Browsing by Author "Agbemade Blessed"

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    Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of “Limolanii” grass and perceptions of locals on its survival in the era of changing climate
    (Heliyon, 2022) Limantol M. Andrew; Agbemade Blessed; Badu Mercy; Mohammed B. Rahmatu...et al
    The aromatic Spear grass Hyparrhena rufa (locally called “Limolanii”) found in the Saboba District of the Northern Region of Ghana is ingeniously used for dietary, medicinal, and other purposes. Focus group discussions were conducted in communities where “Limolanii” grows to assess the local perception of the importance of the grass and changing climate impacts on its continued existence. Findings indicated that the plant is of immense importance to the locals but has not been validated scientifically and reported for its current use. The communities are also hopeful of future socio-economic benefits of "Limolanii" but expressed concern about the lack of remediation practices to address issues of climate change, increased use of agrochemicals, urbanization, etc., which can lead to the extinction of the grass. “Limolanii” was therefore evaluated for its nutritional and antinutritional content by proximate analysis and ethanolic extract evaluated for some medicinal properties. The extract was assessed for its anti-inflammatory property using the carrageenan-induced oedema in chicks’ model while antioxidant property evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, Phosphomolybdenum (Total Antioxidant Capacity), Total Phenol (Folin-Ciocalteu), and Total Flavonoid Content (Aluminium-chloride colorimetric) assays. The plant showed good nutritional content, extract exhibited a dosedependent inhibition of oedema with maximal percentage inhibition of 41.05% at 300 mg/kg body weight and noticeable antioxidant activities. Flavonoids, coumarins, and other phytochemicals detected in the plant could be responsible for these activities, however, at certain levels, these phytochemicals could act as antinutrients. “Limolanii” exhibits medicinal properties backing its use traditionally as food supplements and herbs, hence the need to explore its possible commercial cultivation and embark on community sensitization to encourage people to protect and expand its production.
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    Antioxidant Properties and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Cucumeropsis Edulis (Seeds)
    (Research Square, 2021) Agbemade Blessed; Boateng Ransford; Badu Mercy; Amponsah Isaac; Boamah Vivian
    This study sought to explore the medicinal properties of extracts obtained from C. edulis seeds. The seeds were obtained from farms in the Upper East Region of Ghana, dried and milled into coarse powder. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol were used to extract the bioactive compounds present in the seeds by the cold maceration method. Antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated using the Phosphomolybdenum and DPPH free radical scavenging assays. The Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to estimate the total phenol content and carrageenan-induced paw oedema model in chicks employed for the anti-inflammatory effects. The results showed that methanol extract had the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities while the petroleum ether extract showed the least activity. The antiinflammatory activity of the methanol extract (31.3% oedema inhibition at 300 mg/kg body weight) was however lower than diclofenac (54.04% oedema inhibition at 100 mg/kg body weight), the reference drug. Compounds such as tannins, alkaloids, and carotenoids detected during phytochemical screening may be responsible for the activities observed.