ABSTRACT
Aims: This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic effect of a combined extract of Vernonia amygdalinaand croton zabensicuscompare with a hypoglycemic drug, glibenclamide.Methodology:Twenty 20 experimental animals were used (albino rats); the rats were divided equally into four groups of five rats each; namely A (control), B (glibenclamide 10mg/kg body weight), C (synergetic treatment 1000mg/kg body weight), D (synergetic treatment 500mg/kg of body weight). Diabetes was induced intraperitoneal using Alloxan Monohydrate to all the animals and their blood glucose rise above 200mg/dl.Results:It was observed that group B and group C treated with glibenclamide (10mg/kg body weight) and synergetic aqueous extract (1000mg/kg body weight) show significantdecrease in the blood glucose level from 451.75mg/dl to 64.50mg/dl and 339.50mg/dl to 182.50mg/dl respectively compared with group D with 278.25mg/dl to 194.75mg/dl.However, a change was also observed in the body weight of the groups; Group A (Normal control) showed a continuous increase in the body weight, Group B, C and D were observed to have decreased in body weight from induction period, but a steady increase was observed astreatment commences. Conclusion:Hence this combined extract can be used as antihyperglycemic; only that it is slower in remediation compared with the glibenclamide; but without side effect, as may be in the case of most standard drug
ABSTRACT
Objectives of the Study:An Epidemiological Research, a cross-sectional study, was conducted to determine the magnitude of human contamination of irrigation canal perimeter as it relates to the prevalence and intensity of schistosome cercarial infection in snail vectors.Place and Duration of Study:The study was conducted along water canal located within an irrigation area, Kano River Project Phase I, Kadawa, between January and June, 2012.Methodology:The study area was categorized into Zone of Heavy Contamination (ZHC), Zoneof Light Contamination (ZLC) and Zone of Free Contamination (ZFC) based on the density of faecal lumps observed along the canal perimeter using 1m2quadrat sampling technique. Snail vectors of schistosomiasis were collected from these zones, identified and subjected to cercarial shedding. Brevifurcate apharyngeate cercariae were identified as schistosome cercariae.Results:Of the 827 snails collected 28.54% shed schistosome cercariae. The breakdown of infection prevalence was 31.37%, 27.69% and 26.26% for ZHC, ZLC and ZFC respectively. Three snail species recovered in the study area, Bulinus globosus, B. rohlfsi and Biomphalaria pfeifferi had infection intensity of 8.6, 5.67 and 3.94 respectively, with total mean intensity of 4.67. A Chi-squared analysis did not show any significant difference in infection prevalence in the three zones (χ2cal.0.025, χ22, 0.05= 5.99). However, infection intensity was significantly different in the three zones and among the three snail species using analysis of variance (P<0.05). Conclusion:Human environmental contamination with faeces and urine around irrigation canals remains the source of infection to snail hosts and then to humans. It is presumed that contact control through avoidance of defaecation in the open and building of pit latrines near water contact points along irrigation canals will be effective means of drawing a barrier to infection with schistosomes in the study area