10 research outputs found
Toxicity studies in rats fed nature cure bitters
Graded doses of Nature Cure Bitters (NCB) were administered daily (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) to rats for 28 days and the effects on body weight, organ weight, clinical signs, gross pathology, haematology, histology and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. The relative weights of the heart, liver and testes of treated rats were unaffected in contrast to a significant increase in the relative weights of the lungs, kidneys and spleen. The packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentrations were significantly reduced whereas total leucocyte counts and glucose levels were remarkably increased. A significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase occurred in all the groups but alanine aminotransferase and albumin levels were significantly elevated. NCB elicited hypo-cholesterolaemic effects in addition to lowering urea, uric acid, BUN and total protein concentrations. Histological findings did not reveal any treatment-related effects. The calculated therapeutic index was >37.5. These preliminary results suggest that NCB was not likely to produce severe toxicological effects on organ weights, haematological and biochemical indices when given at normal therapeutic doses.
Key Words: Nature Cure Bitters, organ weight; pathology, haematology; serum biochemistry.
African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.4(1) 2005: 72-7
Methylation at Global LINE-1 Repeats in Human Blood Are Affected by Gender but Not by Age or Natural Hormone Cycles
Previously, we reported on inter-individual and gender specific variations of LINE-1 methylation in healthy individuals. In this study, we investigated whether this variability could be influenced by age or sex hormones in humans. To this end, we studied LINE-1 methylation in vivo in blood-derived DNA from individuals aged 18 to 64 years and from young healthy females at various hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Our results show that no significant association with age was observed. However, the previously reported increase of LINE-1 methylation in males was reconfirmed. In females, although no correlation between LINE-1 or Alu methylation and hormone levels was observed, a significant stable individual specific level of methylation was noted. In vitro results largely confirmed these findings, as neither estrogen nor dihydrotestosterone affected LINE-1 or Alu methylation in Hek293T, HUVEC, or MDA-kb2 cell lines. In contrast, a decrease in methylation was observed in estrogen-treated T47-Kbluc cell lines strongly expressing estrogen receptor. The very low expression of estrogen receptor in blood cells could explain the observed insensitivity of methylation at LINE-1 to natural hormonal variations in females. In conclusion, neither natural cycle of hormones nor age has a detectable effect on the LINE-1 methylation in peripheral blood cells, while gender remains an important factor
Sexual Reprogramming and Estrogenic Sensitization in Wild Fish Exposed to Ethinylestradiol
Evaluation of the aqueous extract of Boswellia dalzielii stem bark for antimicrobial activities and gastrointestinal effects
The aqueous extract of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch (family:
Burseraceae) was investigated for therapeutic properties using
aspirin-induced ulceration in rats, gastrointestinal motility in mice
and castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. The median lethal dose (LD50)
of the extract was carried out via the oral route in mice.
Antimicrobial and preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract
was also investigated. The extract did not show toxicity signs or death
at doses â€2000 mg/kg p.o. The extract (50-200 mg/kg i.p.) dose
dependently reduced acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) (200 mg/kg p.o.) -
induced ulceration in rats. The results obtained compared favourably
with cimetidine (100 mg/kg i.p.). The extract (25-100 mg/kg p.o.) dose
also dependently reduced intestinal propulsion of charcoal-treated
mice. However, the extract (25-100 mg/kg i.p) did not produce
significant (P >O.O5) protection against castor oil-induced
diarrhoea in rats. No antimicrobial effects were shown by the extract
(200 mg/kg) against any of the tested organisms. Tannins were detected
in the aqueous extract. The above results show that B. dalzielii stem
bark probably contains some active ingredients that could be developed
for such gastrointestinal problems as have been claimed by traditional
medical practitioners
Full Length Research Paper - Toxicity studies in rats fed nature cure bitters
Graded doses of Nature Cure Bitters (NCB) were administered daily (100,
200 and 400 mg/kg p.o) to rats for 28 days and the effects on body
weight, organ weight, clinical signs, gross pathology, haematology,
histology and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. The relative
weights of the heart, liver and testes of treated rats were unaffected
in contrast to a significant increase in the relative weights of the
lungs, kidneys and spleen. The packed cell volume and haemoglobin
concentrations were significantly reduced whereas total leucocyte
counts and glucose levels were remarkably increased. A significant
decrease in alkaline phosphatase occurred in all the groups but alanine
aminotransferase and albumin levels were significantly elevated. NCB
elicited hypo-cholesterolaemic effects in addition to lowering urea,
uric acid, BUN and total protein concentrations. Histological findings
did not reveal any treatment-related effects. The calculated
therapeutic index was >37.5. These preliminary results suggest that
NCB was not likely to produce severe toxicological effects on organ
weights, haematological and biochemical indices when given at normal
therapeutic doses