Feeding habits, Overweight, Obesity and Hypertension and Associated Factors among Polytechnic Students in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria

Overweight and obesity is a risk factor to chronic non-communicable diseases. This study assessed level of overweight/obesity and blood pressure among students of a higher institution in Southwest Nigeria. This cross-section study involved 300 students of a public higher institution in Ado-Ekiti, Southwest, Nigeria. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on personal characteristics, feeding pattern and lifestyle of the students. Body Mass Index (BMI) was categorized into normal weight (BMI<25) and overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25). Waist circumference and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) were classified as normal and at risk. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg. Chi square test was used to establish relationship between variables at 5% level of significance. The mean age of the students was 22.25 years and 62.8% were above 20years. Monthly allowanceless than ₦30000.00 was received by 64.4% of the students, 47.3% skipped breakfast meal, 96% consumed carbonated soft drinks and 37.1% did not engaged in physical exercise. Prevalence of general obesity was 17.1% (BMI≥25); 7% and 15.5% were at risk of abdominal and central obesity respectively. Students in systolic pre-hypertension and stage I hypertension were 33.3% and 3% respectively whereas 15.5% and 2.4% were in diastolic pre-hypertension and stage I hypertension respectively. Female gender, monthly allowance less than ₦30000.00 and adolescent stage were associated with obesity. Older age, male gender and monthly allowance less than ₦30000.00 were associated with BP. Nutrition education is recommended for this population group

Hepatoprotective effects of ethanol extract of Caesalpiniabonduc against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in Albino Rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the Acute toxicity, hepatoprotective and in-vivo antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonduc leaf on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver damage using Swiss albino rats . The ethanolic extract of the plant of C. bonduc were suspended in 5 % tragacanth and then administered orally at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight for fourteen days before intraperitoneally injection of Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) at dose of 2 mL/kg body weight. The plant extracts at 250 and 500mg/kg b.wt showed a remarkable hepatoprotective and invivo antioxidant activities against carbon tetrachloride CCl4 – induced hepatotoxity judged from the serum marker enzymes .The CCl4 induced significant increase in aspartate amino transferase( AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phophatase (ALP), total bilirubin, and malondyaldehyde (MDA) with a reduction of total protein, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase . Treatment of rats with different doses of plant extract (250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt.) significantly (P< 0.001) altered serum maker enzymes and antioxidant levels to near normal levels. The study suggests that C. Bonduc specifically chloroform and ethyl acetate fraction may be good sources of natural antioxidant and hepatoprotective substance.Keywords: Ceasalpiniabonduc, hepatoprotective, intraperitoneally , antioxidan

Antipyretic and Analgesic Effects of the Aqueous Extract of the Fruit Pulp of Hunteria umbellata K Schum (Apocynaceae)

Purpose: The aqueous fruit pulp extract of Hunteria umbellata K. Schum is used traditionally for the treatment of various fevers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extract for antipyretic and analgesic activity, and determine its probable mechanism of action.Methods: Pyrexia was induced in rabbits by intravenous injection of 105 CFU of E. coli/kg. Rectal temperature was monitored at 30, 60, and 90 min post-administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg of the extract. The analgesic effect of the extract was evaluated using acetic acid-induced mouse writhing test.  The extract was tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Escherichia coli, and Psuedomonas aeruginosa using agar diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of the plant extract was also carried out.Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of simple sugars, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and steroidal compounds. The extract (250, 500 mg/kg) and aspirin produced comparable antipyretic effects up to 60 min. The extract did not inhibit the growth of the microorganisms butsignificantly reduced the number of writhes in mice at 250 and 500 mg/kg with results comparable to ASA.Conclusion: The extract possesses antipyretic and analgesic activities which validate its use in the treatment of pains and fevers

Sub-Acute toxicological evaluation of the aqueous stem bark extract of Brachystegia eurycoma (harms

Brachystegia eurycoma is a mainstay in the treatment of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, microbial infections and inflammatory conditions in folkloric medicine in Eastern Nigeria. Thus, the present study investigated the in vivo sub-acute toxicity of its aqueous stem bark extract. Toxicological evaluation was done using organ weight index, haematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters, following daily oral administration of 100, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the extract to albino Wistar rats for 14 days. The extract at all doses caused no significant changes in the organ weight index of selected organs except for 100 mg/kg which caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the weight of lungs compared to control. There was significant elevation of white blood cells and lymphocytes observed at all doses of extract tested. However, B. eurycoma caused mild periportal infiltrates of chronic inflammatory cells and Kupffer cell activation in the liver, lymphoid  aggregate activation in the lungs as well as activation of lymphoid follicle and sinus histiocyte in the spleen, thus indicating activation of the immune system. Overall, the results suggest that aqueous extract of B. eurycoma stem bark is not toxic in rats, although it has a tendency to activate the immune system.Keywords: B. eurycoma, immunity, spleen, toxicity

Biological Activities of a Macrocyclic Diterpenoid Isolated from the Roots of Jatropha gossypiifolia

Background: Extracts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) have been used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various ailments. The present study was to investigate the biological activity of Jatrophone, a macrocyclic diterpenoid isolated from the roots of J. gossypiifolia. Methods: Phytochemical studies followed by chromatographic separation of the methanol root bark extract led to the isolation of a macrocyclic diterpenoid, identified as jatrophone on the basis of NMR and mass spectra data and by comparison with literature. The isolated compound, jatrophone was evaluated for its antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum strains [D6 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2 (chloroquine-resistant)], Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against type culture of selected fungi and bacteria. Analgesic activity was investigated using the acetic acidinduced writhing and hot plate model in mice. The cytotoxicity was assessed against VERO cell line (monkey kidney fibroblast) using neural red uptake method. Results: Jatrophone showed significant antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activities with IC50 of 0.55, 0.52 and < 0.4 µg/mL for P. falciparum (D6 strain), P. falciparum (W2 strain) and L. donovani respectively. Compound 1 was highly cytotoxic to VERO cell line with IC50 of 0.43 µg/mL. Jatrophone demonstrated significant analgesic effect with a percentage reduction in acetic acid-induced writhes of 54.03% and 66.35% at 5 and 10 mg/kg respectively. No significant antimicrobial activity was observed against the test organisms. Conclusion: The present study has shown that jatrophone possess antimalarial, antileishmanial, and analgesic activitie

Anticonvulsant, antiamnesic and anxiolytic activities of methanol leaf extract of Bambusa vulgaris (Poaceae) in mice

Background: Previous findings have shown that epilepsy can precipitate amnesia and anxiety, among other neuropsychiatric disorders. Bambusa vulgaris is used in African traditional medicine against convulsion, amnesia and anxiety but there is scanty scientific basis for these ethnomedicinal claims. Hence, this study investigated the anticonvulsant, antiamnesic and anti-anxiety effects of Bambusa vulgaris in mice. Methods: The acute oral ingestion of Bambusa vulgaris (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was investigated using pentylenetetrazole-, and strychnine-induced convulsion; antiamnesic using scopolamine-, and diazepam-induced amnesic models while the anxiolytic effect was assessed using elevated plus maze models. The phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard methods. Results: The extract at all the doses used significantly (p<0.05) elongated the death latency while at 400 mg/kg the onset of clonic and tonic convulsions were significantly (p<0.05) prolonged in pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion model. The extract at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg offered 60, 80 and 100% protection respectively in pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion test. The extract showed no significant (p>0.05) effect on strychnine-induced convulsion model ruling out the involvement of strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor in the anticonvulsant effect of the extract. The extract at all the tested doses significantly (p<0.05) in a dose dependent fashion ameliorated the amnesia induced by scopolamine and diazepam suggesting antiamnesic effect. Bambusa vulgaris at all the tested doses significantly (p<0.05) in a dose dependent pattern increased the percentage open arm entries and percentage open arm duration on the open arm of the elevated plus maze as well as reduced the anxiety indices of the experimental mice consistent with anxiolytic effect. The phytochemical quantification of the extract showed abundance of tannins and corroborated by the findings from the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the extract. Conclusion: This study therefore concluded that Bambusa vulgaris may possess anticonvulsant, antiamnesic and anxiolytic effects and provided scientific proof for its traditional use. Keywords: Bambusa vulgaris, anticonvulsant, antiamnesic, anxiolytic, tannin, Fourier Transform-Infra Red spectr

Ocena ostrej i subchronicznej toksyczności wodnego ekstraktu z kory Grewia mollis (Malvaceae) u szczurów

Introduction: Different parts of Grewia mollis Juss. (Malvaceae) are commonly used in folk medicine to treat several ailments, including diarrhea, ulcers, rickets, cough and fever. Although several studies have proved its therapeutic effectiveness, there are very few toxicological studies on the plant. Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the aqueous extract of G. mollis stem bark (GM) in animals. Methods: In the acute study, rats were orally administrated with GM at doses of 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 and 9600 mg/kg to determine the oral medial lethal dose (LD50). In the chronic study, rats received three doses of GM (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) for 28 days. After the treatments, food intake, body weights, biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters were analyzed. Results: The LD50 was estimated to be >9600 mg/kg. No significant alterations in the animal’s body weight gain, relative organs weight, serum biochemical analysis, hematological or histopathological analyses of liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and spleen were observed. Conclusions: The results of this study provided evidence that oral administration of GM at dose of 600 mg/kg is relatively safe in rats and may not exert severe toxic effects.Wstęp: Poszczególne części Grewia mollis Juss. (Malvaceae) powszechnie są stosowane w medycynie ludowej w leczeniu wielu schorzeń, w tym biegunek, krzywicy, kaszlu, gorączki. Chociaż wiele badań udowodniło skuteczność terapeutyczną, niewiele jest badań toksykologicznych tej rośliny. Cele: Badanie to zostało przeprowadzone w celu oceny ostrej i subchronicznej toksyczności wodnego ekstraktu z kory G. mollis (GM) u zwierząt. Metody: W badaniu toksyczności ostrej szczurom podano dożołądkowo GM w dawkach 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800 i 9600 mg/kg w celu wyznaczenia średniej dawki śmiertelnej (LD50). W badaniu nad oceną toksyczności subchronicznej szczury otrzymywały GM w trzech dawkach (150, 300 i 600 mg/kg) przez 28 dni. Zwierzęta analizowano oceniając je pod względem: spożycia pokarmu, zmian masy ciała, oznaczania parametrów biochemicznych, hematologicznych i histopatologicznych. Wyniki: Wartość LD50 oznaczono na poziomie >9600 mg/kg. Podawanie wyciągu nie wpłynęło istotnie na: zmiany przyrostu masy ciała zwierząt, średniej masy narządów, wartości parametrów biochemicznych surowicy, parametrów hematologicznych lub obrazu histopatologicznego wątroby, nerek, płuc, serca i śledziony. Wnioski: Wyniki tego badania dostarczyły dowodów, że subchroniczne podawanie dożołądkowe GM w dawce 600 mg/kg jest stosunkowo bezpieczne u szczurów i może nie wywierać poważnych objawów toksycznych

Phytochemical screening, proximate analysis and acute toxicity studies of leaves of Cola lepidota k. Schum (sterculiaceae)

Phytochemical screening, proximate analysis and acute toxicity studies were carried out on the leaf extract of Cola lepidota, in accordance with established standard procedures. The proximate analysis reveals a moisture content of 27.43 ± 3.11 % w/w, total ash value 9.32 ± 0.27 % w/w, acid insoluble ash 3.12 ± 1.05 % w/w, water soluble ash 3.95 ± 2.17 % w/w, alcohol extractivevalue 0.47 ± 0.23 % w/w, and water extractive 2.04 ± 0.13 % w/w. Phytochemical screening results indicate the presence of saponins, flavonoids, phytosterols and phenols. Acute toxicity study showed there was no mortality at 8000 mg/kg of the extract. The results indicate that the plant is rich in phytochemicals and is relatively safe.Key words: Phytochemicals, acute toxicity, proximate analysis, phytochemical screenin

Harnessing the medicinal properties of Cussonia barteri Seem. (Araliaceae) in drug development. A review

Cussonia barteri Seem (Araliaceae) is a deciduous tree growing in savannah of Africa. Ethnomedicinally, it is used in Africa as an analgesic, anti-malarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-anaemic, anti-diarhoea, anti-poison, ani-pyschotic and anti-epileptic agent. This review provides a brief summary on the phytochemical screenings, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological applications of various parts of C. barteri. Leaves, stem bark and seed of C. barteri have been shown to be rich in saponins, flavonoids, phenols, sugars and alkaloids. Some of these constituents have been isolated and elucidated from C. barteri. Several compounds isolated from plant include triterpenes, saponins, polyenyne and quinic esters. Phytochemical constituents are also partly responsible for biological activities of C. barteri. Extracts and components isolated from the plant have demonstrated neuropharmacological, anti-larvicidal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Overall, the insights provided by this review reinforce the potential of C. barteri for drug development and create the need for further scientific probe of constituents of the plant with the aim of developing novel drug candidates