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Modulatory effect of Justicia secunda leaf extract on hematological status, lipid profile, liver function and oxidative stress in Wistar rats

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Abstract

Justicia secunda is a therapeutic plant with acclaimed beneficial health effects including blood-boosting potential. However, scientific evidence from in vivo analyses to buttress such claims have not been exhaustively provided. Herein, we investigated the effect of J. secunda leaf extract on organs, hematology, lipid profile and endogenous antioxidant activity in male rats grouped into seven groups of five animals each. Tween-dissolved extract, in various concentrations (10 mg/kg body weight (bwt), 100 mg/kg bwt, 1000 mg/kg bwt, 1600 mg/kg bwt, 2900 mg/kg bwt and 5000 mg/kg bwt), was orally administered to group II–VII, respectively, whereas group one (fed 20% tween solution only) served as the control. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed while blood was taken for hematological and biochemical assays. The liver, kidney and spleen were also isolated for histopathological analyses. In the sub-chronic toxicity analysis, the LD50 was above 5000 mg/kg bwt. Packed cell volume, red blood cell and hemoglobin increased significantly (p < 0.05) in group II and IV compared with the other administered groups. No significant difference was observed in the activity of ALT, AST, ALP and creatinine (p < 0.05) across the groups administered 10, 100, 1000 mg/kg bwt extract relative to the control. The activity of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde was higher in the administered groups than the control. Cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was increased in a dose dependent manner in the treated rats. However, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level was reduced.

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Abbreviations

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

ALP:

Alkaline phosphatase

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

LD50 :

Lethal Dose 50

PCV:

Packed cell volume

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Acknowledgements

Author MBO would like to appreciate the support of Dr. Tomisin Ogunwa of the Department of Biochemistry, Akungba-Akoko for proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria

    Mary Remi Bose Oyewale

  2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

    Mary Remi Bose Oyewale, Oluwatooyin Faramade Osundahunsi & Olugbenga Olufemi Awolu

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  1. Mary Remi Bose Oyewale
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  2. Oluwatooyin Faramade Osundahunsi
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  3. Olugbenga Olufemi Awolu
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Correspondence to Mary Remi Bose Oyewale.

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Mary Remi Bose Oyewale has no conflict of interest. Oluwatooyin Faramade Osundahunsi has no conflict of interest. Olugbenga Olufemi Awolu has no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

No human was used in the experiment reported in this article. The animals used in this study were normal rats without any known diseases. In addition, no special feeding was given to them. For protection of animals' welfare and humane handling during the experiments, both national and institutional guidelines were strictly followed as enforced by the Committee on Animal Handling and Ethics, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). All the experiments were jointly carried out at the Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akunga-Akoko, and Department of Food and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

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Oyewale, M.R.B., Osundahunsi, O.F. & Awolu, O.O. Modulatory effect of Justicia secunda leaf extract on hematological status, lipid profile, liver function and oxidative stress in Wistar rats. ADV TRADIT MED (ADTM) 24, 531–540 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-023-00716-z

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