Phytochemistry And Some Haematological Changes Following Oral Administration Of Ethanolic Root Extract Of Gonglonema Latifolium In Rats

Summary: Gonglonema latifolium is a climbing perennial plant that belongs to the family of asclepidaceae. The medicinal uses of the leaves and stem bark extract of Gonglonema latifolium has been reported in many scientific literatures to include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcerative etc. There is paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties of the root extract. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the phytochemical constituents and effect of ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium on some hematological parameters. Eighteen (18) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 (control) was fed on normal rat chow + drinking water, the test groups (group 2 and 3) in addition received extract treatment (p.o) at a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens lasted for 14 days. Results show that the extract contains polyphenols, glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The mean RBC count for control was 4.44 ± 0.15 x106cells/mm3, this did not differ significantly from the test groups. The total WBC counts were 3.79 ± 0.15 x103cells/mm3, 3.37 ± 0.19 x103cells/mm3 and 5.54 ± 0.39 x103cells/mm3 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. WBC was significantly (

Ulcerogenic and gastric acid stimulating actions of ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium in rats

This study on the effect of ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium on gastric acid output and ulceration was undertaken due to paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties of the root extract especially on gastrointestinal functions. Eighteen (18) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each. The control group was fed on normal rat chow + drinking water while the test groups in addition received extract treatment (p.o) at a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens lasted for 14 days. Gastric acid secretion and ulcer studies were done using standard procedures. Results obtained from this study shows that the mean basal gastric acid output (MBGAO) was significantly (P<0.001) higher in the high dose (4.00 ± 0.12mmol/L/hr) and lower in low dose (2.50 ± 0.06mmol/L/hr) extract treated groups compared with control (3.65 ± 0.05mmol/L/hr). The high dose group also showed significant (P<0.05) potentiating effect on histamine induced gastric secretion compared to other groups. The effect of carbachol and atropine on MBGAO was not significantly different among the groups. Mean ulcer scores were also significantly higher in the low dose (P<0.01) and high dose (P<0.001) groups compared with controls. We therefore conclude that ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium contains phytochemical agents that increase gastric secretion at high doses probably via H2-histaminergic receptors, suppressing gastric acid production at low doses. The extract also has an ulcerogenic effect on gastric mucosa. Hence the use of crude root extract of Gonglonema latifolium should be taken with caution

Prevalence Of HIV Infection Among Antenatal Attendees At Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria

This retrospective study was conducted at the maternity unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Uyo. The aim was to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in the center. The voluntary counselling and testing register, the partner notification and antenatal clinic registers of all patients that booked for antenatal care between 1st July 2005 and 31st December 2007 were reviewed. There were 5,635 new antenatal clients during the study period out of which 464 were confirmed HIV positive resulting in a prevalence of 8.2%. Most of the patients were between 21-30 years (70.0%). About 59.4% of the patients were multiparous while 49.4% booked for antenatal care in the third trimester of pregnancy. HIV was diagnosed in the antenatal clinic in 408 (87.9%) of the patients and 182 (39.2%) received antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Only 38.8% of the patients accepted to notify their partners. One hundred and eighty eight patients delivered in the hospital. One hundred and twenty (63.8%) had spontaneous vaginal delivery, 63 (33.5%) were delivered by caesarean section, 3 (1.7%) had assisted vaginal breech delivery and 2 (1.1%) had ventouse delivery. The high prevalence of HIV infection among women pregnant women who have antenatal care in our hospital is highlighted. The intensification of strategies aimed at primary prevention of HIV infection in the community, encouraging all pregnant women to avail themselves of orthodox antenatal care, and the need to emphasize the advantages of self disclosure of serostatus to partners during counselling sessions in the antenatal clinic are advocated. KEY WORDS: HIV Positive women, antenatal attendees, Uy

Phytochemistry And Some Haematological Changes Following Oral Administration Of Ethanolic Root Extract Of Gonglonema latifolium In Rats

