Effect of Nutmeg on Transaminase Activities in Liver and Serum of Adult Wistar rats

This study examines the activities of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the liver of 30 adult Wistar rats exposed to nutmeg for 30 days. 1 g of nutmeg was administered to group A (n=10), 2 g of nutmeg to group B (n=10) and group C (n=10) was used as the control. Enzyme activities were assayed in both serum and liver (tissue homogenate) spectrophotometrically. Results obtained showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in level of AST in serum of rats in group A and B (20.2±7.29 and 23.2 ± 3.27 U/L) when compared to the control group (14.8± 1.78 U/L) while serum ALT level was significantly reduced (5.2± 1.78 and 4.2 ± 0.04 U/L) compared to the control group (7.0 ± 2.6 U/L) but the differences based on dosage was statistically insignificant (p≥ 0.05). The enzyme activities in liver tissue homogenate showed a significant increase (p˂ 0.05) in AST levels (13.8 ± 1.14, 14.6 ± 1.78 and 12.8 ± 0.08 U/L) among test groups and between controls but ALT levels though lower in treated groups than control, was statistically insignificant (p≥ 0.05) among test and between control group (4.6 ± 1.34, 4.0 ± 0.08 and 5.8 ± 0.03 U/L). Differences in enzyme activities due to nutmeg administration may lead to hepatocellular injury as well as myocardial infarction. The results suggests that dosage and long-term consumption of nutmeg could have severe health implication as it affects liver function as well as other associated organ of the body

Pharmacological investigations of neuroprotective potential of Centella lujica supplement on sleep deprivation-induced anxiety-like behaviour in mice

Background: Sleep deprivation has often been implicated in several neurological disorders. Centella lujica is a psychoactive herb with medically-beneficial therapeutic potential. The current study sought to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Centella lujica supplement in experimental animals.Methods: Sleep deprivation in mice was done using the multiple platforms over water model.Results: Upon treatment with Centella lujica supplement, the parameters of anxiety-like behaviour induced by sleep deprivation were found to be significantly diminished in comparison to the sleep deprived animals.Conclusions: Centella lujica treatment significantly decreased hyper locomotion, and anxiety-like behaviour caused by sleep deprivation

Inhibition of Plasmodium berghei growth by alkaloid extract of Phyllanthus amarus in mice increased haem level and stabilized erythrocyte membrane

Objectives: The Plasmodium parasite is known for its ability to destabilize the red cell membrane causing the release of free haem which is converted to haemozoin as haem is toxic to parasite. In combination with other factors, accumulation of haemozoin is associated with anaemia which manifest in severe malaria. Compounds directed at preventing erythrocyte attack and increasing haem concentrations could serve as new sources of antimalarials. Therefore, this study assessed the ability of Phyllanthus (P.) amarus alkaloid extract, a phytochemical, already reported to possess antimalarial activity, in reducing erythrocyte deformity and preventing parasite multiplication by increasing haem concentrations. Methods: The study involved measurement of parasite clearance, changes in haematological indices and degree of erythrocyte membrane stabilization (using heat-induced and hypotonic-solution induced destabilization assays) in Plasmodium (P.) berghei infected mice treated with alkaloid extract of P. amarus using documented methods. Results: Infection of experimental mice with Plasmodium berghei, induced malaria with evidence of anaemia (reduced PCV and Hb), reduction in haematological indices (RBC, WBC, platelets, lymphocytes, and eosinophil), increased serum haemozoin and haem concentration and destabilization of erythrocyte membrane