Hypoglycaemic effect of methylene chloride/methanol root extract of Ceiba pentandran in normal and diabetic rats

Objective: The current study examined the effects of the methylene chloride/methanol extract of root bark of Ceiba pentandra (L) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced by intravenous streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) in adult male albino Wistar rats. Single and multiple dose studies were carried out. Blood glucose levels were determined after oral administration of graded doses of C. pentandra (40, 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) in fasting normal and diabetic groups for the single dose study; and before and at the end of day 3 of the treatment period for the multiple dose study. Results: In both the groups, the extract (40 and 75 mg/kg) significantly reduced the blood glucose 5 hours after administration, in a consistent and time-dependent manner. C. pentandra at the lower dose (40 mg/kg) produced 40% and 48.9% lowering of blood-glucose in normal and diabetic rats, respectively compared to the initial values. In the multiple dose studies, the diabetic rats were treated orally by gavage, twice a day for three days. On day 3, C. pentandra (40 and 75 mg/kg) significantly decreased blood and urine glucose, compared to initial values. With 40 and 75 mg/kg of drug, the 14 h fasting blood glucose concentration was reduced by 59.8% and 42.8% with corresponding reductions of urine glucose levels by 95.7% and 63.6%, respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate that C. pentandra possesses a hypoglycaemic effect. The plant extract is capable of ameliorating hyperglycaemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and is a potential source for isolation of new orally active agent(s) for diabetes mellitus

Menopausal Management Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross Sectional Study of Cameroonian Women

Background Menopause is a physiological state which induce deep changes in women's life. Although the climacteric syndrome is very little studied within sub-Saharan women, certainly because of the impact of traditional culture, it have a considerable impact on the quality of life of post-menopausal women. The present study aims at evaluating menopausal management practices during menopause in Cameroonian women.   Methods This study is a cross-sectional and analytical survey of a representative sample of 327 Cameroonian menopausal women. The main inclusion criteria was natural menopause. Investigation form was administrated to woman after their informed consent. Comparison of proportions and student t-test with a significance threshold of less than 0.05 was used.   Results Women exhibit the majority of climacteric syndrome symptoms: hot flushes (57.80 %), night sweats (47.09%), sleep disturbances (59.63 %) and libido decline (66.67 %) among others. 69.72 % of menopausal women were not followed up although the majority of women (58.88 %) wished such medical care. 34.25 % of women of the study used self-medication to ease their symptoms. Attitude facing climacteric period is indifferent for 27.83 %. Socio-economic level was positively correlate to the attitude at menopause (Correlation index = 0.1644; p < 0.05) while professional statute was negatively correlate to medical care (Correlation index =-0.1610; p < 0.05).   Conclusion Cameroonian women managed mainly climacteric symptoms by self-medication. Their socio-economic statute has a positive impact on their attitude during menopause. Furthermore, their professional statute is a decisive factor for medical care of climacteric symptoms

Cafeteria Diet-Induced Metabolic and Cardiovascular Changes in Rats: The Role of Piper nigrum Leaf Extract

Background. Cafeteria diet is known to induce excessive body fat accumulation (obesity) that could cause metabolic and cardiovascular changes and even death. The increase in prevalence over time and the failure in treatment options make obesity a real public health problem. The present study assessed the preventive effect of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the Piper nigrum leaf on the development of metabolic and cardiovascular changes in cafeteria diet fed Wistar rats. Methods. Thirty-six male rats were divided into 5 groups of 6 rats each: a normal control group (Nor.), a negative control group (Neg.), two groups administered different doses of extract in mg/kg (E250 and E500), and a group administered atorvastatin 10 mg/kg (Ator., reference drug). The animals were fed with experimental diets (standard and cafeteria) for a period of 5 weeks. Food and water intake were assessed daily, and the body weight assessed weekly. At the end of the feeding, plasma lipid profile and markers of hepatic and renal function were assessed. Furthermore, the relative weights of the adipose tissue and the organs were assessed. The liver, kidneys, and heart homogenates were assessed for markers of oxidative stress while the aorta was histopathologically examined. Results. Cafeteria diet-induced weight gain of 30% and increased triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of more than 50%. Equally, an increase in the relative weight of accumulated adipose tissues of more than 90%, oxidative stress, and alteration in the organ structure were visible in cafeteria diet fed rats (Neg). Treatment with P. nigrum extract significantly prevented weight gain, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and alteration in the architecture of the aorta. The effect of P. nigrum extract was comparable to that of the reference drug. Conclusion. Piper nigrum leaf may prevent weight gain and possess cardioprotective activity with a strong antioxidant activity