Vitamin D3: The Flip Side of a Useful Hormone

Vitamin D may be regarded as one of the oldest vitamin known to man. It can also be said to have preceded the creation of man as an earthly being. This article tries to expose some of the benefits or otherwise of vitamin D as its popularity in different aspects of human lives- medical, social and physical- is gradually increasing. While a large body of evidence promotes its supplementation and deemed it useful for healthy living, many investigators are wary of its potential toxicity to the body. Clearly, there is a need for a widely accepted guidelines relating to its supplementation, cut off values, relevant biomarkers and a reliable prevalence data of its insufficiency. Key words; Vitamin D, supplementation, toxicity

The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Garcinia Kola Seed On The Liver Histology

Background: Various parts of Garcinia kola plant are used for a wide range of medicinal purposes in Africa where it is indigenous. The kernels of the nut are widely traded and are eaten as bitter stimulant while extract of the seed have been used traditionally for the treatment of cough and liver diseases. This study is done to evaluate the possible histological effect(s) of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola seeds on the liver of albino rat.  Twenty (20) matured wister rats were grouped into four (A, B, C and D). Each group contained five(5) rats. Group A received 125mg/kg of the extract while groups B and C received 200mg/kg and 500mg/kg respectively. Group D served as control. The results obtained revealed that the treated sections of the liver showed no evidence of degenerative changes or cyto-architectural distortions of the hepatic parenchyma. It was concluded that intake of Garcinia kola in itself does not cause any acute morphological changes in the liver. Keywords: Garcinia kola seed, Liver, histology

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Aqueous Extract of Coffee plant leaves (Coffea canephora) in Rats.

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of coffea canephora leaves was investigated in rats. Egg albumin- induced hind paw oedema was used to assess the anti- inflammatory activity of the extract. The results of the anti-inflammatory study revealed that 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of the extract reduced the formalin-induced oedema significantly (P<0.05) at the beginning of 2 hours when compared to the control group. The present study showed that the aqueous extract of Coffea canephoras has anti-inflammatory activity that could be mediated via modulators of pain and inflammation. Keywords: coffea canephora, anti-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Aqueous Extract of Coffee plant leaves (Coffea canephora) in Rats.

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of coffea canephora leaves was investigated in rats. Egg albumin- induced hind paw oedema was used to assess the anti- inflammatory activity of the extract. The results of the anti-inflammatory study revealed that 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of the extract reduced the formalin-induced oedema significantly (P<0.05) at the beginning of 2 hours when compared to the control group. The present study showed that the aqueous extract of Coffea canephoras has anti-inflammatory activity that could be mediated via modulators of pain and inflammation. Keywords: coffea canephora, anti-inflammatory

The Effect of Aqueous Leave Extract of Nicotiana Tabacum (Tobacco) On Some Reproductive Parameters and Micro-Anatomical Architecture Of The Testis In Male Albino Wistar Rats

The tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) has been in used for several years irrespective of the location of human races. Tobacco is used in different ways but cigarettes constitute the largest share of manufactured tobacco products in the world, accounting for 96% of total sales. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum leaves on some reproductive parameters. 20 male young wistar rats weighing between 160 to 190g were used for the study. The extract was administered orogastrically in doses of 30, 20 and 10mg/kg body weight per day in 0.5ml of distilled water for 21 days and the control group was given equal volume of distilled water as well. The results showed that at the dose of 20 and 30mg/kg the extract decreased significantly the percentage motility (P<0.01) and (P<0.001) to 21.8±1.0 and 15.6±0.8 respectively, while the sperm concentration was significantly decreased (P<0.01) to 55.7x 106±2038480 at the dose of 30mg/kg. The testicular histology showed decrease spermatogonic cells at doses of 20mg/kg and 30mg/kg respectively. It is concluded that nicotine could adversely affect fertility by sperm count, motility and testicular spermatogenesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Keywords Nicotiana tabacum, reproductive parameters, testicular histolog

The Effect of Varied Doses of Nicotine on Some Morphometric Parameters of the Testis in Albino Wistar Rats

Background: This study is aimed at determining the effect of nicotine on male fertility by evaluating some morphometric parameters of male Wistar rat such as testicular weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, height of epithelium, sertoli-germ cell ratio and Johnsen’s score  in order to assess the spermatogic  index. Methods: 20 adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups, the test groups were administered with 0.2mg/100g, 0.4/100g and 0.6/100g body weight of nicotine base daily for 30 days using a polythene catheter orally , while the control were administered with 2mls 0.9%physiological saline. Histological slides of the testis were made and data obtained from the slides. Results: nicotine caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) and (P< 0.01) in the mean values of the morphometric parameters of the test group compared with control. The Johnsen’s Score results were 5.4 ± 0.51*, 5.2 ± 0.37* for groups 2 and 3 respectively. For seminiferous tubule diameter the significant values were 208.0±4.22**, 184.5±11.31**in groups 2 and 3, whilst the height of epithelium showed a significant reduction of 153.9± 13.58*, 101.6 ± 1.35**, 76.6 ± 6.65** for groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Sertoli-germ cell ratio showed a significant reduction in groups 2 and 3 with values of 3.6 ± 0.77 ** , 1.5 ±  0.16**for groups 2, and 3 respectively, testicular weight showed significant reduction of 1.2±0.05**,1.1±0.05** for group 2 and 3.The results stated are only those that showed a significant reduction at 95% confidence level when compared with the control. Conclusion:  It was concluded that nicotine exerted an adverse effects on the spermatogenic index with concomitant reduction in reproductive potentials of the male rat. Nicotine and nicotine- based products should therefore be taken with caution in cases of infertility in man and animal. Key words: Morphometric parameters ,Johnsen’s Score,Spermatogenic index , fertilit

Evaluation of andrological indices and testicular histology following administration of varied doses of nicotine

This study is aimed at determining the effect of Nicotine on male fertility by evaluating some andrological parameters of male Wistar rat such as sperm parameters (spermatozoa count and motility), serum concentration of testosterone and testicular weight. Histopathology of the testis was also carried out on the effect of nicotine on testicular microstructure. 20 adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups, the test groups were administered with 0.2mg/100g, 0.4/100g and 0.6/100g body weight daily for 30 days while the control were administered with 2mls 0.9% physiological saline. Nicotine caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) and (P< 0.01) in the mean values of sperm count, serum testosterone concentration and testicular weight in the test when compared with the control. Also, in the test group, the deleterious effect of nicotine on the sperm parameters and testosterone concentration was corroborated by histopathology which revealed a marked degeneration of germ cell layers in the seminiferous tubule and disruption of interstitial cells of the testis thereby interfering with spermatogenesis and testosterone secretion while there was no visible change in the control group. It was concluded that nicotine exerted toxic effect on the germ cell layers in seminiferous tubule with concomitant reduction in reproductive potentials of the male rat whilst showing no significant change in sperm motility. Nicotine and nicotine based products should therefore be taken with caution in cases of infertility. Key words: germ cells, testes, testosterone, fertility, spermatogenesis