The effects of Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous leaf extract on haematological parameters in Wistar rats

Immense benefits have been derived by man from using medicinal herbs in treatment and management of disease because they are relatively safer, more affordable and sometimes offer better therapeutic value than synthetic drugs. The leaves of Jatropha tanjorensis have been used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the Haematological indices of aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis in male Wistar rats.25 male Wistar rats weighing 150-180g were used for the research. The rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group I served as control, and groups II, III, IV and V were administered 125mg, 250mg, 500mg, and 750mg per kilogram body weight respectively of the Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract daily for 14 days. The rats were maintained under standard laboratory conditions at the animal house in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bingham University, Nasarawa State The rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and blood collected by cardiac puncture. 2mls of blood were placed in EDTA bottle for the determination of haematological parameters using Auto Haematology Analyzer. The result shows significant increase in RBC, Hb, PCV, WBC, and PLT in the groups treated with 125mg/kg ,250 mg/kg and 500mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis when compared with the control(P<0.05). However, at higher dose of 750mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis, there was a decrease in RBC, Hb, PCV, WBC, and PLT (P<0.05) when compared with the control. There were no statistically significant changes in MCV, MCH, MCHC, Monocytes, Eosinophils and Basophils in all treated groups compared to the control. Neutrophils was significantly decreased in group treated with 750mg/kg compared with control (P> 0.05). The results of this study indicated that at lower doses, the aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves may enhance haemopoiesis, but administration of higher dosage may cause haemolysis.Keywords: Jatropha tanjorensis, Haematological indices, WBC, RBC, Platelets, Haemolysi

Physicochemical Analysis of the Aqueous Extracts of Six Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Purpose: Extracts of Picralima nitida seeds, Detarium microcarpum stem bark, Aframomum melagueta seeds, Terminalia catappa leaves, Acacia nilotica pods, and Morinda lucida stem bark, are under consideration for development into suitable dosage forms for treating diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia and malaria. This study aimed at evaluating the extracts for features that would influence decisions on them in the course of the project.Methods: Physicochemical determinations, including proximate analysis, were done by sensory examination, and gravimetric and electrochemical techniques. Thin layer chromatography was carried out with normal silica plates using various solvent systems. Metallic content analyses were carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy.Results: The extracts were dry but hygroscopic, with a loss on drying range of 0.26 – 12.00 %w/w. The pH of the 5 - 10 % solutions ranged 5 - 7. No harsh sensory effects, such as lacrimation, were detected in any of the extracts. Total ash ranged from 3.79 – 20.68 %w/w, while acid insoluble ash values were below detection. The extracts yielded reproducible chromatograms on normal silica plates developed with various solvent systems. Copper, present at 0.16 - 0.58 mg/100g, was the lowest occurring microelement while calcium content was highest, at 41 - 216 mg/100g. The level of lead, a heavy metal, was 0.05 - 0.22 mg/100g.Conclusion: The results confirm that the extracts require no special handling, possess characteristics that would allow their possible development into solid dosage forms, and that their lead contentscomplied with official limits.Keywords: Aqueous extract, Picralima nitida, Detarium microcarpum, Aframomum melagueta, Terminalia catappa, Acacia nilotica, Morinda lucida

Neem (Azadirachta indica a. juss) seedling growth as influenced by mycorrhizal fungus and cow dung

The effect of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), specifically, Glomus moseae and cow dung on the growth of Neem (Azadiracchta indica, A. Juss) seedlings was investigated at the forestry quarters, Lagos Street, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. The study included three treatments: the cow dung, mycorrhizal treatments and the untreated controls. Standard size (30 x 15 x 15 cm) black polythene pots were used for the research. Two viable seeds obtained by the floatation method were sown in each pot and seedlings thinned to one per pot two weeks after germination. Each treatment was replicated ten times and arranged in a completely randomized design. Shoot heights, leaf and branch production were measured at bi-weekly intervals over a period of 10 weeks, while root lengths, shoot and root dry weights were determined at harvest (10weeks). The result showed that cow dung significantly (

On-station verification of the use of soybean trap-crop for the control of Striga in maize

Field trials were conducted at Samaru, Nigeria for a two year-period (1997 and 1998 rainy seasons) to verify the use of two soybean varieties (TGX 1019-2EB and TGX 1440-1E) as trap-crops for the control of Striga hermonthica in maize. Results showed that sole hybrid maize variety, Oba super 1, supported significantly higher Striga incidence and infestation, exhibited significantly higher crop syndrome reaction score and produced significantly lower grain yields than when intercropped with soybean varieties. The two soybean varieties did not differ significantly in Striga parameters when intercropped with maize. Inter-cropping maize with soybean resulted in higher crop value compared with sole cropping. Key Words: Intercropping, Nigeria, Striga hermonthica, trap-crop, Zea mays RÉSUMÉ Des essais ont été menés à Samaru, au Nigéria pendant deux années (saisons de pluie de 1997 et 1998) pour vérifier l'usage de deux variétés de soja (TGX 1019-2EB et TGX 1440-1E) comme des cultures pièges pour lutter contre l'infestation de Striga harmontheca sur le maïs. Des résultats ont montré que la varieté hybride de maïs, Oba super 1, a supporté dans une manière significative l'incidence et l'infestation de Striga. Cette varieté a montré un niveau élevé de la réaction de syndrome culturale et elle a eu un niveau plus bas de rendement en association avec les variétés de soja. Les deux variétés de soja analysées n'ont pas différé significativement en paramètres de Striga en association avec le maïs. L'association maïs/soja a eu une culture à haute valeur plus que le cas de la culture pure. Mots Clés: Association, Nigeria, Striga hermonthica, culture piège, Zea mays (African Crop Science Journal 8(3) 2000: 295-300

