Anchor Borrower Programme on Agricultural Commodity Price and Employment Generation in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Low investment in the agricultural sector, as well as problem of financing are among the major challenges hindering farmers in the rural areas engaging in mechanized farming that might increase food supply, and thereby checking the agricultural commodity prices, and possibly creating more job opportunity in the agricultural sector. In an effort to meet the food supply for the growing population of the country, the government introduced various policies aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in basic food supply, among these policies is the Anchor Borrower Programme. This study examines the impact of Anchor Borrower Program on agricultural commodity price and employment generation in Kebbi state, Nigeria. Data were collected through interview and structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 400 farmers in Argungu L.G.A, of which 360 questionnaire were correctly filled and returned. A multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the data. The results reveal that Anchor Borrower Programmes (ABP) supports for farmer have a positive and statistically significant impact on agricultural commodity price (ACP) and employment generation (EMPG) in agricultural sector in Kebbi state, particularly in Argungu LGA. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that anchor borrower programme policy in Nigeria should be encouraged and subjected to periodic review so as to provide more platforms for employment generation and stabilize agricultural commodity price in Kebbi state, particularly in Argungu LGA

Pharmacological Evaluation of a Nigerian Polyherbal Health Tonic Tea in Rat

The present study is a fourteen day study, designed to investigate the hematological and biochemical effects of single, daily oral doses of 100 – 600 mg/kg of a Nigerian Polyherbal Tonic Tea (PHT) in four groups of adult Wistar rats. Acute oral toxicity test of PHT at the limit dose of 5000 mg/kg was also conducted using Up-and-Down Procedure on statistical software program (AOT425StatPgm, Version 1.0.). Results showed PHT to induce significant (p<0.05) dose-related elevation in the packed cell volume (PCV), platelet, total leukocyte counts and lymphocyte differentials, while causing significant (p<0.05) suppression of granulocyte differentials in dose-related fashion. PHT, also, induced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent rise in the fasting blood sugar which was at variance with its folkloric use as an oral hypoglycemic agent. PHT did not induce mortality at the tested limit oral dose, indicating its relative oral safety up to 5000 mg/kg on acute exposure

Pharmacological Evaluation of Oral Hypoglycemic and Antidiabetic Effects of Fresh Leaves Ethanol Extract of Morinda Lucida Benth. in Normal and Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

In the present study, 50 – 400 mg/kg of body weight/day of 50% ethanol extract of the fresh leaves of Morinda Lucida Benth. (MLE) was investigated for its hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects in adult normal and alloxan-induced diabetic male rats for 7 days. Acute oral toxicity study of MLE at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight using Up-and-Down Procedure on statistical program, AOT425Pgm, was also conducted. Results showed that MLE significantly (p<0.05) lowered the fasting blood glucose (FBG) in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose related fashion, and its effect was higher (p<0.001) than that of tolbutamide (Tolb.). Results suggest that MLE could be mediating its hypoglycemic effect via enhanced peripheral glucose utilization. Also, acute oral toxicity result showed MLE to be non-lethal at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. These results suggest that MLE could be relatively safe on acute exposure when administered to suspected diabetic patients

Pharmacological evaluation of oral hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects of fresh leaves ethanol extract of morinda lucida benth. in normal and alloxan- induced diabetic rats

In the present study, 50 – 400 mg/kg of body weight/day of 50% ethanol extract of the fresh leaves of Morinda Lucida Benth. (MLE) was investigated for its hypoglycemic and antidiabetic effects in adult normal and alloxan-induced diabetic male rats for 7 days. Acute oral toxicity study of MLE at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight using Up-and-Down Procedure on statistical program, AOT425Pgm, was also conducted. Results showed that MLE significantly (p<0.05) lowered the fasting blood glucose (FBG) in both normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats in dose related fashion, and its effect was higher (p<0.001) than that of tolbutamide (Tolb.). Results suggest that MLE could be mediating its hypoglycemic effect via enhanced peripheral glucose utilization. Also, acute oral toxicity result showed MLE to be non-lethal at 2000 mg/kg of body weight. These results suggest that MLE could be relatively safe on acute exposure when administered to suspected diabetic patients

