Background: Hepatotoxicity induced by chemical agents is a common and life-threatening disease that developed from acute or chronic exposure to environmental chemicals. Despite numerous approaches towards the treatment of liver toxicity, no safe and effective therapy exists. This study evaluated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of methanol leaf extract of Voacanga africana (VA) in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The animals were assigned into seven groups: Control, [DEN+CCL4], [DEN+CCL4] with VA (100, 200, 400 mg/kg), [DEN+CCL4] with Sorafenib (SFB), and SFB alone. Rats received DEN (200 mg/kg) once via i.p. and CCL4 (3 mL/kg) via subcutaneous route once in a week for six weeks. VA was administered orally from the second week until the 15th week. GC-FID analyses of VA revealed active components Voacinol, Voacangine, Amataine, and Ibogaine. [DEN+CCL4] caused a 26% increase in liver organo-somatic weight, which was reduced by 18%, 20%, and 9% with VA doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. [DEN+CCL4] also significantly increased serum gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferases by 55%, 25%, and 17%, and raised α-fetoprotein and total bilirubin levels by 2.0 and 2.5folds, respectively. Hepatic nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase activities were increased by 52% and 123%, respectively in the intoxicated rats. Additionally, malondialdehyde levels increased by 80% with decrease in glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, catalase and superoxide dismutase by 35%, 34%, 25% and 32%, respectively. Immunohistochemistry showed mild APC and strong Bcl-2 expression, while histology revealed severe hepatic necrosis. VA treatment mitigated oxidative stress, inflammation, and restored liver architecture.

This study critically examines the involvement of extension and innovation strategies in advancing sustainable agriculture in Somalia. Agricultural extension services, which involve disseminating agricultural knowledge, information, and technologies to farmers, are essential for enhancing farmers' skills, practices, and decision-making abilities. The study explores the complex relationship between socioeconomic challenges-such as limited access to resources, infrastructure, and markets-extension strategies, and sustainable agricultural development in Somalia. A key obstacle identified is the inadequate infrastructure for mobile phone applications in agriculture, which limits the effectiveness and widespread adoption of farming technologies. Utilizing a descriptive research design, data was gathered from 211 participants across seven regions, including Southwest, Hirshabelle, Benadir (Mogadishu), Galmudug, Puntland, Jubaland, and Somaliland. The analysis assessed the demographic and educational characteristics of the participants and the impact of extension services and innovation strategies on sustainable agricultural practices. The variability in the support provided by extension services emphasizes the need for targeted improvements to foster sustainable agriculture and enhance food security in Somalia. Institutional challenges, including policy frameworks, governance issues, and capacity-building deficits, also impede the effective implementation of agricultural innovation and extension strategies. Additionally, resistance to change, cultural differences, and a lack of supportive policies hinder the adoption of new practices. Unpredictable weather patterns, overuse of natural resources, and extreme climatic events further complicate the success of sustainable practices. Despite these challenges, agricultural extension services play a critical role in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge, training, and community engagement for sustainable farming practices. The study underscores the need for strengthened infrastructure, improved governance, and targeted interventions to overcome existing barriers and promote sustainable agricultural development in Somalia.

Inflammasome protein cascades are very crucial as endogenous defence mechanisms. Nevertheless, their deregulation usually exacerbates deleterious chronic diseases. It is a large multicomplex cytosolic protein that plays a vital role in the innate immune system, therefore, acting as a vital mediator in the pathogenesis of non-communicable diseases. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and IL-18 are produced as a result of inflammatory reactions triggered by key inflammasomes. Notably, rheumatoid arthritis is largely caused by inflammasomes, particularly NLRP1 and NLRP3, which cause excessive inflammation and tissue damage by releasing cytokines that promote bone resorption and cartilage degradation. The development of stroke is facilitated by the NLRP3 inflammasome, which promotes inflammation and neuroinflammation, both of which cause brain damage. The pathogenesis of hypertension are significantly influenced by inflammasomes, especially NLRP3, which promote oxidative stress and inflammation, which worsen high blood pressure, cause cardiac fibrosis, and contribute to vascular and renal dysfunction. In asthma, inflammasomes primarily cause tissue damage and airway inflammation by activating NLRP3, which in turn causes the release of IL-1β and IL-18. This activation worsens asthma symptoms like inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness while also boosting immunological responses, especially in Th2 and Th17 cells. The mechanisms governing inflammasome construction and activation, as well as the possibility of targeting inflammasomes to treat a variety of disorders, have thus become the focus of more recent study.