The Effect of Xylopia Aethiopica Leaves on Body Weight and Growth Performance

The effect of Xylopia aethiopica leaves on body weight and growth performance was studied on growing Wistar rats. The study involved twenty-four rats of comparable sizes and weights ranging from 150 to 300g and divided into four groups of six rats each. Group A served as the control while groups B, C and D served as the test and received 1.2g, 3.0g and 6.0g per day of Xylopia aethiopica leaves respectively for 21 days. The feed intake and weights of both the test animal and control were monitored weekly. Results showed that during the 21 days of Xylopia aethiopica leaves administrations, the control (Group A) had a greater mean body weight than those of the test groups. On growth performance, the average daily growth increased in the control but decreased in the test groups in a dose dependent manner. On the other hand, the feed conversion rate (FCR) was observed to decrease with time in the control  compared to the test groups where it increased with time. Based on the findings of this study therefore, Xylopia aethiopica may possibly influence body weight and growth performances.Keywords: Growth, Feed Conversion Rate, Body weight, Xylopia aethiopica, Plants

The histological effects of formaldehyde vapour on the lungs

This study was designed to investigate the effects 40% formaldehyde inhalation on the lungs. Twenty adult male albino rats were used for this study and they were subdivided into five groups (A, B, C, D, and E) with each group containing 5 rats. The animals in group A served as control, while groups B, C, D and E served as the test groups exposed to forty percent( 40%) formaldehyde for ten (10), fifteen (15), twenty (20) and twenty five (25) days respectively. The animals in each of the groups were sacrificed to harvest the lungs at the end of each stage of the experiment. The harvested lungs were immediately fixed in 10% formalin for 24 hrs before tissue processing was carried out. Lung tissue sections were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stains and examined microscopically. The histological findings show that exposure to 40% formaldehyde induces pneumonitis, acute lung injury, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiolar epithelia degeneration, acute purulent bronchitis, cellular pyknosis and chronic lungs injury. Thus, 40% formaldehyde inhalation can induce lungs injury and possibly lung tumors.Keywords: Formaldehyde, Inhalation, Pulmonary histology, Lung injury

Histological study on the staining potentials of Aqueous extract of Ceratonia Siliqua bark

This study was designed to determine the staining potentials of aqueous extract of Ceratonia Siliqua bark adapted for the first time as a counter stain in Haematoxylin and Eosin staining reaction. The staining solution was used to stain liver, lung and kidney sections. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of tannin (hennatonic acid or Lawsone), while results of the staining reactions showed that Ceratonia siliqua at a low pH, has intense staining qualities, confirming further that the effectiveness of a stain is influenced by the pH of its environment.Key words: Ceratonia siliqua, Extract, Haematoxylin and Eosin, Counterstain, General tissue structure

The combined incidence of Grade II and Grade IV astrocytoma in the brain of rats fed with diet containing Yaji: A complex Nigerian Suya meat sauce

Available scientific evidence has shown that some of the active principles of Yaji -capsaicin, piperine and monosodium glutamate, have excitotoxic, apoptotic or tumourigenic potentials. The focus of this histological study however, is to determine the tumourigenic potentials of Yaji in the brain of rats. Eight weeks old white albino rats were used. They were divided into eight groups (A – H), each of which has three subgroups (n=5). The subgroups represent experimental durations of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks respectively. Group A served as control while groups B – H served as the test groups. The control received only normal feed daily, while the test groups received normal feed plus graded levels of Yaji daily. Microscopic examination of the stained brain tissue sections showed emerging histological features similar to those described for grade II astrocytoma in test group H3 (6 weeks; 70%), and grade IV astrocytoma in test groups D3 (6 weeks; 30%). These observed incidence of astrocytoma appeared to be high-dosage/duration dependent, indicating therefore, that the call for the regulation of Yaji-production and consumption, is now more pertinent.Keywords: Suya, Yaji, Additives, Spices, Astrocytom

The effect of Carica Papaya seeds on the Histology of the Liver in Wistar rats

This study investigates the effect of oral ingestion of Carica papaya seeds on the liver histology of growing Sprague Dawley rats. The study involved 40 growing rats (95.0±10.0grams). They were divided into eight groups of 5 rats each: A (control; n=5), B (n=10), C (n=10) and D (n=10). Group A1 and A2 served as the acute and chronic control respectively. Group B1, C1 and D1 served as the sub-acute test while group B2, C2 and D2 served as the chronic test. The rats were fed with varying doses of powdered Carica papaya seed (6, 8, 10grams). Group A1, B1, C1 and D1 were fed for 3 weeks while Group A2, B2, C2 and D2 were fed for 6 weeks. The results showed test group B1 presented infarction with haemorrhage and exudations. B2 presented pyknosis and eosinophilic cells with cellular degeneration. C1 presented pyknosis, parenchymal erosion and mild vacuolation, haemorrhage and embolism and C2 presented severe vacuolation and pyknosis. D1 presented palour, vacuolation (V) and arterial wall disruption and D2 presented pyknotic cells with transitional phases of karyohexis and karyolysis, parenchymal erosion and severe vacuolation. The observations suggest Carica papaya seeds are toxic to the liver and may induce hepatic damages in a dose and duration dependent manner.Key words: Carica papaya seed, Liver, Traditional medicine, Nigeria

Sub acute and chronic effects of Carica Papaya on the kidney of rats

This study investigates the sub-acute and chronic effects of Carica papaya on the kidney of growing Sprague Dawley rats. A total 40 growing rats (95.0 ± 10.0 grams) within the ages of 7 ± 1weeks were involved in the study. They were divided into eight groups of 5 rats each: A (control; n = 5), B (n = 10), C (n = 10) and D (n = 10). Group A1 and A2 served as the acute and chronic control respectively. Group B1, C1 and D1 served as the subacute test while group B2, C2 and D2 served as the chronic test. The rats received varied doses of powdered Carica papaya seed (6, 8, 10grams). Group A1, B1, C1 and D1 were fed for 3 weeks while Group A2, B2, C2 and D2 were fed for 6 weeks. At the end of each stage, animals were sacrificed and the kidneys were harvested for histological study. The results showed histological distortions in the liver parenchymal architecture in a dose and duration dependent manner. Our findings suggest therefore, that Carica papaya seeds have nephrotoxic potentials and as such, the need for further studies cannot be overemphasized.Key words: Carica papaya seed, Herb, Sub-acute, Chronic, Nephrotoxic

The incidence and pattern of supernumerary digital flexion creases amongst the population of Ekpoma in Edo, Nigeria

This study on the incidence of supernumerary digital flexion crease was carried out among undergraduate students in the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.  434 palms from 217 students (mean age 21.93 ± 2.15 years) were examined. 134 (61.75%) were males, while 83 (38.28%) were females. The results showed that 18 (1 in 12; 8.34ut0%) subjects presented supernumerary digital flexion crease in at least one finger on either left or right palm. The observed incidence was also, more prevalent among the males than the females (ratio 5:3); on the left (24.23%) than the right palm (18.89%); and on the ring finger (77.7%) for left palm, but on the middle and index fingers (33.33% each) for right palm. Thus the reported incidence of supernumerary flexion creases calls for further research considering its association with clinical syndromes/anomalies.Keywords: Supernumerary, Digital flexion crease, Palmar-skin, Clinical syndromes