Chronic toxicity study of Pterocarpus santalinoides leaf extract in albino rats

Purpose: To investigate the possible toxic effects associated with prolonged use of Pterocarpus santalinoides leaf extract.Methods: Methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (MEPS) was incorporated in rat feed at different doses (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) for 90 days. On days 30, 60 and 90, blood was collected from the retro-orbital plexus of four rats that were randomly selected from each group (n = 14). Full blood count was done using an auto hematological analyzer, liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and kidney function parameters (serum urea and creatinine) were determined following standard methods as contained in Randox® test kits. The histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, lung and heart was also carried out.Results: MEPS did not cause significant (p > 0.05) changes in the body weight, relative organ weights and hematological indices of treated rats when compared with control. The extract (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) increased the AST activity of the rats on day 90. Total bilirubin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by all doses of MEPS, while serum urea and creatinine were significantly (p < 0.05) increased. Degeneration of hepatocytes and tubular epithelial cells of the kidney were observed in rats treated with MEPS at a dose of 10.0 mg/kg on days 60 and 90 of the study.Conclusion: MEPS does not cause significant toxicity in albino rats, when administered for a short duration. However, long term therapy with the extract precipitates liver and kidney damage

Assessment of the antidiabetic potential of Pterocarpus santalinoides extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Purpose: To establish the pharmacological basis for the antidiabetic use of Pterocarpus santalinoides.Methods: Alloxan-induced diabetic rats were given graded doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of P. santalinoides extract (PSE) for 21 days. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, in vivo antioxidant assay, and lipid profile were determined.Results: Pterocarpus santalinoides extract at all doses tested caused significant (p < 0.05) reduction in FBG and significant (p < 0.05) increase in body weight of treated rats when compared with the control. There were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and high-density lipoprotein, while the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in PSE-treated rats.Conclusion: These results demonstrate the significant antidiabetic activity of P. santalinoides extract in albino Wistar rats, thus suggesting its potential application for the management of diabetes in humans, Furthermore, the findings may explain its use in ethnomedicine as an antidiabetic regimen.&nbsp

ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITIES OF THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACTS OF HYMENOCARDIA ACIDA (TUL.) IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

The effect of methanolic extract of Hymenocardia acida leaves on diabetes and associated lipidemia were investigated on experimentally-induced diabetic rats. The extract did not demonstrate any acutely toxic effect in rats within the dose range (250 mg/kg - 2000 mg/kg) employed in the study; hence it was well tolerated by the rats. In all experiments, the anti-diabetic effects were dose-dependent and comparable to that of glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) standard. At a dose of 500 mg/kg, lipid profile markers such as the serum total cholesterol (TC) levels, LDL-C, triglycerides and HDL-C were significantly lower (

Disposition kinetics of ceftriaxone and determination of its therapeutic dose in dogs

Purpose: To evaluate the disposition kinetics of ceftriaxone (CFZ) in dogs with a view to determining its therapeutic dose and dosing frequency.Methods: Twelve (12) Basenji dogs (n = 4), divided into 3 groups (A, B and C), were used for the study. Ceftriaxone was administered intramuscularly at doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg once to groups A, B and C respectively. Plasma CFZ concentration was determined by agar well diffusion assay at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 h post-treatment, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined.Results: Intramuscular injection of CFZ to dogs resulted in rapid absorption, distribution and elimination (p < 0.05). The elimination half-life was short and did not change significantly with increase in dose. Serum concentration of CFZ changed significantly (p < 0.05) with increase in dose of CFZ. The maximum serum concentration (Cmax, 15.00 ± 1.18, 141.37 ± 15.87 and 259 ± 5.21 μg/mL) for groups A, B and C respectively were significantly (p < 0.05) different. The steady state CFZ concentrations; 0.94, 8.81 and 16.19 μg/mL for groups A, B and C, respectively, were significantly (p < 0.05) different. However, there was no significant difference in the time to reach steady state concentrations (Tmax, 00±0.021, 4.00±0.10 and 4.30±0.12 for groups A, B and C respectively). The therapeutic dose of CFZ was therefore determined to be 25 – 50 mg/kg every 4 h.Conclusion: Ceftriaxone undergoes rapid elimination in dogs with a short elimination half-life, thus making it an inconvenient prescription for out-patients in veterinary clinics. Keywords: Ceftriaxone, Pharmacokinetic profile, Dogs, Therapeutic dose, Veterinary clini

Clinico-toxicological effects of ceftriaxone after intramuscular administration of graded doses in Basenji dogs

