Chronic Oral Administration of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Extract Induced Gastrointestinal Necrosis in Treated Albino Rats

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effect on of Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract on the histology of the gastrointestinal tract in rats. Study Design: Adult rats of both sexes were used for the work. The study was carried out at the Departments of Physiology and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria between September 2014 and January, 2015. Methodology: Fifty adult albino rats and 35 Mice were used for the study. The mice were used for acute toxicity study while the rats were divided into five groups of 10 rats each and were used for the histological study. Groups 2-5 were assigned different dose levels of OGLE in the order 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively while group 1 was given only feed and water. Treatment was given by the oral route and lasted for 28 days. Results: Phytochemical compounds identified in the extract include protein and carbohydrate which occurred in high amounts, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in moderate quantities, saponins, steroids and phenolic compounds in low amounts while tannins and alkaloids were absent. An LD50 and ED50 values of 2075 mg/kg and 850 mg/kg body weight respectively were obtained for the extract with a Therapeutic Index value of 2.44. Chronic oral administration of the extract also caused various degrees of histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract in all treated animals with significant erosions of the mucosa and submucosa. The gastrointesinal necrosis produced by Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract after long term treatment was dose dependent with 100 mg/kg inducing only mild necrosis of the villi, 200 mg/kg, a higher necrosis of the villi, while 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg induced severe necrosis of both the villi and the intestinal mucosa. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study therefore suggest that Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract is rich in bioactive compounds and may be well tolerated at low to moderate doses during short term treatment but may cause gastrointestinal erosions when used continuously over a long period.

Identification of Phytocomponents and Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Corchorus olitorius Leaf Extract

In this study, the identification of secondary metabolites was carried out alongside acute toxicity evaluation on Corchorus olitorius leaf extract (COLE). Results of phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids (4.00±0.035 mg/100 g), steroids (0.89±0.031 mg/100 g), terpenes (1.27±0.016 mg/100 g), phenolic compounds (2.05±0.514 mg/100 g), alkaloids (3.10±0.026 mg/100 g), saponins (4.00±0.054 mg/100 g), tannins (0.32±0.044 mg/100 g) and cardiac glycoside (1.61±0.068 mg/100 g) while GCMS analysis of the extract showed the presence of 46 compounds with 2-Dodecenal having the highest concentration. 3-Methyl-1-penten-4-yn-3-ol, 2,4-Decadienal and Ethanone were also found in higher amounts. No toxicity behaviour and mortality were observed during the acute toxicity study period, even at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body. From results obtained, we conclude that Corchorus olitorius leaf extract may be a potential source of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and cardiovascular system modulatory agent and may be safe for use as food and medicine.

In vivo and In vitro spasmolytic Effect of Ficus sur Forssk Ethanol Leaf Extract on the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Aim: Sequel to the report that Ficus sur ethanol leaves extract (FELE) has anti-diarrheal property and has been used in some parts of Nigeria for the treatment of the disease, this work examined the effect of Ficus sur ethanol leaves extract (FELE) on gastrointestinal motility. Experimental Design: In vivo and in vitro Animal experiments were employed on whole rats and isolated intestinal tissues. Methods: In the in vivo work, 25 adult rats were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 was given 0.2ml normal saline and served as control. Group 2 received Atropine (0.1mg/kg), while groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with 150, 300 and 500mg/kg of FELE respectively. Thirty minutes later, 0.2ml of charcoal meal was administered to all the rats used. The rats were sacrificed in another 30 minutes time. Each animal was opened to measure the distance travelled by the charcoal meal against the whole length of the small intestine. For the in vitro study, isolated guinea pig ileum and rabbit jejunum were used to study the effects of FELE on the gastrointestinal tract. Results: In the in vivo studies, FELE exhibited a significant (P<0.05) dose dependent reduction in gastrointestinal tract motility as 150, 300 and 500mg/kg inhibited intestinal motility in treated rats by 58.36, 62.06 and 63.35% respectively and compared favorably with Atropine which inhibited same by 53 30%. On the isolated tissues, FELE exhibited relaxation effects and also significantly (P<0.05) blocked Acetylcholine induced intestinal contractions. Conclusion: The relaxation effect of FELE on the gastrointestinal tract suggests that the extract contain principles with anticholinergic property and could be valuable in the management of diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems associated with hyper parasympathetic innervation. The results therefore agree with traditional claim that Ficus sur leaves extract has antidiarrheal property.