ABSTRACT
GBENGA ANTHONY ADEFOLAJU, BENEDICT ABIOLA FALANA, ADEOYE OLUWOLE OYEWOPO, and ANTHONY MWAKIKUNGA
4.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 87 4.2 Materials and Methods ................................................................... 89 4.3 Results ............................................................................................ 92 4.4 Discussion ...................................................................................... 94 4.5 Conclusions .................................................................................... 96 4.6 Summary ........................................................................................ 97 Keywords ................................................................................................ 97 References ............................................................................................... 99
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Talinum triangulare, popularly known as waterleaf, is a fleshy, saponinrich, perennial herb that is widely cultivated as an edible and medicinal vegetable in West Africa, Asia, and South America [4]. In folk medicine
(in Taiwan province of China), the plant has been employed in the prevention and management of diabetes, cancer, stroke, obesity, and measles. T. triangulare has been utilized in the prevention of hepatopathies and cancer in traditional medicine [4]. The hepatoprotective effects of T. triangulare against oxidative liver damage are well documented [1, 4, 21, 25, 28]. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying T. triangulare’s antioxidant activities have not been totally elucidated. Extracts from T. triangulare have been shown to demonstrate potent antioxidant activities in in vitro and in vivo studies [1, 4, 21, 25]. These antioxidant properties have been associated with high proportions of betalains [28], phenols, and flavonoids [21, 25] in the plant. Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to oxidative stress, a process that mediates cellular damage. It has been shown that oxygen free radicals are involved in the development of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, ischemia/reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, ageing [2, 14, 15, 29], and various hepatopathies [6]. The peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in biological membranes leads to disruption of membrane structure and function that is implicated in numerous pathological changes [2]. There are many known endogenous systems and processes that limit ROS and their resultant deleterious effects; however, this protection may not be sufficient at all times, and hence, there is a need for extrinsic antioxidants [11, 16].
