Cyfluthrin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The hepatotoxic effect of continous administration of cyfluthrin was investigated in rats. Rats (Rattus norvegicus) were grouped into A (0 ppm) control, B (100 ppm) and C (200 ppm) with the indicatedamount of cyfluthrin administered orally for 15 weeks.The hepatotoxicity level was assessed by monitoring the changes in the organ to body; weight ratio, micronutrient level (iron, zinc, copper andselenium), the nutritional status (total carbohydrate, total glucose, total protein, total amino acids, total lipid and total cholesterol), the lipid peroxidation level (reduced glutathione and thiobarbiturate) and theantioxidant enzyme activities (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). A dose-dependent decrease in the organ-to-body ratio was observed. Themicronutrient level in the test groups increase significantly. The total carbohydrate, total glucose, total amino acids and total protein show a significant decrease in the test groups. There is no significantdifference observed in the tissue cholesterol at both dosages under investigation. Lipid peroxidation was increased in the test groups as indicated by a significant increase in the thiobarbiturate level and asignificant decrease in the reduced glutathione level. All the antioxidant enzymes studied increased significantly. Cyfluthrin is potentially hepatotoxic under continuous administration in rats

Effects of crude ethanolic extract of Garcinia cambogia on the reproductive system of male wistar rats (

15 male rats were grouped and administered crude ethanolic extracts of Garcinia cambogia seeds to test the effects on the histology of the testis and sperm counts. Group A served as the control while Groups B and C received 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of extracts, respectively. The administration was done orally once a day, six days a week for six weeks. The routine histological preparation at the end of administration revealed increase in the interstitial spaces, degeneration of the Ledgid cells anddistortion in the arrangement of the cells of spermatogenic series. The sperm counts revealed a significant increase in the experimental groups when compared statistically with the control (

Supracondylar and infratubercular processes observed in the humeri of Nigerians

We present the first recorded supracondylar and infratubercular processes of humerus among Nigerians of the West African nation. Morphometrical analyses of 40 humeri (20 left and 20 rights) were conducted. One of the humeri possesses the supracondylar spine which measures 1.6 cm and stands at 100o on the anteromedial surface 5.5 cm above the medial epicondyle and exactly midway between the medial epicondyle and nutrient foramen. We also report the first infratubercular process ever

Protective role of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (calyx) against potassium bromate induced tissue damage in wistar rats

The protective role of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (calyx) against potassium bromate induced tissue damage was investigated in rat tissues (brain, kidney, stomach, spleen, heart and liver). The rats were divided into four groups. Group A was administered with 0.25 M sucrose only (base line control), Group B with 60 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate, and Group C with 250 mg/kg body weight of extracts. Group D was administered 500 mg/kg body weight of extract. Group A and B were used as control groups, while Group C and D were the experimentals. The oral administration of potassium bromate to groups B, C and D were done eight hours before sacrifice. Lipid peroxidation was monitored by colorimetric determination of amino acid, protein and malondialdehyde level in the tissues. The organ-to-body weight ratio was taken as indication for inflammation and necrosis of the tissues investigated. The results of the test groups were statistically (p < 0.05) compared with the base linecontrol and the group B. There was no significant difference in the organ-to-body weight ratio in all the tissues investigated at both doses, when compared with base line control, but showed a significant decrease when compared with group B. The protein level of the tissues investigated showed a similar trend but the stomach shows significant increase in the protein level. This may be due to accumulation of the toxicant inducing protein synthesis. Amino acid level decreased significantly when comparedwith the base-line control and group B. This may be due to the extract ability to reduce proteolysis. Malondialdehyde level in the test groups decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner in all tissues investigated

Evaluation of the effect of ethanolic extract of Croton zambesicus on the testes of Swiss albino mice

The possible effect of Croton zambesicus administration on vital organs has been less investigated despite its extensive traditional use in tropical Africa. We therefore aim at elucidating the effect of ethanolic extract on the testes. The aqueous fraction of ethanolic leaf extract of C. zambesicus (5 and 10 mg/Kg body weight) was administered to verify its effect on sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm progessivity, malondialdehyde and catalase activities for a period of five consecutive days. The result showed that there is a significant increase in sperm production, sperm motility and sperm progressivity in the treated group when compared with the control; while there was a reduction in malondialdehyde and catalase activity in all the treated groups. The slight increase in the weight of the measured parameters also indicated the positive effect of the extract in the normal metabolic activities in the treated groups. This investigation has shown that the leaf extract possesses promising profertility property which can be exploited in fertility therapy.Key words: Testes, Croton zambesicus, sperm production, sperm motility, sperm progressivity, malondialdehyd

Screening of crude extracts of six medicinal plants used in South-West Nigerian unorthodox medicine for anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus activity

