Okari A. Karibo’s scientific contributions

The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition of Cymbopogon flexuosus plant leaves were investigated using standard methods. Eight Phytochemical families were detected. Amongst those detected are phenolic acid, saponins, glycosides, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and sterols. Seven phenolic acids were quantitatively detected with ferulic acid (10.28±0.55 mg/100 g), chlorogenic acid (8.37±0.01 mg/100 g) and caffeic acid (2.93±0.04 mg/100 g) being the highest. Among the nine saponins detected sarsasapogenin (7.12±0.10 mg/100 g) and tigogenin (5.34±0.02 mg/100 g) were observed to be high. Nine glycosides and six cyanogenic glycosides were found in the plant leave and salicin (1.36±0.01 mg/100 g) and galliridoside (7.12±0.10 mg/100 g) were detected to be the highest respectively. Seventeen alkaloids and five anthocyanins were found in the plant leaf. For the alkaloids, akuammidine (4.21±0.01 mg/100 g) was seen to be the highest while cyaniding-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside (32.96±55.46 mg/100 g) was observed to be the highest for anthocyanins. Six and seven flavonoids and sterols were detected in the plant leaf respectively. Among them, glycitein with value of 19.01±0.06 mg/100 g and sitosterol at 16.25±0.01 mg/100 g were found to also be the highest respectively. The rich contents of many bioactive molecules detected in Cymbopogon flexuosus leaf suggest the strong nutraceutical potential of this plant leaves, further suggesting their likely use as functional food and as therapeutics in the management and prevention of diseases.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become one of the non-communicable diseases of global importance due to the huge number of people affected annually and the total population living with the disease. Besides the chronicity, prognosis is usually poor because the inability of optimal glycemic control with existing orthodox management protocols and medications. Consequent upon this, search of an alternative care, that is affordable, accessible and scientifically appropriate have been on the increase. Food-based treatment that incorporates the use of plant foods like Bambara groundnut (BGN) is a ready exploit due to the availability of bioactive compounds, the easy accessibility of the plant foods, its wide consumption in various climes and affordability across social classes. This work focused on determination of the hypoglycemic effects and antioxidant activities of administration of high concentrations of BGN extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Bambara groundnut was purchased locally and processed into flour that was later moulded into pellets, oven-dried at 600C and carefully stored in an airtight container for future use. Male albino rats numbering fourty-two with known weights recorded as 134 g for the least and 247 grams for the biggest, were purchased for the experiment which commenced with the acclimatization of the rats for seven days and induction of insulin resistance with low dose fructose diet. The rats were then injected with Streptozotocin (STZ) by intra-peritoneal routes and those that developed type-2 diabetes mellitus subsequently were given the formulated Bambara groundnut for 28 days before the blood samples were collected to assess for blood glucose levels and antioxidant assays. Results : This study revealed the effect of Bambara groundnut intervention at high concentration on the mean values for magnesium (136.27 mg/100g), zinc (1.33 mg/100g), copper (0.78 mg/100g) and manganese (0.56 mg/100g) as being significantly higher than the commercial rat feed mean values. The formulation also had a DPPH activity of 56.22%, which was significantly higher than that of the commercial rat feed (46.72%). The Catalase (CAT) activity was also higher (8.02 units/min) when compared to the commercial feed`s 6.15 units/min, denoting a comparatively higher CAT activity of 32%. Conclusion: When bambara groundnut flour is administered at higher concentration, it boost the antioxidant defense system, aids glycemic control and improves body weight in diabetic albino rats and therefore can be recommended in the nutritional therapeutics of patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) with the common type, being, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, affects a vast population globally especially within the age range of 20 – 79 years, with the need for cure being prioritized by the World Health Organization, who champions the use of cheaper treatment strategies as a result. Food-based approach including use of medical plants have been canvassed as a preventive and Public Health remedy for the management of DM. Plants foods like Cocoyam (CYN), soya bean (SB), and Bambara groundnut (BGN) have been reported to have health benefits, and hence the need in this study to evaluate and compare the anti-diabetic effects in diabetic rats. Methodology: Cocoyam (CYN), soya bean (SB), and Bambara groundnut (BGN) were processed into fine flour, pelletized, oven-dried at 60°C, and stored in airtight container for future use. Insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes were induced with low fructose diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin respectively on fifty-eight male albino rats with weight range of 134 to 247 g. The intervention formulations were administered for 28 days, while blood samples were collected from the killed animals for random and fasting blood glucose levels. Results and Discussion: The reports from the study revealed a mean random blood glucose (RBG) levels that changed over the time trend (F=13.963, p<0.001) with a similar group pattern in weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 (F=79.106, p<0.01) (F=76.755, p<0.001). The mean value of the random blood glucose in the rat group fed on Bambara groundnut (BGN) was better than that of the SB group, which was better than that of the group given CYN (BGN>SB>CYN). When the intervention groups were compared with the control group, the CYN and SB groups had better anti-diabetic outcomes. Conclusion: Plant foods, Bambara groundnut, Soya bean and Cocoyam possess anti-diabetic properties but the potency of the hypoglycemic effects when compared showed that Bambara groundnut was more effective in glycemic control in diabetic rats and