Background and Aim: Kidney disease represents a growing global challenge that disproportionately impacts impoverished, vulnerable, and marginalized communities, leading to significant individual, healthcare, and societal expenses. The current investigation focused on assessment of the role of zingiber officinale aqueous ginger extract (AGE) on induced kidney dysfunctions in male rats as a model. Methods: This study was performed on 40 male rats divided into 4 groups each group included 10 white Albino rats. CCl4 was intraperitoneal (i.p.) injected for 3 days and following administration of aqueous ginger extract (AKE) (250 and 500 mg/kg/b.w. for 15 days as period of this experiment). At the end of this study, biochemical markers related to kidney dysfuntions such as, serum creatinine (CR), uric acid (UA), total antioxidant capacity (TAO-C), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) as antioxidant and oxidative stress markers were assessed by spectrophotometric methods. Results: The results of this study was showing CR (mg/dl) and UA (mg/dl) levels were significantly elevated in the T2 group as negative control group in comparison with the T1 as control group (p<0.05). UA (mg/dl) levels were found significant decrease in T4 and T3 groups in compare with T2 and T1. The results shown significant increase in TAO-C in T4 and T3 compare to T2, also TAO-C (U/ml) levels were found significant decrease in T2 group in compare with T1. Conclusion: This study suggested that a significant protective action of AGE on CCl4-induced kidney damage in the male rats model.

Valeriana wallichii has been traditionally used for various therapeutic applications, yet its anti-diabetic potential remains underexplored. This study investigates the pharmacognostic characteristics and anti-diabetic activity of V. wallichii extracts obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The extraction process was optimized using UAE, and the phytochemical composition was analyzed. The anti-diabetic potential was evaluated through in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Additionally, in silico molecular docking and network pharmacology studies were conducted to elucidate the interactions of bioactive compounds with key diabetic targets and metabolic pathways. The optimized UAE method significantly enhanced the yield of total phenolic and flavonoid content. The extract exhibited potent α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 60.36 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 54.64 µg/mL), demonstrating activity comparable to standard acarbose. Network pharmacology analysis revealed strong interactions of key phytoconstituents, including Beta-Sitosterol, Linoleic acid, and Hesperidin, with crucial metabolic targets such as PPARG, INSR, AKT1, PIK3R1, MTOR, and IGF1R. These targets are central to insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Key pathways, including PPAR signaling, AMPK signaling, insulin resistance, and adipocytokine signaling, exhibited high connectivity (>400 edges), indicating their crucial role in metabolic homeostasis. The study underscores the polypharmacological potential of V. wallichii, where multiple bioactive compounds act synergistically to regulate metabolic pathways, a characteristic feature of natural product based drug discovery. V. wallichii demonstrates strong anti-diabetic potential through enzyme inhibition and modulation of key metabolic pathways. The findings highlight its multi-targeted therapeutic approach, supporting its potential use in diabetes management. Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to validate these results.

Oxalis corniculata has been traditionally recognized for its medicinal properties, yet its anti- inflammatory potential remains underexplored. This study investigates its pharmacognostic characteristics and anti-inflammatory activity, focusing on enzyme inhibition and modulation of key inflammatory pathways. The extract was obtained using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), with optimization enhancing the yield of total phenolic and flavonoid content. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated through in vitro human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization and protein denaturation inhibition assays. Furthermore, in silico molecular docking and network pharmacology analyses were conducted to elucidate interactions between bioactive compounds and key inflammatory targets. The optimized UAE method significantly improved the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds. The extract exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity, with IC₅₀ values of 65.27 µg/mL (HRBC assay) and 68.003 µg/mL (protein denaturation assay), comparable to standard anti-inflammatory agents. Network pharmacology analysis identified Beta- Sitosterol, apigenin, betulic acid, and swertisin as key active compounds interacting with crucial inflammatory mediators, including IL6, COX-2, NF-κB1, STAT3, MAPK8, TNF, NOS2, and TLR4. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement of the IL- 17 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling, cytokine regulation, oxidative stress response, and immune signaling, highlighting the extract's multi-targeted anti-inflammatory action. Oxalis corniculata demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity through enzyme inhibition and modulation of inflammatory pathways. Its polypharmacological nature supports its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for inflammation-related disorders. Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy and therapeutic applications.

Acalypha indica has long been valued in traditional medicine, yet its potential in managing obesity and diabetes remains inadequately explored. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacognostic features and anti-obesity potential of Acalypha indica extracts obtained through ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The extraction process was optimized using UAE to maximize the yield of bioactive constituents. Phytochemical profiling was conducted to assess total phenolic and flavonoid content. The anti-obesity activity was evaluated through in vitro pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase inhibition assays. Molecular docking and network pharmacology analyses revealed that key compounds such as Element, Anthraquinone, and Cholesterol interact with pivotal metabolic targets including NOS3, STAT3, and EGFR. The compound-target-pathway network illustrated a polypharmacological mode of action, where multiple bioactive synergistically regulate obesity-related pathways such as the Apelin signalling and progesterone- mediated oocyte maturation. Acalypha indica exhibits promising anti-obesity activity through dual enzyme inhibition and multi-target modulation of metabolic pathways. These findings support its therapeutic potential as a natural intervention in obesity management. Further in vivo and clinical validations are recommended to substantiate its efficacy and safety.

Substance use among youths is an increasing global challenge, particularly in urban areas of developing countries. Out-of-school youths are considered a highly vulnerable population due to their exposure to social, economic, and environmental risks. In Kano Metropolis, rising unemployment, peer influence, street life, and availability of psychoactive substances such as cannabis, tramadol, codeine mixtures, inhalants (e.g., solution, glue), and other locally prepared stimulants have contributed to increased experimentation and habitual use among this group. Being out of school reduces protective factors such as structured learning environments, adult supervision, and career prospects, placing youths at heightened risk of substance initiation and dependency. Understanding the determinants of substance use among this population is essential for developing effective prevention, rehabilitation, and policy strategies. The male out of school youths abuse drugs mainly to do something un-usual while females abuse drugs due to friend influence. Factors associated with drug abuse for males are mainly peer group influence and relapse while that for females are lack of parental support and family care among these predisposing factors are influences to start abusing, influences to continue abusing, influences to stop abusing and influences to relapse back to abusing drugs The continues/relapse factors for substance/drug abuse for males is mainly environmental influences, while for females is peer group influences. A population of 463 out of school youths were taken from eight local governments in Kano metropolis, 257 males and 206 females. The minimum age of the respondents were 18years and maximum age of the respondents were 29 years. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect data using an adapted interview administered semi structured questionnaire, SPSS Version 24 was used to analyse the data.