Comparative Hypolipidaemic Effects of Allium cepa, Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale Aqueous Extracts on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rattus novergicus

This study compares the hypolipidaemic effects of the increasing dosages of A. cepa, A. sativum and Z. officinale aqueous extract on alloxan-diabetic Rattus novergicus for possible use in the management of hyperlipidaemia characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 108 out of a total of 117 adult Rattus novergicus using 150mg/kg b wt of alloxan monohydrate. Increasing dosages (200, 250 and 300mg/kg bw ip) of A. cepa, A. sativum and Z. officinale aqueous extracts were given to the diabetic rats for six weeks while the control rats got either normal saline (1ml) or increasing dosage of glibenclamide ( 2.5, 3.8 and 5.0mg/kg b wt ip) during the same period. Total serum lipids and total serum cholesterol were assessed using routine methods. Increasing dosages of plants aqueous extracts produced a dose-dependent significant (P < 0.05) reductions in the total serum lipid and total serum cholesterol of diabetic rats. The most effective percentage reduction in total serum lipids and total serum cholesterol were observed at 300mg/kg bw ip and this was the same for the three extracts studied. A. cepa and A. sativum at 300mg/kg bw ip caused significant reductions in total serum lipids more effective than the diabetic control drug glibenclamide at 5.0 mg/kg bw ip. A. cepa at 300mg/kg bw ip was the most effective in reducing total serum lipids, reducing it by 44.4% (184.3 ± 8.4 to 129.7 ± 5.7). A. sativum at 300mg/kg bw ip was the most effective in reducing total serum cholesterol, 39.8%, that was from ( 128.7 ± 2.7 to 77.2 ± 4.9), A. cepa followed 27.2% (130.1 ± 3.7 to 94.7 ± 4.2) and Z. Officinale was next , 16.1% from (130.7 ± 4.4 to 109.7 ± 7.5). From our experimental findings, it can be concluded that the three plant extracts studied exhibited promising hypolipidaemic activity in alloxan-diabetic rats. The hypolipidaemic effect presents a protective mechanism against the development of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidaemia common in diabetes mellitus. Further studies on the extracts, their composition, mode of action and active ingredients are suggested. A research on the combined effects of the three plant extracts on hyperlipidaemia was recommended for future investigations. Keywords: Hypolipidaemic effects, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale Alloxan-Induced diabetic Rattus novergicus Bio-Research Vol. 6 (2) 2008: pp. 384-39

Dose and duration dependent of aluminium in the serum liver and the brain of male Wistar albino rat

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis on dose and duration dependent aluminum concentration in serum, liver and brain digests of three groups of male Wistar albino rats were investigated after seven and fourteen days of daily 0.38mg/kg, 3.8mg/kg and 38mg/kg aluminum administration respectively. The results showed that the test animals given the highest dose of (3.8mg/kg bw) of toxicant increase significantly (

In Vitro Study of Release of Metronidazole Tablets Prepared from Okra Gum, Gelatin Gum and their Admixture

The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of okra gum to release it\'s medicament in bioadhesive polymer-based drug delivery system. Bioadhesive studies using the tensiometer were done to evaluate its bioadhesivenes. Conventional tablets were made with okra gum as binder and in-vitro release studies carried out using gelatin as a standard reference. Okra gum was seen to have a comparable result with gelatin in term of the bioadhesive property the amount of drug released. Keywords: Bioadhesive, Okra gum, Gelatin gum, Metronidazole, Release studiesBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 339-34

In-vitro evaluation of bioadhesive and release properties of thiamine hydrochloride formulation from Gelatin, Gellan as their admixtures

This study was aimed at determining the effect of gelatin on the bioadhesive strength and release properties of gelatin gum. Bioadhesive strength determination was carried out using tensiometric methods. Thiamine tablets was prepared by wet granulation method and used for the study. Tablets properties evaluated include: weight uniformity, friability, disintegration time test and release studies in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The study showed that the gelatin alone had the highest bioadhesive strength, while gellan had the least. Admixture of both gelatin and gellan showed values that were intermediate to those obtained for the two polymers differently. The release study showed a better release with batch A (1:1) highest in SIF, followed by F (0:1), and the reverse was the case in SGF

Suspension Properties Of Binary Mixtures Of Tragacanth Gum And Irvingia gabonensis Gum

In this work the effect of irvingia gum on the suspending properties of tragacanth in zinc oxide suspension has been investigated. The gum of Irvingia gabonensis was extracted by macerated and characterized using standard procedures. Batches of zinc oxide suspension were formulated with varying ratios of tragacanth and Irvingia gabonensis gums as suspending agents. The pH, sedimentation ratio, effect of added electrolytes was studied on the product for 56 days. Thus, the effect of tragacanth gum on irvingia gum gave a good result. A combination of tragacanth gum with irvingia gum is, therefore, encouraged at 0.3: 1.7 combinations. Keywords: Tragacanth gum, Irvingia gum, Suspending properties, Zinc oxidePlant Product Research Journal Vol. 12 2008: pp. 1-

Evaluation of burns healing effects of natural honey, Dermazine Cream® and their admixture

The healing effect of natural honey was evaluated in vivo using the excision wound healing model.Unpurified honey was used to treat burns inflictedon the experimental rats. The healing effects othe honey were compared to that of dermazine, honey-dermazine mixture, and methylaed spirit. The burns healing agents all shown a progressive decrease in the wound, the healing effect of honey was more than any of the other agents used, wth 100% healed in he 15th day, dermazine attaned 100% by 21st day, indicating that natural honey has healing property than formulated dermazine, methylated spirit gives 61% by 21st day.Keywords: Honey, Dermazine®, Burns, Healing, Admixture