Biochemistry and Microbiology

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Browsing Biochemistry and Microbiology by Author "Cele, Nkosinathi David"

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    Effect of methanolic extract of Maytenus procumbens and Ozoroa paniculosa on testicular dysfunction
    (University of Zululand, 2017) Cele, Nkosinathi David
    Testicular dysfunction and related disorders continue to pose serious social and pathological health threats. Concoctions of Maytenus procumbens and Ozoroa paniculosa are commonly used by Zulu traditional healers to treat sexual dysfunction. This study aimed at investigating the effect of the methanolic roots extracts of M. procumbens and O. paniculosa against testicular dysfunction in male rats. Crude methanolic extracts of the plants were screened for their antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase and phosphodiesterase inhibitory activities in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated against normal embryonic kidney (HEK293) and cancer (HT29 and MCF7) cell lines. n-Butanol-induced testicular dysfunction model was used to investigate the effect of the extracts against testicular dysfunction in male rats. Rats were divided into different groups and the testicular dysfunction was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of n-butanol (25 mg/kg). A single dose of the extract (50 and 250 mg/kg body weight) daily for 28 days. The extracts showed to a varying degree of efficacy, concentration dependent antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase and phosphodiesterase inhibitory properties. A moderate (30.3-330.2 μg/ml) to weak (200.8-438.4 μg/ml) cytotoxicity level (LC50) was observed on cancer and normal cells, respectively. The animals treated with the extracts (50 and 250 mg/kg) showed improved testicular function which was manifested by an increased testicular weight, improved sexual performance, increased serum testosterone, a higher sperm count and better sperm quality when compared to the untreated group. The groups treated with the extracts (250 mg/kg) showed regular arrangement and increased number of spermatogonia in the seminiferous tubules comparable to the normal control group. An increase in the tissue antioxidant status (increased catalase activity and glutathione content) along with a decrease in malondialdehyde content in the extract treated groups was observed. A relatively higher serum creatinine level was also observed in the animals treated with the extracts. These results support the use of M. procumbens and O. paniculosa in folk medicine for the management of testicular dysfunction and its related disorders. However, the observed potential cytotoxicity and renal toxicity of the extracts indicate that medicinally, plants should be used with caution.
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    Erectogenic activity of the Maytenus procumbens roots extract in type 2 diabetic rats
    (University of Zululand, 2020) Cele, Nkosinathi David
    Erectile dysfunction (ED), one of the common complications of type 2 diabetes in males, is the global health problem that markedly affects the quality of sexually active men. Since the current hypoglycemic and erectogenic drugs, lack the dual effect to ameliorate both hyperglycemia and ED respectively, the multi-target nature of medicinal plants could prove vital in the treatment of diabetes induced ED. This study investigated the erectogenic effect of the roots extracts of Maytenus procumbens in type 2 diabetic rats. The plant material was separately extracted with methanol and dichloromethane. The extracts were screened for their potential antioxidant, antiprotein glycation, antidiabetic and erectogenic activities in vitro. The in vivo erectogenic effect of the methanolic extract of M. procumbens roots was investigated using type 2 diabetes induced erectile dysfunction in rat model. The fructose-streptozotocin model was used to induce type 2 diabetes-linked ED in sexually active male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into normal group (normal diet and drinking tap water) and high fructose fed group (normal diet and 25% of fructose in drinking water) for 120 days. The high fructose fed group rats were then given a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution (30 mg/kg). The diabetic ED rats were orally administered with the extract at 250 mg/kg, daily for a further 28 days. The animals were then sacrificed, and the serum, brain and penile tissues were removed for biochemical analysis and protein expression. The in vitro studies revealed that methanolic extract exhibited strong antioxidant activities as they efficiently scavenged most of free radicals tested. Both methanolic and dichloromethane extracts displayed inhibitory effects on protein glycation and antidiabetic properties. Furthermore, both extracts inhibited PDE-5 (IC50 values ranging from 0.02 and 0.1 mg/ml), arginase (IC50 = 0.1 mg/ml), AChE, and ACE activities. The in vivo study further confirmed the erectogenic potential of the methanolic extract as it effectively lowered the activities of arginase, AChE and ACE along with increased serum testosterone levels in the extract treated diabetic group. While a relatively higher expression of PDE-5 and RhoA with decrease in the expression of eNOS were observed in the untreated diabetic control group, a reverse pattern in the expression of these proteins was observed in the diabetic group treated v with the extract. Both in vitro and in vivo studies further revealed the antioxidant and antiprotein glycation activities of the methanol extract. These results support the use of M. procumbens roots in the treatment and management of erectile dysfunction.
University of Zululand