ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the anti-diarrhoea property of aqueous leaves extract of Psidium guajava (red apple guava leaves) in castor oil-induced diarrhoea in rats. Methods: Five groups of five rats each orally received the following treatment; groups II, III & IV received 100, 200 & 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively and group V received a standard drug for diarrhoea (Laperamide), while group 1 received 1ml of castor oil only without treatment. 1 ml of castor oil was given to rats in all groups, one hour after the treatment with extract and standard drug. The rats in each group were then placed singly in a cage with adsorbent paper on the floor of the cage. The diarrhoea episode was observed for 4 hours and the cumulative frequency of the wet and formed stools were noted at the end of the 4th hour. Percentage inhibition of diarrhoea was calculated using the mean stool frequency and the anti-diarrhoea activity determined in terms of percentage protection. Results: The extract reduced stooling in castor oil induced diarrhoea in rats in group IV which shows no significant difference with the group V treated with standard drug. The rats in group I showed the highest stooling episode which is significantly higher than all other groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that an aqueous extract of guava leaves may be used as an effective treatment for non specific diarrhoea in medicine. The anti-diarrhoea action may be linked to direct inhibitory effect of the extract on the propulsive movement of the gastrointestinal tract smooth muscles. It equally shows that the treatment is dose dependent.
ABSTRACT
The study was done to investigate the anti-venom activity of Mucuna pruriens leaves extract against cobra snake (Naja hannah) venom. Study Design: The mice were randomly grouped into six groups (A, B, C, D, E, and F) of five rats each. Group A served as the normal control (no induction), and the mice in the group were given normal saline (1ml/kg/body weight).Group B served as the test control (snake venom was induced but no treatment administered), Group C served as the standard control (snake venom was induced and treated with antivenin, a standard drug), Group D, E and F were all induced with the cobra snake venom and treated with ethanolic extracts of the leaves of M. pruriens for 14 days. Methodology: The induction with cobra snake venom was done with 0.075mg/kg b.w of venom and thereafter the treatment with M. pruriens extract for Group D, E and F were done with 40 mg/ kg, 60 mg/ kg and 80 mg/ kg respectively intraperitoneally in the mice. Serum blood of the animals was used to assay for total cholesterol, bilirubin, AST, ALT, GSH and catalase levels after 14days. Result: The injection of crude venom of cobra snake (Naja hannah) caused an increase in cholesterol, AST, ALT, bilirubin, catalase and glutathione in envenomated mice which significantly reduced (p<0.05) compared to all the controls after 14 days of treatment with the extract. Conclusion: The results suggests that 80 mg/ kg of the plant extract is more effective than the standard drug, therefore M. pruriens leaves has a greater anti-venom potential for curing snake bite, than antivenin.
ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was carried out to investigate the role of coconut oil on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsant activity in Wistar rats using the laboratory model. Convulsant activity was achieved by injection of PTZ. Study Design: The rats were divided into five groups. Group 1 served as control and received distilled water orally. Group2 was a reference group and received only PTZ. The remaining three groups (3, 4 and 5) were test groups and rats were given oral administration of coconut oil at doses of 2, 4 and 5.3 ml/kg for 21 days. Methodology: 25 rats weighing between 125 and 200g were used. 30 minutes after the last administration of coconut oil after 21 days, a convulsive dose of PTZ was given intraperitoneally. Electroencephalogram (EEG) readings of the rats were then taken using an EEG machine and electrodes placed on the head of the rats recorded the waves produced on the scalp of the rats. The frequencies of the waves recorded were analyzed and compared for all groups. Result: The frequency of EEG readings produced during convulsion that was caused by the PTZ in the rats were reduced for the rats that received coconut oil. There was a significant decrease in the mean frequency of EEG of rats that received 2, 4 and 5.3 ml/kg coconut oil ( which had frequencies of 13Hz, 14.6Hz and 14. 4Hz, respectively) when compared with the reference group that received only PTZ which had a mean frequency of 16Hz. Coconut oil significantly reduced the frequency produced by PTZ. The result also shows that the lower dose group had the most appreciable decline in convulsive activity returning the frequency of electroencephalogram waves recorded to 13Hz same as the control group. Conclusion: The result suggests that coconut oil given at a moderate dose has anticonvulsant effect and will cause an increase in weight. These findings supports reports that ketogenic diet could help reduce convulsant activities and epileptic seizures.