Effect of Solanum nigrun on uterus of non-gravid rats

Background: Solanum nigrum is a widely used plant in oriental medicine where it is considered to be antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and diuretic. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Solanum Nigrum on uterine contractions.Method: Female Wistar Wister albino rats were used for the study. They were housed in a single large cage in an atmospheric controlled environment. Twenty-four hours before every experiment, 0.2 mg/kg of diethylstilbesterol constituted in 1:1 ethanol/water solution, was administered intraperitoneally as a pre-treatment to the rats to induce oestrus. It was done for two weeks during the study period. The phytochemical analysis was carried out to test for the phytochemical constituent of the plant.Result: The result showed that the extract inhibited the release of intracellular calcium ion. The effect of acetylcholine was significantly inhibited by the extract that is at 200mg/ml (p>0.05) and 300 mg/ml (p<0.01). The highest mean inhibitory effect of the extract observed on acetylcholine induced contractions was 90.54 ± 1.15. The oxytocin induced contraction was significantly inhibited by the extract at 200 mg/ml (p<0.05) and at 300 mg/ml (p<0.001) doses respectively. The highest mean inhibitory effect of the extract observed on Oxytocin induced contractions was 41.10±1.02 and was significantly stronger compared with acetylcholine induced contractions.Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Solanum nigrun inhibited the activity of oxytocin on the uterus, and it may possess relaxant activity.Keywords: Solanum Nigrun, Oxytocin, Contraction, diethylstilbestero

Antimicrobial and toxicological evaluation of the leaves of Baissea axillaries Hua used in the management of HIV/AIDS patients

BACKGROUND: Persistent diarrhea is a common endemic disease with high incidence among the Africans including Nigerians. It also represents a frequent opportunistic disease in people living with HIV. Diarrhea represents one of the most distressful and persistent symptoms of HIV/AIDS, which may or may not be accompanied by an infection. The leaves decoction of Baissea axillaries Hua (Apocynaceae) is used by traditional herbalists in Edo state, Nigeria for the management of people living with HIV/AIDS. Determination of its antimicrobial activity and toxicological profile will provide supportive scientific evidence in favour of its continuous usage. METHOD: Chemical and chromatographic tests were employed in phytochemical investigations. Inhibitory activities of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against clinical strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis were compared with Togamycin (Spectinomycin). Our report includes minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the test organisms. Toxicological evaluation was determined by administering 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of extracts on male Wister rats for 14 days with normal saline as control. The kidneys, liver, heart and testis tissues were examined. RESULTS: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and cyanogenetic glycosides. The extracts inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus to varying extents, but only the ethanolic extract inhibited growth in Streptococcus faecalis. The LD(50 )of the extract in mice was above 5000 mg/kg body weight when administered intraperitoneally. Toxicological evaluation showed mere ballooning degeneration of the liver at 250 mg/kg while at 500 mg/kg there was tissue necrosis. The low and high doses showed ill-defined leydig cells in the testis and no remarkable changes in the heart and kidneys. CONCLUSION: Extracts of Baissea axillaries have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against clinical strains of selected microorganisms. While there is toxicity at the dose of 500 mg/kg, the therapy shows potential for application in the treatment of diarrhoea associated with AIDS/HIV. Further studies of Baissea axillaries on diarrhoea and toxicity are necessary to evaluate its mechanism of action and to fully establish its safety profile

Phytochemical, Antimicrobial and ToxIicological evaluation of the leaves of Peperomia Pellucida (L.) HBK (Piperaceae)

Peperomia pellucida is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of abscesses, acne, boils, arthritis, wound healing, inflammation and gout. This study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activities and toxicological profiles of the chloroform and methanol extracts of P. pellucida. Chemical and chromatographic tests were employed in phytochemical investigations. Inhibitory activities of chloroform and methanol extracts against clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans were compared with those of gentamycin. Acute toxicological evaluation was carried out in mice while 14-day assessment was done in rats. Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. The extracts inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Bacillus subtilis to varying extents, but only the methanol extract and the positive control, gentamycin inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Oral doses as high as 5 g/kg did not cause death or toxicological symptoms in mice. Histopathological effects on the liver, spleen, heart and kidney of rats administrated the aqueous methanol extract showed mild to moderate congestions and infiltrations of chronic inflammatory cells. Peperomia pellucida showed mild toxicity in certain organs and it will be necessary to fully establish its safety profile, as this may likely unlock its mechanism of action as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also demonstrated antimicrobial activity against clinical strains of selected microorganisms, thereby justifying its usage in traditional medicine.Keywords: Peperomia pellucida, phytochemistry, toxicology, antimicrobial activitiesJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences, Vol. 9 No. 3 (2012