Protective Effect of Oral Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) on Acetaminophen-Induced Renal Injury in Rats

The incidence of acetaminophen-induced nephropathy is reported to be increasing, with no available prophylactic or curative regimen. The present study is an experimental animal study designed to evaluate the protective effects of graded oral doses of ascorbic acid (ASC) in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced nephrotoxic rats for 14 days. A total of thirty, young adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (I – V) of six rats in each group. Group I rats were administered 10 ml/kg/day of normal saline via the oral and intraperitoneal routes, respectively, while group II rats were pretreated with 10 ml/kg of normal saline one hour before administration of 200 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal APAP. Groups III – V rats were administered single, daily, oral 100 - 500 mg/kg of ASC 1 hour before 200 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal APAP for 14 days. On the 15th day, blood samples for serum urea and creatinine and full blood count were collected via cardiac puncture under inhaled diethyl ether. The rat kidneys were also harvested for histopathological examination. Results showed that repeated, single daily intraperitoneal 200 mg/kg of APAP for 14 days, reliably induced a significant (p <0.05) increase in the serum urea and creatinine while causing a significant (p <0.05) decrease in PCV, TLC and MCHC values along with acute tubular nephritis on histopathology in group II rats. However, these effects were significantly (p <0.05) reversed in rats pre-treated with ASC in dose related fashion. The nephroprotection of ASC could be due to its inherent antioxidant effect

Chemopreventive effect of tadalafil in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Summary: Nephrotoxicity remains a common untoward effect of cisplatin therapy with limited effective chemopreventive options available till date. This study aims to evaluate the possible chemopreventive effect and mechanism(s) of action of 2 mgkg-1 and 5 mgkg-1 of Tadalafil in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxic rats. In this study, twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 5 rats per group) and daily pretreated with oral doses of distilled water (10 mLkg-1), ascorbic acid (100 mgkg-1), Tadalafil (2 mgkg-1 and 5 mgkg-1) for 7 days before cisplatin (5 mgkg-1, intraperitoneal) was administered. 72 hours post-cisplatin injections, rats were sacrificed humanely and blood samples for serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine and renal tissues for reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malonialdehyde dehydrogenase (MAD) assays and histopathology were collected. Results showed that cisplatin injection caused significant decreases in the serum sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), calcium (Ca2+), phosphate (PO42-) and concomitant significant increases in the serum urea and creatinine levels. In addition, there were significant decreases in the renal tissue GSH, SOD, CAT and increased MAD and GSH-Px levels which were corroborated by histopathological features of tubulonephritis. However, these histo-biochemical alterations were significantly attenuated by ascorbic acid and Tadalafil pretreatments. Overall, results of this study showed the chemopreventive potential of Tadalafil against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity which was possibly mediated via antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidation mechanisms.Keywords: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, Renal function parameters, Oxidative markers, Histopatholog

Pharmacological evaluation of a nigerian polyherbal health tonic tea in rat

The present study is a fourteen day study, designed to investigate the hematological and biochemical effects of single, daily oral doses of 100 – 600 mg/kg of a Nigerian Polyherbal Tonic Tea (PHT) in four groups of adult Wistar rats. Acute oral toxicity test of PHT at the limit dose of 5000 mg/kg was also conducted using Up-and-Down Procedure on statistical software program (AOT425StatPgm, Version 1.0.). Results showed PHT to induce significant (p<0.05) dose-related elevation in the packed cell volume (PCV), platelet, total leukocyte counts and lymphocyte differentials, while causing significant (p<0.05) suppression of granulocyte differentials in dose-related fashion. PHT, also, induced a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent rise in the fasting blood sugar which was at variance with its folkloric use as an oral hypoglycemic agent. PHT did not induce mortality at the tested limit oral dose, indicating its relative oral safety up to 5000 mg/kg on acute exposure

Effects of different processing methods on some macro-minerals in West African soft unripened cheese

