Toxicological evaluation of a polyherbal formulation on biochemical parameters in Spraque-Dawley rats

Background: Alomo bitters is an alcoholic polyherbal formulation consumedorally in Nigeria for its anti-pile and libido enhancing effects.Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the toxicity of the alcoholic herbal formulation of subchronic oral administration in laboratory rats.Methods: The oral LD50 was determined using the Miller and Tainter method. For the subchronic study, rats of both sexes were administered 0.12, 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg of alomo bitters daily for 40 days while control rats were administered 5 mL/kg distilled water. At the end of the study, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood samples collected for hematological and biochemical analysis.Results: The LD50 oral was found to be 1.74mL/kg. There was progressive increase in mean weight gain of treated rats at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively compared to control. For the biochemical assay, a dose dependent significant (p< 0.05) increase was observed in the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) with a corresponding significant decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively compared to the controls.In the hematological assay, there was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in PCV and RBC at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg. Conversely, WBC was significantly (p< 0.05) increased at 0.25 and 0.5 mL/kg respectively.Conclusion: The alcoholic herbal formulation investigated in this study can be considered relatively safe for consumption at lower doses within a short period of time. However, long term consumption of the herbal drink and at high doses poses a significant risk and damaging effect hence, could compromise human health.Keywords: Polyherbal, subchronic, hematological, biochemica

Knowledge, treatment seeking and preventive practices in respect of malaria among patients with HIV attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

The synergistic interaction between Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and Malaria makes it mandatory for patients with HIV to respond appropriately in preventing and treating malaria. Such response will help to control the two diseases. This study assessed the knowledge of 495 patients attending the HIV clinic, in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Their treatment seeking, preventive practices with regards to malaria, as well as the impact of socio – demographic / socio - economic status were assessed. Out of these patients, 245 (49.5 %) used insecticide treated bed nets; this practice was not influenced by socio – demographic or socio – economic factors. However, knowledge of the cause, knowledge of prevention of malaria, appropriate use of antimalarial drugs and seeking treatment from the right source increased with increasing level of education (p < 0.05). A greater proportion of the patients, 321 (64.9 %) utilized hospitals, pharmacy outlets or health centres when they perceived an attack of malaria. Educational intervention may result in these patients seeking treatment from the right place when an attack of malaria fever is perceived