Functional assessments and histopathology of hepatorenal tissues of rats treated with raw and processed herbs

The present study ascertained the functional integrity of hepatic and renal tissues, concurrently with blood lipid patterns, of Wistar rats infused with CCl4 and treated with raw and hydrothermal processed herbs, namely, Monodora myristica, Chromolaena odorata, Buccholzia coriacea and Sphenostylis stenocarpa. Measurement of phytochemical contents of the herbs was according to standard methods. The rats were randomly designated on the bases of diets and treatments received for 28 consecutive days. Fibrosis was induced in the Wistar rats by single dose intra-peritoneal injection of CCl4 for 2 consecutive days. Liver and kidney function tests and serum lipid profile were measured using spectrophotometric methods. Renal and hepatic tissues were subjected to histopathological examinations. The concentrations of alkaloids in the four herbal extracts were within the range of 4.83±0.03 - 31.33±0.29 mg/100 g sample, whereas the concentrations of saponins varied within a relatively narrow range: 0.33±0.09 - 4.33±0.02 mg/100 g dry sample; p > 0.05. The activity ratios of AST to ALT of the rat groups were generally less than 1.0 unit. Atherogenic indices of fibrotic rats were within the following ranges: TAG/HDL-C ratio (3.59±0.03 - 6.76±0.06), TC/HDL-C ratio (3.72±0.02 - 6.94±0.05) and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (2.00±0.01 - 4.59±0.02). Losses in phytochemical contents following hydrothermal processing of the herbs did not substantially affect their overall therapeutic scores against morpho-logical and functional impairments of hepatic and renal tissues following CCl4 intoxication of the rats. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.82322

EVALUATION OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS AND ANTIBACTERIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF SOME HERBAL REMEDIES ADMINISTERED ORALLY IN NIGERIA

The use of herbal remedies in preventive and curative medicine dates back to the primitive era and progressively gave birth to the modern day chemotherapy and medicine. Investigation into the microbiological quality of ten well packaged herbal drugs produced and commonly administered in Nigeria was carried out using standard methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test was demonstrated by Kirby- Bauer method and McFarland standard. Aliquot portions of decimally diluted drug suspensions were inoculated onto bacteriological and mycological media. Total counts were determined and expressed as colony forming units per grams /milliliters. Total heterotrophic and coliform bacteria count was 4.3 × 107-2.61 × 1011 and 1.0 × 107- 1.87 × 1010 on respectively. Total heterotrophic fungi count was 3.0 × 107- 1.55 × 1010. Five species of bacteria, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteriun diptheriae and Micrococcus luteus and five species of fungi, namely, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium notatum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Mucor and Saccharomyces species were isolated from the herbal remedies. Most of the isolates are resident in the soil, water, air and vegetations, and their public health implications had been reported. Staphylococcus aureus produce potent enterotoxins associated with food borne intoxication, toxic shock syndrome and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. Bacillus species, an endospore former also produce an exotoxin implicated in food borne infection. The presence of Enterococcus faecalis indicates feacal contamination. Some species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Rhizopus are known to produce mycotoxins that cause cancer and other mycotoxicoses as well as mycotic infections of the liver, kidney and skin. Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus sp were susceptible to seven of the ten oxoid commercial antibiotics. The high incidence of bacteria and fungi fall short of international standard and portends danger to consumers. Contamination may result from inadequate sanitary measures employed during production, packaging and storage. Good manufacturing practices (GMP) are recommended to ensure products with wholesome quality that meets international safety standar