Neuropharmacological effects of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Mull. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in mice

Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a common plant, which has featured prominently in traditional medicinal practice. It has been reported that the decoction of the leaves is taken as central nervous system stimulant. This work was therefore undertaken to examine the central nervous system effects. The neuropharmacological profile of the plant was determined in mice to which the plant extract had been orally administered at respective doses of 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg. The behavioral models used included noveltyinduced behaviors (locomotion, rearing and grooming), holeboard and elevated plus maze (anxiolytic) and forced swimming (antidepressant). The Y-maze was used for the investigation of the plant extract on locomotion, learning and memory. The results obtained showed that both locomotor and rearing activities were significantly decreased at the highest dose of 1000 mg/kg orally, while grooming behavior was significantly decreased at all the doses administered. In the hole board experiment, the frequency of head-dips was decreased significantly at 1000 mg/kg, while there was no significant effect observed in the elevated plus maze. Y-maze model results showed that it had no significant effect on spatial memory. There was no significant difference in the immobility duration due to administration of the extract in the forced swimming test. In conclusion, the present study showed that although the ethanolic leaf extract of A. cordifolia exhibited some central inhibitory effect, it is devoid of anxiolytic, antidepressant activities and has no significant effect on learning and memory in mice.Keyword: A. cordifolia, locomotion, grooming, mice, anxiolytic, antidepressant, mic

Lymphoreticular diseases in Nigerians

Background: The lymphoreticular system plays a major role in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. This study reviews retrospectively cases of lymphoreticular diseases seen at a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study in which biopsies from the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and extranodal lymphoid tissues reported within a period of 16 years were reviewed with respect to age, sex and pathological diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed for differences in proportion using Chi square by SPSS version 12. Results: Nine hundred and forty four cases comprising 559 biopsies from lymph nodes and extranodal lymphoid tissues, 272 bone marrow biopsies and 113 spleen biopsies were studied. Non Hodgkin\'s lymphoma (NHL) and tuberculosis were the most common lesions in lymph nodes and extranodal lymphoid tissues. The axillary and cervical nodes accounted for most cases of metastasis. Breast cancer accounted for the majority of metastasis to lymph nodes. The most common pathological changes in bone marrow were NHL and reactive hyperplasia. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) had the highest mean age, which was significantly higher than in those with NHL (p=.001, 95% confidence interval -27.91 to -7.76). The most common finding in the spleen was splenic rupture and haemoperitoneum from road traffic accident. Conclusion: NHL and tuberculosis should be high on the list of differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy in Nigerians. Whereas trauma from RTA was the major reason for splenectomy in Nigerians, in the elderly splenic biopsy would likely show CLL. African Health Science Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 20-2

Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians

Background: The burden of lymphomas on the health care system in Nigeria is enormous. Correct diagnosis and identification of aetiological factor are important steps in reducing this burden. Methods: Eight cases diagnosed as HL within a period of six years at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria by haematoxylin and eosin (Hand E) only were immunophenotyped using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), CD15 and CD30 immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical characteristics of each patient were documented. Objectives: To document the frequency of involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in cases of HL seen in a university hospital in Nigeria. Results: Out of the eight cases diagnosed by H&E as HL immunophenotyping showed only five were HL. The rest were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2 diffuse large B-cell and 1 null cell ALCL). All were cases of classical HL with 60% being of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype. There were 2 males and 3 females with ages ranging from 7 years to 40 years. All presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and three had splenomegaly in addition. 60% of the tumour was EBV positive, all of the MC subtype. Three patients had chemotherapy. Eventually all were lost to follow-up. There was no case of the nodular lymphocyte predominance variant. Conclusion: Mixed cellularity is the most common subtype and is the only subtype associated with EBV positivity in this study. Epstein-Barr virus probably plays an important role in the aetiology of HL in Nigerians.Running title: Epstein-Barr virus, Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians.African Health Sciences 2009; 9(3): 174-17

Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians

Background: The burden of lymphomas on the health care system in Nigeria is enormous. Correct diagnosis and identification of aetiological factor are important steps in reducing this burden. Methods: Eight cases diagnosed as HL within a period of six years at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria by haematoxylin and eosin (Hand E) only were immunophenotyped using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), CD15 and CD30 immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical characteristics of each patient were documented. Objectives: To document the frequency of involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in cases of HL seen in a university hospital in Nigeria. Results: Out of the eight cases diagnosed by H&E as HL immunophenotyping showed only five were HL. The rest were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2 diffuse large B-cell and 1 null cell ALCL). All were cases of classical HL with 60% being of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype. There were 2 males and 3 females with ages ranging from 7 years to 40 years. All presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and three had splenomegaly in addition. 60% of the tumour was EBV positive, all of the MC subtype. Three patients had chemotherapy. Eventually all were lost to follow-up. There was no case of the nodular lymphocyte predominance variant. Conclusion: Mixed cellularity is the most common subtype and is the only subtype associated with EBV positivity in this study. Epstein-Barr virus probably plays an important role in the aetiology of HL in Nigerians.Running title: Epstein-Barr virus, Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians.African Health Sciences 2009; 9(3): 174-17

