Background & Aim: Management/ treatment of illness and maintenance of well-being using herbal medicines is the oldest and most popular form of healthcare practice known to humankind that has been practiced by all cultures in all ages throughout the history of evolution. The ethanol extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leave was evaluated for it pharmacological potency in alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats.Experimental: Twenty-four adult male albino rats weighing 120-180g were randomly divided into six groups of four rats per group. Group I (Normal control) were given 0.2 mL of water. Group II (Negative control): were untreated diabetic rats. Group III were Diabetic rats treated with reference drug (glibenclamide at 5 mg/kg b.wt) which served as positive control. Group IV – VI were Diabetic rats treated with Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt, 400 mg/kg b.wt, and 600 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. Administrations were done orally for 14 days. Blood was collected from the tail of the rats to determine the blood glucose level on the 4th, 9th and 14th day of the study.Results: The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose level. The Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract showed dose dependent significant (P<0.05) decrease in the triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), Cholesterol, total white blood cell (TWBC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, urea, creatinine level as well as significant (P<0.05) increase in hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and albumin level when compared with diabetic untreated group (negative control). Diabetic-related alteration in rat serum biochemical indices were significantly improved by the extract.Recommended applications/industries: The outcome of the research gave credence to the folk use Jatropha tanjorensis leaf in the treatment of diabetes and its health related dysfunctions. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim: Salt is an essential electrolyte; however, high salt loading is associated with numerous adverse effects including alterations in many biochemical parameters. This study investigated the effect of ethanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves on the biochemical indices of high salt-fed albino rats.Experimental: Twenty-four male healthy albino rats weighing 110-150g were randomly divided into four groups of six rats per group. Group 1 was administered with feed and water, which was the normal control. Group 2 was administered with 10 mL/kg of 18% NaCl only (Negative control), and groups 3 and 4 were administered with 10 mL/kg of 18% NaCl as well as 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively.Results: The acute toxicity of the methanol leaves extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum in rats recorded no mortality even at a high dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight of the animal, thus LD50 could not be determined. The negative control group was significantly (P<0.05) higher in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, cholesterol (CHOL), triacylglycerol (TAG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and bilirubin level when compared with other groups. There was a significant reduction in the Urea and Creatinine levels in the group administered with 400 mg/kg extract. The administration of high salt (18%) increased serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, Bilirubin, Urea, creatinine, TAG, Cholesterol, and LDL and reduced the high-density lipoprotein (HDL).Recommended applications/industries: The result of the high salt-fed untreated rats suggested inflammation of the liver and lipid dysfunction; however, the extract showed a highly potent effect in preventing cell damage that could be caused by high salt intake. Manuscript profile