Pharmacological mechanisms involved in the analgesia induced by ethanol extract of Hybanthus enneaspermus leaves

Ayobami Oladele Afolabi,1 Isiaka Abdullateef Alagbonsi,2 Jubril Ayodeji Aliyu1 1Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria; 2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gitwe, Gitwe, Republic of Rwanda Background: Hybanthus enneaspermus (HE) leaves are being used traditionally to relieve pain, and scientific studies have demonstrated their analgesic potential. This study attempted to elucidate the pharmacological mechanism(s) involved in the analgesic action of ethanol extract of H. enneaspermus leaves (EEHE). Materials and methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were separately randomized into seven groups (n=6 rats in each group) for tail immersion and formalin tests. Group I (control) received distilled water (10 mL/kg) while groups II and III received acetaminophen (the reference drug, 100 mg/kg ip) and EEHE (1000 mg/kg po), respectively. Groups IV–VII were pretreated with cimetidine (50 mg/kg ip), naloxone (5 mg/kg ip), propranolol (0.15 mg/kg ip), and prazosin (0.15 mg/kg ip), respectively, 1 hour before EEHE (1000 mg/kg po) treatment. Results: The EEHE-induced increase in tail-flick latency was reduced by blockade of histamine and adrenergic receptors but prevented by blockade of opiate receptor in the tail-flick test. However, the EEHE-induced decrease in paw licking time was prevented only by blockade of opiate receptor but unaffected by histamine and adrenergic receptors blockers. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the analgesic effect of EEHE in different pain types may involve different neural mechanisms and that the opioidergic pathway contributes more to EEHE-induced analgesia than the other pathways. Keywords: analgesia, formalin test, Hybanthus enneaspermus, pain, tail immersion tes

Effects of methanolic extract of Moringa Oleifera leave on semen and biochemical parameters in cryptorchid rats

While anti-oxidant effects of Moringa oleifera in much oxidative stress related diseases have been well reported, cryptorchidism on the other hand has been shown to cause oxidative stress. However, study is scanty on the likely role of Moringa oleifera in reducing cryptorchidism-induced oxidative stress in rats has not been studied. The present study looked into the effects of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MEMO) on semen and biochemical parameters in cryptorchid rats. Twenty male albino rats (200-250g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5 each). Groups A and B were sham-operated and treated with corn-oil and 200mg/kg of MEMO respectively, while groups C and D were rendered cryptorchid and also treated with corn-oil and 200mg/kg of MEMO respectively. Cryptorchid rats had lower testicular weight, sperm count, germ cell count, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration, testicular total protein and higher testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration compared to sham-operated rats. MEMO had no significant effect on testicular weight and MDA concentration, while it significantly increased sperm count, germ cell count, testicular SOD and total protein in the cryptorchid rats. The present study suggests that MEMO ameliorates cryptorchidism associated germ cell loss and oxidative stress.Keywords: Antioxidants, Cryptorchidism, Moringa oleifera, Oxidative stress, Sperm count, Germ cell coun