ANTIFERTILITY EFFECTS OF POUZOLZIA MIXTA IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

The continued use of plants by women to prevent pregnancy suggests there are plants out there with potential use as contraceptives. In Zimbabwe, Pouzolzia mixta is used as a “morning after” contraceptive, thus it may possess postcoital antifertility activity. To test contraceptive activity, animals (n=8/group) were orally pretreated with aqueous (EqPM) or ethanolic (AtPM) extract of P. mixta at 300mg/kg b.wt for 7 days followed by mating with continued treatment for 10 days post-conception. To test for postcoital activity, treatment was initiated on day-1 of pregnancy and continued for 10 days. Laparotomy was performed and implantations counted. For estrogenic activity, immature ovariectomised rats were treated for 7 days after which vaginal opening and uterine weights were determined. In vitro oxytocic effects were performed using uterine tissue in organ bath with De Jalon’s solution. Acetylcholine (Ach) was the positive control. Results showed modest contraceptive activity with EtPM more effective in inhibiting fertility compared to AqPM (25% vs 37.5%) with a similar trend for antiimplantation effects (31% vs 19%). There was potent postcoital antifertility effects with AqPM more effective in inhibiting implantation (94.6% vs 86%) and fertility (87.5% vs 75%) compared to EtPM. Immature rat bioassay for estrogenic activity demonstrated pronounced estrogenic activity by both extracts. Oxytocic effects at 400ng/ml were more pronounced for the AqPM (92% of 100ng/ml Ach) than EtPM (25% of 100ng/ml Ach). Findings demonstrate the antifertility effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. mixta. The antifertility effects may be attributed to antiimplantation, estrogenic and oxytocic effects of the plant extracts

INVESTIGATION OF HYPOGYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF LUPINUS ALBUS LEGUME SEED IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED TYPE I DIABETIC RATS.

Background: Lupinus albus (LA) seed is a legume food used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an aqueous extract of LA on lipid and glucose levels in normal and STZ induced Type 1 diabetic rats. Methods: Aqueous extract of LA was prepared and used for animal treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60mg/kg body weight). Effects of LA on oral glucose tolerance in normal and diabetic rats were investigated by giving a single dose of distilled water (controls), 200 or 400mg/kg LA extract, metformin 300mg/kg or glibenclamide 500µg/kg after 12 hours of fasting (time 0 glucose). After 15 minutes, a glucose load (3g/kg) was given. Glucose levels were measured at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after glucose loading. To investigate long term effects, animals were given similar treatments daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol levels were measured or calculated. Results: LA demonstrated significant (

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adolescents living in Mthatha, south africa

Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS), defined as the clustering of three of five risk factors (hypertension, obesity, triglyceridemia, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia), is being increasingly mentioned among children and adolescents despite there being no consensus on how it should be defined in this set of population. Furthermore, very few studies have focused on MetS in children and adolescents in sub-Saharan populations. This study, therefore, aimed at determining the prevalence of the MetS and contributing risk in adolescents living in Mthatha, South Africa. Research design and methods Four hundred and ten adolescents (age range: 13–18 years, both sexes) were recruited into this cross-sectional study. In addition to a lifestyle questionnaire being administered, anthropometric measurements (weight, height and waist circumferences) were carried out for each participant. Fasting venous blood was collected for lipid profile and blood glucose assessments. Blood pressure was also measured. MetS was assessed using appropriate diagnostic criteria for children and adolescents. Results Complete data sets were collected from 371 participants. Females showed an elevation in the risk factors for MetS. Of the 371 participants, 40.2% were overweight/obese (47.5% females; 22.5% males). MetS was diagnosed in 3.1% female participants compared with 6.0% in male participants. Conclusions More risk factors for the MetS are seen among the overweight/obese as compared to lean adolescents. Given the fact that childhood overweight/obesity often continues into adulthood, it is important to address the causes of increased risk for MetS earlier in life to prevent the development of disease in adult life

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE APHRODISIAC ACTIVITY OF FOOD PLANTS MONDIA WHITEI, CHENOPODIUM ALBUM, CUCURBITA PEPO AND SCLEROCARYA BIRREA EXTRACTS IN MALE WISTAR RATS.