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different processing methods on some macro-minerals in West African soft unripened cheese. Milk was processed by blending with high speed mixer for five (5) minutes followed by pasteurization of the blended milk (Blended Pasteurized Milk: BPM). Milk was also fortified with 6 % skimmed milk powder (31.50g skimmed milk in 500ml milk) followed by the pasteurization of fortified milk (Fortified Pasteurized Milk: FPM). Raw milk served as the control. Fresh cheese was coagulated from 500ml milk using 3.75 ml (0.75 % v/v) Calotropis procera medium sized (8 x 15 cm) leaf extract as milk coagulant. Each treatment was replicated four (4) times. Range 0.16 – 0.24 % Ca was obtained. The Ca content of fortified pasteurized milk cheese for the cheeses produced was similar to the control. Fortified pasteurized milk cheese contained significantly higher Na and Cl than raw milk cheese. However, Na and Cl values obtained for FPM cheese and BPM cheese were similar being 0.08 and 0.05, 0.06 and 0.04 % Na and Cl respectively. Milk processing method had little (P &gt; 0.05) effect on the K and Mg content of cheese. It was concluded that raw milk should be used in producing West African soft unripened cheese because milk fortification with blended milk and blending with pasteurization of milk significantly increased the Na content of cheese and this may pose some health risks.Keywords: Blended Pasteurized Milk, Fortified Pasteurized Milk, Raw Milk, Cheese, health risk

Morinda lucida aqueous stem bark extract ameliorates hepato-renal dysfunctions in experimental diabetes model

Summary: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a leading pan-systemic endocrine disorder with attendant high morbidity and mortality owing to its deleterious effects on vital body organs caused by untreated chronic hyperglycemia, attendant oxidative stress and glycation processes. The present study is designed to investigate possible protective role and mechanism(s) of action of 125-500 mg/kg/day of Morinda lucida aqueous stem bark extract (MLASE) on renal and hepatic functions in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats for 8 days. Forty-two alloxan-induced hyperglycemiic male Wistar rats were randomly allotted to Groups II-VI and orally treated with 10 ml/kg/day distilled water, 5 mg/kg/day glibenclamide, 125 mg/kg MLASE, 250 mg/kg MLASE, and 500 mg/kg/day MLASE, respectively. Group I normal rats served as untreated control and were orally treated with 10 ml/kg of distilled water, all under same sham-handling. Blood samples were taken for measurement of fasting blood glucose, renal and hepatic function profile. Liver and kidney tissue samples were taken for determination of the activities of oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD). Results showed that intraperitoneal injection with 120 mg/kg of alloxan in cold 0.9% normal saline reliably and significantly induced a steadily sustained hyperglycemia which were ameliorated by short-term oral treatment with 125-500 mg/kg/day of MLASE, dose dependently, similar to that ameliorated by the standard antihyperglycemic drug, glibenclamide. Similarly, MLASE significantly mitigated against derangements in the measured renal and hepatic function parameters as well as oxidative stress induced by alloxan-induced hyperglycemia. In conclusion, results of this study showed the protective role of 125-500 mg/kg/day of MLASE in chronic hyperglycemia-associated renal and hepatic dysfunctions which was mediated via antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of MLASE.Keywords: Induced hyperglycemia, hepatic and renal function profile, oxidative stress markers, Morinda lucid

Evaluation of the toxicological profile of the leaves and young twigs of Caesalpinia bonduc (Linn) Roxb.

Acute and sub-acute toxicological effects of ethanolic extract of the leaves and young twigs of Caesalpinia bonduc were carried out on albino rats. Single extract doses from 2000 to 5000 mg/kg body weight were administered orally and monitored for 14 days in acute study, while extract doses from 200 to 1600 mg/kg body weight were orally administered daily for 28 days in sub-acute study and recovery was assessed 14 days after dosing. Biochemical, haematological and histopathological examinations were carried out. There was no mortality in the experimental animals in all acute treatment doses. However, there were significant alterations in the biomarkers and induced cellular damage to the liver in all acute treatment doses. In the sub-acute toxicity treatment, the assessed biomarkers were unaffected at extract dose of 200 mg/kg body weight compared to control, while significant changes were observed in rats administered with extract doses of 400 mg/kg body weight and above. No significant difference was observed between the tested groups and the recovery groups in the sub-acute toxicity study. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of C. bonduc could be toxic to selected organs of the rat body in acute and sub-acute treatments