ABSTRACT
Background: Gastric ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder with global consequence, which is aggravated by an imbalance between the aggressive factors and factors that maintain the mucosal integrity. The role of Piliostigma thonningii leaf extract on hematological indices of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosa lesions in Wistar rats was examined.Methods: Thirty-six male rats were divided into six groups of 6 rats each. Group I, the normal control, II gastric ulcerated + cimetidine (standard control), III extract only (100mg/kg bwt), while IV, gastric ulcerated control, V gastric ulcerated + extract (100mg/kg bwt) and VI gastric ulcerated + extract (200mg/kg bwt). After 12 days of administration, gastric ulcer was then induced by oral administration of 40mg/kg bwt indomethacin to rats in groups II, IV, V and VI. The rats were sacrificed 12 hours after indomethacin treatment and blood collected for hematological assay.Results: The RBC count and Hb pattern were similar. There was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in RBC and Hb of the ulcer control group which was normalized on administration of 200mg/kg bwt of P. thonningii extract. The MCV of the ulcer lesion was significantly (P<0.05) reversed to normal by the extract.Conclusions: The P. thonningii leaf extract showed promising result by normalizing decreased levels in RBC and Hb caused by ulcer. Except for platelet counts, the WBC count and differential WBC counts were quite positive. It was able to reverse macrocytosis caused by ulcer lesions to normal, hence exhibiting a hemato-protective nature.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To ascertain the antidiabetic and antioxidative effects of ethanol-methanol extracts of leaf, stem bark and root of Jatropha curcas on the blood and liver tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic albino wistar rats Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Cross River University of Technology, Okuku campus between August 2013 and March, 2014. Methodology: Fifty four (54) male albino wistar rats weighing 150- 200g were randomly assigned into nine study groups (n=6). Group I was the normal control, groups II–VI were induced with diabetes using streptozotocin. Group II was untreated, while groups III –VI were treated with leaf, stem bark, root extracts and Glibenclamide (standard drug) respectively. The remaining groups VIIIX were not induced with diabetes but were treated with leaf, stem bark and root extracts respectively. The administration of these extracts lasted for 14 days after which the animals were sacrificed. The liver tissue was collected and homogenized and the supernatant used for the estimation of SOD, CAT and MDA activities. Results: The result of blood glucose level on the fourteenth day of the plant extracts administration, showed further decrease in the groups treated with the plant extracts to the extent that group IV was significantly (P<0.05) decreased compared with the normal control. The blood glucose level of the standard drug (Glibenclamide) treated group (VI) was further decreased however it remained significantly (P<0.05) increased compared with the normal control and about three or more times that of the groups treated with the plant extracts. Result of the liver tissue SOD for the test groups showed significant (P<0.05) difference except for groups IV and VII when compared with the normal control. There was no significant (P≥0.05) difference in the SOD activities of test groups compared with the diabetic control. The liver tissue CAT showed general increase for the test groups, but group III produced a significant (P<0.05) increase compared with the normal control, while groups III and V showed significant (P<0.05) increase compared with the diabetic control. The liver tissue MDA showed significant (P<0.05) increase for groups II and IV but a significant (P<0.05) decrease for group V compared with the normal control. However, compared with group II (diabetic control) all the test groups showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease. Conclusion: The present research suggest that the leaf, stem bark and root of ethanol-methanol (1:1) extracts of Jatropha curcas possess anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant activities but their response to the liver tissue enzyme systems of SOD and CAT vary in either to playing compensatory role or boosting the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. The plant parts also appear to possess the potential for reversing the tissue oxidative damage caused by diabetes as seen by their abilities to prevent lipid peroxidation.
ABSTRACT
In an attempt to evaluate the acclaimed aphrodisiac activity of ethanol leaf extract of Piliostigma thoningii, twenty (20) male wistar albino rats were weighed and grouped into four study groups (A-D) of five animals each. Rats in group A (control) were administered with 1ml of distilled water orally while those in groups B, C, and D were given same volume orally, corresponding to 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively for 21 days. Sexual behaviour parameters were monitored in the male rats for 3 days after administration by pairing with a receptive female (1:1). The male serum testosterone concentration was also determined. Cage side observation on the animals revealed prospective behaviours by the receptive female rats and pre- copulatory behaviours by the extract-treated male rats. The extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly (P < 0.05) increased the frequencies of mount and intromission. In addition, the ejaculation latency was significantly (P < 0.05) prolonged. The latencies of mount and intromission were reduced signifi-cantly (P<0.05) whereas ejaculation frequency increased. The extract also reduced the post- ejaculatory interval of the wistar albino rats. Computed percentages of index of libido, mounted, intromitted, ejaculated and copulatory efficiency were higher in the extract- treated animals than the control whereas the intercopulatory interval decreased significantly. The extract also significantly (P<0.05) increased the serum testosterone content of the animals. Data from this study suggest that the ethanol extract of Piliostigma thonningii leaf enhanced sexual behaviour in male rats.
ABSTRACT
In the risk assessment of the effect of administration of artemisinin-based combination therapy on some selected liver function indices of pregnant wistar albino rats. Fifteen (15) pregnant wistar albino rats were divided into three groups and were allowed to acclimatize to laboratory condition for seven (7) days. Rats in group A served as the control and were administered with normal saline throughout the experimental period of seven (7) days, while rats in group B and C were administered intra-peritoneally with 3 and 6mg/kg body weight of artemisininbased combination therapy respectively throughout the experimental period. Twenty four (24) hours after the last administration, the pregnant wistar albino rats were sacrificed. Blood was obtained by cardiac puncture for analysis of serum ALP, AST, ALT and bilirubin using standard methods and enzyme kits. The result showed that the drug at both 3and 6mg/kg body weight produced a significant (P<0.05) dosage increase in serum AST, ALT and ALP. The ratio of AST: ALT and AST: ALP showed a significant (P<0.05) increase. Similar pattern was also displayed by serum bilirubin concentration. These results are clear manifestations that artemisinin-based combination therapy might pose hepatic injury, hepatobilliary toxicity or complete hepatic damage in pregnant wistar albino rats. Thus, it is suggested that special precaution needs to be exercised on the usage of artemetherlumefantrine in pregnancy.