Oxidative stress is the result of the disparity between pro‐oxidants and antioxidants in an organism, and it is important in the pathogenesis of several degenerative disorders, such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Free radicals can damage biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and carbohydrates, and the DNA leading to mutations. The use of antioxidants is effective in delaying the oxidation of biomolecules. Antioxidants are complexes found in the food that can retard or deter oxidation by preventing the initiation and propagation of oxidizing chain reactions. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries by man to manage diseases and have a host of antioxidant complexes. Traditionally, Caesalpinia volkensii, Vernonia lasiopus, and Acacia hockii have folkloric remedies against associated oxidative stress‐mediated complications. However, the upsurge in its use has not been accompanied by scientific validations to support these claims. In this study, in vitro antioxidant activity of Caesalpinia volkensii, Vernonia lasiopus, and Acacia hockii collected from Embu County (Kenya) were determined by radical scavenging activities of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical in addition to ferric reducing antioxidant power analyzed against that of L‐ascorbic acid as the standard. The obtained results revealed remarkable antioxidant activities of the studied plant extracts as evidenced by the low IC50 and EC50 values. These antioxidant activities could be due to the presence of antioxidants phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and saponins among others. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of this plant could be due to their antioxidant properties. This study recommends bioassay of the extracts against oxidative stress‐related disorders for development of phytomedicine with antioxidant properties.

Cassava is the world’s most essential food root crop, generating calories to millions of Sub-Saharan African subsistence farmers. Cassava leaves and roots contain toxic quantities of the cyanogenic glycoside linamarin. Consumption of residual cyanogens results in cyanide poisoning due to conversion of the cyanogens to cyanide in the body. There is a need for acyanogenic cassava cultivars in order for it to become a consistently safe and acceptable food, and commercial crop. In recent years, the CRISPR/Cas system, has proven to be the most effective and successful genome editing tool for gene function studies and crop improvement. In this study, we performed targeted mutagenesis of the MeCYP79D1 gene in exon 3, using CRISPR/Cas9, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The vector design resulted in knockout in cotyledon-stage somatic embryos regenerated under hygromycin selection. Eight plants were recovered and genotyped. DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the tested putative transgenic plants carried mutations within the MeCYP79D1 locus, with deletions and substitutions being reported upstream and downstream of the PAM sequence, respectively. The levels of linamarin and evolved cyanide present in the leaves of mecyp79d1 lines were reduced up to seven-fold. Nevertheless, the cassava linamarin and cyanide were not completely eliminated by the MeCYP79D1 knockout. Our results indicate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis is as an alternative approach for development of cassava plants with lowered cyanide content.

Bacterial infections are responsible for a large number of deaths every year worldwide. On average, 80% of the African population cannot afford conventional drugs. Moreover, many synthetic antibiotics are associated with side effects and progressive increase in antimicrobial resistance. Currently, there is growing interest in discovering new antibacterial agents from ethnomedicinal plants. About 60% of the population living in developing countries depends on herbal drugs for healthcare needs. This study involved the screening of Centella asiatica commonly used by herbal medicine practitioners in Kisii County to treat symptoms related to bacterial infections. Standard bioassay methods were applied throughout the study. They included preliminary screening of dichloromethane: methanolic extract of Centella asiatica against human pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Shigella sonnei ATCC 25931, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 using agar disc diffusion, broth microdilution method, and time-kill kinetics with tetracycline as a positive control. Phytochemical screening was carried out to determine the different classes of compounds in the crude extracts. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and means separated by Tukey’s test. Dichloromethane: methanolic extract of Centella asiatica was screened against the selected bacterial strains. Time-kill kinetic studies of the extracts showed dose- and time-dependent kinetics of antibacterial properties. Phytochemical screening of the DCM-MeOH extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, and tannins. The present study indicates that the tested plant can be an important source of antibacterial agents and recommends that the active phytoconstituents be isolated, identified, and screened individually for activities and also subjected further for in vivo and toxicological studies.

