Role of Vernon's amygdalina in the prevention and treatment of diseases

1. GROUP 8 MEMBERS
 IBN SHUAIB, MUBARAK MUHAMMAD U11BC1018
 BIRWA GODIYA U11BC1038
 DAUDA ZAINAB U11BC1058
 JALO YAHAYA SALAHUDDEEN U11BC1068
 USMAN DAUDA U11BC1088
 ADAMU MUBARAK U11BC1148
 AYANDA OLAOLUWAABISOLA U11BC1118
 LADAN KHADIJA YUSUF U1OBC1148
 BAKO SAADATU ASIBI U10BC1128
 MUHAMMAD AYYUB MUHAMMAD U10BC1158
 IBRAHIM YAHAYA U11BC2018
 USMAN BABA ISA U10BC1068

2. BCHM 423 (METABOLISM OF DRUGS AND OTHER FOREIGN COMPOUNDS)
PRESENTATION
BY
GROUP 8
ROLE OF VERNONIAAMYGDALINA IN THE PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT OF DISEASES.

3. INTRODUCTION
• Vernonia amygdalina, a very popular plant used in Africa and commonly
known in Nigeria as “bitter leaf” has been reported to have multiple health
benefits such as anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-trypanosomal among
others.
• Foods and plants rich in antioxidants play an essential role in the
prevention or amelioration of free radicals-related dieases such as cancers
and trypanosomiasis.

4. Compounds Isolated from Vernonia
amygdalina
• Sesquiterpene lactones
• Flavonoids like luteolin, luteolin 7-O-glucosides and luteolin 7-O-
glucuronide
• Steroid glycosides
• Vernodaline
• Vernolide and
• Vernomygdine.

5. CANCER
Hexane, chloroform, butanol and ethylacetate extracts of VA have been shown to
inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells.
The water-soluble Vernonia amygdalina extract potently inhibited DNA synthesis
in a concentration-dependent manner both in the presence and absence of serum.
By effecting the β-oxidation of fatty acids and lipids in cell membranes and cell
mitochondrial energy(ATP)generation systems, the VA extract uncouples the
mitochondrial energy(ATP generation)systems of the cancer cells by being
consumed(when the plant extract is cytotoxic to the cancer cells) or being inhibited (when
the extract is only inhibitory to the cancer cell).

6. TRYPANSOMIASIS
An experimental results on the anti-trypanosomal activity showed that, only the methanol
extract of V. amygdalina leaf possessed potential activity against T. brucei brucei. This may be
due to the ability of the methanol extract of V. amygdalina leaf to keep the parasitaemia of the
treated experimental mice low compared to other extracts and thus made the mice able to survive
the infection longer.
The extract contains significant amount of antioxidant vitamins: C and E, and also
phenols and flavonoids.
Methanol extract of V. amygdalina leaf decreased the triglycerides levels significantly in
infected treated and uninfected treated control. The increased triglycerides in infected control
may be due to mobilization of lipid from adipose tissue for energy production especially as this
group had lost appetite, which is a cardinal symptom of animal trypanosomiasis.

7. The extract may have also prevented or delayed the on-set of oxidative stress which
arises when there is an imbalance between radical-generating and radical-scavenging
activity.
Perhaps the extract was able to stimulate de novo synthesis of glutathione or spared
endogenous GSH, to fight trypanosomes-generated free radicals.
HYPERTENSION
The results of in-vitro experiment on isolated rat aorta suggested that aqueous
extracts of V.amygdalina produced a dose-dependent decrease in arterial pressure through
vascular relaxation mechanism as it has blood pressure lowering and vaso-relaxant effects.

8. There is substantial evidence that the incidence of cardiovascular diseases can be reduced
by phytosterols such as β-sitosterol (BSS), β-sitosterol glucosides (BSSG) isolated from
V.amygdalina mainly via serum cholesterol level lowering action.
SICKLE CELL
The methanol extract from the leaf was seen to be able to reduce tert-butyl hydroperoxide
(t-BHP)-induced erythrocyte lysis significantly. This protective effect seen to be related to the
antioxidant activity of the extract.
In contrary, it has been found that infusion of the leaves induces hemolysis of mammalian
erythrocyte in vitro, with Human genotype SS having the highest susceptibility, Human genotype

9. DIABETES
Aqueous leaf extract of VA produced significant (p < 0.05-0.001), reductions in the
blood glucose concentrations of normal (normoglycemic) and diabetic
(hyperglycemic) rats 1 to 12 hours after acute treatment compared with distilled
water-treated control animals.
• It stimulates insulin production and glucose utilization.
• Vernonia amygdalina also inhibit glucose absorption.
• It increases sensitivity of receptors to insulin.
• Vernonia amygdalina causes insulinase inhibiting effect
• Vernonia amygdalina causes stimulation of peripheral tissues uptake of glucose

10. MALARIA
• Aqueous extracts of V. amygdalina were found to have in vivo activities against P.
berghei in mice.
• The results of a study showed the analgesic activity of the extract with clear and
significant antiplasmodial effects in mice and no indication of toxicity in rats.
• In a preliminary clinical trial, a decoction of 25g fresh leaves of VA was 67%
effective in creating an adequate clinical response in African patients with mild
Falciparum malaria. Of these 30% had complete parasite clearance while
unfortunately 70% of the subjects had recrudescence (recurrence of symptoms).
The treatment was without significant adverse effect.

11. DISCUSSION
• Extracts from VA have been shown to have antimicrobial (antibacterial,
antifungal, anti-plasmodia etc.), anti-cancer/tumor, antioxidant, oxytocic, hepato-
and nephro- protective, serum lipid modulation and other properties.
• These properties are believed to be mediated by different phytochemicals found in
the plant, acting singly or in concert. These papers above critically review the
present state of scientific knowledge on the medicinal and nutritional potentials of
V.A
CONCLUSION
• It can be concluded that aqueous extract of V. amygdalina is safe for consumption
as food or as herbal medicine without plausible toxicity to the body organs and
tissues.