Moringa leifera Leaf Improves Crude Oil-Polluted Water-Induced Altered Cavernosa Functions by Elevating Testosterone and Phosphodiesterase-5 Activity in Male Wistar Rats

Ingestion of crude oil released into the environment is reported to cause oxidative stress-induced reproductive impairments. This study investigates the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf (MO) treatment on cavernosa contractile activity in crude oil-contaminated water (CCW)-exposed male Wistar rats. Cavernosa tissues excised from distilled water, CCW, CCW+MO, and MO treated rats were subjected to contractile functions studies using acetylcholine, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium nitroprusside, glibenclamide, nifedipine, methyl blue and barium chloride. Serum testosterone, cavernosa oxidative markers, and phosphodiesterase 5 were also determined using standard techniques. Serum testosterone, body weight, and testicular, epididymal and cavernosa weights were significantly reduced in the CCW group as compared to CCW+MO group. MDA concentration increased significantly in CCW group as compared to CCW+MO and MO groups. Moringa oleifera improved the relaxation response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in CCW+MO group, and relaxation was not significantly affected by incubation in nifedipine, methyl blue and barium chloride when compared to the CCW group. MO treatment ameliorated crude oil-contaminated water-induced cavernosa dysfunctions by increasing testosterone, phosphodiesterase 5 activity, and its cytoprotective antioxidant properties

In vitro anti-HIV activity of some Indian medicinal plant extracts

Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) persists to be a significant public health issue worldwide. The current strategy for the treatment of HIV infection, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), has reduced deaths from AIDS related disease, but it can be an expensive regime for the underdeveloped and developing countries where the supply of drugs is scarce and often not well tolerated, especially in persons undergoing long term treatment. The present therapy also has limitations of development of multidrug resistance, thus there is a need for the discovery of novel anti-HIV compounds from plants as a potential alternative in combating HIV disease. Methods Ten Indian medicinal plants were tested for entry and replication inhibition against laboratory adapted strains HIV-1IIIB, HIV-1Ada5 and primary isolates HIV-1UG070, HIV-1VB59 in TZM-bl cell lines and primary isolates HIV-1UG070, HIV-1VB59 in PM1 cell lines. The plant extracts were further evaluated for toxicity in HEC-1A epithelial cell lines by transwell epithelial model. Results The methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera, Rosa centifolia and aqueous extract of Ficus benghalensis inhibited laboratory adapted HIV-1 strains (IC80 3.6–118 μg/ml) and primary isolates (IC80 4.8–156 μg/ml) in TZM-bl cells. Methanolic extract of Strychnos potatorum, aqueous extract of Ficus infectoria and hydroalcoholic extract of Annona squamosa inhibited laboratory adapted HIV-1 strains (IC80 4.24–125 μg/ml) and primary isolates (IC80 18–156 μg/ml) in TZM-bl cells. Methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Rosa centifolia, (IC801-9 μg/ml) further significantly inhibited HIV-1 primary isolates in PM1cells. Methanolic extracts of Tridax procumbens, Mallotus philippinensis, Annona reticulate, aqueous extract of Ficus benghalensis and hydroalcoholic extract of Albizzia lebbeck did not exhibit anti-HIV activity in all the tested strains. Methanolic extract of Rosa centifolia also demonstrated to be non-toxic to HEC-1A epithelial cells and maintained epithelial integrity (at 500 μg/ml) when tested in transwell dual-chamber. Conclusion These active methanolic extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Rosa centifolia, could be further subjected to chemical analysis to investigate the active moiety responsible for the anti-HIV activity. Methanolic extract of Rosa centifolia was found to be well tolerated maintaining the epithelial integrity of HEC-1A cells in vitro and thus has potential for investigating it further as candidate microbicide

Role of adrenergic receptors in the caffeine-induced increase in glucose uptake by the canine hindlimb

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha and beta adrenergic receptor blockers on caffeine-induced increase in canine hindlimb glucose uptake. The study was carried out on fasted male anaesthetized dogs divided into five groups (5dogs per group). Each dog was given a bolus injection of normal saline, caffeine (6mg/kg) caffeine after pretreatment with prazosin (0.2mg/kg). Caffeine (6mg/kg), caffeine after pretreatment with prazosin (0.2mg/kg), propranolol (0.5mg/kg) or combination of prazosin (0.2mg/kg) and propranolol (0.5mg/kg). The experiments were carried out under resting and exercising conditions of the hindlimb. Hindlimb glucose uptake (HGU) was calculated as the product of blood flow and arterio-venous glucose difference. Blood glucose was determined by the glucose oxidase method and blood flow to the hindlimb was determined by time-collection method. The results showed that pretreatment of the animal with either prazosin or propranolol significantly reduced caffeine-induced hyperglycemia, glucose extraction and hindlimb glucose uptake at rest. The two blockers also separately reduced caffeine-induced hyperglycemia during contraction of the hindlimb. Prazosin or propranolol did not however influence the effect of caffeine on glucose extraction and hindlimb glucose uptake during contraction of the hindlimb. It was therefore concluded that alpha and beta adrenergic receptors are involved in caffeine induced responses at rest and not during hindlimb contraction

Neuropharmacological Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Bryophyllum Pinnatum in Mice

Effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Bryophyllum Pinnatum   (AEBP) on some neuropharmacological activities were studied in mice. The extract in dosages (50,100 and 200 mg/kg) was found to produce a profound decrease in exploratory activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also showed a marked sedative effect as evidenced by a significant reduction in gross behaviour and potentiation of pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time. It delayed onset in strychnine-and picrotoxin-induced convulsion (seizures) respectively with the protective effect being significantly higher in picrotoxin- than strychnine-induced convulsion. It also decreases the rate of picrotoxin-induced mortality in mice with LD50 of 641mg/kg. The totality of these effects showed that the extract possesses depressant action on the central nervous syste

Effects Of Caffeine And Ethanolic Extract Of Kolanut On Glucose Uptake In The Canine Hindlimb At Rest And During Contraction

The study investigated the effects of caffeine and ethanolic extract of kolanut (EEK) on glucose uptake in the canine hindlimb at rest and during contraction. Thirty male anaesthetized Mongrel dogs (11 - 13kg) were divided into six groups (5dogs/group). Caffeine (6mg/kg), EEK (5mg/kg), or normal saline (control) was administered intravenously to each group at rest. Arterial and venous blood samples were collected at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 minutes after drug administration. Blood glucose was measured by glucose oxidase method. Arterio-venous (A-V) glucose difference was calculated and venous blood flow (VBF) was measured during the sampling period. Hindlimb Glucose Uptake (HGU) was calculated as the product of (A-V) glucose and blood flow. After sampling at rest, the experiments were repeated with the right femoral nerve stimulated using electrical stimulator at 5Hz. At rest, (A-V) glucose increased significantly (P<0.05) from 4.2±0.2mg/dl to 29.8 ± 8.6, and 24.4±2.6 for caffeine and EEK respectively. VBF decreased to 2.0±0.9 and 6.0±0.6ml/min for caffeine and EEK respectively. However, HGU significantly increased from 34.8±0.1mg/min to 74.5±3.2mg/min and 175.8±3.4mg/min for caffeine and EEK, respectively. Contraction of the hindlimb muscle alone significantly increased the (A-V) glucose (68%), VBF (26%) and HGU (120%) when compared with the control. During contraction, (A-V) glucose increased from 4.3±1.5mg/dl to 35.6±3.0mg/dl, and 27.0±2.2mg/dl for caffeine and EEK respectively. VBF also increased from 8.4±0.3ml/min to 12.8±0.3ml/min for EEK. Although, contraction improves VBF (7.3±0.5ml/min) to the hindlimb in response to caffeine, the value was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of control (8.4±0.5ml/min). Contraction also significantly increased HGU from 35.8±3.6mg/min to 249.0±3.3 and 286.72±2.0mg/min for caffeine and EEK, respectively. The results showed that caffeine and EEK significantly increased HGU and that these effects are due to the increases in glucose extraction ((A-V) glucose) caused by caffeine and EEK

Relationship between Admission Grades and Performances of Students in the First Professional Examination in a New Medical School

In order to determine the relationship between the quality of Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board organised Universities Matriculation Examination (JAMB-UME) scores, and student's academic performance at Lagos state University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Nigeria , records of students admitted into the Medical School in 1998/99 were studied. Data transformations were completed and subsequently standardized. Standard descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient were used to determine the correlation between the variables. The results showed that there was no significant correlation between the SSCE and the JAMB scores. In addition, correlation between JAMB and the student performance at 100 level and pre-clinical sciences also proved to be non significant. These results indicate that SSCE is a better predicator of students' performance at pre-clinical sciences examination than JAMB Scores

Effects of aqueous leaf extract of tridax procunbens on blood pressure and heart rate in rats

The Cardiovascular effects of aqueous extract from the leaf of Tridax procumbens were investigated on anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rat. The intravenous administration of 3, 6, and 9mg/Kg of the aqueous extract caused significant decreases in the mean arterial blood pressure in a dose-related manner; i.e. the extract caused greater decrease in the mean arterial blood pressure at higher dose than at lower dose. Also, higher doses of the extract- 6mg/Kg and 9mg/Kg caused significant reductions in the heart rate while lower dose of the extract- 3mg/Kg did not cause any significant change in the heart rate. The hypotensive and the bradycardiac effects were immediate. The hypotensive effect of Tridax procumbens was inhibited by the pretreatment of the animal with atropine sulfate (1mg/kg). These results therefore seem to support the claim that the leaves of Tridax procumbens has hypotensive effect and that the mechanism of its action is possibly through activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors

INFLUENCE OF NITRIC OXIDE ON HISTAMINE AND CARBACHOL – INDUCED GASTRIC ACID SECRETION IN THE COMMON AFRICAN TOAD – BUFO REGULARIS

The study aimed to determine the influence of nitric oxide (NO) on the action of histamine and carbachol on acid secretion in the common African toad – Bufo regularis   . Gastric acidity was determined by titration method. The acid secretion was determined when nitric oxide was absent following administration of NO synthase inhibitor; N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and when nitric oxide was in excess by administration of exogenous NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Histamine or carbachol increased acid secretion in the toad. Acid output increased from 0.32 ± 0.04 mEq/15min to 0.56 ± 0.08 and 0.61 ± 0.05 mEq/15min for histamine and carbachol respectively (P < 0.05). Pretreatment of the toad with L-NAME produced further increases in histamine (0.62 ± 0.06 mEq/15min) or carbachol (0.74 ± 0.06 mEq/15min) induced acid secretion respectively. SNP however, completely abolished the acid secretion stimulated by either histamine or carbachol. It was therefore concluded that nitric oxide has a negative influence on the histamine or carbachol – stimulated acid secretion in the toad – Bufo regularis