Haematological and plasma biochemical parameters of the Nigerian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) and the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

As part of ongoing studies on the blood profiles of the Nigerian avian species, haematological and plasma biochemical parameters were determined in the Nigerian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis). There were no significant sex differences in all the parameters studied. However, when the values that were observed in the Nigerian laughing dove were compared with those of the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos), the Nigerian duck had significantly higher mean corpuscular volume, total white blood counts, plasma urea, total protein and globulin, but significantly lower red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, plasma potassium and albumin/globulin ratio than the Nigerian laughing dove. However, the packed cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma sodium, creatinine and albumin were similar in the two species of bird

Behavioural studies on the ethanol leaf extract of Grewia carpinifolia in Wistar rats

Background: Grewia carpinifolia is a plant commonly used in the tropics to manage various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, despite its widespread use no scientific work has been reported to validate these claims.Objectives: To evaluate the activity of G. carpinifolia as it affects behaviour using animal model.Methods: Twenty five adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (A-E). Group A served as control (given only distilled water), Groups B,C, D and E were administered with single oral dose of ethanol extract of G. carpinifolia leaf at 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively for twenty eight days consecutively. Subsequently, open field test, negative geotaxis and hanging wire test were performed. Body and brain weights were measured and histological examination of the brain was also performed.Results: At the tested doses, the extract significantly increased the time spent on the hanging wire and decreased locomotor activity at 800 mg/kg. No significant difference was observed in body and brain weights of extract treated groups when compared with the control. No visible histological lesion was also observed.Conclusion: The plant extract may improve muscular strength at tested doses and possess CNS depressant activity at 800 mg/kg.Keywords: Grewia carpinifolia, negative geotaxis test, locomotor activity, Wistar rat

Behavioural studies on the ethanol leaf extract of Grewia carpinifolia in Wistar rats.

Background: Grewia carpinifolia is a plant commonly used in the tropics to manage various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, despite its widespread use no scientific work has been reported to validate these claims. Objectives: To evaluate the activity of G. carpinifolia as it affects behaviour using animal model. Methods: Twenty five adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (A-E). Group A served as control (given only distilled water), Groups B,C, D and E were administered with single oral dose of ethanol extract of G. carpinifolia leaf at 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively for twenty eight days consecutively. Subsequently, open field test, negative geotaxis and hanging wire test were performed. Body and brain weights were measured and histological examination of the brain was also performed. Results: At the tested doses, the extract significantly increased the time spent on the hanging wire and decreased locomotor activity at 800 mg/kg. No significant difference was observed in body and brain weights of extract treated groups when compared with the control. No visible histological lesion was also observed. Conclusion: The plant extract may improve muscular strength at tested doses and possess CNS depressant activity at 800 mg/ kg

laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) and the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Nigeria

In vitro antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ethanol extract of stem and leaf of Grewia carpinifolia

Free radicals are reactive molecules involved in many physiological processes and have been associated with many diseases, such as cancer, arthritis and liver injury. As a result, there is need to explore substances with free radical scavenging and or antioxidant activity. The present study was designed to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract of leaf and stem of Grewia carpinifolia using various in vitro models. Ascorbic acid was used as the reference in the study. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl (DPPH) quenching assay, 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation decolorization test, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) Assay systems were selected for the present experiment. The ability of the extracts to inhibit lipid oxidation was measured using Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) assay. The extracts were used at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 mg/ml concentrations and radical scavenging activity was determined in terms of inhibition percentage. The IC50 (concentration required for 50% inhibition) was also calculated for each radical. The study revealed that Grewia carpinifolia has a high radical scavenging activity in the various radical systems. The total phenolic content was 19.08 ± 1.21 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract and 14.85 ± 1.09 mg GAE/g extract for the leaf and stem respectively while the flavonoid content was 9.00 ± 0.13 and 13.22 ± 1.53 mg quercetin/g extract. The antioxidant activity of Grewia carpinifolia extract may be due to the high level of flavonoids and phenols in the plant