Is Vernonia amygdalina hepatotoxic or hepatoprotective? Response from biochemical and toxicity studies in rats

The effects of various concentrations of aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina leaves on some biochemical indices of liver function were investigated in albino Wistar rats. Acute toxicity tests of theextract gave an LD50 of 500 mg/kg. Phytochemical analysis of the plant material showed that anthracene glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, proteins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, saponins and tannins werepresent. Liver function tests revealed that the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased significantly (p0.05) increase in both alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities for all the concentrations administered. Also the increase in mean values of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin for all theconcentrations administered were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The results, therefore, strongly suggest that V. amygdalina leaf extract is not hepatotoxic in rats. The findings are of nutritional, clinicaland veterinary relevance considering the diverse applications of the plant in almost all African populations

Plasma vitamins C and E levels inversely correlate with the risk of ischaemic heart diseases in patients from Imo state, Nigeria

Sixty-six Nigerian patients with ischaemic heart diseases age ranging between 50 -75 years were studied. The samples consisted of 42 cases with angina pectoris and 24 cases with myocardial infarction, which were proven to suffer from ischaemic heart disease by the presence of clinical symptoms, exercise electrocardiogram abnormalities and myocardial enzyme measurement. Controls were 36 subjects who did not show any abnormalities in the parameters used. Controls and patients were classified into groups based on the presence or absence of risk factors (smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and family history). The mean plasma concentrations of vitamins C and E were significantly inversely related to the risks of ischaemic heart disease. Smoking was a compounding factor. These findings suggest that some populations with high incidence of ischaemic heart disease may benefit from eating diets rich in natural antioxidants, particularly vitamins E and C

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among pregnant women in an antenatal clinic in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

Women attending ante-natal clinic in Nigeria are routinely screened for HIV/AIDS. A retrospective study was conducted between 2000 and 2004 to investigate the prevalence of the human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) infection among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Braithwalte Memorial Hospital (BMH), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Data on positive cases of HIV infection within the duration were retrieved from the hospital’s record department. A total of 10,032 pregnant women were screened for the possible occurrence of HIV 1 and HIV 2 within the period. The results shows that a total of 595 (5.93%) of the pregnant women tested positive to the HIV. The year 2001 had the highest prevalence of 138 (1.38%), while the year 2000 had the least prevalence of 89 (0.89%). Analysis of the age distributionof the infection among the studied pregnant women in the hospital showed that women in the age group of 41-45 had the highest prevalence rate (80%), followed by women in the age group of 31-35 with an occurrence rate of 20.83%. The least rate of occurrence was observed in the age group of 26-30 which showed only 3.14%

Virucidal potential of some edible Nigerian vegetables

Extracts from four leaves: Ceratotheca sesamoides (Endl.), Lactuca taraxacifolia (Willd.), Euphorbia lateriflora (Schum. & Throes) and Amaranthus viridis (Linn.) used in Nigeria as edible vegetables weretested for antiviral activities using the measles virus on Human Epidermoid carcinoma (HEP-2) cell line. The efficacy of each extract in preventing viral penetration into a living cell as well as its effect on thevirus itself and the toxicity of same on the cell were all determined. All the extracts showed dosedependent antiviral activities. The inhibitory action of the extracts from C. sesamoides and L. taraxacifolia were greatest at high concentrations of 15 mg/ml when the virus had already penetrated the cell. E. lateriflora only inhibited the virus activity at very high concentrations of 15 mg/ml when the virus was treated with the extract and also when the HEP-2 cell was treated with the extract before the virus suspension was added. Amaranthus viridis concentrations of 10 and 15 mg/ml were contaminated but the extract at a low concentration of 5 mg/ml was able to exhibit antiviral activity when the cell was treated with the extract before the virus was added. In view of the efficacy of these extracts in inhibiting the cytopathic effect (CPE) of measles virus without harming the host, the utilization of the extracts in the formulation of new antiviral drugs is strongly recommended especially when the availability and the very low cost of these vegetables are considered

