Toxicological effects of polyherbal formulations for malaria, yellow fever and haemorrhoids in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria, on male Wistar rats: A comparative biochemical and histological study

This study evaluated the toxicological effects of polyherbal formulations used for the treatment of malaria (Agbo iba, AI), yellow fever (Agbo kojupon, AK) and haemorrhoids (Agbo jedi, AJ) on the function indices and histoarchitecture of liver and kidney of male Wistar rats. Forty rats were randomised into two groups (A and B) of twenty animals each such that the 20 rats in group A were further reassigned into A1, A2, A3 and A4 and administered distilled water (0.5 ml), and AI, AK and AJ at 21 mg/kg body weight respectively for 4 days. Animals in group B were correspondingly assigned and treated like those of group A except that the administration lasted for 10 days. The results revealed that AI, AK and AJ contained alkaloids, saponins, phenolics and flavonoids whilst anthraquinones were not detected. The AI and AK contained tannins whereas AK and AJ contained cardiac glycosides. The AI, AK and AJ reduced the liver- and kidney-body weight ratios, activities of both the liver alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase, levels of serum total protein, albumin, globulin, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin, and increased the activities of liver alanine aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, Na+ and Cl- on days 4 and 10. The AK and AJ significantly (p<0.05) reduced the activity of serum alanine aminotransferase and increased K+. The AK, AI and AJ increased serum creatinine content on day 4 whereas only AK increased it by day 10. Serum uric acid was not altered by all the treatment on days 4 and 10. The administration of AK and AJ induced moderately swollen hepatocytes, congested and dilated blood vessels in the liver as well as imposed glomeruli and renal tubules in the kidney whereas the lobules, glomeruli and tubules were within normal liver and kidney histology after the administration of AI. Overall, the AK and AJ exhibited both functional and structural toxicities whilst the AI displayed only functional toxicity at 21 mg/kg body weight and during the 10 days of administration. The Agbo jedi exhibited the highest degree of toxicity whilst the Agbo iba was the least toxic with respect to the dose and duration of the study

Medicinal plants used in the management of diabetes mellitus 2015

Diabetes mellitus is one of the common endocrine disorders prevalent in almost all of the countries. This chronic pathology is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by defective insulin action, insulin secretion, or the combination of both. Prolonged persistence of elevated blood glucose level consequently caused a series of complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Currently available synthetic drugs for treating this disease are found to be associated with many adverse effects. The use of plants in medicine is an age-long practice in various parts of the globe for both preventive and curative purposes. Several warnings have been issued over lack of quality control, scientific evidence for the efficacy, and potential adverse effects of herbal remedies including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity among others. Despite all of these, reliance on herbs as medicine for the management of diabetes mellitus is still much practiced by a large proportion of the world population because they are readily available and affordable with perceived reduced toxicity. Therefore, with the upsurge of interests in medicinal plants, there is a need for thorough scientific investigations of these plants for both efficacy and potential toxicity. In this issue, we present some recent advances in the use of medicinal plants for treating diabetes mellitus. B. Pang et al. (“Innovative Thoughts of Treating Diabetes from the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine”)presented a review article on the contribution of traditional Chinese medicine to the development of alternative and complementary medicine for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus. In another paper (“Effect of Rhizoma Coptidis (Huang Lian) on Treating Diabetes Mellitus”), B. Pang et al. discussed the efficacy and safety of Rhizoma Coptidis in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In another study (“Evaluation of the Effects of Cornus mas L. Fruit Extract on Glycemic Control and Insulin Level in Type 2 Diabetic Adult Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial”), R. Soltani et al. reported the results of a clinical trial on the effect of Cornus mas L. fruit extract on hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, W. Liu et al. (“The Effects of Chinese Medicine on Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signal Pathway under High Glucose Condition”) present a valuable review on some compounds implicated in the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway as a mechanism of action involved in the antihyperglycemic activity from Chinese medicine. Furthermore, A. O. T. Ashafa and M. I. Kazeem (“Toxicopathological Evaluation of Hydroethanol Extract of Dianthus basuticus in Wistar Rats”) reported on the effects of Dianthus basuticus (a Basotho plant with acclaimed antidiabetic activity) on some biochemical parameters and histology of Wistar rats. Finally, X.-J. Li et al. (“TCM Formula Xiaoyaosan Decoction Improves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes”) evaluated the effect of traditional medicine formula, Xiaoyaosan, on the cognitive function of diabetic rats. After the first volume of this special issue that was published in 2014, we hope that this issue will present additional valuable information for scientists and clinicians

