Abstract
Gongronema latifolium fruit has wide application in ethnomedicine, especially in maintaining healthy living and general body healing. We therefore investigated the antioxidant, immunomodulatory activities, and safety of its ethanol extract and fractions. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the extract and fractions were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test while in vivo activities were determined using carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced oxidative stress. Cell and humoral mediated immune responses were also evaluated together with toxicity studies. The extract, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions showed inhibition of DPPH radical with IC50s 120, 90, and 60 μg/mL, respectively. Methanol fraction at 200 mg/kg produced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of lipid peroxidation (MDA conc. 1.2 μmol/L) compared to control (2.8 μmol/L). Both ethyl acetate and methanol fractions at 200 mg/kg produced significant (P < 0.05) phagocytic index of 0.021 and 0.025, respectively, compared with control (0.01). Significant (P < 0.05) elevations of white blood cells, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were noticed on the 91st day at higher doses. Generally, this study justified the traditional use of G. latifolium fruit for general body healing and maintenance of healthy living. Long term administration is safe on the haematological and biochemical systems especially at lower doses and its toxicity at higher doses is reversible.
Highlights
The human environment together with the biological processes contributes significantly to free radical production [1]
This study evaluated the antioxidant, immunomodulatory activities and safety of the ethanol extract and fractions of G. latifolium fruit
The phytochemical screening of the extract and fractions of G. latifolium fruit showed the presence of various chemical constituents (Table 1)
Summary
The human environment together with the biological processes contributes significantly to free radical production [1]. When these free radicals overwhelm the antioxidant defense mechanisms, oxidative stress sets in with its deleterious effects that lead to cell injury, degenerative diseases, and compromised immune system [2]. In many rural communities, antioxidant and immune boosting drugs are usually expensive, inadequately accessible, and usually associated with side effects. Gongronema latifolium Benth (Asclepiadaceae) is a climber that is widely distributed in tropical Africa. It is commonly known as utazi in South Eastern Nigeria while in Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, it is called akan-asantes, gasub, and ndondo-polole, respectively [4]. The chemical composition of the leaf extract shows it has abundance of essential
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
