ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic properties of Pseudocedrela kotschyi in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was conducted by first inducing diabetes through intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight) (bwt). The diabetic rats, 5 per group received graded extract doses (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) or 0.5mL acacia solution (2 %w/v) for 15 days. Blood was collected on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 for glucose estimation. In postprandial test, three extract groups (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and the control were arranged, each comprised of 5 rats. Each animal was administered orally with glucose at a dose of 2g/kg bwt followed by extract administration 30min later. Blood glucose was monitored at 30, 60 and 120 min intervals. In hypoglycaemic study, the extract was administered at doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg bwt. Lipid profile was analyzed by modified enzymatic procedure and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) by standard protocol. Results: The diabetic rats treated with the extract/glibenclamide showed weight gain. They also experienced dose (250 and 500 mg/kg bwt) dependent decrease in glycaemia with maximum decrease of 259.1±3.0 (24.9%) and 266.1±2.9 (25.3%) respectively while glibenclamide, 227.0±3.8 (36.0%). The postprandial test showed that the extract induced lower blood glucose level after 60 min. The extract also showed to have good hypoglycaemic activity at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg bwt respectively. The pancreatic tissue analysis from the rats treated with the root extract indicated substantial beta cells survivor. An appreciable decrease in HbA1C level was found in the extract and glibenclamide treated compared to the negative control. In lipid profile study, Pseudocedrela kotschyi extract was observed to have ameliorated dyslipidaemia. Conclusion: The extract showed efficacy in attenuating hyperglycaemia, inducing hypoglycaemia and ameliorating dyslipidaemia.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicities of Raphia hookeri (Rh) seed hydroethanolic extract on experimental animals. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity study was evaluated on Swiss albino mice of both sexes. Administration of a single dose of 4000mg/kg of Rh seed extract by gavages to five mice showed no mortality, hence, its 1/20th dose was used as the highest therapeutic dose. The intra-peritoneal administration produced dose dependent mortality with median lethal dose (LD50) of approximately 323.6mg/kg body weight (bwt). In subacute toxicity study, Wistar rats received daily administration of the extract in the dose range of 50 to 200mg/kgbwt for 30 days. The effects on biochemical, histological and haematological parameters were evaluated. Results: The animals exhibited dose dependent body weight changes. There were some organs weight gains with the exception of the liver and testes which showed comparably lower weight compared to the control. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin levels compared to the control while bilirubin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels decreased appreciably at the highest extract dose. The urea level decreased while the creatinine level increased in dose dependent manner. In lipid profile study, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) levels showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in value. There was significant (p<0.05) increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol). Marked decrease in red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit occurred. The white blood cells also decreased while neutrophil and lymphocytes increased appreciably. The extract caused marked deleterious effect on the testes leading to drastic reduction in sperm cells. Conclusion: The extract caused undesirable effect on the male reproductive organ of the animals making it unsafe for consumption by males of reproductive age.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study evaluated acute and sub-acute toxicities in rodents and microbial purity of a polyherbal formulation, Bobwell® popular among the natives for the management of diabetes mellitus (DM). It was prepared with unspecified quantities of the following plant materials viz. Gongronema latifolium. Garcinia kola, Vernonia amgydalina, Sphenocentrum jollyanum and Kigelia africana leaves. Materials and Methods: Microbial purity was evaluated on some bacterial and fungal organisms using appropriate diagnostic media. Toxicity of the polyherbal preparation was evaluated in Swiss albino mice by administering to the animals graded oral doses of the lyophilized preparation in the ranges of 1.0 to 20.0 g/kg body weight (bwt) and observed for changes. Wistar rats were also fed with different doses of the lyophilized formulation for 30 days and the effects on the biochemical profiles and haematological parameters were evaluated. Results: The purity evaluation test revealed presence of some bacterial organisms with the load within officially acceptable limits except Escherichia coli having a load of 1.50x102 cfu/ml while no fungal organisms were observed. The median acute toxicity value (LD50) of the polyherbal medicine was determined to be 15.2 g/kg bwt. There was significant increase (P ≤0.05) in the body weight of the animals treated with the highest dose of the formulation compared to the control. The biochemical parameters showed marked decrease in the plasma glucose level compared to the control. Increase in creatinine level was observed only in the animals that received the highest dose of the formulation while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased significantly. On the other hand, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) exhibited significant increased (P ≤0.05) at the highest dose. The photomicrograph of hepatic tissue showed focal necro-inflammation around the portal hepatics. There was marked increase in the haemoglobin level and in the red blood cell (RBC) count at the highest doses. There was also significant increase in white blood cells (WBC). Conclusion: The high LD50 value indicated that the polyherbal preparations could be safe for use but its safety was negated by high presence of E coli load. Although the formulation showed good hypoglycaemic activity and beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, at the highest dose, the formulation exhibited deleterious effect on the hepatic tissue.