In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

The in vitro activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms was investigated. The aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was subjected to phytochemical screening. In addition, its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus was determined at 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, 12.50, 25.00 and 50.00 mg/ml body weight in albino rats. Phytochemical screening revealed amongst others the presence of cardenolides (0.33%), cardiac glycosides (0.51%), flavonoids (0.16%), saponins (1.21%), tannins (0.68%), phenolics (0.55%) and terpenoids (0.08%). Antibacterial study revealed that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was bacteriostatic for about 15 hours on all the tested organisms except Proteus mirabilis which showed growth at all the concentrations used. Consequently, the data in the present study indicates that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves possessed antibacterial properties, being most effective at 50.00 mg/kg body weight

Effects of aqueous extract of Fadogia agrestis stem in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Aqueous extract of Fadogia agrestis stem at the doses of 18, 36, and 72 mg/kg body weight was investigated for antidiabetic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The results revealed that the administration of alloxan significantly increased (p<0.05) the levels of blood and hepatic glucose, serum urea, creatinine, albumin, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, atherogenic index and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol whereas the organ/body weight ratio, activity of hexokinase, levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, packed cell volume and hemoglobin reduced significantly. In contrast, all the doses of the extract significantly reversed the levels of these biomolecules/biochemical parameters. These reversals, however, did not compare well with their respective control values by the end of exposure period. Overall, the aqueous extract of F. agrestis stem showed promise as an antidiabetic agent

Evaluation of selected parameters of rat liver and kidney function following repeated administration of yohimbine.

The effects of administration of yohimbine, an aphrodisiac on some functional parameters of rat liver and kidney were investigated. White male albino rats weighing between 200-250g were grouped into two such that one group was orally administered with 14mg/kg body weight on daily basis for 15days while the control received an appropriate volume of sterile distilled water on daily basis for the same period. Bilirubin concentration in the test showed a significant decrease (P&lt;0.01) when compared with the control, with an interruption of a significant increase only on day 5 of administration (P&lt;0.01). Sodium ion concentration showed significant increase only on the first and the last days when compared with the control (P&lt;0.01). The serum albumin content and K+ displayed significant increase throughout the experimental period (P&lt;0.01) while serum content of urea and creatinine decreased significantly throughout the period of administration (P&lt;0.01). The results suggest that yohimbine administration has adverse affect on the functional capacities of the liver and the kidney.Key words: Functional parameters, Kidney, Liver, Yohimbin

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE SOLVENT FRACTIONS FROM BULBINE NATALENSIS TUBER

Bulbine natalensis Baker has been acclaimed to be used as an antimicrobial agent in the folklore medicine of South Africa without scientific evidence to substantiate or refute this claim. In view of this, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of solvent fractions (ethanol, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water) from Bulbine natalensis Tuber against 4 Gram positive and 12 Gram negative bacteria as well as 3 fungal species were investigated using agar dilution. The ethanolic extract, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions inhibited 75, 87.5 and 100% respectively of the bacterial species in this study. The ethanolic, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions produced growth inhibition at MIC range of 1-10, 3-10 as well as 1 and 5 mg/ml respectively whereas the water fraction did not inhibit the growth of any of the bacterial species. Again, it was only the ethyl acetate fraction that inhibited the growth of Shigelli flexneri, Staphyloccus aureus and Escherichia coli. The ethanolic, ethyl acetate and n-butanolic fractions dose dependently inhibited the growth of Aspergillus niger and A. flavus whereas the water fraction produced 100% growth inhibition of the Aspergillus species at all the doses investigated. In contrast, no growth inhibition was produced on Candida albicans. The growth inhibition produced by the solvent fractions of B. natalensis Tuber in this study thus justifies the acclaimed use of the plant as an antimicrobial agent. The ethyl acetate fraction was the most potent