Saponins are involved in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus platyphylla stem bark

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of saponins (FPS) from the methanol extract of Ficus platyphylla stem bark were studied in rodents. FPS significantly attenuated acetic acid-induced writhes in mice and inhibited responses in both phases I & II of formalin-induced nociception. FPS demonstrated significant antinociceptive activity in Analgesy-meter model of nociception and significantly attenuated albumin-induced oedema in rats. Morphine significantly (

Effect of the aqueous extract of African Mistletoe, <i>Tapinanthus sessilifolius</i> <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN; mso-fareast-language:EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:HI" lang="EN-IN">(P. Beauv) van Tiegh leaf on gastrointestinal muscle activity</span>

571-574<span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" color:black;mso-ansi-language:en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-IN">Effects of the aqueous extract of T. sessilifolius on the gastrointestinal muscle were investigated on smooth muscle preparations isolated from rabbit jejunum, guinea pig ileum and on gastrointestinal transit in mice. Elemental analysis of the extract was also carried out. The aqueous extract of T. sessilifolius evoked a concentration dependent contraction of the rabbit jejunum and guinea pig ileum. The contractions evoked by the extract were not attenuated either by atropine or mepyramine, but they were completely blocked by verapamil. The elemental analysis revealed the presence of Mg, Zn, Fe,Cu, and very high concentration of Ca. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was found to be 1500 mg/kg. The aqueous extract of T. sessilifolius possesses active components that may be mediating the observed biological activity through calcium mobilization.</span

Diagnosis of crop secondary and micro-nutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa

Published online: 10 Jan 2019Crop production in sub-Saharan Africa has numerous biotic and abiotic constraints, including nutrient deficiencies. Information on crop response to macronutrients is relatively abundant compared with secondary and micronutrients (SMN). Data from 1339 trial replicates of 280 field trials conducted from 2013 to 2016 in 11 countries were analyzed for the diagnosis of SMN deficiencies. The diagnostic data included relative yield response (RYR) and soil and foliar test results. The RYR to application of a combination of Mg, S, Zn, and B (Mg–S–Zn–B) relative to a comparable N–P–K treatment was a > 5% increase for 35% of the legume blocks and 60% of the non-legume blocks. The frequencies of soil test Zn, Cu, and B being below their critical level were 28, 2 and 10% for eastern and southern Africa, respectively, and 55, 58 and 89% for western Africa, while low levels for other SMN were less frequent. The frequency of foliar results indicating low availability were 58% for Zn, 16% for S and less for other SMN. The r2 values for relationships between soil test, foliar test and RYR results were < 0.035 with little complementarity except for soil test Zn and B with cassava (Manihot esculenta L. Crantz) RYR in Ghana, and foliar Zn with cereal RYR in Uganda. Positive RYR is powerful diagnostic information and indicative of good profit potential for well-targeted and well-specified SMN application. Geo-referenced RYR, soil analysis and foliar analysis results for diagnosis of SMN deficiencies in 11 countries of sub-Saharan Africa were generally not complementary

Yield-limiting macronutrients for rice in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nutrient deficiencies are considered major constraints to rice production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but a systematic, continent-wide analysis of these constraints is lacking. The objective of this study was to assess responses of rice yields to macronutrients (N, P, and K) across major rice production systems [irrigated lowland rice (IL), rainfed lowland rice (RL), and rainfed upland rice (RU)] and diverse agro-ecological zones (semi-arid, sub-humid, humid, and highlands) in SSA. Diagnostic trials were conducted in 17 countries in 18–60 farmers' fields in each of 30 sites (totaling 1037 farmers' fields), of which 12 sites were in IL, 15 in RL and 3 in RU. All trials had an NPK treatment, and three treatments in which either nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or potassium (K) was omitted from the NPK treatment (minus N, P, and K plots). The trials were conducted during one or two seasons. Regression between yields in the NPK and minus N plots was used for calculating N fertilizer requirement, following the approach used for the development of a nutrient management decision support tool for rice (RiceAdvice) in SSA. Site mean yields in the NPK treatment ranged from 1.4 to 7.3 t ha−1. On average, these yields were 1.1 t ha−1 higher than farmers' yields previously observed in the same sites. N was generally the most limiting nutrient, followed by P. Rice yields without N, P, and K were 68, 84, and 89% of yields in the NPK treatment, and were positively correlated with those in the NPK treatment irrespective of production systems and agro-ecological zone (AEZ). Results from a regression model across sites indicated that achieving 3, 5, and 7 t ha−1 requires N fertilizer application at an average rate of 56, 91, and 122 kg N ha−1, respectively. However, there was significant treatment by site interaction on rice yield. Site mean yields were significantly lower without N, P, and K in 93, 60, and 50% of sites as compared to the NPK treatment. Yield response to macronutrients varied across sites and was not related to production system, nor AEZ. Results from this study will help further improvement of RiceAdvice for providing decision support tailored to the particular site, zone, or production system, thereby closing yield gaps, improving fertilizer nutrient efficiency and preventing negative environmental consequences of fertilizer use

Antidiabetic, Antioxidant and Antihyperlipidemic Status of Heliotropium zeylanicum Extract on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

The potential role of the methanolic extract of Heliotropium zeylanicum (BURM.F) LAMK (MEHZ) in the treatment of diabetes along with its antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effects was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of (MEHZ) 150 and 300 mg/kg/d for 14 d significantly decreased the blood glucose level and considerably increased the body weight, food intake, and liquid intake of diabetic-induced rats. MEHZ significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and significantly increased reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at the end of 14 d of treatment. The study also investigated the antihyperlipidemic potential of MEHZ. The results show that the active fraction of MEHZ is promising for development of a standardized phytomedicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus