Potential haematopoietic properties of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Wistar rats

Numerous medicinal properties have been attributed to the seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla (P. macrophylla) whereas its haematological properties have received little attention. This study was designed to evaluate the haematopoietic effects of crude methanolic seed extract of P. macrophylla in wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats in five groups, labeled A to E were acclimatized for two weeks and used for this study. Groups A to D were administered orally with graded-doses of crude methanolic extract of P. macrophylla seeds (100, 200, 300 and 400) mg/kg body weight respectively for 28 days whereas Group E served as control. Blood sample was collected and haematological parameters were determined. Extracts of P. macrophylla significantly (p<0.05) increased the Hb, Hct, RBC and TWBC in a dose-dependent pattern in the treated groups compared to the control. The platelet count was however decreased in the treated groups compared with the control, although not in a dose-dependent pattern, with Group D having the least count (p<0.05). Thin blood films of the treated groups revealed normocytic and normochromic red blood cells and relative lymphocytosis. Administration of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla demonstrated dosage-dependent significant increase in some haematological variables, while decreasing platelet count. This study suggests that the seed extract may possess haematopoietic, antimicrobial and immunity boosting potentials, and could be developed for future clinical use in managing blood-related conditions.Keywords: Graded-doses; Oral administration; Pentaclethra macrophyll

Assessment of Lipid Profile of Enteric Fever Patients in Enugu Metropolis, South-East Nigeria: Useful or Useless?

Abstract: Enteric fever has been implicated in complications such as severe sepsis and in alteration of some biochemical and hematological parameters. Enteric fever affects the intestine, which is also the site for lipid absorption, but its possible effect on lipid metabolism is unclear. The present study was aimed at estimating the lipid profile of enteric fever patients in Enugu metropolis. Lipid profile of 200 enteric fever patients and 100 apparently healthy subjects in Enugu metropolis were determined using standard techniques. Enteric fever was investigated using rapid slide titration method and the confirmatory test done with Enterocheck-WB ® kit. Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Triacylglycerol (TG), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and Very Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (VLDL-C) were assayed using standard operative procedures. Statistical analysis was done with graph pad prism computer soft ware using student's t-test to test for statistical significance. P-values of <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. The lipid profile of all the patients showed non-significant difference (p>0.05) when compared with the control. However, when the male and female subjects where separately analyzed, TC and LDL-C significantly increased (p<0.05) in the male subjects compared to the male controls, whereas the female subjects showed significant decrease (p<0.05) compared to the female control. The study suggests that lipid profile is not significantly altered in enteric fever infection and thus may be useless in enteric fever management

Potential haematopoietic properties of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla in Wistar rats.

Numerous medicinal properties have been attributed to the seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla (P. macrophylla) whereas its haematological properties have received little attention. This study was designed to evaluate the haematopoietic effects of crude methanolic seed extract of P. macrophylla in wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats in five groups, labeled A to E were acclimatized for two weeks and used for this study. Groups A to D were administered orally with graded-doses of crude methanolic extract of P. macrophylla seeds (100, 200, 300 and 400) mg/kg body weight respectively for 28 days whereas Group E served as control. Blood sample was collected and haematological parameters were determined. Extracts of P. macrophylla significantly (p<0.05) increased the Hb, Hct, RBC and TWBC in a dose-dependent pattern in the treated groups compared to the control. The platelet count was however decreased in the treated groups compared with the control, although not in a dose-dependent pattern, with Group D having the least count (p<0.05). Thin blood films of the treated groups revealed normocytic and normochromic red blood cells and relative lymphocytosis. Administration of crude methanolic seed extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla demonstrated dosage-dependent significant increase in some haematological variables, while decreasing platelet count. This study suggests that the seed extract may possess haematopoietic, antimicrobial and immunity boosting potentials, and could be developed for future clinical use in managing blood-related conditions

The Effect of Crude Methanolic Leaf Extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum on Some Haematological Parameters in Wistar Rats 1

