Background & Aim:Momordica charantiais an extensively distributed plant that is broadly prescribed in African medical system for treatment of various ailments. The plant has a comprehensive range of therapeutic uses. The present study reveals the antioxidative and cardioprotective abilities of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MLEMC) against cardiotoxicity using alloxan-induced animal model. Experimental: The ameliorative effect of the methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MLEMC) was studied in alloxan-induced cardiac injury in 50 rats divided into five groups (A-E) (n =10) i.e. group A control, group B was toxicant group, group C animals received glibenclamide treatment while groups D and E received extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively, for 28 days. Histopathological changes, serum cardiac injury markers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitric oxide (NO) contents; oxidative status, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, cardiac P38 and CRP were evaluated. Results: The extract-treated group showed a decreased level of oxidant markers such as malondialdehyde(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) but increased levels of protein thiols, non-protein thiols, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) indicating its anti-oxidant potential. Heart sections revealed mild distortion of the cardiac architecture compared to toxicant group while decreased expression of cardiac P38 and CRP in extract-treated groups was observed. Recommended applications/industries: The plant extract exhibited anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby displaying cardio-protective property which propose the plant as a good natural source for herbal nutraceuticals. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim:The plant Momordica charantia is highly valuable having a wide range of medicinal uses with tropical and subtropical regions distribution. This study was conducted to appraise the medicative properties of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Experimental: The antidiabetic influence of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) was investigated in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. 50 rats allocated into five groups (A-E) (n =10) were utilized in this study: group A was normal control, groups B to E were induced with alloxan with diabetes established, while group B was not treated, group C received glibenclamide treatment while groups D and E were administered extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively, in a study that continued for 28 days. Changes in blood glucose levels, body weight, haematology, serum chemistry, antioxidant system and histopathology changes were evaluated. Results: MEMC elicited significant drop in blood glucose level from diabetic to near normal level, restoring the body weight, haematological and serum biochemical parameters to the basal non diabetic level; likewise the MEMC-treated group elicited a decreased level of oxidant markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) but increased concentration of protein thiols (PT), non-protein thiols (NPT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) indicating its anti-oxidant potential. The pancreas section also revealed repair of distorted pancreatic architecture in MEMC-treated group compared to diabetic group. Recommended applications/industries: The plant exhibited anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant abilities hence could be explored for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim: Nephropathy is one of the major complications of diabetes with oxidative stress as one of the possible mechanisms mediating the event. Natural products with antioxidant property may be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate renal damage from diabetic nephropathy hence the renoprotective activity of methanolic leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MEMC) was assessed.Experimental: The effects of MEMC on alloxan-induced nephrotoxicity were examined where toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal administration of alloxan to 50 rats divided into five groups of 10 rats each. MEMC was administered to two groups at the doses of 200and 400 mg/kg for 28 days; glibenclamide administered to another group of diabetic rats. While another group was left untreated, a group of normal rats received only distilled water. Nephroprotective effect of the extract was studied by assessing its effect on oxidative stress markers, antioxidant defence system, immunohistochemistry, histological and serum urea and creatinine analysis.Results: Alloxan administration altered renal biomarkers (increased serum urea and creatinine levels), increased renal H2O2 malondialdehyde levels, and decreased reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Histological studies showed glomerular degeneration and hypercellularity. However, administration of glibenclamide (4 mg/kg) and MEMC ameliorated the alloxan-induced nephrotoxicity. Immunohistochemical studies revealed lower expressions of BCL2 but greater expressions of NF-κB in the kidney of the toxicant non-treated rats compared with the control, glibenclamide treated and MEMC treated rats.Recommended applications/industries: MEMC showed renoprotective activity in alloxan-induced nephropathy mediated through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This extract could be used in the treatment of acute kidney failure. Manuscript profile