Suitability of the leaf extract of Jatropha gossypifolia as an anticoagulant for biochemical and haematological analyses

The extract of Jatropha gossypifolia leaf was obtained by crushing the leaf in a mortal and the fluid expressed out. The suitability of the leaf extract as an anticoagulant for biochemical and haematological analyses was determined. The anticoagulant effect of the extract was found to be highest at a concentration of 0.1 ml per ml of blood. Blood tubes with dried leaf extract at the stated concentration were used for obtaining plasma. Mean plasma glucose values obtained from fluoride oxalate plasma were compared with values obtained from dried leaf extract plasma. The values obtained for biochemical parameters with the exception of bicarbonate from the leaf extract plasma samples were significantly higher (

Extracts of Pterocarpus osun as a histological stain for collagen fibres

The staining ability of Pterocarpus osun extract on tissue sections was determined. 2 kg of P. osun stem was dried, milled to obtain a fine powder and a red pigment extracted from the powder with 1 L of 70% ethanol at 78°C for 24 h. The alcoholic and acidic extracts were used to stain tissue sections. Collagen fibres, red blood cells and muscles were stained in shades of reddish brown. Preliminary phytochemical screening of this extract revealed that it contained alkaloids, steroid ring, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugar.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 460-462, 200

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments and fish from dredged tributaries and creeks of river Ethiope, South-South, Nigeria: sources, risk assessment and bioaccumulation

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that are ubiquitous in nature. In this study, the levels of PCBs were evaluated in sediments and fish samples obtained from dredged tributaries and creeks of River Ethiope. The work also assessed the possible relationship between the parameters and risks posed by polychlorinated biphenyls via several pollution indices. The mean concentrations of PPCBs on the sediments spanned from 645 – 3,977 µg/kg (wet season) to 252 – 1,219 µg/kg (dry season) dry weight. The concentrations of PCBs in fishes were 1,688 µg/kg (wet season) and 557 µg/kg (dry season). Higher bioaccumulation factors were observed with lower molecular weight PCBs than the higher ones (9 – Hexa – PCB, 8- Tetra- PCB). The results of the ecological risk (160 \leq Eri < 320), and human health risk (\geq 10-4 to 10-3-\leq 10-6), showed moderately to very high contamination and also moderately to very high cancer risk for children and adults. The strong positive correlation between PCB-114 and PCB-77, PCB-81, PCB-105 (r2 = 1.00, 0.99 & 1.00, p < 0.01) and the risks assessment values which ranged from 6.10 × 10-3 to 1.47 × 10-2 for children and 6.30 × 10-4 to 1.11 × 10-3 for adults (wet season), 1.04 × 10-3 to 2.99 × 10-2 for children and 7.80 × 10-5 to 5.61 × 10-1 for adults (dry season), showed rarely to adversely high potential ecological risk, biological effect and human health risk across the environment. The data show that higher levels of PCBs were observed in sediments and fish samples when compared with available standards. Considering the ILCR, hazard index, toxic equivalent, the sediments and fish obtained from these sites would be considered risky for humans. Dredging activities are majorly responsible for the high levels of PCBs across the sites. These have contributed significantly to the environmental status of the studied area

Full Length Research Article - Prevalence and Pattern of Lupus Erythematosus Cell Positivity in Diseases in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The prevalence and pattern of lupus erythematosus (LE) cell positivity in diseases in Ile-Ife, Osun state was carried out between January 1999 and June 2004 (5 1/2 years). A total of 96 patients with different diseases were screened for LE cell using standard techniques. Of this number, 63 (65.6%) were females and 33 (34.4%) were males, their age ranges between 2 and 65 years (x 26.5 years). Twelve (12.5%) were positive for LE cell within the period. Forty five (46.9%) were screened between January 1999 and December 2002 (4 years), 4 (4.2%) were positive for LE cell. Fifty one (53.1%) were screened between January 2003 and June 2004 (11/2 years), 8 (8.3%) were positive for LE cell. It was observed from the study that the LE cell positivity is on the increase due to increase number of requests especially from renal patients. LE cell positivity is also greater in females 7 (7.3%) than in males 5(5.2%) and occurs more in the second and third decades of life