Abstract: Bryophyllum pinnatum (B. pinnatum) is a perennial herb growing widely and used in folkloric medicine. Much research work has not been carried out on its effect on hematological parameters. We therefore decided to investigate the effect of crude methanolic leaf extract of B. pinnatum on some hematological parameters in Wistar rats. Twenty (20) male Wistar rats aged 2 to 3 months obtained from the Animal House of College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus were acclimatized for two weeks. They were divided into five groups labeled A to E. Groups A to D were orally fed with graded doses of the crude leaf extract (100, 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight respectively) once daily for 28days in lower concentrations compared to an oral LD 50 of 800 mg/kg body weight. Group E served as control without receiving the extract. On Day 29 about 2.5mL of blood sample were collected from each rat through the median canthus into 9 /L when compared with control E = 4.0±1.0×10 9 /L. The platelet count were decreased in all the treated groups but was significant only in group A = 135±13×10 9 /L when compared with control E = 225±20×10 9 /L (p<0.05). The blood film examination revealed normocytic and normochromic red blood cells. This result pattern suggests that crude methanolic leaf extract of B. pinnatum may have properties that increase the Hb, PCV and TWBC, while decreasing the platelets, hence care should be taken while consuming such extracts to avoid haematological disturbances such as thrombocytopaenia. Also, constant monitoring the hematological parameters should be ensured in subjects taking such medicinal herbs for whatever purposes

Myeloprotective activity of crude methanolic leaf extract of Cassia occidentalis in cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow suppression in Wistar rats

Background: Myelosuppression is the most common dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy. Cassia occidentalis plays a vital role in preventing health disorders, but its hematological effects have not been documented much. This study is designed to investigate the myeloprotective activity of the crude methanolic leaf extract of C. occidentalis in cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow suppression. Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight Wistar rats aged two to three months, weighing 120-170 g were used for the study. The rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each, labeled A to D. Groups A and B were administered with 3 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally daily for three days to induce bone marrow suppression, after which groups B and C were orally fed with 250 mg/kg body weight of the crude leaf extract once daily for 14 days. Group D served as control without receiving the extract. On Day 15, blood samples (3.0 ml) were collected from each rat through the retro-orbital plexus of the median canthus into K 3 -EDTA containers for hematological analysis using standard operative procedures. Data were analyzed with Pearson′s correlation test and multivariate analysis of variance using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 and results were expressed as mean ± SD. The level of significance was determined at 95% confidence level. Results: Myelosuppression was achieved in Group A rats. Group B rats showed a significant increase in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and total white blood cell count (TWBC) compared with Group A. The Group C rats revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in Hb, Hct and TWBC when compared with control. Conclusions: Crude methanolic leaf extract of C. occidentalis may possess myeloprotective properties when orally administered in cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow suppression

Urinary estrogen levels in women on contraceptives in Enugu, South-East Nigeria

Background: Substantial evidence supports a causal relationship between the risk of human breast cancer and levels of endogenous estrogens. Aim: To evaluate the urinary estrogen of women on contraceptives and also compare the levels in two different classes of contraceptives; hence, the possible predisposition of such women to the risk of breast cancer. Setting and Design: Urinary estrogen level was evaluated in 84 women attending family planning clinic in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, Nigeria, who have been on contraceptive device for 10 years or less (≤10 years). They were aged between 21 and 50 years and were divide into three groups (21-30 years, 31-40 years, and >40 years). The control group consisted of 30 age-matched apparently-healthy women who were not on any contraceptive device. Materials and Methods: Estrogen was analyzed using Ecologenia; Estrogen (E1/E2/E3) microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, Batch No. T2GR4, from Japan Envirochemicals Ltd, Japan. Statistical Analysis Used: Significant differences between means were determined by two-tailed Student′s t-test using graph pad prism computer software program. Result: There was a statistically significant increase (P=0.0462), in the mean urinary estrogen level of women on contraceptives when compared with the control. The highest amount of estrogen was excreted by the women in the 21-30 years age group. When the contraceptive devices were divided into two classes of intra-uterine device and oral/injectables, there was no statistical difference (P=0.8112) in the mean urinary estrogen output of the women. Conclusion: The synthetic estrogen content of contraceptive device most probably contributed to the level excreted in the urine. The increased estrogen output observed in women on contraceptive device was not dependent on the class of contraceptive device used