Background & Aim: Aju Mbaiseis a polyherbal extract with nutraceuticalproperties that helps to replenish the volume of blood lost during childbirth and improves breast milk secretion and the general wellbeing of the mother. This study evaluated the ameliorative potentials of Aju Mbaise extract (AME) on Dutasteride-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rats. Twenty-one rats were used to assess the acute toxicity of AME.Experimental: The study for the hepatoprotective effects of AME had five groups of rats, including normal control, Dutasteride only, AME only, Dutasteride + AME (500 mg/kg) and Dutasteride+ AME (1000 mg/kg).Results: The acute toxicity result showed that AME is relatively safe for consumption. Dutasteride caused significant elevation of liver marker enzymes, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly reduced catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels in the rats received only Dutasteride. In contrast, Dutasteride induced rats treated with AME showed a significant decline in the AST, ALT, ALP, MDA, and bilirubin and significantly increased SOD, GSH, GPx, total proteins, albumin, and globulin levels compared to Dutasteride induced untreated rats. The AME-treated rats showed normal liver histo-architecture, unlike the Dutasteride-induced untreated rats that showed mild to moderate vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes.Recommended applications/industries: The findings show that AME ameliorates Dutasteride caused rats oxidative stress and hepatic injury. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim: Oxidative stress causes lipid peroxidation, damages various macromolecules, tissues and organs, and is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Antioxidant supplementation could help scavenge free radicals and prevent oxidative stress. This study evaluated the phytochemicals, antioxidant compositions and in vitro antioxidant activities of a combined extract of Spermacoce radiata and Hypselodelphy spoggeana leaves (CEESH).Experimental: This study determined phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins contained in CEESH. The in vitro antioxidant activities of CEESH comprising DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), nitric oxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were assayed.Results: The phytochemical results indicated substantial amounts of total phenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids, along with moderate amounts of tannins, flavonoids, and steroids in CEESH with a low glycoside concentration, but saponin was not detected. The plant extract also showed substantial concentrations of vitamins A, C, and E.The DPPH, nitric oxide, FRAP, TAC and TBARS for the CEESH indicated that the extract has substantial free radical scavenging activities. The CEESH demonstrated a dose-dependent significant increase in the nitric oxide, TAC, and TBARS scavenging activities, while the CEESH showed dose-dependent marked increase in FRAP within a concentration range of 40–640 µg/mL. The half-optimal effective concentration (EC50) values of the CEESH for DPPH, nitric oxide, and TBARS were 7.23, 39.40, and 63.41 µg/mL, respectively.Recommended applications/industries: These findings suggest that CEESH contains abundant phytochemicals and antioxidant vitamins and possesses high free radical scavenging potential. Therefore, CEESH could be a viable therapeutic agent for managing oxidative stress. Manuscript profile