Toxicity Studies and Effects of Momordica balsamina (Balsam Apple) Aqueous Extract on Serum Electrolytes and Plasma Trace Elements

Graded doses of M. balsamina aqueous leaf extract were administered orally and intraperitoneally (i.p) to separate groups of rats to determine the acute toxicities. The effects of the prolonged (3 weeks) oral administration of M. balsamina aqueous extract on serum electrolytes and plasma trace elements were also tested. No toxic clinical signs were observed in the animals given the extract orally. Sixteen grams per kilogram body weight (16 g/kg) was the maximum amount that was physically administered. The i.p LD50 with confidence interval of 95% was estimated to be 3750 mg/kg. Clinical signs observed before mortality included weakness, sleepiness and depression, dilation of the pupils, urination and death within 24 hours. The extract did not produce any statistically significant change in serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, HCO3+ and Cl- ) after prolonged oral administration. However, the effects of M. balsamina extract on plasma Zn and Mn were significantly increased (p0.01). It was, therefore, concluded that Momordica balsamina at low dosages is safe (not toxic). Keywords: Acute toxicity, M. balsamina, electrolytes, trace elementsSahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2006 pp. 13-1

Glutathione Peroxidase Levels in Nigerias with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are produced in large amounts in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. ROS activates HIV replication and multiplication, causing the production of more ROS through the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) which inactivates some species of ROS has not been investigated in HIV patients in our area. In a cross-sectional study, 131 AIDS patients, 79 asymptomatic non-AIDS HIV-antibody positive subjects and 102 HIV-antibody negative controls were investigated by standard methods. Glutathione peroxidase activity in AIDS patients was 1041.7+ 75.5 U/L, HIV asymptomatic 2988.6+ 1193.1U/L and controls 6443.3 + 1473.1 U/L. Differences in the results between the groups were statistically significant (

Full Length Research Article - Pathogenicity of Trypanosoma congolense Infection following Oral Calcium Chloride Administration in Rats

Eighty healthy adult albino rats of both sexes weighing 180-200g were used in two experiments to study the effects of oral calcium chloride treatment on the pathogenicity of Trypanosoma congolense   infection. Experiment 1 was terminated at the peak of parasitaemia while experiment II was allowed to run a full course. In each experiment, forty rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats each, namely: A, uninfected untreated control; B, treated uninfected control; C, infected untreated and D, treated infected. Aqueous solution (10%) of CaCl2 was administered daily using stomach tube to each rat at 100mg/kg in groups B and D from 7 days before infection to the end of the study. Each rat in groups C and D was infected by intraperitoneal injection of 1x106 trypanosomes in phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.4) diluted donor rat blood. The infected untreated group exhibited higher (P< 0.05) parasitaemia, more severe anaemia and hepatic and renal damage than the infected treated group. In conclusion, oral calcium chloride treatment in rats seemed to reduce the pathogenicity of T. congolense infection by delaying the onset of parasitaemia and reducing the levels of parasitaemia, accompanied anaemia as well as organ damage

Antibacterial efficacy of ethyl acetate fraction of Psidium guajava leaf aqueous extract on experimental Escherichia coli (O78) infection in chickens

Aim: This study was desingned to examine the efficacy of ethyl acetate fraction of aqueous extracted Psidium guajava leaves on chicks experimentally-infected with diarrheagenic strain of Escherichia coli O78. Methods: A total of 60 ISA brown male chicks were randomly divided into 6 Groups of ten chicks each in separate cages. Group A was not infected and not treated. Groups B, C and D were infected and treated with extracts at a dose of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively for 10 days. Group E was infected and treated with oxytetracycline while Group F was infected, but left untreated. Chicks from all groups were closely monitored for clinical signs, body weight change and fecal bacterial shedding load during the course of the experiment. Results: Diarrhea, vents pasted with feces, drop in feed intake accompanied by slow weight gain and decreased activity was observed in infected untreated groups. Groups treated with graded doses of the extract experienced a dose-dependent decreased in severity of the clinical signs shown compared to the infected untreated group. Bacterial shedding load was found to be lower in groups treated with the extract and oxytetracycline than those without intervention. Conclusion: Ethyl acetate soluble fraction of leaf extract of Psidium guajava effectively controlled diarrhea and decreased the severity of other clinical signs caused by experimental E. coli infections in chicks

Eficácia de plantas para o controle de nematóides gastrintestinais de pequenos ruminantes: revisão de estudos publicados Plant efficacy in small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode control: a review of published studies

As helmintoses gastrintestinais constituem um dos principais fatores limitantes para a ovinocaprinocultura em todo o mundo e a saúde dos rebanhos depende de um efetivo controle antiparasitário. A resistência aos anti-helmínticos representa um dos entraves para esse controle e a busca por novas bases tem sido um desafio constante. A utilização da fitoterapia na medicina veterinária constitui um campo promissor de pesquisas. Estudos nesta área necessitam da inserção em um contexto agroecológico, tendo como fator limitante o manejo sustentável dos recursos naturais envolvidos. O presente artigo apresenta uma revisão dos estudos de plantas cientificamente testadas no Brasil e em outros países para o controle das parasitoses gastrintestinais em pequenos ruminantes.<br>Gastrointestinal helminthiasis has been one of the main limiting factors to small ruminant breeding around the world and the health of these animals depends on an efficient parasitological control. Resistance to anthelmintics represents one of the barriers to this control and the search for new bases has been a constant challenge. The use of phytotherapy in Veterinary Medicine is a promising research field. Studies in this area require the insertion into an agroecological context, presenting as limitation the sustainable management of the involved natural resources. This paper presents a review of studies on plants scientifically tested in Brazil and other countries for gastrointestinal nematode control concerning small ruminants