 28 days. The negative control had increased prostate weight (p < 0.05), decreased body weight gain, prostatic superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione concentrations; no differences (p > 0.05) in the serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, Very Low Density Lipoprotein, High Density Lipoprotein, Low Density Lipoprotein concentration but increased (p < 0.05) prostate levels of interleukin 10, prostate specific antigen, testosterone, total proteins and malondialdehyde relative to the normal control. Finasteride or the C. esculenta tuber extract modulated most of these parameters as corroborated by histology of the prostate. The percentage yield of the C. esculenta tuber extract was 1.56% and 23 phenolic compounds were characterized in the tuber. The study showed the potentials of C. esculenta tuber in the management of BPH.

Chemical Composition and Evaluation of Methanol Leaf Extract of <i>Combretum dolichopetalum</i> on Body Weights and Haematological Indices of Phenylhydrazine Induced-anaemic Rats

Anaemia is a serious health challenge in developing countries. This study evaluated the chemical composition of Combretum dolichopetalum (CD) leaves, the effect of its methanol extract on the body weights and haematological indices of phenylhydrazine induced-anaemic rats. Fresh matured leaves of CD were collected, identified and authenticated. Phytochemicals, proximate compositions, mineral elements, anti-nutritional factors and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were determined. A total number of twenty (20) mature inbred apparently healthy male albino rats of the Wistar strain (100-150 g) were used for this study. Anaemia was induced by administering phenylhydrazine to rats in Groups 2, 3 and 4 comprising of five rats per group. Group 1 (non-anaemic control) (n = 5) and Group 2 (anaemic control) received distilled water respectively while Groups 3 and 4 were administered 200 and 400 mg/kg of CD leaf extract orally using oropharyngeal cannula once per day for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained for haematological analysis using standard methods. The result showed a significant increase in Red Blood Cell (RBC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration in Groups 3 and 4 compared with the anaemic group. Chemical analysis showed the presence of some phytochemicals, proximate compositions, mineral elements and anti-nutritional factors. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of nine (9) compounds. This study indicates that CD is nutritionally rich and contains some important bioactive principles that support its anti-anaemic properties.

The role of dietary polyphenols in the management of erectile dysfunction-Mechanisms of action

The incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is on the increase and it is estimated that it will affect about 322 million men globally by the year 2025 if adequate measures are not taken to curb it. Natural polyphenols in plant based diets have gained public interest in recent times due to their roles in the prevention of various disease that implicate free radicals/reactive oxygen species and recently on ED. However, the role of polyphenols in the management of ED has not been explored due perhaps to limited data available. Hence this study which reviewed the role of dietary polyphenols in the management of ED and their mechanisms of action. Literature search was carried out in several electronic data bases such as Pubmed, Google Scholar, Medline, Agora and Hinari from1972 to 2016 to identify the current status of knowledge on the role of polyphenols in the management of erectile dysfunction. Progress made so far in this direction suggests inhibition of arginase, acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin converting enzyme, rho-kinase II; activation of endothelial and neuronal NO synthase; decreased synthesis of luteinizing hormone and testosterone reduction; activation of silent information regulator 2-related enzymes (sirtuin1) as well as free radical/reactive oxygen species inhibition as the mechanisms through which the polyphenols identified in this review exert beneficial roles in the management of ED.

Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Could Dietary Polyphenols Be an Alternative to Existing Therapies?

The incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is gradually on the increase. While conventional drugs such as the α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors have been found to be useful in the treatment of BPH, the adverse side effects associated with their usage, have led to increased search for alternative means of managing this disease. Furthermore, although surgery has also been suggested to be a sure method, the cost and risks associated with it excludes it as a routine treatment. Dietary polyphenols have gained public interest in recent times due to their roles in the prevention of various diseases that implicate free radicals/reactive oxygen species. However, their roles in the management of BPH have not been explored. Hence, this review on their prospects in the management of BPH and their mechanisms of action. Literature search was carried out in several electronic data bases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, Agora, and Hinari from1970 to 2017 to identify the current status of knowledge on this concept. The findings from these data bases suggest that while dietary polyphenols may not replace the need for the existing therapies in the management of BPH, they hold promise in BPH management which could be explored by researchers working in this field.