ABSTRACT
Background: Ocimum gratissimum (OG) is a shrub belonging to the family of Lamiaceae. It is commonly called scent leaf or clove basil and it is found in many tropical countries. Studies have shown that the leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum possess medicinal properties. Aim: The effect of methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum on blood pressure, electrolytes, renal and cardiac biomarkers in 8% NaCl- induced hypertensive male Wistar rats. Methodology: Forty Wistar rats (120-160) g were assigned to 5 groups of eight rats each. Group 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 constitute the normal, hypertensive group, OG (200 mg/kg bwt) group, OG (400 mg/kg bwt) group and reference drugs (lisinopril, 30 mg/kg) group respectively. Group 3, 4 and 5 were given the extract and reference drug through oral gavage. All groups except group 1 were induced with 8% NaCl from 0-4weeks before treatment with OG and reference drug from 5-8 weeks. Electrolytes and other biochemical parameters were assayed using standard methods. Results: The phytochemical results revealed the presence of phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids, phytate, tannis and saponin. At 4 weeks (after induction), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum sodium, chloride, urea, and creatinine significantly (p<0.05) increased while serum potassium significantly (p<0.05) decreased in all the groups except group 1. At 8 weeks, after treatment with OG (200 mg/kgbwt), OG (400 mg/kgbwt) and lisinopril (30 mg/kg), SBP, DBP, serum sodium, chloride, urea, and creatinine significantly(p<0.05) decreased while serum potassium significantly (p<0.05) increased. Creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MB however, were not significantly altered after the 4th and 8th week. Conclusion: OG extract possesses an antihypertensive effect and enhances the proper functioning of the kidney. It may also be useful in hypertensive condition due to its nephroprotective effect at 200mg/kgbwt and 400 mg/kgbwt.
ABSTRACT
Background: HIV/AIDS is one of the most dynamic epidemic infectious diseases. An estimated 1000 children are newly infected with HIV every day, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. They often present with various clinical and laboratory manifestations that complicates their management. Objectives: To determine the baseline clinical and laboratory features of HIV-infected children presenting at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data were collected from HIV infected children seen at the Pediatric HIV Clinic of UNTH between July 1st 2010 and June 30th 2012. Clinical and immunological staging of the patients were done using the WHO criteria and data analysis was with SPSS version19. Results: Two hundred and ten children were enrolled into the study. The most common route of HIV infection was vertical transmission (95.2%). Common presenting clinical and laboratory data were: anaemia (92.9%), cough (76.2%), fever (63.3%), popular rash (62.9%) and poor weight gain (61.0%). Thirty-four children (16.2%) each had severe and moderate acute malnutrition while 92 children (43.8%) were stunted. Tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C co-infections were seen in 32.4%, 1.9% and 3.3% of the children respectively. Most of the patients had either a WHO clinical stage III (42.4%) or II (39.0%) disease. Severe immunosuppression based on CD4% or count was seen in more than half of the patients (59.1%). Conclusions: Anaemia was the most common clinical/laboratory finding; followed by cough. Although our patients were likely to present with WHO clinical 2 or stage 3 disease, severe immunological suppression was common.