In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

ABSTRACT The in vitro activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms was investigated. The aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was subjected to phytochemical screening. In addition, its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus was determined at 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, 12.50, 25.00 and 50.00 mg/ml body weight in albino rats. Phytochemical screening revealed amongst others the presence of cardenolides (0.33%), cardiac glycosides (0.51%), flavonoids (0.16%), saponins (1.21%), tannins (0.68%), phenolics (0.55%) and terpenoids (0.08%). Antibacterial study revealed that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves was bacteriostatic for about 15 hours on all the tested organisms except Proteus mirabilis which showed growth at all the concentrations used. Consequently, the data in the present study indicates that the aqueous extract of P. muellerianus leaves possessed antibacterial properties, being most effective at 50.00 mg/kg body weight. Citation: Bamisaye FA, Oloyede OB and Yakubu MT (2015). In vitro antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus leaves against some selected organisms

Influence of socio-demographic variables on the choice of contraceptives among women attending ANC unit at specialist hospital Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Background: A contraceptive choice that couples make is a key component of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda and a major contributor to national health. In spite of the importance of increased contraceptive uptake among couples of reproductive ages, meeting the reproductive health rights of women remains an issue due to multi-faceted obstacles within complex environments. The issues which impact women’s reproductive health rights in relation to contraception relate to availability, accessibility, affordability, literacy, tradition, and culture. This study explores the influence of socio-demographic data on the choice of contraceptives among women who are accessing family planning services at a Specialist hospital, Sokoto-Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional study was used in this quantitative research to generate data on contraceptive choices of women within the reproductive age (18-49 years) who are accessing family planning services at Specialist hospital, Sokoto. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 352 respondents who were randomly sampled at a Specialist hospital, Sokoto-Nigeria. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses were used in the data analyses.Results: The findings of this study established age, occupation and level of education to be related with the usage and choice of contraceptives among women attending family planning unit at a Specialist hospital in Sokoto.Conclusions: The result of the study indicated that the socio–demographic data of the respondent, has a significant role in the choice of contraceptives among the women attending family planning unit of Specialist Hospital Sokoto

Antidiarrhoeal Activity of Musa paradisiaca

The folkloric claim of Musa paradisiaca sap in the management of diarrhoea is yet to be substantiated or refuted with scientific data. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to screen the sap of M. paradisiaca for both its secondary metabolites and antidiarrhoeal activity at 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mL in rats. Secondary metabolites were screened using standard methods while the antidiarrhoeal activity was done by adopting the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal, castor oil-induced enteropooling, and gastrointestinal motility models. The sap contained flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and steroids while cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, triterpenes, cardenolides, and dienolides were not detected. In the castor oil-induced diarrhoeal model, the sap significantly (P<0.05) prolonged the onset time of diarrhoea, decreased the number, fresh weight, and water content of feaces, and increased the inhibition of defecations. Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the small intestine increased significantly whereas nitric oxide content decreased. The decreases in the masses and volumes of intestinal fluid by the sap were accompanied by increase in inhibition of intestinal fluid content in the enteropooling model. The sap decreased the charcoal meal transit in the gastrointestinal motility model. In all the models, the 1.00 mL of the sap produced changes that compared well with the reference drugs. Overall, the antidiarrhoeal activity of Musa paradisiaca sap attributed to the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, and/or saponins which may involve, among others, enhancing fluid and electrolyte absorption through de novo synthesis of the sodium potassium ATPase and/or reduced nitric oxide levels