Induced Secretion Of Pepsin-Rich Gastric Juice In The Rat By The Crude Extract From Elaeophorbia drupifera Leaves: A Dual Pathway Mechanism

Ninety male white Wistar rats (200 - 320g) were fasted for 48 hours, and used in the experiments for the collection of gastric juice according to the method of Shay et al, 1954. The extract (2.5 - 200 mg/kg) increased the secretion of gastric juice which was low in volume but rich in pepsin concentration. The adrenergic drugs dihydroergoergotoxine (hydergine) (1.25 mg/kg) and phentolamine (1.5 mg/kg) both also increased gastric secretion, which were high in volume, titratable acidity and total acid output but low in pepsin concentration. When the extract (20 mg/kg) was given in combination with either of the two sympatholytic drugs, the pepsin concentration in the juice was richer than that evoked by either of the two drugs alone. Also, atropine-extract combination significantly (

Proximate and mineral composition of flower (spathe and spadix) of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum grown in Dschang, Cameroon

Samples of flower spathe and flower spadix of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorumobtained from Dschang, Cameroon, were analysed for proximate and mineral compositions. Flower spadix was found to contain higher percentage of crude protein 18.34%DM), crude lipid (8.02%DM) and crude fibre (30.35%DM) compared to flower spathe 16.65% DM protein, 5.93%DM lipid, and 12.01%DM crude fibre) which had higher crude ash content (11.65%DM). The major dietary fibre found in flower spadix was hemicellulose (34.9%DM) while cellulose (14.64%DM) formed the major dietary fibre in flower spathe. Mineral analyses showed that flower spathe and flower spadix had high levels of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium but low levels of sodium. These materials form part of the daily dietaries of Dschang people of the Republic of Cameroon and from these investigations, they contribute significantly to the requirement of these people.Keywords: Colocasia esculenta, flower, compositionGlobal Journal of Pure and Applied sciences Vol. 11(4) 2005: 491-49

Comparison of the concentration of glycated haemoglobin in the diabetic and hypertensive-diabetic patients

A total of 150 patients were divided into four groups. The groups were; A, normal subjects; (the control group); B, hypertensive group; C, the diabetic group. Group C was farther divided into two subgroups, the insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM–diabetics) and the non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM–diabetics). The last group, (group D) consisted of hypertensive–diabetics patients. This group was also divided into two subgroups, the hypertensive–IDDM patients and the hypertensive–NIDDM patients. Blood samples were collected from each patient in each group for the estimation of the fasting blood sugar levels and the levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbAic). Results showed marked elevated blood sugar levels in the diabetic and hypertensive-diabetic groups. The levels of glycated haemoglobin followed a similar trend, showing about 10.9% and 5.6% (% control) increases in IDDM and NIDDM diabetics respectively (p < 0. 05 in both cases). In the hypertensive - diabetic group, the increases were 13.0% and 15.2% (%control) in the IDDM and NIDDM subgroups respectively. There was no significant increase in blood sugar and glycated haemolobin levels in the hypertensive group. Correlation analysis showed that there is a good or positive correlation between the fasting blood sugar and the level of haempglobin glycation in the hypertensive–diabetic and diabetics patients. This relationship was linear but was weaker in the NIDDM than the IDDM of both the diabetic and the hypertensive-diabetic patients. Such a relationship did not appear to exist in patients suffering from hypertension. The increase in haemoglobin glycation level was more in the hypertensive-diabetics than the non-hypertensive diabetics. From the results, we suggest that there is a good and positive correlation between the fasting blood sugar level and the level of haemoglobin glycation in the diabetic and hypertensive–diabetics. That the haemoglobin glycation was more in the hypertensive–diabetics than the non-hypertensive diabetics provides an insight into the severe complications seen in hypertensive-diabetic patients. Keywords: Blood sugar, glycated haemoglobin, diabetics, hypertensive-diabetics, positive correlation Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 45-5

Effect of Coconut (cocus Nucifera) and Palm Kernel (eleasis Guinensis) Oil Supplmented Diets on Serum Lipid Profile of Albino Wistar Rats

Objective: This study investigated the effect of coconut and palm kernel oil supplemented diets on the lipid profile of Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Three different groups of seven rats each were respectively fed three different diets for a period of 90 days. Group A animals were fed with rat pellet supplemented with 10% coconut oil, while Group B animals were fed rat pellet supplemented with 10% palm kernel oil. Group C animals which served as the control were fed normal rat pellet. At the end of the feeding period, animals were anaesthetized under chloroform vapor, dissected and blood obtained via cardiac puncture into tubes. Serum was separated and used for assay of lipid profile using standard kit methods. The results obtained were analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Serum total cholesterol level of palm kernel oil fed group (115.75±13.71mg/dl) and the coconut oil fed group (94.35±4.32mg/dl) were significantly higher (

Hypertension enhances haemoglobin glycation in diabetics

No Abstract