Effects of Gnetum africanum (Welw) methanol leaf extract on weight and haematological profile of wistar rats following chronic oral administration

Gnetum africanum (Welw) leaves have been in use as herbal remedy for treatment of pile, high blood pressure, diabetes and fungal infections especially in West Africa. There is a dearth of information on their effects on body weights, relative organ weights and haematology of rats following chronic administration. The leaves of G. africanum were collected and air dried, pulverized and soaked in 80 % methanol for 48 hours. The extract was concentrated in vacuo using a rotary evaporator and stored as G. africanum extract (GAE) at 4oC. Fifty-six rats randomly divided into four groups (n=fourteen) were used in this study. The rats were fed growers ration (Vital® Feed, Nigeria) into which the extract was incorporated at various doses for ninety days. Rats in group 1 received feed without GAE, while rats in groups 2, 3 and 4 were given feed with GAE at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Four rats from each group were weighed and humanely sacrificed at days 30, 60 and 90 for measurement of liver, kidney, lungs and spleen weights. Treated rats had significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weights and lower relative organ weights than the control. Also, rats given 20 mg/kg (group 3) and 40 mg/kg (group 4) of extract in feed at days 60 and 90, had significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count than the control. There were no significant effects on the white blood cells.Keywords: Body weights, chronic toxicity test, Gnetum africanum, relative organ weights, wistar rat

D-3-O-methylchiroinositol (from Pilostigma thonningii) ameliorates cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced toxicity in male reproduction

This study examined the possible protective effect of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol isolated from stem bark of Pilostigma thonningii on cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. The results show that the immotile, headless and sluggish sperm count decreased from Month 2 to Month 3 respectively in the CdCl2- challenged but D-3-O-methylchiroinositol-treated groups, and increased in the CdCl2-only groups from Month 1 to Month 3. Cadmium (Cd) accumulated in the testes of Wistar rats and decreased sperm morphology including sperm count, sperm motility. It also increased immotile sperm count, headless sperm count and sluggish sperm count. However, in this study, D-3-O-methylchiroinositol which has a structural formula similar to the phosphatidylinositol phosphate with proven antioxidant potentials reversed these toxic effects by months 2 and 3. Histopathology results revealed that CdCl2 significantly reduced the volume of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules and resulted in reduced spermatogenesis however, amelioration with D-3-O methylchiroinositol restored the testicles to normal spermatogenic activities.Keywords: D-3-O-methylchiroinositol, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), toxicity, Wistar rats, male reproductio

Assessment of antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Newbouldia leavis in alloxan-induced diabetes in albino rats

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Investigation Of The Antitrypanosomal Activity Buchholzia Coriacea Seed Extract Against A Field Strain Of Trypanosoma Congolense

The antitrypanosomal activity of the methanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea seed against a field strain of Trypanosoma congolense was investigated using experimentally infected mice of both sexes. Monitoring of parasitaemia was by the rapid matching technique. When parasitaemia was approximately log 7.8 (63 x 106 parasites/ml), treatment with graded doses of the extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) was instituted for 5 consecutive days. Diminazene diaceturate (Dimivet® SKM Pharma Pvt. Ltd.) was given at 3.5 mg/kg i.p. to the positive control mice. No significant differences in body weights were observed. The rectal temperatures of infected mice showed fluctuations. The PCV of infected mice were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the uninfected controls. There was no significant difference between the PCV of the extract-treated and untreated animals. Parasitaemia increased steadily in the extract-treated and untreated mice groups till all the animals died. Three days post-treatment with diminazene diaceturate parasitaemia was cleared. Six days later, there was a relapse of infection. By the end of the experiment, a 50 % relapse rate was recorded in the diminazene diaceturatetreated group. The methanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea seeds did not show any antitrypanosomal activity in mice infected with Trypanosoma congolense at the doses tested