ABSTRACT
Tobacco snuffing; like cigarette smoking; is known to be a common habit among the adults of Igbo communities in Nigeria. In view of the various pharmacological actions of nicotine and other additive constituents of tobacco snuff; there is growing concern that ascorbic acid; which is a vital antioxidant; and blood cell production or morphology may be affected. Objective: To investigate the possible effects of prolonged use of tobacco snuff on plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and some hematological parameters. Materials and Methods: Fifty adults of Igbo extraction (35 males and 15 females) residents in and around Enugu metropolis; who have been snuffing tobacco for 6 years and above; were recruited for the study; after they gave informed consent. Also; 50 apparently healthy; age-matched persons (25 males; 25 females); who do not smoke or take tobacco snuff; served as controls. Spectrophotometric method was adopted for ascorbic acid determination while hematological profiles were assessed by Bain method. Results: The results showed no significant difference in the measured parameters relative to the controls AA (P=0.08); Hb (P=0.19); PCV (P=0.10); RC (P=0.06); PC (P=0.20); WBC (P=0.09). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that tobacco snuff inhalation may not adversely affect plasma ascorbic acid concentration and hematological parameters in adult humans. The study; however; has not concluded that tobacco snuffing is totally wholesome
Subject(s)
Acids , Lakes , Lobeline , Mouth Neoplasms , Nigeria , Oxidative Stress , Pharmacologic Actions , Plant Poisoning , Rural Population , NicotianaABSTRACT
Les intoxications après usage de préparations de la pharmacopée traditionnelle sont graves. Les auteurs ont identifié 4 tableaux cliniques. Ils déplorent l'importante mortalité et pensent qu'une évaluation rationnelle de ces produits permettrait outre la sécurité de l'usage, le traitement ciblé des intoxications
Subject(s)
Cote d'Ivoire , Medicine, African Traditional , Pharmacopoeia , Plant Poisoning/complicationsABSTRACT
Des extraits acqueux obtenus par macerations d'ecorce de Sarcocephalus pobeguini sont utilises pour leurs proprietes abortives. L'administration a la rate gravide de tels extraits du jour 1 au jour 11 suivant la fecondation met en evidence que ces proprietes sont retrouvees chez l'animal et invite a identifier de facon precise la ou les substances responsables des anomalies maternelles et embryonnaires observees; qu'elles soient d'origine toxique ou d'origine neuro-endocrinnienne
Subject(s)
Animals , Plant Poisoning , Plants , RatsABSTRACT
In Botswana; as elsewhere in Africa; traditional healers are held in high esteem and are widely consulted for a variety of ailments. In fact; there is a national policy that they should be considered as an integral part of the national health services and that there should be cooperation between the government health services and the traditional healers. Unfortunately; clinical experience indicates that a number of patients are often admitted or referred to main hospitals with conditions attributed to the adverse effects of traditional remedies. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features of patients admitted with traditional medicine poisoning