Epstein Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 in Hodgkin's lymphoma in Nigerians

Background: The burden of lymphomas on the health care system in Nigeria is enormous. Correct diagnosis and identification of aetiological factor are important steps in reducing this burden. Methods: Eight cases diagnosed as HL within a period of six years at the Obafemi Awolowo University teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria by haematoxylin and eosin (Hand E) only were immunophenotyped using the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1), CD15 and CD30 immunohistochemistry was also performed. The clinical characteristics of each patient were documented. Objectives: To document the frequency of involvement of Epstein-Barr virus in cases of HL seen in a university hospital in Nigeria. Results: Out of the eight cases diagnosed by H&E as HL immunophenotyping showed only five were HL. The rest were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2 diffuse large B-cell and 1 null cell ALCL). All were cases of classical HL with 60% being of the mixed cellularity (MC) subtype. There were 2 males and 3 females with ages ranging from 7 years to 40 years. All presented with cervical lymphadenopathy and three had splenomegaly in addition. 60% of the tumour was EBV positive, all of the MC subtype. Three patients had chemotherapy. Eventually all were lost to follow-up. There was no case of the nodular lymphocyte predominance variant. Conclusion: Mixed cellularity is the most common subtype and is the only subtype associated with EBV positivity in this study. Epstein-Barr virus probably plays an important role in the aetiology of HL in Nigerians

Toxicity potentials of Senna podocarpa (Guill.et Perr.) Lock pods in rodents

The effects of acute (LD50) and sub-chronic doses of the aqueous infusion of Senna podocarpa (Guill. et Perr.) Lock pod on the liver, kidney, brain and testis of mice and rats were studied, respectively. The acute toxicity studies did not produce any observable lethal effects and the calculated LD50 was 6.6 g/kg. The histopathological analysis of the liver, kidney, brain and testis showed no adverse effect. Behavioral observations and the histopathological findings did not show significant differences between the control and the treated groups. There were no marked adverse alterations or degeneration of tissues since these vital organs showed normal architectures suggesting no morphological disturbances as compared with the control group. The findings indicated that the aqueous infusion of S. podocarpa pod was devoid of overt acute and sub-chronic toxic effects in mice and rats. Key words: Senna podocarpa pods, acute toxicity, sub-chronic toxicity Afr. J. Trad. Comp. Alt. Med. Vol.2(3) 2005: 274 - 28

Primary Testicular Lymphoma In Nigerian Males: Case Report and Clinicopathological Review

A review of cases of primary testicular lymphoma seen within a period of twelve years at the OAUTHC Nigeria was carried out. Three cases of primary testicular lymphoma were seen during the study period. Their ages range between 20-45 years (median age 25 ). The histological types were diffuse large cell lymphoma and small lymphocytic lymphoma. The clinical features and management of one of the patients is also presented. The prevalence of primary testicular lymphoma in this environment is similar to the prevalence elsewhere but the age at presentation differs. There is a need to be on the lookout for the disease not only in the elderly but also in young patients presenting with testicular masses. Key Words: testicular, lymphoma, Non- Hodgkin Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 48 (1) 2005:14 - 1

Acute and Sub-Chronic Toxicity Potential Effects of Alchornea Cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) in Rats

Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a plant that has been shown to have considerable activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria including those that have developed resistance to several antibiotics. In view of the high prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the search for new effective antimicrobial substances is urgent and must be extended to higher plants such as A. cordifolia. A useful antimicrobial substance must however have a defined toxicity profile which is why this attempt was thought to be worthy of serious consideration. Both oral acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies were carried out in rats. Acute toxicity study revealed that the ethanolic extract has no significant effect on both Packed cell volume (PCV) and Hemoglobin (Hb) and biochemical parameters. Similarly, the sub-chronic administration had no significant effect on hematological parameters and biochemical parameters such as protein, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and glutathione (GSH), however, triglyceride (TG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased at the dose of 250 mg/kg/day when compared with the vehicle-treated rats. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in protein, TG and LDH at the dose of 500 mg/kg/day when compared with the dose of 250 mg/kg/day. Histopathological results revealed that there were no significant changes in the organs of the treated animals when compared with vehicle-treated group. The open field test showed that sub-chronic administration increased rearing behavior significantly at the dose of 250 mg/kg/28 days but had no effect on grooming. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract has no toxicological effect as observed on hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters even at the maximum dose administered suggesting that the plant ethanolic leaf extract is devoid of any toxicity effects