Browsing by Author "Makori, Wycliffe Arika"

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    Anti-Obesity, Cognitive Enhancing, Neurobehavioral, Antioxidant Effects And Phytochemical Profile Of Dichloromethane Leaf Extract Of Gnidia Glauca (Fresen)
    (Kenyatta University, 2019-11) Makori, Wycliffe Arika
    Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased adipose tissue mass due to positive energy balance. The epidemic of obesity is currently on the rise probably due to increasingly sedentary lifestyles combined with easy availability of palatable, high-fat foods. It presents modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairements, anxiety and motor deficits. Globally, its prevalence has shown a startling increase in all age groups and have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Prescription of anti-obesity drugs can be useful adjuncts to diet and exercise for obese patients who have failed to achieve weight loss. However, these drugs are ineffective, not readily available, unaffordable and have been associated with adverse effects. Therefore, medicinal plants have drawn a sharp focus in recent times as complementary and alternative medicines owing to their biocompatibility, affordability and are assumed to be safe due to their long-term clinical application. Hereby, determination of therapeutic activities and identification of active principles from herbal prescriptions have become the prime focus in the validation of their folkloric usage and in drug discovery programs. The present study aimed to determine the anti-obesity effects, cognitive enhancing, neurobehavioral, antioxidant effects and phytochemical profile of dichloromethane leaf extract of Gnidia glauca. Obesity was experimentally induced by feeding the rats with prepared high-fat-diet (HFD) and water ad libitum for a period of 6 weeks. The in-vivo anti-obesity effects were determined by oral administration of the extract at dosage levels of 200, 250 and 300mg/kg body weight in HFD-induced obese rats from the 6th to 12th week along with HFD. Cognitive-enhancing effects of the extract in HFD-induced obese rats were determined using the Morris Water Maze experiment. The effects of the extract on neurobehaviors (locomotor activity, anxiety and exploration-like behaviors) in HFD-induced obese rats were tested using the Open Field Test. The in vitro antioxidant properties of the extract were determined using non-enzymatic assays. The phytochemical profile of the extract was determined using GC-MS. The results indicated that the extract exhibited potent anti-obesity effects in HFD-induced obese rats. It significantly reduced the body weight, organ weights, organo-somatic indices, anthropometric indices, the total fat content, adiposity index, atherogenic index as well as the lipid profiles (Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoproteins, and Very Low-Density Lipoproteins). However, it significantly increased levels of High-Density Lipoproteins. The extract increased levels of white blood cells, differential leukocyte counts, platelet count as well as red blood cells and related parameters. The extract improved hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory retention in HFD-induced obese rats. Moreover, it showed anxiolytic effects, increased spontaneous locomotor activity and exploration-like behaviors in HFD-induced obese rats. The extract also indicated in vitro antioxidant effects. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 28 bioactive compounds in the extract. The anti-obesity effects, antioxidants activities, cognitive-enhancing effects and the improved locomotor and exploration-like behaviors could be attributed to the phytochemical compounds present in the plant extract. The present study, therefore, scientifically validated the traditional use of this plant and generated data that can serve as guide in the recruitment of the extract as a potential candidate for the synthesis of a new effective drug against obesity and associated complications. However, there is a need for bioassay-guided fractionation of bioactive compounds in Gnidia glauca. Besides, it is recommended to conduct comprehensive toxicity studies to establish the safety profiles of Gnidia glauca.
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    Bioprospecting for hypoglycemic activities and safety of selected traditionally used plants in the management of diabetes mellitus
    (Kenyatta University, 2016-05) Makori, Wycliffe Arika
    Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. The disorder completely throws the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates, lipids and proteins into disarray. This condition in its fully developed form is characterized by high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia), glycosuria, increased protein breakdown, ketosis and acidosis. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition which can be controlled but lasts a lifetime. Conventional management of diabetes mellitus is expensive and therefore unaffordable and sometimes unavailable to many patients especially in developing and underdeveloped nations. Such antidiabetic drugs have been found to have side effects with long term use and hence facilitating the continued usage of herbal prescriptions as an alternative way to compliment orthodox pharmacotherapy. However, there is limited scientific evidence regarding safety and efficacy to back up the continued therapeutic application of herbal remedies. The aim of this study was to determine through bioassay-guided screening, efficacy and toxic components present in five selected medicinal plants. The following herbs were studied; Lippia javanica, Ocimum lamiifolium, Croton macrostachyus, Azadiratchta indica, and Persea americana. The in-vivo antidiabetic activity and safety of these extracts were screened in white male alloxan-induced diabetic albino mice. The aqueous plant extracts were administered orally and intraperitoneally. The safety of these plant extracts were studied by administering 450mg/kg, 670mg/kg and 1000mg/kg body weight orally and intraperitoneally daily for 28 days in mice. The mineral elements of the aqueous plant extracts were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence system (TRXF) while various phytochemicals present were qualitatively assessed using standard procedures. Results revealed antidiabetic activity of the extracts at varying doses of 25, 48.4, 93.5, 180.9 and 350 mg/kg body weight. The extracts decreased the body weight gain and altered the organ to body weight percentage of the brain, kidney, liver, heart, testes and lungs for both intraperitoneal and oral routes. In both routes, administration of the same doses (450mg/kg, 670mg/kg and 1000mg/kg body weight) caused a change in levels of RBC, WBC, Hb, PCV, PLT, MPV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and biochemical parameters: AST, ALT, GGT, CK, α-AMYL, LDH, T-BIL, D-BIL, I-BIL, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, BUN, UA, Urea and Creatinine. The extracts contained tannins, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, anthraquinones and alkaloids. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Sodium, Chlorine, Potassium, Calcium, Titanium, Vanadium, Mercury, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Cadmium, Magnesium, Nickel and Lead at levels above or below the recommended daily allowance. In conclusion the results showed that the plant extracts were effective in reducing blood sugar levels the plants showed no toxicity and revealed the presence of vital phytochemicals and elements which posses’ antidiabetic activities. The study therefore, confirmed the traditional use of these herbs and established their safety and efficacy data that can guide their proper use in the management of diabetes mellitus. Consideration should be made to carry out the same studies using higher animals. Besides, one can subject the plants to organic solvent extraction and compare activities of both aqueous and organic fractions.
