Effect of Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal on growth performance, intestinal mucosa activity, digestive enzymes, absorption capacity, and immunity in broiler chickens

Gut health is multifaceted and is largely influenced by the rearing environment and the diet. The use of phytochemicals rich in phenolics and flavonoids can improve the digestive health of chickens and lead to better growth performance. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal (VALM) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, absorption function, organ weights and immunity of broilers. Two hundred and forty, one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups: an unsupplemented control and VA-1, VA-3 and VA-5 receiving VALM incorporation at concentrations of 1, 3 and 5 g/kg, respectively. Each treatment had six replicates of 10 chickens. On d 42, six chickens per replicate were isolated and euthanised. Digesta from the jejunal segments (10 cm) was collected for analysis of the digestive enzymes. The remaining digesta was then washed out with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline before the jejunal segments (10 cm) were opened longitudinally to collect the mucosa by scraping. For the preparation of the homogenate, intestinal mucosa samples were homogenised with 154 mmol/l of ice-cold sodium chloride solution and centrifuged at 4 °C for 900 s. To determine immunoglobulins, glutathione and D-xylose, the supernatant was extracted and stored at -20 °C. Supplementation with VALM did not significantly influence the relative weights of organs in the different treatments. However, VALM at 3 g/kg caused a significant increase in amylase and trypsin concentration (P<0.05). Immunoglobulin A and intestinal secretory immunoglobulin G concentrations were significantly improved (P<0.05) in the birds fed 3 g/kg VALM. This supported the premise that 3 g/kg VALM in feed can improve gastric immunity status and digestive enzyme secretion.

Preliminary evaluation of the wound healing effect of Vitex doniana sweet (Verbenaceae) in mice

Vitex doniana is traditionally used in Togo to treat various diseases including wounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of Vitex doniana on cutaneous wound healing. Wounds were induced in ICR mice divided into four groups as following: Group I received carbopol 974P NF empty gel, Groups II and III were treated topically with carbopol gel containing 2.5% and 5% of Vitex doniana extract. Group IV received Betadine® 10% as standard drug. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by planimetry and histological analysis. We secondary used the gel containing Vitex doniana at 2.5% and the pure extract at 10 mg/ml on the model of ear edema induced by xylene. Skin toxicity test was performed with the gel containing Vitex doniana at 5% and the pure extract at 30 mg/ml. Vitex doniana at 5% and 2.5% provided better wound contraction (91.14% and 86.38%) at day 12 post-excision when compared to control (51.15%). The results of histological evaluation supported the outcome of excision wound model. Moreover Vitex doniana inhibited significantly edema induced by xylene when compared to control (p< 0.05). In skin toxicity test, no abnormal symptoms were developed over 14 day-time period. Vitex doniana inhibits the topical inflammation and accelerate cutaneous wound repair.

[Effect of Morinda lucida Benth. (Rubiaceae) and Newbouldia leavis P. Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) on sickling of red blood cells]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the In vitro anti-sickling activity of two plants widely used for treatment of sickle cell disease in Togo, i.e., Morinda lucida et Newbouldia leavis. A concentration-dependent decrease in the rate of sickling was observed after incubation of red blood cells with plant extracts and 2% sodium metabisulfite as compared to incubation with 0.9% NaCl. On samples with a SS blood genotype the inhibition rate of Morinda lucida was 17.30% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and 92.31% at a concentration of 30 mg/ml. On samples with an AS blood genotype, the inhibition rate of Morinda lucida 48.10% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml and 99.34% at a concentration of 30 mg/ml. Using Newbouldia leavis the inhibition rates at concentrations of 1 mg/ml and 30 mg/ml were 15.66% and 90.42% respectively on samples with a SS blood genotype and 64.03% and 99.02% respectively on samples with an AS blood genotype. The study protocol appeared to be adequate for both SS and AS blood genotypes since the Pearson correlation coefficient between rates measured on the two types of samples was 0.92 for Newuboulida and 0.89 for Morinda. These findings show that these two plants have clear-cut in vitro anti-sickling activity and support their use in traditional medicine.

Investigation of the antioxidant activity of African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea)

African potato (AP) is widely used as an immune booster for the treatment of various ailments. The norlignan glycoside hypoxoside, a major phytoconstituent of AP, its aglycon rooperol, and an aqueous preparation of lyophilized AP corms were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine) and FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) tests. Inhibition of quinolinic acid (QA) induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver tissue was studied in vitro using the thiobarbituric assay (TBA). Superoxide free radical scavenging activity was determined by the nitroblue tetrazolium assay. An isocratic HPLC method was developed to quantitatively determine both hypoxoside and rooperol concurrently. While rooperol and AP extracts reduced QA-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenates and significantly scavenged the superoxide anion at pharmacological doses, in comparison, hypoxoside was virtually devoid of activity. Since hypoxoside is converted to rooperol in vivo following administration of AP, the results indicate that the hypoxoside component in AP could have value as an antioxidant prodrug.

[Anti-cholinergic effect of Pluchea ovalis (pers.) Dc. (asteraceae) root extract on isolated Wistar rat tracheae]

Ethanolic extract of Pluchea ovalis roots inhibit acetylcholine-induced bronchoconstriction observed in asthma. To understand the mechanism of P. ovalis root extract on airway smooth muscle contraction, we investigated the anti-cholinergic effect of the ethanolic extract on isolated isolated tracheae of the Wistar rat. For this purpose, three experimental conditions of incubation were used: idomethacin, indomethacin+propranolol or indomethacin+propranolo+ promethazine. The extract was applied in all three conditions at 0.25 mg/ml for 10 minutes prior to cumulative doses of acetylcholine (10(-8) to 5.10(-4) g/ml). The extract reduced acetylcholine-induced contraction and could have an antagonistic effect on muscarinic receptors of the rat trachea.