The Effect of Parkia Leaf Extract on Cadmium-Induced Cerebral Leison in Wistar Rats.

Cadmium is a relatively rare soft metal that occurs in the natural environment typically in association with zinc ores and to a lesser extent, with lead and copper ores. It is highly toxic to both human and animals because it is widely distributed in the environment and is used in various industries. Some of the toxic effects of cadmium exposure are testicular atrophy, renal dysfunction, hepatic damage, hypertension, central nervous system injury and anemia. Parkia biglobosa serves as a remedy for quite number of ailments and has medicinal properties against bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, violent colic, vomiting sores and ulcers. This research work was targeted at investigating the activities of cadmium and Parkia biglobosa leaf extract on the histoarchitecture and histochemistry in prefrontal cortex. Thirty Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were acclimatized for two weeks and were maintained under standard condition in Bingham University animal house holding they were housed in well ventilated cages and kept under controlled light schedule and were fed with standard laboratory feed and water ad libitum. The rats were randomly grouped into six groups A, B, C, D, E, F each containing five animals. Group A served as control, Groups B, C, D, E and F were injected intra-peritoneally with 3.0 mg/kg of cadmium sulphate. After 72hrs of injecting cadmium, group C, D and E were administered orally with 20 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of the leaves extract of Parkia biglobosa respectively and group F received oral administration of 100 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg of vitamin C and E respectively for two weeks. Animals were sacrificed after two weeks of the last administration of the Parkia biglobosa leaf extract by cervical dislocation. Cadmium administration caused a significant increase (P< 0.05) of LDH, G6PD and MDA level in cadmium group animal while there was a significant decrease in LDH, G6PD and MDA level upon administration of Parkia biglobosa leaf extract. This study has shown that Parkia biglobosa leaf extract has antioxidant properties that might have enhanced morphological damage caused by cadmium by regenerating pyramidal and neuroglial cells and improving distribution of Nissl bodies in the prefrontal cortex of the treated rats.

Modulating Roles of Ethanolic Roots Extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga on Blood Glucose, Lipid Profile, Glycosylated Haemoglobin and Cytoarchitectural Changes on Pancreatic Beta Cells in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats.

Aim: The study investigated the modulating roles of ethanolic roots extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga (CF) for its antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, glycosylated hemoglobin effects and cytoarchitectural changes on pancreatic beta cells in alloxaninduced diabetic rats Study Design: Experimental diabetes using animal models. Methodology: Twenty- Five (25) male albino rats were randomly divided into five (5) experimental groups: control, diabetic, standard drug (glibenclamide 10 mg/kg body wt) and C. febrifuga (375 and 500 mg/kg bwt) treated diabetic groups The animals in four out of five groups were fasted for 18 h and were made diabetic by injecting with a single dose of alloxan (ALX) 150 mg/kg, Diabetic rats 5 per group received graded doses (375 and 500 mg/kg bwt) of the extracts and glibenclamide 10 mgkg-1 for 15days. Blood was collected on days 0, 5, 10 and 15 for glucose estimation. Lipid profile was measured using DiaSys Kits from Germany which utilized the colorimetric method. Insulin Assay was measured using Monobind Insulin Microplate Elisa test while HbA1C was analyzed by Biosystem Kits (Barcelona Kits, Spain) using chromatographic method. Twenty (20) male albino rats were randomly distributed to four groups; I, II, III and IV with each consisting of five animals received 20% (w/v) glucoseorally at a dose of 0.5ml /100 g bwt. After 30 min, the animals received extracts as follows: Group I, C. febrifuga (500 mg/kg bwt); Group II, C. febrifuga (250 mg/kg bwt); Group III, C. febrifuga (100 mg/kg bwt); Group IV, 0.5 ml (2% w/v) acacia solution and served as control. Blood glucose levels were then monitored at 30, 60, and 120 min. intervals and reported as the average glucose level of each group. Results: A significant reduction in postprandial sugar level was observed after 60min in all treatments. Diabetic rats without treatment showed significant increases (p<0.05) in the levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein LDL-cholesterol while the high density lipoprotein HDL-cholesterol level were significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to normal rats. In addition, the diabetic rats treated with the CF and glibenclamide showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in blood glucose, TG and LDLcholesterol levels and a significant decrease (p<0.05) in HDL-cholesterol level compared to diabetic untreated rats. There were significant reductions (p0.05) in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels and significant increase (p0.05) in the treated diabetic group compared to the negative control. Apart from these, cytoarchitectural changes also revealed the protective nature of the ethanolic roots extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga against alloxan induced necrotic damage of pancreatic tissues. Conclusion: The ethanolic roots extract of Crossopteryx febrifuga modulated hyperglycemic by potentiating insulin release from the beta cells of pancreas and ameliorated dyslipidaemia.

Testiculo Protective Effects of Ethanolic Roots Extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi on Alloxan Induced Testicular Damage in Diabetic Rats.

Aims: The study was designed to investigate the testiculo protective effects of ethanolic roots extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi on alloxan-induced testicular damage in diabetic rats. Study Design: Experimental diabetes using animal models. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, between January, 2013 and May, 2013. Methodology: Twenty male rats were divided into four groups: Group I consisted of nondiabetic rats that received only the vehicle; group II-IV was injected with a single dose of alloxan (ALX) of 150 mg kg-1 intraperitoneally; groups III and IV were given ethanolic roots extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi orally, 3 days after the ALX administration, at daily doses of 250 and 500mg kg-1 respectively for a period of 30 days. After 4 weeks of treatments, all the rats were sacrificed. Results: Administration of 150 mg kg-1 of alloxan to male rats induced diabetes and significantly reduced the body and testicular weights, testosterone levels, sperm count and motility, significantly increased the glucose level and decreased the levels of antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic markers such as glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased. By contrast, rats given the ethanolic roots extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi had significantly increase (p<0.05) in body weight gain, whereas the glucose levels significantly improved (p<0.05) in treated diabetic male rats. In addition, this extract improved the reproductive system of the diabetic male rats by significantly increasing the testis and epididymis weights, testosterone levels, sperm count and motility, reduced testicular GSH, CAT, SOD, GPx and significantly decreasing MDA.The extract had no deleterious effects and testicular cytoprotection damaged by ALX. Conclusion: We concluded that the treatment with the ethanolic roots extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi could reverse the adverse effects of ALX-diabetes on reproductive system of male rats which exhibits antihyperglycemic and fertility activities.

Neuroprotective Properties of NMDA R1 Antagonist (Ketamine) in Cyanide Treated Neurons in vitro.

Aims: This study aims at investigating possible means of reducing cyanide toxicity by blocking NMDA R1 via ketamine (an NMDA R1 antagonist). This is to provide a template for quick arrest of cyanide toxicity in neurons under oxygen deprived condition. Place and Duration of Study: Bingham University, Department of Anatomy, Karu, Nigeria. The duration of the study was100 minutes. Methodology: Freshly harvested cortical tissue blocks were perfused in accessory cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) containing all the necessary salts and glucose. The cultures were treated with ACSF (Control), ACSF+KCN (potassium cyanide), ACSF+KCN+Ketamine and ACSF+Ketamine for a total duration of 100 minutes at 37ºC. Results: The Ketamine had a protective and reversal effects on the tissues both for oxygen deprivation and cyanide toxicity, The cells in tissues treated with ACSF+KCN+Ketamine showed normal appearance of cell body and axonal projections, the cells treated with ACSF+Ketamine showed fewer degenerating cells compared to those treated with cyanide. Conclusion: Ketamine, an NMDA R1 antagonist is neuroprotective against the toxicity of cyanide.