The effect of crude ethanolic leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis J. F. gmel (combretaceae) on the haematological parameters of albino rats experimentally infected with Trypanasoma brucei brucei

The effect of Guiera senegalensis leaf extract was investigated on the blood parameters of albino rats infected with Trypanasoma brucei brucei. Thirty (30) albino rats were randomly divided into six groups (A-F), of five rats each. Rats in groups (A-E) were individually infected with 4×106 of Trypanasoma brucei brucei, while those in group F remained uninfected control. The infected rats were later treated for four consecutive days starting on day 4 post infection. Groups A, B and C were treated orally with 100, 300 and 600 mg/kg of the extract of Guiera senegalensis respectively, while group D was treated with Diminazine aceturate at 3.5 mg/kg once. Rats in groups E and F were not treated during the experiment. Rats treated with the extract at 600 mg/kg survived up to day 12 post infection. Haematological parameters (Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Red blood cell count (RBC) and White blood cell count (WBC) decreased significantly (p˂0.05) across the days in the extract treated groups compared with the Diminazine aceturate treated (group D) and the uninfected control (group F). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) varied significantly (p˂0.05) in an irregular pattern in the treated groups. Neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte decreased significantly (p˂0.05) in the extract treated groups. However, eosinophil count increased significantly (p˂0.05) in the Diminazine aceturate treated group and the uninfected groups. The extract at the highest dosage tested (600 mg/kg) prolonged the survival of the rats, but did not significantly (p˂0.05) improve the haematological parameters investigated. Higher dosages are recommended for further studies.Keywords: Haematology parameters, Guiera senegalensis, Extract, Trypanosoma brucei bruce

Studies on the Potential of Malted Digitaria exilis, Cyperus esculentus and Colocasia esculenta Flour Blends as Weaning Food Formulation

This work was aimed at evaluating the functional properties of six varying percentage blends of locally abundant, under-utilized crops; malted acha (Digitaria exilis), aya (Cyperus esculentus) and ede (Colocasia esculenta) as a substitute for the traditional weaning food. The results of bulk density and starch digestibility  showed a decrease with increasing percentage addition of  malted acha with values from 5.889 ± 0.98 to 7.953 ± 0.103 and -5.45 to -13.6 respectively. While water absorption capacity, measure of dispersibility, wettability, swelling power, %  solubility increased with increase in percentage addition of malted acha with values from 6.6 ± 0.712 to 8.1 ± 0.1, 2.12 to 37.225, 3.21 ± 0.04 to 3.6 ± 0.03 and 20.64 to 24.46 respectively. There was no significant difference between any of the formulae and the control. Results of pasting properties showed that the peak viscosity, break down, final viscosity and setback values ranges from -0.42 ± 0.085 to -3.67 ± 0.085, 5.63 ± 0.045 to 1.79 ± 0.04, -3.88 ± 0.045 to -1.475 ± 0.275 and 2.17 ± 0.045 to 2.93 ± 0.045 respectively. The formulae compared favourably with the control, a commercially sold weaning food.Keywords: Weaning food, functional properties, under-utilized crops, blends

Acute toxicity study and effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis J. F. Gmel (combretaceae) on trypanosome Brucei brucei induced pathology in albino rats

The current study evaluated the acute toxicity and the effect of crude ethanolic leaf extract of Guiera senegalensis J. F. Gmel (Combretaceae) on Trypanosoma brucei brucei induced pathology in albino rats. A total of sixty five (65) rats of both sexes and varying weights were used in all; 35 for acute toxicity study and 30 for the study of effect of extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei induced pathology. In theacute toxicity testing, the thirty five (35) rats were randomly divided into seven  groups (A-G) of five each and administered graded concentrations (100, 200, 400,800, 1600, 3200 and 6400 mg/kg) of the extract intraperitoneally. They were monitored for signs of toxicity including mortality in the 24 hours following administration. Following the determination of LD50 and safe dose, the rats for the study of effect of extract on pathology were similarly divided into six groups (A-F) of five rats each. Rats in groups A-E were individually infected with 4×106 of Trypanosoma brucei brucei intraperitoneally, while those in group F remained uninfected control. The infected rats were later treated on day 4 post infection. Groups A, B and C were treated orally with 100 mg, 300 and 600 mg/kg of the extract of Guiera senegalensis respectively for four consecutive days, while group D was treated intramuscularly with Diminazine aceturate at 3.5 mg/kg once. Rats in groups E and F were not treated during the experiment. The infected rats were  monitored for the establishment of parasitaemia and subsequently; gross and histopathological changes. The extract produced an intraperitoneal LD50 of 2130 mg/kg. Similarly, milder lesions were observed at histopathology in some extract treated groups compared to the infected untreated group, suggesting a dose  dependent extract activity. Conclusively, the extract at the dosages tested appeared to be less or non-toxic and resulted in mild improvement in pathology induced by Trypanasoma brucei brucei.Key words: Pathology, Toxicity, Guiera senegalensis, Extract, Effect, Trypanosom