Serum Lipid Profile of Breast Cancer Patients

The use of plant-based medicine is popular amongst individuals and communities in developing countries. Duranta erecta has been used in Africa and Asia to treat a wide range of diseases. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of D. erecta to ascertain its health benefits in traditional medicine. Phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial effect of the hydroethanolic extract of D. erecta leaves (DRL), unripe fruits (DRU), and ripe fruits (DRR) were investigated by standard methods. Elemental analyses were carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) on the raw sample and extract. FTIR and UV-VIS spectroscopy were used to identify functional groups. Extracts were screened for their possible antioxidant activities by three tests. The total phenolic and total tannin contents were evaluated by using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Total flavonoid content was determined by the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay method. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using the DPPH scavenging activity. The results of phytochemical screening showed the presence of triterpenoids, sterols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of alcohols, phenols, alkanes, aldehydes, ketones, aromatics, aliphatic amines, aromatic amines, amides, carboxylic acids, esters, nitro compounds, alkynes, primary and secondary amines, and alkyl halides. Iron, zinc, and copper were also detected. Total phenolic and tannin contents ranged from 2.20 ± 0.15 to 14.54 ± 0.29 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g and 3.55 ± 0.07 to 13.82 ± 0.04 mg GAE/100 g, respectively. Total flavonoid content varied from 41.76 ± 0.96 to 343.49 ± 3.45 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g. The highest DPPH scavenging activity was recorded in the methanolic fraction of the leaves. The antimicrobial assay of the extract or fractions recorded no activity against the test organisms. The outcome of this study affirmed that D. erecta contains phytochemicals and bioactive compounds that could be of health benefit.

Liver disease is a major health problem and its treatment is costly in most developing countries with attendant adverse effects. This study aimed at determining the acute hepatoprotective efficacy of Duranta erecta hydroethanolic extracts of leaves, ripe and unripe fruits against CCl₄-, and acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in animals. Materials and Methods. CCl₄ (1mL/kg body weight in olive oil) and acetaminophen (500mg/kg b.wt) were used to induce hepatotoxicity in the animals. Animals were treated with extracts at 250mg/kg b.wt and standard drug, silymarin (100mg/kg), for 7days. Hepatoprotective efficacy was assessed by assaying serum biochemical markers such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT), bilirubin (Bil), antioxidative biomarkers including reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxidase (H₂0₂), and nitric oxide (NO), as well as histological observations. Results. Exposure of the animals to CCl₄ and acetaminophen resulted in liver injury as evidenced by elevated ALT, AST, ALP, γGT, Bil, MDA, H₂O₂, and NO levels with resultant derangement in liver microarchitecture. Pretreatment with hydroethanolic extracts, particularly ripe fruits of Duranta erecta, led to a reduction in these indicators and an increase in GSH, GPx, GST, and SOD levels. Biochemical data were supported by improvement in liver structure. Conclusion. The findings suggest that hydroethanolic Duranta erecta ripe fruits extract possesses hepatoprotective and antioxidative activities against CCl₄- and acetaminophen-induced toxicity and could be developed as a potent agent for drug-induced liver diseases.

Two (2) month-old leaves of fourteen (14) breeding lines of cassava, consisting of five (5) parental lines and nine hybrids, were evaluated for their phytochemical constituents. The objective of the study was to determine total flavonoid, phenolic and antioxidant activity in the leaves of the breeding lines. The 14 breeding lines were grown in the research farm of the Biotechnology and nuclear Agriculture Research Institute between March and September 2011. Analyses were carried out at the laboratories Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) between July and August 2011. The randomized complete block design, with three replicates, was used. Results indicate statistically significant differences in Total Flavonoid Contents (TFCs), Total Phenolic Contents (TPCs) and Total Antioxidant Activities (TAAs) recorded for both the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the breeding lines. Hyb-9 gave the highest total flavonoid content of 179.90±0.21 mg/g/QE (ethanol extract) as well as total phenolic contents of 128.25 mg/g/GAE and 95.33+3.61 mg/g/GAE for both ethanol and aqueous extracts, respectively, while Security gave the highest value for total flavonoid content of 96.7+0.03 (aqueous extract). Similarly, Larbi recorded the highest TAA in ethanolic extract (82.88+3.07%), while Hyb-15 gave the highest value of aqueous extract (80.92+2.79%). In general there was strong positive correlation among the TFC, TPC and TAA. Most hybrids exhibited higher TFCs and TPCs than their parents in the ethanolic extracts.

Background and Objectives: Duranta erecta is used in folklore medicine for the treatment of myriad of diseases in Africa. The study was carried out to evaluate the safety of hydroethanolic leaves extract of D. erecta in experimental rats in order to ascertain its potential toxic effects. Materials and Methods: The acute toxicity study was performed by fixed dose method at 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute study performed on both male and female rats, group I (control) received 1 mL of freshly distilled water, groups II, III, IV were treated with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of freshly prepared extract respectively for 28 days. At the end of the study, haematological and biochemical parameters were determined. Internal organs (kidney, liver, lung, heart, spleen, stomach, testes and uterus) were weighed. Results: 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the extract was determined to be > 5 g/kg body weight. The subacute toxicity assessment resulted in overall body weight increase, a change in relative organ weight of the liver, lung, stomach, and changes in the haematological indices such as HCT%, LYM%, RDW- SD/fL, MCHC, MCV/fL, P-LCR% and biochemical parameters namely ALT, AST, LDH and creatinine of the tested group relative to the normal. The positive activity of the extract on liver enzymes and LDH is an indication of its good hepatoprotective potential. Conclusion: The results affirmed that the extract is safe but could cause kidney problems when used for a prolonged period.

The harmful effects of the free radicals on humans could be inhibited by antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. Tomato contains several antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Consumption of tomatoes has been related epidemiologically to a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, prostate, gastrointestinal and epithelial cell cancers. In this study ten different brands of canned tomato pastes on the Ghanaian market were evaluated for their antioxidant potentials based on their polyphenolic and flavonoid contents as well as DPPH free radical scavenging activities. The amount of total phenolic compounds extracted were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Total flavonoid content was determined using aluminum chloride colorimetric assay method. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using the DPPH scavenging activity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 6.26 mg GAE/gdw to 22.82 mg GAE/gdw and between 1.83 μg QE/gdw to 45.26μg QE/gdw respectively. DPPH scavenging activity ranged from 8.03% to 29.69%. High and significant correlations existed between antioxidant activities, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of tomato paste samples analysed indicating these pastes are potentially rich sources of dietary polyphenolic compounds and antioxidants, and might contribute important health benefits to consumers.