Purpose: The recent ceftriaxone-induced anaemia and mortalities at the dose of 50 mg/kg in Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria prompted this study which sought to assess the clinicotoxicological effects of ceftriaxone (CFZ) after intramuscular administration of graded doses in Basenji dogs.Methods: The effects of CFZ on the haematological indices, physiological parameters, liver and kidney functions were assessed in 4 group of dogs (n = 4) designated A – D. They were given CFZ intramuscularly for 21 days at doses of 12, 25 and 50 mg/kg for groups A, B, C, respectively, while thecontrol (group D) received the diluent (lignocaine 0.2 mL)Results: The mean pulse and heart rate of dogs in group C were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of group A, B and D. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) was observed in group C on days 7 and 14, while on day 21, these parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group D than in the treated groups. On day 14 of CFZ administration, the alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of dogs in group C was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated than the control group.Conclusion: These findings suggest that CFZ, at the doses of 12.5 - 25 mg/kg, appears safe in dogs as most of the adverse effects observed are reversed following the withdrawal of the drug on day 28. However, CFZ at 50 mg/kg causes anaemia, tachycardia and bilateral paralysis of the hind limbs which did not revert to normal after one week; hence, it is not recommended for use in dogs at this dose

Ameliorative Effects of <i>Cussonia arborea</i> Methanol Root Bark Extract on Histomorphology of Pancreas of Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine and a metabolic disease resulting from the destruction of pancreatic beta cells; thus assessment of the pancreas in diabetic rats is important in monitoring therapy. The hereby study assessed pancreatic status of diabetic rats treated with methanol root bark extract of Cussonia arborea. A total of seventy two (72) male albino wistar rats weighting between 100-105 g were assigned into six (6) groups of twelve (12) rats per group. Groups 1-5 were diabetic infected by single intraperitoneal injection with alloxan monohydrate, at the dose of 160 mg/kg and treated with 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg bw of the extract, 2 mg/kg bw glibenclamide and 10 ml/kg distilled water (DW) respectively, while the non diabetic rats, represented by Group 6, received 10 ml/kg DW and served as normal control rats. The treatment was applied daily through the oral route for 84 days. At the end of the experiment, the pancreas organs were acquired under light ether anaesthesia for histomorphometric assessment. The results indicated that the cells of the islet of langerhans of the diabetic untreated rats (Group 5) were severely depleted when compared to that of the normal rats (Group 6). The islet cells of the diabetic rats treated with 125 mg/kg Cussonia arborea extract (Group 2) was comparable to that of the diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (Group 4) and the normal control rats. It was concluded that the methanol extract of C. arborea, especially at the dose of 125 mg/kg, ameliorated pancreatic lesions induced by diabetes occasioned by alloxan

Fasting blood sugar and clinical biochemistry profiles of diabetic rats treated with methanol leaf extract of <em>Gnetum africanum</em> Welw.

445-450Gnetum africanum Welw. is widely used in West Africa for the treatment of diverse diseases including diabetes and as food. However, scientific information on its antidiabetic activity using dose-response tests and sub-acute anti-diabetic study is scarce. This was studied using alloxan induced diabetic rats. Dose response test (n = 6) was conducted using different doses of the extract (400, 800, 1600 mg/kg); distilled water and glibenclamide were administered to the negative and positive controls, respectively. A 21-day sub-acute antidiabetic study was used to assess the effect of different doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of the extract on fasting blood sugar (FBS) and clinical biochemistry (n = 10). Gnetum africanum methanol leaf extract produced significant dose and time-dependent reductions in FBS. The highest reduction was observed six hours post treatment in rats treated with 1,600 mg/kg of the extract (p Gnetum africanum in treatment of diabetes

Acute and chronic toxicity studies of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus Linn. in rats

Objective: To investigate the safety levels of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus Linn. (H. annuus) in rat. Methods: Acute oral toxicity test of hydromethanol leaf extract of H. annuus was conducted through up and down method at 2.00 g/kg dose limit in rats. The chronic toxicity study was conducted by administering different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 g/ kg) of hydromethanol extract of H. annuus in feed, for 90 consecutive days. On days 30, 60 and 90, blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus of the rats for determination of serum biochemical parameters. Histopathological examination of the pancreas, livers, kidneys and testis were also conducted. Results: The LD50 of the hydromethanol extract of H. annuus was greater than 2.00 g/kg and it significantly (P < 0.05) reduced serum cholesterol. On days 60 and 90, the serum urea and creatinine levels of hydromethanol extract of H. annuus treated groups were elevated when compared with the control group. There were fibrosis in the kidneys and livers; degeneration and necrosis in the testis and significant dose-dependent increases in number and size of pancreatic islet of langerhans. Conclusions: The findings suggest that hydromethanol extract of H. annuus is tolerated in short term administration, but long term (up to 90 days) administration at high doses, may elicit hepatic, testicular and nephrotic disorder

Hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. The extract of P. pinnata root-bark was prepared using a cold maceration method with 80% methanol and concentrated at 40°C in hot air oven. The extract was administered once daily per os at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Distilled water (5 mL/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) were used as the vehicle and reference standard, respectively. The serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions, antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), histopathological changes in liver and kidney were examined 24h after the last treatment on day 21. The extract reduced serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions of treated rats relative to vehicle-treated rats. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the extract treated rats were also elevated relative to the vehicle-treated rats. The extract reversed liver and kidney injuries induced by alloxan in the treated rats. This study provides some basic information which suggest that P. pinnata could be effective in managing diabetic complications