Ameliorative Effect of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides (Sapindaceae) Aqueous Root Extract in Loperamide- Induced Constipated Rats

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of aqueous root extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioidies Planch. (Sapindaceae) against loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar rats.Methods: Constipation was induced by oral administration of loperamide (3 mg/kg body weight). The constipated rats were orally treated daily either with 50, 150, 250 mg/kg body weight per day of the extract or 0.21 mg/kg bisacodyl (reference drug) for 7 days while the normal control group received distilled water. The feeding characteristics, body weight, faecal properties and gastrointestinal transit ratio were monitored throughout the study period. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutaryltransferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also determined in the serum of the animals.Results: There was significant decrease (p < 0.05) between normal and constipated rats in the number of faecal pellets (54.06 and 45.43) while body weight increased (124.45 and 135.38 g) respectively. Administration of 250 mg/kg L. cupanioides extract to the constipated rats significantly normalized (p < 0.05) their body weight gain (8.15 g) and gastrointestinal ratio (87.75) compared to the constipated control. Serum levels of ACP and AST were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in the 150 and 250 mg/kg dose groups compared to controls while ALP witnessed reduction. However, there was no alteration in the levels of GGT and LDH across all groups.Conclusion: The aqueous root extract of L. cupanioides possesses laxative activity in loperamideinduced constipated rats.Keywords: Constipation, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, Gastrointestinal transit ratio, Loperamide, Bisacody

Serial pathologic fractures of five long bones on four separate occasions in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism, challenges of management in a developing country: a case report

Multiple pathologic fractures secondary to parathyroid adenoma is rarely recognized and reported in the tropics. Inadequate evaluation causes worsened disability and increased psychological stress. We present a 27-year-old Nigerian male student with recurrent unexplained pathological fractures of the long bones. Primary Hyperparathyroidism was later diagnosed and he benefited from a unilateral parathyroidectomy. Primary hyperparathyroidism secondary to parathyroid adenoma is difficult to diagnose and needs a high index of suspicion. Surgery and good  postoperative biochemical control of serum calcium produce satisfying outcomesKey words: Pathologic fractures, parathyroid adenoma, Primary Hyperparathyroidism, serum calcium, surger

Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Eucalyptus Globulus, Citrus Sinensis and Musa Sapientium in the Protection of Cowpea Seeds against Callosobruchus Maculatus (F).

The insecticidal properties of aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus), Citrus sinensis (Sweet orange) and Musa sapientium (Banana) on the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus was investigated in the laboratory. There were fourtreatments namely aqueous extracts of Eucalyptus, Orange, Banana, Control (to help ascertain if the extracts where better than no form of control) and Pirimiphos-methyl as the standard check. Four different concentrations of the treatments namely 0.5ml, 1.0ml, 1.5ml and 2.0ml were applied to 150 seeds (27.9g) of cowpea in a completely randomised design with four replicates per treatment. The following parameters were recorded, adult mortality, number of larvae and pupae, number of F1 progeny emergence and the percentage weight loss. The result of the experiment showed that all the test botanicals significantly reduced the population of the cowpea beetle at P<0.05 when compared to the control. E. globulus at 2.0ml was the most effective of the test plant materials.Key Words: Aqueous extracts, Eucalyptus globulus, Citrus sinensis, Musa sapientium

Comparative study of the hypoglycemic effects of coconut water extract of Picralima nitida seeds (Apocynaceae) and Daonil in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats

The study was designed to compare the hypoglycemic effects of coconut water extract of Picralima nitida seeds to that of Daonil in alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Twenty five albino rats weighingbetween 170 - 200 g were randomly divided into five groups after allowing the rats to acclimatize for seven days and were made diabetic by intraperitoneal administration of 150 mg/kg of alloxan. The ratswere giving different volumes of the extract and Daonil as per their groupings. All the substances were given for five days by oro-gastric tube. The blood glucose level were measured daily in the rats. Therewas an initial inactivity in the rats following administration of the extract mixture and their appetite was low except for the control group. The blood glucose levels (in mmols/dL) of the rats at the start and endof the experiment for the groups were: control (9.6 ± 0.1 to 9.2 ± 0.1), coconut water only (11.5 ± 0.3 to 6.2 ± 0.1), aqueous extract of P. nitida seeds (12.4 ± 0.1 to 5.8 ± 0.2), coconut water extract of P. nitidaseeds (11.8 ± 0.2 to 4.2 ± 0.1), and Daonil (10.5 ± 0.4 to 4.3 ± 0.1). Therefore, coconut water extract of P. nitida seeds have a significant hypoglycemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetes comparable to that ofthe Daonil, hence, it could be an effective adjunct in the management of diabetes mellitus

Stock density and fruit yield of African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg (Syn. Tetracarpidium conophorum) in tropical lowland rainforests of southwest Nigeria

Despite the huge socio-economic potentials of the African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg, there is a dearth of information on stock density and yield studies under different site conditions. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the stock density and fruit yields of P. conophora in three different habitats (i.e. less disturbed natural forest, recently disturbed natural forest and plantation forest) within Omo Forest Reserve (OFR) and Shasha Forest Reserve (SFR) of Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to carry out inventory survey. Fruit yields were determined by collecting fruit falls through double sampling approach. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data at P = 0.05. Stock densities of P. conophora were 5.33+1.7stands/ha, 14.67+2.05stands/ha and 16.00+2.94stands/ha in OFR, while they were 7.33+0.47stands/ha, 14.67+1.25stands/ha and 10.67+04.7stands/ha in SFR for recently disturbed forest, less disturbed forest and plantation forest respectively. There were significant differences in number and distribution of species by forest types, but not between forest reserves. The mean yield of P. conophora/ha/yr was estimated at 7,800.00kg for OFR and 6,534.00kg for SFR. Yields from plantation area contributed more in OFR, while yields from less disturbed natural forest area were higher in SFR. Yields from recently disturbed natural forest were consistently lower in the two reserves. These results show that P. conophora thrives better in plantation and old re-growth forests. This information is pertinent towards improving the management of the species, increase its productivity and enhance benefits in a more sustainable manner to the rural populace