BACKGROUND: Six Nigerian medicinal plants Terminalia avicennioides, Phylantus discoideus, Bridella ferruginea, Ageratum conyzoides, Ocimum gratissimum and Acalypha wilkesiana used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of several ailments of microbial and non-microbial origins were investigated for in vitro anti-methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity. METHODS: Fresh plant materials were collected from the users. Water and ethanol extracts of the shredded plants were obtained by standard methods. The Bacterial cultures used were strains of MRSA isolated from patients. MRSA was determined by the reference broth microdilution methods using the established National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards break points. Staphylococcus aureus NCIB 8588 was used as a standard strain. Susceptibility testing and phytochemical screening of the plant extracts were performed by standard procedures. Controls were maintained for each test batch. RESULTS: Both water and ethanol extracts of T. avicennioides, P. discoideus, O. gratissimum, and A. wilkesiana were effective on MRSA. The Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the ethanol extracts of these plants range from 18.2 to 24.0 mcg/ml and 30.4 to 37.0 mcg/ml respectively. In contrast, MIC range of 30.6 to 43.0 mcg/ml and 55.4 to 71.0 mcg/ml were recorded for ethanol and water extracts of B. ferruginea, and A. conyzoides respectively. Higher MBC values were obtained for the two plants. These concentrations were too high to be considered active in this study. All the four active plants contained at least trace amount of anthraquinones. CONCLUSION: Our results offer a scientific basis for the traditional use of water and ethanol extracts of A. wilkesiana, O. gratissimum, T. avicennioides and P. discoideus against MRSA-associated diseases. However, B. ferruginea and A. conyzoides were ineffective in vitro in this study; we therefore suggest the immediate stoppage of their traditional use against MRSA-associated diseases in Lagos, Nigeria

&#946-Tocopherol (vitamin E) attenuates the testicular toxicity associated with experimental cryptorchidism in rats

Cryptorchidism is the most frequent anatomic anomaly observed in an endocrine gland. It is a wellidentified risk factor in infertility and testicular cancer. It is believed that increased generation of freeradicals and oxidants play an important role in the resulting testicular damage. The present study investigated the role of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) as an antioxidant in protecting the testis againstdamage in experimental cryptorchidism. Thirty six Sprague - Dawley rats weighing 250 – 280 g were divided into three groups; A, B and C, with Group A (intact rats) as control. All rats in Group B and Cwere rendered bilaterally cryptorchid by anchoring the upper pole of testis to the anterior abdominal wall. Group C rats in addition received vitamin E at 25 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly daily. Fifty sixdays after cryptorchidism induction, bilateral testicular weight, bilateral testicular volume, bilateral caudal epididymal sperm characteristics, bilateral testicular histology and serum hormone levels wereall tested. Most of the above parameters were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in Groups B and C compared to Group A. The testes of vitamin E treated cryptorchid rats had better functional and histologicalprofiles than those of the untreated cryptorchid rats. Experimental cryptorchidism did not affect the plasma testosterone levels. The results indicated that vitamin E moderated the deleterious effects ofexperimental cryptorchidism

Effect of Dietary Garcinia cambogia Extract on Serum Essential Minerals (Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium) and Trace Elements (Iron, Copper, Zinc) in Rats Fed with High-Lipid Diet

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Garcinia cambogia extract on serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations in rats fed with the normal or the high-lipid and -cholesterol diet. Thirty 1-year-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (pathogen-free), weighing an average of 229 g, were randomly assigned to three experimental groups of ten animals each. Diets and tap water were given ad libitum for 75 days. Group 1 (control group) was fed with basal diet (2 % liquid vegetable oil, 0 % cholesterol), while the diets of groups 2 and 3 contained vegetable oil (2 % liquid vegetable oil and 5 % hydrogenated vegetable oil) and cholesterol (3 %) in high levels. 4,5 % G. cambogia extract containing 65 % HCA was added to the diet of group 3 as from day 45. Blood samples were withdrawn on days 0, 45 and 75. Serum mineral levels were analyzed using standard enzymatic colorimetric methods with a spectrophotometer. All significant differences were p < 0.05. Serum Ca levels were not significantly different between all groups on days 45 and 75. Serum P level was significantly higher in the group fed with high-lipid diet and G. cambogia extract than in the control group on day 45. Serum Mg level was significantly higher in group 2 than in the control group on day 45. Serum Fe levels were significantly lower in the control group than in the other groups on days 45 and 75. Serum Zn level of the group fed with high-lipid diet and G. cambogia extract was significantly higher than in the control group on day 75. Serum Cu levels were significantly higher in group 2 than in the control group, and in group 3 than in group 2 on day 75. In conclusion, a diet containing the high fat amounts may lead to the increase in circular levels of some minerals due to the short-chain fatty acid production lowering the luminal pH which increases mineral solubility, or serving as a fuel for mucosal cells and stimulating cell proliferation in the large intestine. G. cambogia extract may be used in the P and Cu deficiencies due to increases resulting in the present P and Cu amounts in G. cambogia extract, or the use of phytate P in diet. It was hoped that with further evidence-based study this product will enter to mainstream medicines