Toka are traditional condiments prepared from the ashes of Zea mays, Sesamum orientale stalk and goats’ droppings, and mangul salt which are among the favourites of Northeastern Nigeria communities.10 g of each of the 4 samples was... more
Toka are traditional condiments prepared from the ashes of Zea mays, Sesamum orientale stalk and goats’ droppings, and mangul salt which are among the favourites of Northeastern Nigeria communities.10 g of each of the 4 samples was dissolved in 500 ml w/v in distilled water. 5 g of activated charcoal from Moringa oleifera wood, Bamboo shoot powder and cattle bone charcoal were used as purifiers. The pH of the solutions was determined pre and post filtration. The solutions were evaporated at 80 oC and analyzed for elemental contents using Flame Photometer and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. All samples were tested in 25 Sprang Dawley rats. 25% solution was prepared from the best sample and administered to 5 healthy and 25 hypertensive individuals for 5 weeks, while blood pressure and urine pH were analyzed weekly. Dried crystalline samples were obtained indicating the purifying effect of the traditional purifiers especially via M. oleifera charcoal. Zea mays and Sesamum orientale stalk toka, was rated the best by panelists. Elemental analysis showed the presence of Pb2+ (0.002 – 0.004), Fe2+ (0.006 – 0.007), Cu2+ (0.005 – 1.754), Zn+ (0.009 – 0.048), Na+ (120 – 363) and K+ (390 – 424) mmol/l, respectively. Treatment of rats with 5% of the various toka solutions showed significant (P<0.05) increase in urine alkalinity after the first week and subsequently. 21 day administration of 5% toka solution to hypertensive patients decreased their blood pressure by 20%.Toka was successfully purified into crystalline powder and found to be significantly antihypertensive. This can be purified on a larger scale into an industry whose product will be useful both health wise and commercially.
Context: Cancer is a complex disease involving numerous changes in cell physiology and abnormal cell growth, which lead to malignant tumors. Many investigations are still carrying on in different areas including, natural products, to find... more
Context: Cancer is a complex disease involving numerous changes in cell physiology and abnormal cell growth, which lead to malignant tumors. Many investigations are still carrying on in different areas including, natural products, to find a possible break point to this pathology.
Aims: To evaluate the cytotoxic activity on different polar extracts from Vismia baccifera and Vismia macrophylla collected in two locations of the Venezuelan Andes.
Methods: Cytotoxic activity assay was carried out following the colorimetric (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) MTT assay. Human tumor cell Lines from breast carcinoma without gene over-expression (MCF-7), breast carcinoma with overexpressed gene (SKBr3), prostate carcinoma (PC3) and cervix epithelial carcinoma (HeLa) were tested with different polarity solvent extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, water) from the two species under investigation. Human dermis fibroblasts were used as control cells. Mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated.
Results: Extracts from V. macrophylla showed significant inhibition of cervix epithelial carcinoma with values ranging from 6.09 µg/mL to 17.51 µg/mL; breast carcinoma with an overexpressed gene with values from 12.14 µg/mL to 16.90 µg/mL and prostate carcinoma from 10.91 µg/mL to 17.70 µg/mL. V. baccifera extracts showed the strongest activity against prostate carcinoma with an IC50 value of 2.92 µg/mL.
Conclusions: The present study showed evidence for the anticancer activity of Vismia baccifera and Vismia macrophylla extracts since caused growth inhibition in different cell lines at low concentrations, thus, it is considered not only an important contribution to the natural products research but bring supportive data for further investigations on cancer research.