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance. Prescription of anti-obesity drugs can be useful adjuncts to diet and exercise for obese patients who have failed to achieve weight loss. However, these drugs are ineffective and are associated with adverse effects. In recent times, medicinal plants have drawn a sharp focus owing to their biocompatibility and effectiveness. Attempts to determine the therapeutic effects and identification of bio-active principles from herbal prescriptions have become the prime focus in the validation of their folkloric usage and in drug discovery programs. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects of Dichloromethane leaf extract of Gnidia glauca in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. Obesity was induced experimentally in white albino Wistar rats by feeding them with prepared high-fat-diet and water ad libitum for a period of 12 weeks. The in-vivo anti-obesity effects were determined by oral administration of Gnidia glauca at dosage levels of 200, 250 and 300 mg/kg body weight from the 6th to 12th week of study. Phytochemical analysis of Gnidia glauca was conducted using gas chromatography linked to mass spectrophotometer. The results indicated that Gnidia glauca exhibited potent anti-obesity effects. It significantly reduced the body weight, organ weights, organo-somatic indices, anthropometric indices, the total fat content, adiposity index, atherogenic index as well as various lipid profiles. It also decreased the total feed intake. However, it significantly increased levels of high-density lipoproteins and rectal body temperature of rats. Quantitative phytochemical analysis also revealed the presence of various phytocompounds that have shown to be associated with anti-obesity effects. The anti-obesity effects of Gnidia glauca maybe attributed to the phytochemicals present. The present study, therefore, scientifically validates the traditional use of Gnidia glauca as a potential candidate for the synthesis of new effective anti-obesity supplement.

The acquisition of ethnobotanical information from traditional practitioners remains an empirical aspect of understanding the ethnopharmacology research. However, integration of information on chemical composition of plant extracts and their pharmacological activities forms a key resource for synthesis of new and effective therapeutics. In traditional African medicine, Gnidia glauca has folkloric remedies against obesity and its associated oxidative stress-mediated complications. However, the upsurge in its use has not been accompanied with scientific validations to support these claims. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant potential of G glauca as a promising antiobesity agent. The antioxidant effects of the extract were assessed against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and superoxide radicals as well as lipid peroxidation, iron-chelating effect, and ferric-reducing power. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using gas chromatography linked to mass spectrophotometry. The results revealed that G glauca exhibited scavenging activities against all radicals formed. Besides, the extract showed iron chelation and ferric reducing abilities. The extract indicated a lower half maximal inhibitory concentration value than the standards used. For instance, the extract inhibited 50% of the formation of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine at the concentration of 1.33 ± 0.03 mg/mL relative to 1.39 ± 0.06 mg/mL of the standard, vitamin C at 1% confidence limit. Similarly, the extract scavenged 50% of hydroxyl radical at 204.34 ± 10.64 μg/mL relative to 210.05 ± 8.80 μg/mL of gallic acid. The extract also contained various phytochemicals that have been associated with antiobesity effects. The synergistic effects of these phytocompounds increase their bioavailability and action on multiple molecular targets thereby correcting obesity-induced oxidative stress.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is among the leading causes of disability in humans. It is estimated that over 35.6 million people are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease- (AD-) associated cognitive deficits globally with these statistics projected to rise over 115.4 million by the year 2050. There is no specific etiology for this cognitive impairment; however, various contributing factors including advancing age (>60 years old), oxidative stress, cerebral injuries, infections, neurologic disorders, and cancer have been implicated. Despite various attempts to manage CI, no curative medicines are yet available. The current drugs used to manage symptoms of AD-associated CI including Donepezil and Rivastigmine among others are only palliative rather than therapeutic. Furthermore, these agents have been associated with undesirable side effects. This calls for alternative and complementary approaches aimed at either preventing or reverting AD-related CI in a curative way without causing adverse events. It is estimated that over 80% of the world’s population utilize herbal medicines for basic healthcare as it is considered safe, affordable, and easily accessible as opposed to conventional healthcare. Various parts ofP. thonningiiare used in traditional medicine to manage various conditions including CI. However, empirical and scientific data to validate these uses is lacking. In this study, the Morris water maze (MWM) experiment was adopted to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of the studied plant extracts. The malondialdehyde (MDA) profiles in the brains of experimental mice were determined using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test. Moreover, qualitative phytochemical profiling of the studied plant extracts was performed using standard procedures. The results showed remarkable cognitive-enhancing activities which were reflected in significantly shorter transfer latencies, navigation distances, longer time spent in platform quadrant, and lower MDA levels compared with those recorded for the negative control mice (p<0.05). Phytochemical screening of the studied plant extracts revealed the presence of antioxidant phytocompounds, which may have played key roles in the extracts’ potency. Based on the findings herein,P. thonningiiextracts, especially the aqueous ones have a promising potential for the management of AD-associated CI. Further studies aimed at isolating and characterizing specific active compounds for CI fromP. thonningiiare recommended. Additionally, specific mode(s) of action of active principles should be elucidated. Moreover, toxicity studies should be done on the studied plant extracts to ascertain their safety.