Treatment with methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn.) leaf reversibly normalizes urine protein-creatinine ratio in Wistar rat model of gentamicin-induced kidney injury

Background: Due to its rapid onset of action, high antibacterial efficacy and low cost, gentamicin (GEN) is still been used (particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries) despite its nephrotoxic antibiotic effects. Experimental ethno-botanical evaluations are imperative in a world with increasing incidence of kidney injury; a condition that is expensive to treat or manage.Aim: Effects of methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Linn.) leaf (MOGL) on urine proteincreatinine ratio (UPC) was determined in rats with GEN-induced kidney injury. Methods: This study involved the use of 50 rats such that graded doses of MOGL (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o.) were administered following 8 days exposure to GEN (100 mg/kg i.p) and comparison were made against the control, toxic, 2 weeks and 4 weeks MOGL treatment groups at p <0.05. Results: GEN induced nephrotoxicity as depicted by significant perturbations in plasma and urine levels of creatinine and total protein (p <0.05); significantly lowered creatinine clearance and abnormal elevations of UPC as well as deleterious alterations of the kidney antioxidant system (GSH and TBARS) (p <0.05). Histopathological examination showed glomerular atrophy, formation of densely eosinophilic/ colloid cast within the tubules and severe loss of cellular constituents in the medullary interstitium. When compared with the control, these conditions were significantly normalized after 2 week MOGL treatment (p <0.05) with a deleterious reversal from normalcy at 4 week MOGL treatment (p <0.05).Conclusion: This study substantiated that MOGL has therapeutic potentials that becomes deleterious after sub-chronic administration in rat model of GEN-induced kidney injury.Key words: Gentamicin, renal function test, Ocimum gratissimum, urine protein-creatinine ratio, creatinine clearance, antioxidant syste

An investigation into the Presence of Heavy Metals in Bread Samples from Lagos Metropolis

This research study was carried out to assess the presence of heavy metals (cadmium and lead) in bread sold at bus terminals in Lagos metropolis. The concentration of cadmium and lead were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Eleven sampling sites were selected with the metropolis. A total of thirty three bread samples were analysed. The moisture content of samples had mean value of 22.3 x 10-1 ± 5.06 x 10-2 g. The overall mean concentration of cadmium was 2.19 x 10-2 + 1.24 x 10-2 mg/kg with 2.66 x 10-2 + 0.83 x 10-2 and 1.86 x 10-2 +1.46 x 10-2 mg/kg for labeled and unlabelled bread samples respectively. 51.3% of the analysed samples contain Cadmium. Mean concentration of lead was 3.2 x 10-1 + 2.6 x 10-1 labeled bread samples have 1.8 x 10-1 + 2.02 x 10-1 and unlabeled samples have 6.3 x 10-1 + 0.24. 2% of samples contain lead. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury are known to be toxic metals with no beneficial effects

Prevalence of African trypanosomosis in cattle and sheep in Bassa local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of trypanosomosis in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State was carried out on 462 animals (361 cattle and 101 sheep) purposively selected. Blood samples were examined for trypanosomes and the packed cell volume was determined. Biconical traps were set to catch biting flies which were later dissected. The body condition scores of the selected animals were also noted. Out of the 462 blood samples examined, 22 (4.8%) tested positive for trypanosomes. Sheep had higher trypanosome prevalence of 6.9% than cattle 4.2%. The most prevalent species encountered was Trypanosoma vivax (86.4%) followed by T. brucei (13.6%). Trypanosoma vivax was also more predominant in cattle 13 (86.7%) than sheep 6 (85.7%). White Fulani and Red Bororo cattle had 4.2% and 0.0% prevalence, respectively while Yankasa sheep, the only sheep breed sampled, had 6.9%. Male cattle and sheep were more infected with the prevalence rates of 5.0% and 7.4%, respectively than their female counterpart (3.6% for cattle and 6.8% for Sheep). Young cattle (< 3yrs) and sheep (≤ 2yrs) had higher trypanosome infection rates of 5.4% and 9.4% than the adult cattle (≥ 3yrs) and sheep (>2yrs) having the prevalence rates of 3.1% and 4.2% respectively. Poor body conditioned animals had higher trypanosome prevalence (7.3%) than the good body conditioned ones (3.8%). Age, sex, breed and body condition score of animals examined did not influence the infection rate of trypanosome species (p>0.05). The mean PCV ± standard deviation of infected animals (21.73 ± 4.81) was significantly lower than non-infected animals (26.89 ± 4.37) p < 0.05.The study revealed an overall relative low fly density of 0.39 flies/trap/day and flies dissected were negative for trypanosome infection. This present study revealed trypanosome and their vectors are present in the study area. Therefore, improved Veterinary extension services and education should be implemented.Keywords: Bassa, Cattle, Sheep, Prevalence, Trypanosomosi