This study evaluated antioxidant activities and haematological effects of methanol extract of Asystasia gangetica leaves (MEAG) on monosodium glutamate (MSG) treated rats. Forty-two male Wistar rats randomly distributed into 7 groups (n=6) were used for the study. Groups 1-3 were the normal control, MSG control, and positive control respectively whereas groups 4-5 were the extract controls, and groups 6-7 were the curative groups. All the treatments were administered orally and standard analytical methods were used for analyses. The results showed that MEAG is a rich antioxidants source and contains phenolics, flavonoids and beta-carotene in high concentrations. The extract showed concentration-dependent increases in ferric reducing antioxidant power, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and nitric oxide radicals scavenging activities but relatively lower than their respective controls. The MSG administration caused significant (P<0.05) reductions in the glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities but significantly (P<0.05) increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the MSG control rats. The MSG administration also caused significant (P<0.05) reductions in the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts of the MSG control relative to the normal control. Treatment with MEAG significantly elevated GPx, SOD, and CAT activities; haematological indices and significantly reduced MDA levels in the extract controls, and curative groups treated with a high dose of MSG. These findings show that methanol extract of A. gangetica leaves is rich in antioxidants that could prevent oxidative stress and improves the haematological profile of MSG treated rats.

This paper presents different quality parameters of the seeds of three cultivated medicinal plant species investigated: marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.). For determination of agronomic and Pharmacopoeial parameters, different aged seeds, collected during six year period (2008 – 2013), were used. Flax seeds (Lini semen) and fenugreek seeds (Trigonellae foenugraeci semen) are considered as official herbal drugs, but not the marshmallow seeds (Althaeae semen). Following agronomic seed quality parameters were determined: germination energy, total germination, 1000-seed weight, and swelling index. The highest average germination parameters was recorded with fenugreek seed (EC = 97.7 % and UK = 97.8 %), quite lower were in flax seeds (EC = 75.2 % and UK = 80.7 %), while the lowest were in marshmallow seeds (EC = 8.1% and UK = 19.8%). 1000-seed weight of the flax and fenugreek were in agreement with previous research. The greatest average swelling index was achieved in flax seeds (6.5 ml), being higher by 38.5% in comparison to prescribed minimum (4 ml), while the average swelling index of fenugreek seeds was 6.2 ml, also exceeding the prescribed minimum, but slightly (6 ml). The avarage swelling index for marshmallow seeds was 5.4 ml. Although the Althaeae semen is not an officinal herbal drug, a six-year data on the swelling index of the seeds can be used as reference values in the further definition of a new Pharmacopoeial standard for this herbal drug.

Bear’s breech or mountain thistle (Acanthus montanus (Nees) T. Anderson) is a shrub belonging to Acanthaceae family. It is widespread in Africa, Romania, Greece, and Eastern Mediterranean. African people engage its medicinal use for the management of urethral pain, endometritis, urogenital infections, urinary disease, aches and pains. Fresh leaves of A. montanus were collected from Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) herbal garden and identified at the Forestry Herbarium, Ibadan. About 200 g of the powered sample was macerated in 400 mL each of three organic solvents such as ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol respectively, for 24 h. Each extracts were screened for phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins, phenols, terpenoids, phlobotannins, alkaloids, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. Estimation of total flavonol content, and antioxidant assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging activity were also carried out. The quantitative phytochemical test (flavonol content) revealed that Acanthus montanus methanol extract was the richest one among the solvent systems while acetone extract gave the best antioxidant activity. It was observed that the antioxidant activity could be attributed to moderately polar extracts. The study, therefore, provides evidence that various solvents used in extraction can result in differences in quantitative phytochemicals and antioxidant activity.