Studies on the Nutritional and Phytochemical Properties of Persea americana Seed

The phytochemical, nutrient, antinutrient and mineral element composition of seed extract of Persea americana were investigated. Phytochemical analyses of the seed extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides but no anthracine glycosides. Proximate analysis gave 12.90 ± 1.57% moisture; 18.53 ± 0.26% crude fat; 18.55±1.26% crude protein; 47.35±24% carbohydrate; 2.6±0.63% ash; 3.17±0.17% crude fibre. The seed also was a rich source of mineral elements; containing calcium 12.30±0.08 mg; iron 0.307± 0.13mg; magnesium 21. 12±3.86 mg; phosphorus 46.00±1.72 mg; potassium 103.8±0.22 mg; sodium 0.302± 0.02 mg; and zinc 0.087±0.01mg per 100gm dry weight respectively. Quantitative analyses of the anti nutritional components revealed oxalate, phytate, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and cyanogenic glycoside contents of 27.25±4.10, 5.44±0.03, 33.23±1.73, 56.11±0.21, 1.90 ± 0.08 and 24.01± 0.25 mg/100gm dry weight respectively. Keywords: Persea americana seed, Phytochemical screening, Proximate analysis, Antinutritional components, Mineral contentBio-Research Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 320-32

Long term effects of aqueous stem bark extract of Cissus populnea (Guill. and Per.) on some biochemical parameters in normal rabbits

In vivo clinical trials involving oral daily administration of crude aqueous extracts of cissus populnea to grouped sprague-dawley rabbits at two dose levels of 200 and 600 gkg-1 body weight over a 60 day study period revealed that continuous exposure of the plant extract had no damaging effects on the organs of xenobiotic metabolism (liver and kidney). results of levels of serum ast, alt, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, bilirubin and triglycerides of the two groups were not significantly different (p£ 0.05) at the end of the study from those of the control group

Effect of vitamins E and C on exercise-induced oxidative stress

The effects of ingesting antioxidant vitamins E and C for 4 weeks on serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels at rest and after exercise was studied in humans. Twenty-four young healthy males aged 15 30 years participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to either an antioxidant vitamin supplemented group (daily doses of 1000IU of α tocopherol and 1000mg of ascorbic acid) or a control group. Exercise consisted of 40 min of treadmill running at 60% of maximal O2 consumption (VO2 max) followed by 10min of running at 90% of VO2 max. Blood samples were collected at rest and immediately after two exercise bouts. The mean values of serum MDA concentrations (marker of lipid peroxidation) in antioxidant vitamins E and C supplemented group increased from 4.0 ± 0.04 nmol MDA /ml at rest to 4.95 ± 0.06 nmol MDA /ml at moderate exercise and then to 5.88 ± 0.4 nmol MDA /ml at high intensity exercise. It was concluded that taking 1000mg vitamin C and 1000IU of vitamin E daily lowered the makers of lipid peroxidation at rest and after exercise but does not prevent the exercise induced increase in oxidative stress.Keywords: vitamin E, vitamin C, oxidative stress, exercise Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 12(2) 2006: 199-20

Lymphatic Filariasis in Nigeria; Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) as a Prerequisite for Cost-Effective Resource Utilization in Control and Surveillance

Background Nigeria has a significant burden of lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by the parasite Wuchereria bancrofti. A major concern to the expansion of the LF elimination programme is the risk of serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with the use of ivermectin in areas co-endemic with Loa filariasis. To better understand this, as well as other factors that may impact on LF elimination, we used Micro-stratification Overlap Mapping (MOM) to highlight the distribution and potential impact of multiple disease interventions that geographically coincide in LF endemic areas and which will impact on LF and vice versa. Methodology/Principal findings LF data from the literature and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) were collated into a database. LF prevalence distributions; predicted prevalence of loiasis; ongoing onchocerciasis community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi); and long-lasting insecticidal mosquito net (LLIN) distributions for malaria were incorporated into overlay maps using geographical information system (GIS) software. LF was prevalent across most regions of the country. The mean prevalence determined by circulating filarial antigen (CFA) was 14.0% (n = 134 locations), and by microfilaria (Mf) was 8.2% (n = 162 locations). Overall, LF endemic areas geographically coincided with CDTi priority areas, however, LLIN coverage was generally low (<50%) in areas where LF prevalence was high or co-endemic with L. loa. Conclusions/Significance The extensive database and series of maps produced in this study provide an important overview for the LF Programme and will assist to maximize existing interventions, ensuring cost effective use of resources as the programme scales up. Such information is a prerequisite for the LF programme, and will allow for other factors to be included into planning, as well as monitoring and evaluation activities given the broad spectrum impact of the drugs used