TOXICITY OF ERYTHROPHLEUM GUINEENSE

The effect of the in vivo administration of the total alkaloidal fractions of the stem-bark of the Erythropleum guineense on certain biological parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. The results revealed that plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, liver aspartate aminotransferase activity, liver glycogen, liver protein, creatinine and haemoglobin concentrations were reduced while plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity, liver alanine aminotransferase activity, plasma urea concentration, bilirubin concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in Sprague -Dawley rats treated with total alkaloidal fractions of E. guineense stem-bark. The phytochemical assays revealed that the chemical composition of E. guineense include alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides and tannins. The toxicity of the stem-bark of E. guineense could be attributed to the combined toxicity of other constituents such as tannins, saponins and glycosides with the alkaloids as earlier speculated

ANTITRICHOMONAL ACTIVITY OF 1,3-DIARYL-2-PROPEN-1-ONES

1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones were synthesized by the Claisen - Schmidt condensation method. T. gallinae parasites isolated from domestic pigeon were cultured in vitro. The in vitro susceptibility of T. gallinae was evaluated in multi-well plates at 37oC. Four of the synthetic compounds produced significant antitrichomonal activity against T. gallinae. The minimal lethal concentrations (MLCs) (produced by) 2’-hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone, 2’-hydroxy-2,4’-dimethoxychalcone, 2’-hydroxy-4-chlorochalcone, 3,4,4’-Trimethoxychalcone and 4-hydroxcychalcone were 100.0, 0.78, 50.0, 50.0 and 3.13 µg/ml respectively. The results indicate that 2’-hydroxy-2,4’-dimethoxychalcone and 3 other synthetic 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones possess potent antitrichomonal activity against T. gallinae. However, the studies on cytotoxicity effect showed that all the active chalcones demonstrated a very low haemagglutination titre values ranging between 0.57 –4.06 suggesting their low toxicity profile

Full length Research Article - Sub-Acute Toxicity and Biochemical Effects of extracts of Anaphe venata larvae in mice

Ataxia syndrome which is characterized by sudden onset of severe muscular tremor and gait ataxia has been shown to be associated with the consumption of the larvae of Anaphe venata in South Western part of Nigeria. In this report, the sub-acute toxicity and biochemical effects of polar and non-polar extracts of Anaphe venata larvae were investigated in mice. The sub-acute toxicity study showed an increase in the behavioural components as tremor, jerking and stretching, after the administration of the extracts for 7 days, an indication of Ataxia syndrome. Also, no significant difference in these components occurred between polar and non-polar extracts, an indication of similarity in the chemical composition and level of toxicity. There was a corresponding increase in enzymatic activities coupled with increase in weight of essential organs investigated, but not significantly different from the controls. However, the involvement of receptors and neurotransmitters, in the action of the extracts to cause ataxia syndrome require further investigation

Research Paper - ANTITRICHOMONAL ACTIVITY OF 1,3-DIARYL-2-PROPEN-1-ONES ON TRICHOMONAS GALLINAE

1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones were synthesized by the Claisen - Schmidt condensation method. T. gallinae parasites isolated from domestic pigeon were cultured in vitro. The in vitro susceptibility of T. gallinae was evaluated in multi-well plates at 37oC. Four of the synthetic compounds produced significant antitrichomonal activity against T. gallinae. The minimal lethal concentrations (MLCs) (produced by) 2'-hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone, 2'-hydroxy-2,4'-dimethoxychalcone, 2'-hydroxy-4-chlorochalcone, 3,4,4'-Trimethoxychalcone and 4-hydroxcychalcone were 100.0, 0.78, 50.0, 50.0 and 3.13 μg/ml respectively. The results indicate that 2'-hydroxy-2,4'-dimethoxychalcone and 3 other synthetic 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones possess potent antitrichomonal activity against T. gallinae. However, the studies on cytotoxicity effect showed that all the active chalcones demonstrated a very low haemagglutination titre values ranging between 0.57 -4.06 suggesting their low toxicity profile