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    Bioprospecting for hypoglycemic activities and safety of selected traditionally used plants used traditionally in the management of diabetes mellitus
    (Kenyatta University, 2014) Makori, Wycliffe Arika
    Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorder arising either due to relative or absolute deficiency of a digestive hormone; insulin. It also arises as a result of the inability or resistance of the body cells to utilize the available insulin. The disorder completely throws the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates, fats and proteins into disarray. This condition in its fully developed form is characterized by high blood sugar level (hyperglycemia), glycosuria, increased protein breakdown, ketosis and acidosis. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition which though can be controlled lasts a lifetime. Conventional management of diabetes mellitus is expensive and therefore unaffordable and sometimes not available to many patients especially in developing and underdeveloped nations. Such antidiabetic drugs have been found to have side effects with long term use. These have facilitated the continued usage of the traditional and herbal medicines in the underdeveloped and developing nations. Experimental data on the active component, safety and ethno-medicinal plants is unknown and this has led to their under-utilization. The aim of this study is to identify through bioassay-guided screening, safety, toxic components and the hypoglycemic/antidiabetic activity present in five selected medicinal plants. The following herbs will be studied; Lippia javanica, Ocimum lamiifolium, Croton macrostachyus, Azaritchta indica, and Persea americana. The in-vivo hypoglycemic activity and safety of the extracts will be screened in white male alloxan-induced diabetic albino mice. The extracts will be administered orally and intraperitoneally. The safety of these plant extracts will be studied by administering 450mglkg, 670mglkg and 1000mglkg body weight orally and intraperitoneally daily for 30 days. Some of the parameters to be scored include: changes in body and organ weight, full hemoglobin, biochemical parameters and cell damage/histology. Mineral composition of the extracts will be analyzed using Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence system (TRXF) while various phytochemicals present will be assessed using standard procedures. The study will confirm use of these herbs in the management of diabetes mellitus and establish the safety and efficacy profiles of the above traditional herbal medicines.
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    In vivo antidiabetic and ex-vivo antioxidant activities of dichloromethane extract of Xerophyta spekei
    (springer, 2025) Ndile,Michael Musila; Makori, Wycliffe Arika; Kibiti,Cromwell Mwiti; Ngugi,Mathew Piero
    Background The medicinal plant Xerophyta spekei is used among Embu and Mbeere communities to manage diabetes mellitus. However, its efficacy has never been evaluated in vivo. The purpose of this study was to investigate its quantitative phytochemical and antidiabetic potential. Extraction was done using Dichloromethane (DCM). Quantitative phytochemical analysis was conducted using GC-MS. To evaluate antidiabetic activity, groups of mice which included normal control, diabetic control, positive control, and extract-administered groups (50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg body weight) were used. Alloxan monohydrate was used to induce diabetes. Blood glucose of the mice was determined hourly for the first six hours, and once after 12 and 24 h on the first day. Thereafter, the blood glucose in mice was determined once a week for three weeks. During the experimental period of three weeks, body weights were determined. After 21 days, lipid profiles, kidney and liver function tests as well as ex vivo antioxidant assays were carried out. Results The phytochemicals classes identified included flavonoids, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, terpenoids, fatty acids, tocopherols and alkaloids. Stigmasterol had the highest concentration (12.99±2.56 mg/g). The extract decreased blood glucose dose-dependently, with 200 mg/kg bw dose resulting in the highest % mean change (40.10±0.95). The extract gradually decreased blood glucose during 21 days of treatment. It attenuated loss of body weight and aberrant biochemical parameters including liver and renal function tests as well as lipid profiles in diabetic mice. Furthermore, it reduced levels of malondialdehyde and enhanced enzymatic antioxidant activities in diabetic mice. Conclusions The study confirms that DCM extract X. spekei contains phytochemicals with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. The findings authenticate the folkloric use of X. spekei in managing diabetes mellitus. The medicinal plant also serves as a potential source for developing antidiabetic agents.