Hematinic effects of Spondias mombin and its protective role against the spleenotoxic effect of phenylhydrazine

Nutritional benefits, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicity of Spondias mombin Linn: a comprehensive review

OBJECTIVES

Spondias mombin is traditionally used as an herbal medicine for several human diseases and ailments in the tropical regions across the globe including the African countries. This study aimed to provide comprehensive information on nutritional benefits, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties and toxicology study of S. mombin. Information was gathered from documented literatures in scientific database.

KEY FINDINGS

The study revealed that S. mombin has nutritional values; with the leaf, fruit, flower, seed, and stem bark possessing a wide range of ethnomedicinal uses across several regions, with documented pharmacological properties. S. mombin has a frequent rate of ethnomedicinal utility in cases of abortion, constipation, fever, gonorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, digestive pain, diarrhoea, dysentery and wounds. Ethnopharmacological studies showed that crude extracts and chemical compounds from S. mombin manifested in vivo and in vitro biological and pharmacological activities. About 102 isolated compounds from the leaf, fruit, or stem bark of S. mombin have been reported.

SUMMARY

Overall, S. mombin has several nutritive and ethnomedicinal benefits owing to its chemical constituents, which are linkable to the several pharmacological activities. There remains however, the need for dosage intake caution, upon the advice of medical professionals.

Viscum album prevents haematological changes, electrolyte imbalance, changes in liver function enzymes and histological alterations in some selected tissues in cadmium chloride-intoxicated rats

Background

The use of Viscum album to treat different diseases is popular in the practise of alternative medicine. We investigated the ability of the aqueous extract of V. album to protect against the toxic effects of cadmium.

Methods

Thirty rats used for the experiment were treated as follows; Group 1 - no cadmium or extract. Group 2-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride. Group 3-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 4-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and 400 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 5-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride with 800 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of V. album. Group 6-10 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride and atorvastatin (100 mg/kg body weight).

Results

Apart from WBC and platelets, other haematological parameters and electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels were not significantly affected by the administration of cadmium chloride along with the aqueous extract of V. album. Treatment with the extract caused significant decreases in the hepatosomatic index, cardiosomatic index, and increase in renosomatic index of the test rats. It also resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decrease in AST level. Histological report also shows that treatment with the extract restored the normal myocardium and vascular architecture of the heart, normal portal and vascular architecture of the liver and normal glomerular and tubular architecture of the kidney, in the cadmium-intoxicated experimental rats.

Conclusion

V. album protects against the toxic effects of cadmium chloride.

Correction to: Hematinic effects of Spondias mombin and its protective role against the spleenotoxic effect of phenylhydrazine

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.