Short communication - EFFECT OF CRUDE GARLIC EXTRACT ON NICOTINE INDUCED HYPERGLYCAEMIA AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA IN RATS

The effect of curde garlic extract on nicotine induced hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia has been studied in albino rats. Four groups of 6 rats each were used. A control group received saline, a second group received 1mg/kg nicotine i.p., the third group received 305 per kg body weight o acqueous garlic extract orally and the fourth group, nicotine + garlic (i.p). These were sacrified 24 hours after last treatment. Serum cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides were assayed by standrd procedures. Garlic treated rats had lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels. The Nicotine + garlic combination also decreased the levels o these parameters but less than the garlic group. Nicotine group had higher levels of the parameters but less than the garlic group. Nicotine group had higher levels of the parameters. Effects of garlic alone and garlic + nicotine was significant (P<0.050. The results show that garlic reduces nicotine-induced hyperglyceamia and hyperlipidaemia in rats

Original Article - HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE TOXICITY OF OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM LEAVE EXTRACT ON SOME ORGANS OF RABBIT

Aqueous extract of leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (OG) at doses of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg was experimentally tested through oral administration twice weekly to rabbits, for four weeks. At the end of the fourth week, the animals were sacrificed after ether anesthesia and transection of the jugular vein. The livers, kidneys and the intestine (jejunum) were removed and fixed In 10% formal saline. Paraffin sections were prepared from these organs and stained with haematoxylin and eosin for histopathological assessment. The extract of OG at all doses showed changes In the intestine which were indicative of Its effects on bowel discharge and mucous secretion. The effect on the kidney was indicative of diuretic activity at all the tested doses. In the liver the extract showed higher necrotic changes at a low dose (0.4g/kg'). The laxative and hepatoprotective potentials of aqueous extract of leaves of Ocimum gratissimum have been discussed

The effect of aqueous seed extract of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) on haematogical parameters in Albino rats

The effect of oral administration of an aqueous extract of the seeds of Trigonella foenum graecum in various dose (300-900 mgkg-1 body weight) for 14 days/doses on haematological parameters (HB, RBS, PCV and WBC) in albino rats was studied. There was significant increase in he levels of HB, WBC and PCV after 7 days of extract treatment but the levels decreased when treatment continued to the 14th day. White blood cell counts were significantly higher (P <. 0005) after 7 of extract treatment as compared to control and the 14 days treatment. The body weights of the animals significantly increased with the number of days of extract treatment and was dose dependent. The weighs of he liver, heart and kidney did not change neither with increasing dose nor the period of treatment

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of ocimum gratissium on haematological and biochemical parameters in rabbits

The effect of an aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn), on haematological and biochemical indices in rabbits was studied. Increasing doses (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 gkg-1 body weight) of the extract were administered orally to different groups of rabbits for a period of 4 weeks. Significant (P<0.05) decreases in the level of haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) were observed. The extract significantly (P<0.05, 0.005 and 0.01) reduced the activities of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransamine (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (ASAT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The decreases were dose dependent. There were clinical signs of loss of appetite and general malaise