Gonglonema latifolium is a climbing perennial plant that belongs to the family of asclepidaceae. The medicinal uses of the leaves and stem bark extract of Gonglonema latifolium has been reported in many scientific literatures to include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcerative etc. There is paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties of the root extract. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the phytochemical constituents and effect of ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium on some hematological parameters. Eighteen (18) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 (control) was fed on normal rat chow + drinking water, the test groups (group 2 and 3) in addition received extract treatment (p.o) at a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens lasted for 14 days. Results show that the extract contains polyphenols, glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The mean RBC count for control was 4.44 ± 0.15 x 106 cells/mm3, this did not differ significantly from the test groups. The total WBC counts were 3.79 ± 0.15 x 103 cells/mm3 , 3.37 ± 0.19 x 103 cells/mm3 and 5.54 ± 0.39 x 103 cells/mm3 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. WBC was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the high dose (group 3) compared with control. Mean PCV (%) were 33.60 ± 0.81, 37.20 ± 0.80 and 34.80 ± 1.35 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The PCV was significantly (P<0.05) higher in low dose extract recipients (group 2) than in control. Hb content, MCV and MCH did not differ significantly among the groups, but MCHC was significantly lower in the test groups compared with control group. Neutrophils were significantly (P<0.001) reduced in the test groups, while the eosinophils and monocytes count were significantly increased in the test groups than in controls. In conclusion, the extract has little or no effect on RBC count, PCV, MCV and MCH. But low doses of the extract significantly increased the Hb count while high doses significantly increased WBC count, probably due to increase in eosinophil and monocyte counts. MCHC was dose-dependently reduced. The extract was also observed to contain polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides and reducing sugars

Comparative Effects of Rothmannia Hispida Leaves Extract and Protamine-Zinc Insulin on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder resulting from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both, manifesting in hyperglycaemia, polyuria, glucosuria etc. Various regimens have been used to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder; notable in orthodox medicine is insulin. Rothmannia Hispida herb extract is also used to manage DM by traditional healers. This study was therefore designed to establish the relative potency of insulin and R. hispida leaves extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. 20 male albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 (control) received normal rat chow + drinking water. Groups 2 - 4 in additional to control diet received alloxan treatment (150mg/kg i.p once). Seven days after, groups 3 (diabetic extract treated, DET) and 4 (diabetic insulin treated, DIT)) were further treated with R. hispida extract (100mg/kg, once daily) and protamine-zinc insulin (1unit) respectively. Their body weight, food intake, urine volume, urine and blood glucose levels were monitored daily. Results showed that after 7 days alloxan treatment, rats in groups 2 – 4 had significantly higher blood glucose, urine output, food intake, urine and blood glucose levels compared with controls. At day 14, the blood glucose level of DET (4.40 ± 0.52mmol/L) and DIT (4.10 ± 0.48mmol/L) were significantly (P<0.001) lower compared with diabetic untreated - DUT (22.00 ± 0.00mmol/L). Terminal urine glucose was absent in control, DET and DIT but was recorded in DUT (42.60 ± 6.14mmol/L). Terminal urine output was also significantly (P<0.001) lower in DET (8.60 ± 1.17ml) and DIT (8.80 ± 0.80ml) compared with diabetic untreated group (44.00 ± 1.48ml). The DUT and DIT were also observed to have negative growth rates (-4.86g/day and -0.29g/day respectively), whereas the controls and DET had positive growth rates (5.70g/day and 0.14g/day respectively). Terminal blood glucose levels and urine output were not significantly different between DET and DIT groups. We therefore conclude that both insulin and Rothmannia hispida leaves extract reverses symptoms (hyperglycaemia, polyuria, glucosuria) in diabetic rats, while the extract was more effective in restoring body weight than insulin. Therefore, 100mg/kg body weight of the Rothmannia hispida leaves extract is equally potent as 1 unit of protamine-zinc insulin as an anti-diabetic agent