Hypoglycaemic and hypotensive effects of Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) leaf aqueous extracts in rats

The hypotensive and hypoglycaemic effects of Ficus exasperata (Vahl) (family: Moraceae) leaf aqueous extract (FEE) were investigated in experimental rat models. In this study, spontaneously-hypertensive rats (SHR) (type 1 diabetes), obese Zucker (type 2 diabetes) and Wistar rats were used. Three (A, B and C) groups of rats, each group consisting of 10 rats, were used. Group A Wistar rats received distilled water in quantities equivalent to the volume of streptozotocin (STZ) and FEE administered intraperitoneally to treated rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the SHR group B rats by multiple low-dose (MLD) intraperitoneal injections of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight) to induce type 1 diabetes. The animals in group C were the obese Zucker rats with non-insulin-independent diabetes mellitus (NDDM) (type 2 diabetes) on genetic basis. F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract (FEE, 100 mg/kg/day p.o.) was administered orally by orogastric intubation to fasted Groups B and C rats. In groups B and C rats, administration of FEE commenced 4 weeks post STZ injection, and continued for the next 4 consecutive weeks. Group A rats gave normal biochemical and morphological findings. Group B rats exhibited pronounced polyuria, hypoinsulinaemia, hyperlipidaemia and hyperglycaemia. These findings were also observed in group C rats, except that there was hyperinsilinaemia. Histopathological study of the aortic blood vessels showed extensive collagen fiber formation as well as perivascular fibrosis in both groups B and C rats. Four weeks of oral administration of F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract to diabetic groups of rats decreased blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid profiles. Administration of FEE (100 mg/kg p.o.) also restored the microanatomy of the blood vessels to almost normal levels. The findings of this study suggest that F. exasperata leaf aqueous extract possesses hypoglycaemic, hypotensive and hypolipidaemic properties. These findings lend biomedical and pharmacological support to the folkloric, ethnomedical uses of the plant in the management and/or control of diabetes and hypertension among the Yoruba-speaking people of Western Nigeria.Key Words: Ficus exasperata (Vahl) leaf aqueous extract; streptozotocin; rats; hypoglycaemic; hypotensive and hypolipidaemicproperties

Early Experience with Ponseti Club Foot Management in Lagos, Nigeria

No Abstract

Antagonistic Effect of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica against Fungi Isolated from Deteriorating Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta)

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the antagonistic effect of aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica on Fusarium oxysporum, Geotrichum candidum and mucor species isolated from deteriorating cocoyam using radial growth technique. The plant extract inhibited the growth of all the test fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged between 4.0 ìg/ml and 6.0 ìg/ml while the minimum fungicidal concentration ranged between 4.0 ìg/ml and 7.0 ìg/ml. Aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans appears to be more effective as an antifungal agent than extracts of Mondora myristica. Extracts of Myristica fragrans and Mondora myristica may be important sources of bio-preservative of cocoyam

Protective effect of quercetin on the morphology of pancreatic β-cells of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats

No Abstract.Keywords: Quercetin; Streptozotocin; Antioxidant enzymes, Pancreatic β-cell The African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 4 (1) 2007: pp. 64-7

Day Case Orthopaedic Surgery in a West African Teaching Hospital

Background: Day case surgery, carried out in dedicated day care surgery centres, is now very popular all over the world due to the reduced cost and improved safety. Regrettably, in Nigeria, where cost of treatment is a real issue, very few, if any dedicated day care surgery centres have been established. Knowledge of the demographic data of patients and scope of surgical operations performed should provide a basis for the establishment of daycare surgery centres in this part of the world. Objective: To review the demography and scope of day case orthopaedic surgical operations carried out in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria (LASUTH) where there is no dedicated day care surgery unit. Materials and Methods: Records of patients who had day case surgery and were discharged within 24 hours of surgery between June 2004 and May 2006 were reviewed. Biographic data, indications for surgery, operations performed, anaesthetic technique used, complications and reasons for unplanned hospital admission were extracted. Results: A total of 117 patients had day case surgery. There were 60 males and 57 females and the age range was 18 weeks to 76 years. More upper limb surgeries were performed and the commonest procedure was excision biopsy of benign soft tissue tumours (35.1%). Most operations (80%) were performed under local anaesthesia, mainly local infiltration, whilst sphygmomanometer cuffs were used as pneumatic tourniquet when indicated. There were no cases of unplanned hospital admission, anaesthetic or surgical complications. Conclusion: Day case (ambulatory surgery) can be performed safely in tertiary institutions in Nigeria according to carefully planned protocols. Establishment of dedicated ambulatory centres may enable the performance of more complex surgical operations Keywords: orthopaedic surgery, day case, ambulatory Nigeria Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 57-5