hence can be used as an additional therapeutic adjunct in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a predominant non-communicable disease in both developing and high income countries causing multiple organ damage and disabilities worldwide. The orthodox approach to managing the disease is confronted with myriads of challenges making alternative cheaper and culturally acceptable methods unavoidable. Global experts have suggested the use of plants with medicinal values, resulting in researches into plants foods with health benefits. Cocoyam (CYN), soya bean (SB), and Bambara groundnut (BGN) are documented plant foods whose bioactive constituents have series of biochemical effects in diabetic animals. The essence of this study was to compare the biochemical changes occurring in different sets of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with CYN, SB and BGN. Methodology: CYN, SB and BGN were packaged in airtight containers after undergoing processing, pelletization and grinding into fine flours. Fourty two healthy male albino rats, were acclimatized for one week before the induction of Insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes using 10% fructose diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin respectively. The recorded weights of the rats were between 134 and 247 g. The intervention formulations were administered for 28 days, following which blood samples were collected from the killed animals for biochemical analysis. Results and Discussion: The study results showed a more potent lipid peroxidation amelioration with the intervention formulations when compared to the standard control, and that among the formulations, BGN and CYN-fed groups outperformed the SB-fed group. The intervention formulations also showed stronger anti-inflammatory properties than the standard control, with the SB-fed group exhibiting the best. CYN and SB equally exerted hypolipidemic effects unlike in the BGN-fed rats. All the formulations had similar urea and uric acid concentration levels which were lower than observed with the antidiabetic drug, implying a better renal protective capacity in the flour-fed rat groups. Conclusion: The hepato-renal protection and hypolipidemic effects arising from the administration of BGN, SB and CYN were better than in the standard control, with SB and CYN being generally more efficacious. Hence soybean and cocoyam flour can be useful adjuncts in the nutritional and clinical management of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects 536.6 million people globally, with an estimated 12.2% growth by 2045. DM management is extremely expensive, hence alternative treatments combining the use of therapeutic plant foods are being investigated. Because Colocasia esculenta "cocoyam" Original Research Article Uro-Chukwu et al.; S. Asian Res. 124 (CYN) is one of these plants, the primary goal of this research was to investigate the effects of CYN high concentration (CHC) extracts on biochemical and histological levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Locally sourced CYN was ground into a fine powder, molded into pellets, dried in an oven at 60°C, and stored. Forty-two male albino rats weighing between 134 and 247 grams were prepared. Insulin resistance was induced with a low-dose fructose diet. Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to induce type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The experimental formulation was administered for 28 days, after which the animals were sacrificed and their organs and blood samples were taken for various biochemical and histological analyses. The rats' body and organ weights were also measured. Results & Discussion: The active biological substances in the cocoyam flour included phenolics, E-stilbene, phthalate, and artemisinin, along with more antioxidant minerals than those found in rat meals that are sold commercially. The formulation exhibited catalase (CAT) activity of 7.9 units/min and DPPH of 53.2%. Poor glycemic control was suggested by the persistently elevated random blood glucose readings observed along the time trend. Both the usual control group and the cocoyam-fed group have identical histological features in their liver and pancreas. Conclusion: Although having a poor glycemic control, a high concentration of cocoyam flour in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (SIDRs) demonstrated comparable histological effects to the anti-diabetic drug, metformin, suggesting that it could be used as an additional treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes.

The impact of the ethanol extract of the plant on kidney function markers of Testosterone propionate induced prostatitis were studied and the PSA level of the male wistar rats used was also studied. Thirty male wistar rats were grouped into six groups (group1-6) of five rats each. Normal water and the rat feeds were given to rats in group 1 ad libitum and they were not treated. Prostatitis was induced to the rats in groups 2 to 6 for four days after which treatment commenced for 28 days. The reference drug (Contiflo XL (400µg)) was administered to Group 3, the rats in groups 4 and 5 received 100mg and 200mg of the plant extract respectively while group 6 were administered a combined dose of 100mg of plant extract and contiflo XL. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant leaf revealed the presence of polyphenols (+++), alkaloids (+++), saponins (++), tannins (++) and flavonoids (+). The PSA Level that was observed to be increased after induction of prostatitis in group2 was significantly decreased when 200mg of the leaf ethanol extract of the plant was administered to group 4. The other groups (3, 5 and 6) were also decreased when compared to group 2. For all the kidney function biomarkers analyzed, a significant increase was observed in group2 when compared with group 1. After the period of treatment, urea, creatinine and the electrolytes (Na + , Cl-, K + and HCO3-) were observed to be significantly decreased when 100mg of the extract was administered showing the much potency it has in the disease management except for bicarbonate where 200mg of the extract had more potency. This study has revealed that the plant leaf ethanol extract is suitable for the management of prostatitis and has ameliorative effect on the kidney function biomarkers of male wistar rats induced with prostatitis.