Comparative study of artesunate, acts and their combinants on the hormonal parameters of the male guinea-pig

In this study, the effects of half, normal and double clinical doses of artesunate; artesunate/sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine; artesunate/amodiaquine and their combinants (sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine and amodiaquine) on the basal serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin of the guinea-pig were investigated. The results of this study showed that the agents caused significant decreases (

Antioxidant Activity of the Aqueous Crude Extract of Ocimum gratissimum LINN. Leaf on Basal and Cadmium-induced Serum Levels of Phosphatases in Male Guinea-pigs.

The antioxidant activity of the aqueous crude extract of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. leaf on the basal and traumatized (cadmium-induced) serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total acid phosphatase (ACPT) and prostatic acid phosphatase (ACPP) of the male guinea-pig (GP) were evaluated. Preliminary experimentation showed that the effects of the aqueous crude extract of O. gratissimum on basal serum phosphatases were slightly more in the oral than the intraperitoneal (i.p) route. Oral administration of 20mg of O. gratissimum caused a timedependent decrease in the basal serum levels of ACPT and ACPP without an effect on ALP values. The inhibitory effects compared to the control were maximum at 4 hours. Furthermore, O. gratissimum given orally, caused significant dose-dependent decreases (p<0.05) of the basal serum levels of ACPT and ACPP at p<0.05. Basal serum concentrations of ACPT and ACPP changed from 23.50±1.04 and 7.50±0.29 to 8.25±0.75 and 2.25±0.29 IU at 20mg, representing 65 and 70 % decreases respectively. In contrast, 0.25-8mg/kg of cadmium (Cd) given intraperitoneally, caused significant dose-dependent increases (p<0.05) in the phosphatase enzymes. However pretreatment with 5mg of the crude extract, which on its own had little effect on basal serum phosphatase levels, followed by i.p administration of Cd, caused a reversal of the Cd-induced dose-response curves on the various phosphatase levels to negative values. These results may be due to the oxidative and the antioxidative biochemical antagonistic properties of the agents used in these experiments. They may also be due to enzyme conformational changes and effects of eugenols and flavonoids in the crude extract of O. gratissimum

The Phytochemical Constituents, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Methanol Extract of Jatropha Curcas Leaves in Mice and Wister Albino Rats.

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Jatropha Curcas were investigated in mice and rats respectively. The phytochemical screening of the extract was also carried out. The analgesic effect was determined by acetic acid – induced writhing test in mice. While the anti- inflammatory activity was determined by egg albumin – induced oedema of the rat paw. Phytochemical screening was done by standard procedures. Jatropha curcas leaf extract (10-80mg/kg) caused a statistically significant inhibition on the egg albumin – induced eodema or inflammation in Wister albino rats with P < 0.001 (ANOVA). This effect was comparable to the observed effect with Piroxicam (0.5mg/kg) which was used as a standard. The effect was also dose- dependent. Furthermore, Jatropha curcas extract caused a statistically significant reduction in the number of acetic acid- induced writhing in mice, with P < 0.001 (ANOVA). These effects were also dose- dependent and comparable to the analgesic effects obtained with paracetamol which was used as a reference drug. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids Alkaloids, tannins and saponins in Jatropha curcas leaf extract. Jatropha curcas can be recommended for acute inflammatory disorders and diseases associated with pains. This also supports its use traditionally as an anti-snake bite, rheumatism and anti- cancer or anti-tumor agent. Further study is on the way to find out the mechanism of its action and also to isolate, identify and characterize the active agent responsible for these effects in this plant

The Phytochemical Constituents, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Methanol Extract of Jatropha Curcas Leaves in Mice and Wister Albino Rats.

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Jatropha Curcas were investigated in mice and rats respectively. The phytochemical screening of the extract was also carried out. The analgesic effect was determined by acetic acid \u2013 induced writhing test in mice. While the anti- inflammatory activity was determined by egg albumin \u2013 induced oedema of the rat paw. Phytochemical screening was done by standard procedures. Jatropha curcas leaf extract (10-80mg/kg) caused a statistically significant inhibition on the egg albumin \u2013 induced eodema or inflammation in Wister albino rats with P &lt; 0.001 (ANOVA). This effect was comparable to the observed effect with Piroxicam (0.5mg/kg) which was used as a standard. The effect was also dose- dependent. Furthermore, Jatropha curcas extract caused a statistically significant reduction in the number of acetic acid- induced writhing in mice, with P &lt; 0.001 (ANOVA). These effects were also dose- dependent and comparable to the analgesic effects obtained with paracetamol which was used as a reference drug. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids Alkaloids, tannins and saponins in Jatropha curcas leaf extract. Jatropha curcas can be recommended for acute inflammatory disorders and diseases associated with pains. This also supports its use traditionally as an anti-snake bite, rheumatism and anti- cancer or anti-tumor agent. Further study is on the way to find out the mechanism of its action and also to isolate, identify and characterize the active agent responsible for these effects in this plant

Antioxidant Activity of the Aqueous Crude Extract of Ocimum gratissimum LINN. Leaf on Basal and Cadmium-induced Serum Levels of Phosphatases in Male Guinea-pigs.

The antioxidant activity of the aqueous crude extract of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. leaf on the basal and traumatized (cadmium-induced) serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total acid phosphatase (ACPT) and prostatic acid phosphatase (ACPP) of the male guinea-pig (GP) were evaluated. Preliminary experimentation showed that the effects of the aqueous crude extract of O. gratissimum on basal serum phosphatases were slightly more in the oral than the intraperitoneal (i.p) route. Oral administration of 20mg of O. gratissimum caused a timedependent decrease in the basal serum levels of ACPT and ACPP without an effect on ALP values. The inhibitory effects compared to the control were maximum at 4 hours. Furthermore, O. gratissimum given orally, caused significant dose-dependent decreases (p&lt;0.05) of the basal serum levels of ACPT and ACPP at p&lt;0.05. Basal serum concentrations of ACPT and ACPP changed from 23.50\ub11.04 and 7.50\ub10.29 to 8.25\ub10.75 and 2.25\ub10.29 IU at 20mg, representing 65 and 70 % decreases respectively. In contrast, 0.25-8mg/kg of cadmium (Cd) given intraperitoneally, caused significant dose-dependent increases (p&lt;0.05) in the phosphatase enzymes. However pretreatment with 5mg of the crude extract, which on its own had little effect on basal serum phosphatase levels, followed by i.p administration of Cd, caused a reversal of the Cd-induced dose-response curves on the various phosphatase levels to negative values. These results may be due to the oxidative and the antioxidative biochemical antagonistic properties of the agents used in these experiments. They may also be due to enzyme conformational changes and effects of eugenols and flavonoids in the crude extract of O. gratissimum

Comparative Testicular Histopathological Effects of Artemisinin Derivatives and Some ACTs in the Guinea-pig

Artesunate and dihydroartemisinin are artemisinin derivatives, which are effective antimalarial agents used in the treatment of malaria. Combination of artemisinins and other standard antimalarial drugs (ACTs) have resulted in better cure rates of Plasmodium infections. In this study, the histolopathological effects of half, normal and double clinical doses of artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, artesunate/amodiaquine, artesunate/sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine and artemether/lumefantrine on the testes of guinea-pigs were investigated. Mean testicular weight and circumference were both significantly (