Acute and Subchronic Oral Toxicity Assessment of the Ethanolic Extract of the root of Oncoba spinosa (Flacourtiaceae) in Rodents

Purpose: To investigate the toxicological profile of the ethanol extract of Oncoba spinosa (EEOS) after acute and sub-chronic administration to rodents.Methods: In the acute toxicity study, a single administration of the extract at doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg, respectively, was given to the mice. Mice were observed for general behavioural changes, adverse effects and mortality up to 14 days post-treatment. In sub-acute toxicity studies, EEOS was given orally to male and female rats at doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. Body weight, food intake and water intake were monitored throughout the experimental period; hematological parameters, biochemical parameters of the blood and histopathology of various organs were also evaluated at the end of the experiment.Results: In the acute toxicity study, both the doses used did not cause any mortality or significant behavioural changes. Daily oral administration of EEOS for 28 days, in the sub-chronic toxicity study, did not show any treatment-related abnormalities with regard to hematological and biochemical parameters. There were no significant differences in body weight and organ weight between the control and treated groups (p < 0.05). Histological analysis did not show any morphological changes in the major vital organs (liver, kidney, stomach, spleen, brain and heart) tested.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the extract may not have any single dose toxicity. The LD50 value is greater than 5000 mg/kg. The no-observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) was considered to be 1000 mg/kg for male and female rats, respectively.Keywords: Oncoba spinosa, Acute and sub-acute toxicity, Hematological, Biochemical parameter

NIAS NEWSLETTER Vol 3(4)

Complex Systems Programme, NIAS Foundation Day, Regular Updates, Events & Publications, Campus Note

In vitro hepatoprotective activity of Eichhornia Crassipes flowers against CCl4 induced toxicity in BRL3A cell line

316-319The present study was carried out to determine the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract from Eichhornia crassipes (EEEC) flowers using the CCl4-challenged BRL3A cell model. Hepatoprotective activity of EEEC (at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) and standard drug silymarin (200 μg/mL) was evaluated against CCl4 induced toxicity using BRL3A cell line by measuring the cell viability, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione level (GSH). Treatment with CCl4 produced a significant decrease in cell viability. In addition, hepatotoxicity was revealed by increased hepatic marker enzymes like AST, ALT and LDH paralleled with elevated lipid peroxidation and decline in GSH levels. The toxicity induced by CCl4 in the BRL3A cells was significantly recovered by treatment with EEEC. The tested doses (100 and 200 μg/mL) significantly (P <0.01) reduced the CCl4 induced elevation of AST, ALT and LDH and also restored the altered biochemical parameters. These findings provide a basis for confirming the traditional uses of E. crassipes in treating liver ailments

In vitro hepatoprotective activity of Eichhornia Crassipes flowers against CCl4 induced toxicity in BRL3A cell line

The present study was carried out to determine the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract from Eichhornia crassipes (EEEC) flowers using the CCl4-challenged BRL3A cell model. Hepatoprotective activity of EEEC (at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) and standard drug silymarin (200 μg/mL) was evaluated against CCl4 induced toxicity using BRL3A cell line by measuring the cell viability, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione level (GSH). Treatment with CCl4 produced a significant decrease in cell viability. In addition, hepatotoxicity was revealed by increased hepatic marker enzymes like AST, ALT and LDH paralleled with elevated lipid peroxidation and decline in GSH levels. The toxicity induced by CCl4 in the BRL3A cells was significantly recovered by treatment with EEEC. The tested doses (100 and 200 μg/mL) significantly (P &lt;0.01) reduced the CCl4 induced elevation of AST, ALT and LDH and also restored the altered biochemical parameters. These findings provide a basis for confirming the traditional uses of E. crassipes in treating liver ailments

A Fibreoptic Endoscopic Study of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding at Bugando Medical Centre in Northwestern Tanzania: a Retrospective Review of 240 Cases.

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is recognized as a common and potentially life-threatening abdominal emergency that needs a prompt assessment and aggressive emergency treatment. A retrospective study was undertaken at Bugando Medical Centre in northwestern Tanzania between March 2010 and September 2011 to describe our own experiences with fibreoptic upper GI endoscopy in the management of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in our setting and compare our results with those from other centers in the world. A total of 240 patients representing 18.7% of all patients (i.e. 1292) who had fibreoptic upper GI endoscopy during the study period were studied. Males outnumbered female by a ratio of 2.1:1. Their median age was 37 years and most of patients (60.0%) were aged 40 years and below. The vast majority of the patients (80.4%) presented with haematemesis alone followed by malaena alone in 9.2% of cases. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol and smoking prior to the onset of bleeding was recorded in 7.9%, 51.7% and 38.3% of cases respectively. Previous history of peptic ulcer disease was reported in 22(9.2%) patients. Nine (3.8%) patients were HIV positive. The source of bleeding was accurately identified in 97.7% of patients. Diagnostic accuracy was greater within the first 24 h of the bleeding onset, and in the presence of haematemesis. Oesophageal varices were the most frequent cause of upper GI bleeding (51.3%) followed by peptic ulcers in 25.0% of cases. The majority of patients (60.8%) were treated conservatively. Endoscopic and surgical treatments were performed in 30.8% and 5.8% of cases respectively. 140 (58.3%) patients received blood transfusion. The median length of hospitalization was 8 days and it was significantly longer in patients who underwent surgical treatment and those with higher Rockall scores (P < 0.001). Rebleeding was reported in 3.3% of the patients. The overall mortality rate of 11.7% was significantly higher in patients with variceal bleeding, shock, hepatic decompensation, HIV infection, comorbidities, malignancy, age > 60 years and in patients with higher Rockall scores and those who underwent surgery (P < 0.001). Oesophageal varices are the commonest cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in our environment and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic accuracy of fibreoptic endoscopy was related to the time interval between the onset of bleeding and endoscopy. Therefore, it is recommended that early endoscopy should be performed within 24 h of the onset of bleeding

Intravital imaging of islet Ca2+ dynamics reveals enhanced beta cell connectivity after bariatric surgery in mice

Bariatric surgery improves both insulin sensitivity and secretion and can induce diabetes remission. However, the mechanisms and time courses of these changes, particularly the impact on β cell function, are difficult to monitor directly. In this study, we investigated the effect of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) on β cell function in vivo by imaging Ca2+ dynamics in islets engrafted into the anterior eye chamber. Mirroring its clinical utility, VSG in mice results in significantly improved glucose tolerance, and enhanced insulin secretion. We reveal that these benefits are underpinned by augmented β cell function and coordinated activity across the islet. These effects involve changes in circulating GLP-1 levels which may act both directly and indirectly on the β cell, in the latter case through changes in body weight. Thus, bariatric surgery leads to time-dependent increases in β cell function and intra-islet connectivity which are likely to contribute to diabetes remission

Track D Social Science, Human Rights and Political Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138414/1/jia218442.pd