Effects of Raw Ethanolic Seed Extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum on Heamatological and Histopathological Parameters in Swiss Albino Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Study was carried out to determine the heamatological and histopathological effects of raw ethanolic seed extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum in swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (NK65). Standard methods were employed to determine the heamatological, histopathological indices and biochemical assay. The experimental mice were acclimatized for seven days before the commencement of treatment. Mice were grouped into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) of four mice each. The mice in group B were treated with a standard antimalarial drug (chloroquine as positive control) at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight, while mice in groups D, E and F was administered with increasing dosages (200, 400, 600 mg/kg body weight) of seed extracts for four consecutive days respectively. Group C (Normal control) served as mice that was not infected and treated. Heamatological analysis revealed an increase in Packed Cell Volume, Red Blood Cells, Heamoglobin and Platelet values of all mice in groups D, E and F (mice administered different concentrations of the extract). Mice in group B (chloroquine treated group) have the highest value. Mice in group A (negative control) exhibited lowest values of Heamoglobin, Platelet, Red blood cells, and Packed Cell Volume. There was significant increase in the levels of Alanine Transaminase and Aspartate Transaminase in group A (infected and not treated) compared to mice in groups C, D, and E. Restorative effects of seed extract was observed on the liver and kidney of mice at dose levels (400 and 600 mg/kg) used, but the seed extract at the dose of 600 mg/kg was observed to have adverse effects on the liver of the mice. This study therefore shows that Tetracarpidium conophorum was able to boost the formation of heamatological indices and was not toxic to the organs (liver and kidney) in mice

Review on heavy metals contamination in the environment.

ArticleReview was made on heavy metals, the various organs that they affect in human body, their sources, effects and control. Heavy metals that are of environmental importance include cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury. The various sources of these metals in the environment include mining, industry, exhaust fumes of vehicle, soil, food, water and so on. These metals affect various organs in human body such as kidney, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver and so on. So in other to experience safety of living in the environment, the way these metals are released in to the environment should constantly be monitored and controlled. And there should be remediation for heavy metals in contaminated soils

In vitro anthelmintic activity of three medicinal plants

In vitro anthelmintic assay of three medicinal plants was conducted to investigate which plants were anthelmintic. In vitro anthelmintic activity of all the three medicinal plants were carried out using earthworm at 50, 100, 200mg/ml of plant extracts from Vernonia amygdalina, Ocimum grattisimum and Talinum triangulare. Results showed that 200mg/ml was effective concentration for all the medicinal plants. Vernonia amygdalina showed faster anthelmintic than Ocimum grattisimum and Talinum triangulare. The plants can be used /employed in pharmaceutical industry to be used as anthelmintic drugs for treating livestocks affected with helminths

In vivo effects of four medicinal plants on nematodes of goat

Medicinal plants are very cheap and accessible to rural people for treating ruminant’s diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo effects of four medicinal plants (Vernonia amgydalina, Ocimum grattisimum, Nicotiana tabacum and Talinum triangulare) on nematodes of goat. The ethanolic extracts of these medicinal plants were made and the dose used for the goats include 1 and 2 g/kg for Vernonia amgydalina, 1 and 2g/kg for Ocimum grattisimum, 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Nicotiana tabacum and 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Talinum triangulare. The goats were infected with L3 stage larval of nematodes of Trichostrongyle sp, Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum and Strongloides sp and after the build up of worm after some days, they were treated using in vivo assay through oral administration of the plants extracts. The faecal samples were collected 3, 7 and 11 days and examined quantitatively through McMaster Counting technique for the number of parasites. The results showed that only 2g/kg of Vernonia amgydalina and 1g/kg of Talinum triangulare showed decreased of 91.6% and and 69% in the mean egg per gram (epg) output of the faecal sample. But other medicinal plants did not show any decrease in epg. This indicates that Vernonia amgydalina and Talinum triangulare could be used as antihelmintic plants to treat goat diseases thus helping to improve the health status of the goat

Development Discourse and Practice: Alternatives and New Directions from Postcolonial Perspectives

Development and aid programs, such as those aimed at promoting economic growth and prosperity in ‘Third World’ nations and transition economies, often arise out of Western and neo-liberal policy ideologies and practices. These programs may, in some cases, provide useful guidelines for restructuring institutional structures and governance mechanisms in nations that have long struggled with poverty, economic instability, health crises, and social and political turmoil. However, a growing number of critical voices are raising concerns over the guiding assumptions and inclusiveness of these policies and programs in their aims to promote economic development and social well-being in non-Western nations. We join these critical perspectives by way of postcolonial frameworks to highlight some of the problematic assumptions and oversights of development programs, while offering new alternatives and directions. By doing so, we contribute to organizational theorizing in a global context, as postcolonial insights provide much needed engagement with international aid policies and programs, as well as development organizations and institutions. To accomplish this, we offer a historical perspective on development, present a critique of the policies and practices guiding many aid programs, and conclude with suggestions emanating from postcoloniality

Biosynthesis and characterizations of extracellular enzymes of microbial isolates from dairy industrial effluent

Diary effluents are environmental pollutant which could serve as source of substrate for microbial enzymes' synthesis. This research investigated the isolation and screening of bacteria and fungi with potential extracellular proteolytic and amylolytic properties from dairy effluents, and their characteristics for maximum enzyme production. Effluent from a dairy industry located in Ibadan, Nigeria, was collected for isolation and screening of microbial species for enzymatic activities. The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Soluble Solid (TTS), and pH of the effluent were determined using standard procedures. The potential isolates were characterized morphologically and by molecular techniques. Proteolytic and amylolytic activities of isolates were investigated on skimmed milk starch agar respectively and optimized with varying pH (6.0 - 9.0), temperature (27 - 60 °C) and incubation period (12 - 72 h). Data were analyzed by Duncan Multiple Range Test. Biological Oxygen Demand, Total Soluble Solid and pH of the effluent were 14.67 mg/L, 13.33% and 7.58 respectively. Eleven isolates were positive for either protease or amylase synthesis, but only two showed both proteolytic and amylolytic activities and were molecularly characterized as Bacillus stratosphericus CM2HG6 and Aspergillus welwitschiae. Optimization showed that enzyme production by B. stratosphericus CM2HG6 was highest at 35 °C, pH 7.0 for 48 h, and that of A. welwitschiae achieved optimum production at 37 °C, pH 8.0 for 72 h. Under optimized conditions, Bacillus stratosphericus CM2HG6 was the highest amylase and protease producer (24.4 and 30.74 U/ml respectively), while A. welwitschiae was the lowest producer (12.58 and 18.8 U/ml respectively). The study successfully showed that these industrially-important enzymes can be produced by microbial strains isolated from dairy effluent, and production can be further optimize