Effects of crude ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferus a. Rich on functional and structural integrity of the rats kidney

The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of crude ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferuson rat kidney. The toxic effects of the extract on rats kidney after 28 days of oral administration were evaluated on serum levels of urea, creatinine, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) while histopathology was evaluated on sections of the kidney. Results from the acute toxicity studies on the extract were found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight in rats after oral administration. The biochemical analysis of the extract showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in serum urea, creatinine and sodium levels, and significant (p<0.05) increase in serum potassium and chloride levels at doses of 175 and 350 mg/kg, while serum bicarbonate remained insignificant at tested doses. However, histological observations showed no significant structural changes in the kidney architecture at doses of 87.5 and 175 mg/kg extract compared to control, but at 350 mg/kg dose of extract showed areas of degeneration of Bowman’s capsule.The present work has revealed the non-toxicity of the ethanol extracts of Tapinanthus globiferus at low dose but suggests that its prolonged usage at higher dose should be monitored.Keywords: Tapinanthus globiferus, Creatinine, Electrolytes, nephrotoxic, Bowman’s capsul

Effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Tapinanthus globiferus A. rich on liver function in rats

The effects of ethanol extract of Tapinanthus globiferus in the liver of rats were evaluated on serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB) and conjugated bilirubin (CB) while histological analysis was evaluated on section of liver after 28 days of oral administration. The oral LD50 of the extract in rats was found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. The biochemical analysis revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP and TP at all doses treated (87.5, 175 and 350 mg/kg) but there was significant (p < 0.05) evaluation of serum TB at higher dose and significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent increase in CB when compared with control. The photomicrograph of transverse section of the liver treated with doses of 175 and 350 mg/kg showed areas of fibrosis at 100 magnifications while no effect was observed at 87.5 mg/kg body weight. This work revealed that, Tapinanthus globiferus extract has no toxic effect on the liver of rats after short and low dose administration but can cause sign of liver damage at higher dose.Key words: Tapinanthus globiferus, Biochemical, Ethanol, Histological, Photomicrograp

Sedative properties of Mitracarpus villosus leaves in mice

The leaves of Mitracarpus villosus (Sw.) DC. (Rubiaceae) have several therapeutic applications in the West African folk medicine for the management of a plethora of stress-related diseases including headaches. This study was designed to evaluate the sedative properties of the ethylacetate extract of Mitracarpus villosus on open field (OFT), diazepam-induced sleep, staircase climbing, head-dips in the hole-board test and rota rod test in mice. Graded doses (100 – 400 mg/kg) of the extract significantly and dose-dependently prolonged the duration of diazepam-induced sleep (P<0.05), decreased the number of squares crossed in the OFT (P<0.0001), decreased number of head-dips in the hole-board test (P<0.05) and reduced steps climbing (P<0.05) in mice. The extract at the doses tested had no effect on motor coordination as observed in the rota-rod treadmill assay in mice. Our results revealed that the ethylacetate extract of Mitracarpus villosus leaves may contain psychoactive principles that are sedative in nature, thus supporting further development of the psychoactive components of this plant for management of stress-related diseases.Keywords: Mitracarpus villosus, sedation, diazepam, locomotion

Skill acquisition, capacity building and women economic empowerment: a case study of Women Education Center, Birnin Kebbi

Lack of vocational training has been considered as the bane of the economy of many African countries particularly Nigeria. The indispensable role of women in any development process calls for eradication of gender related barriers and women empowerment at all levels. This study examined the impact of skill acquisition and capacity building on women economic empowerment with reference to the activities of Women Education Center Birnin Kebbi. A sample of 225 respondents was selected from a population of 452 graduates due to time and cost constraints. A descriptive survey was conducted using a structured interview. Two null hypotheses stated were tested using spearman rank correlation coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there is a low positive correlation between skill acquisition and women economic empowerment and a high positive correlation between capacity building and women economic empowerment. However, while the relationship between skill acquisition and women economic empowerment was not significant, the relationship between capacity building and women economic empowerment was significant. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that government should invest more on human capital development particularly on women, increase expenditure on instructional materials and infrastructural facilities at vocational training centers, improve by assisting trainees with capital to start business. Finally, women should be allowed by their guardians to learn functional skills to improve their economic status and avail themselves the opportunity offered by government to get functional skills. This will go a long way in attaining the MDGs

Effects of Storage Conditions on Pharmacokinetics of Paracetamol Table

The effects of storage condition on the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol tablets were studied under several storage conditions. Three storage sites which were considered suboptimal were selected. Freshly purchased 1000-tablets tins of paracetamol were bought and stored in each of these sites for not less than two months and were being dispensed. Prior to storage a few tablets from each tin were selected to serve as control. Kinetic studies were carried out with tablets obtained after two months of storage in these sites. A colorimetric method was used for plasma concentration determination and data analysed using student t test. p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Blood level data obtained from the studies were used to determine the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Plasma concentrations showed no statistical differences from two storage sites (p>0.05). The time taken to attain peak plasma level (t) was not statiscally affected in all the sites (p>0.05), but area under the curve from zero to infinity (AuC-) was statistically affected in two sites (