Background: Any substance that increases erectile function, sexual performance and enjoyment is considered an aphrodisiac. The was to compare the effects of food plants Mondia whitei, Chenopodium album, Cucurbita pepo and Sclerocarya birrea extracts 200mg/kg body weight on sexual behavior, sperm parameters and testosterone levels in adult male rats. These are food plants also aphrodisiacs in South Africa, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa. Materials and methods: Sexual behavior parameters assessed in this study included an arousal component (mount latency and intromission sexual potency (mount frequency and intromission frequency), erection (copulatory efficiency) and ejaculations. All treatments orally daily for 28 days. Sexual behavior parameters were quantified 2 hours after a single dose, at 14 days and at 28 days of treatment. Results: The order of efficacy in stimulating sexual behavior in male rats was M. whitei >S. birrea > C. pepo ≥C. album. Although change in number of ejaculations and sperm count (P>0.05) for all treatment groups compared to controls, all treatments increased motility. M. whitei and C. pepo treatments resulted in increased (

Antihypertensive effects of the hydroethanol extract of Senecio serratuloides DC in rats

Senecio serratuloides DC is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, skin disorders, internal and external sores, rashes, burns and wounds. This study aimed at investigating the antihypertensive effects of the hydroethanol extract of S. serratuloides (HESS) in N-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rats. Methods: Acute toxicity of HESS was first determined to provide guidance on doses to be used in this study. Lorke’s method was used to determine safety of the extract in mice. Female Wistar rats were treated orally once daily with L-NAME (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks and then concomitantly with L-NAME (20 mg/kg) and plant extract (150 and 300 mg/kg), captopril (20 mg/kg) or saline as per assigned group for 2 weeks followed by a 2-week period of assigned treatments only. Blood pressure was monitored weekly. Lipid profile, nitric oxide, renin and angiotensin II concentrations were determined in serum while mineralocorticoid receptor concentration was quantified in the kidney homogenate. Nitric oxide (NO) concentration was determined in serum and cardiac histology performed. Results HESS was found to be non-toxic, having a LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. Blood pressure increased progressively in all animals from the second week of L-NAME treatment. HESS treatment significantly and dose-dependently lowered systolic blood pressure (p  less  0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p  less  0.01), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p  less  0.01) and triglycerides (p  less  0.01). It significantly prevented L-NAME induced decrease in serum angiotensin II (p less  0.01), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p  less  0.001) and serum nitric oxide concentrations (p  less  0.001). HESS also significantly (p  less  0.01) prevented collagen deposition in cardiac tissue. Conclusion The hydro-ethanol extract of Senecio serratuloides showed antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic and cardioprotective effects in rats thus confirming its usefulness in traditional antihypertensive therapy and potential for antihypertensive drug development

Fractionation and bioassay-guided isolation of antihypertensive components of Senecio serratuloides

Senecio serratuloides commonly referred to as “two day cure” is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension and wounds in South Africa. This study was aimed at isolating and testing the antihypertensive effects of bioactive compounds from S. serratuloides. Senecio serratuloides was serially extracted using solvents of increasing polarity. Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant capacity and antihypertensive properties of fractions were investigated. Bioactive compounds were isolated from ethyl acetate and methanol fractions, their antihypertensive effects and effect on urine norepinephrine concentration were determined. Ethyl acetate and methanol fractions had all eight phytochemicals tested, better antioxidant capacity and significantly (p < 0.001) prevented the increase in blood pressure induced by Nω-Nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride. The isolated bioactive compounds were phytosteroids and Estran-3-one, 17-(acetyloxy)-2-methyl-, (2à,5à,17á) – which was isolated from methanol fraction had significantly (p < 0.001) better antihypertensive effects through the 4-h period of the study. Senecio serratuloides may be a potential source of antihypertensive lead compounds