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To examine the effect of Raphia hookeri (RH) seed extract on blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and lipid profile of alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the animals received the extract (1 g/kg) or glibenclamide (0.01 mg/kg) or vehicle and 30 min later they received oral glucose load (1 g/kg). Glucose was estimated at 30min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. In hypoglycaemic study, the extract was administered at doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (bwt) doses. In fasting blood glucose study (FBG), diabetic Wister rats, 5 per group, received graded doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) of the extract or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) or vehicle for 15 days. Blood was collected on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 for glucose estimation. Lipid profile was analyzed using modified enzymatic procedure. Insulin assay was done by Diagnostic Automation Kit and HbA1C by standard protocol. The studies lasted for three weeks. Results: The diabetic animals treated with the extract showed appreciable weight gain. In oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), RH seed extract and glibenclamide treated rats blood glucose significantly (P<0.05) decreased in the peak values and the area under curve after 4 h of oral load with decreased values of 48.3±1.0 mg/dL (63.3%) and 62.0±0.8 mg/dL (51.6%) respectively. The hypoglycaemic activity at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (bwt) doses showed lowest plasma glycaemic decrease of 50.1% and 54.4% respectively after 8 h of oral administration. In FBG study, after 15 days of extract/glibenclamide treatment, the animals’ blood glucose exacerbated by alloxan challenge returned to normal glycaemia with glycaemic decrease of 87.2±2.3 (79.3%); 57.0±1.7 (86.3%) and 55.0±0.3 mg/dL (87.1%) respectively while glibenclamide showed a maximum glycaemic decrease of 167.4±1.1 mg/dL (60.1%). The tissue morphology of the extract treated showed significant beta cells survivor. The extract ameliorated dislipidaemia and exerted significant (p<0.05) decrease in plasma HbA1C while marked increase in plasma insulin level occurred. Conclusion: The extract effectively attenuated hyperglycaemia, caused marked decrease in HbAIC concentration and ameliorated dislipidaemia.
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Aim: The haematinic activity and subchronic toxicity of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (Menispermaceae) seed oil was evaluated and compared with the control. Materials and Methods: In acute toxicity study the animals tolerated up to 16 g/kg body weight (bw) of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 solution administered orally after 24 hrs fast. Another set of mice (6 per group) fasted for 24 hrs were administered with the extract intra-peritoneal (IP) at different doses (250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg bw) until 100% mortality was achieved. In subchronic toxicity study, 300, 600 and 1200 mg/kg bw of the extract in 2 % Tween 80 were administered on the animals for 120 days. Results: In acute toxicity study, the extract was found to be non toxic when it was administered orally for up to 16 g/kg bw within 24 hrs. Subchronic toxicity test showed no mortality after 120 days of oral administration. The animals showed appreciable increase in feeding habit and water intake. Increase in body and vital organs weights occurred while tissue histology showed no abnormal features. The liver function profile showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) compared to the control except for the albumin that increased markedly. The extract led to significant increase (p < 0.05) in RBC. The packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin count (Hb) increased with increase in dose. On the other hand, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and white blood cells (WBC), did not vary markedly. Similarly, WBC differentials did not record appreciable difference compared to the control. Conclusion: The result showed that SJ seed oil possessed haematinic and hepato-protective property thereby justifying its therapeutic use in traditional medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study toxicity, anti-diabetic and cardiovascular effects of hydro-ethanolic extracts of Parinari curatellifolia seed extract and Aristolochia vogelii roots extract and (1:1) mixture of the above two extracts. Materials and Methods: Twenty Wister strain albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups; A, B, C and D with each consisting of five animals received extracts as follows: Group I, P. curatellifolia and A. vogelli mixture (1:1) (500 mg/kg bwt); Group II, A. vogelli (500 mg/kg bwt); Group III, P. curatellifolia seed extract (500 mg/kg bwt); Group IV, 0.5 ml (2% w/v) acacia solution and served as control. After 30 min, the animals were each administered orally with 40% (w/v) glucose at a dose of 1ml /100 g bwt. Blood glucose levels were then monitored at 30, 60, and 120 min. intervals and reported as the average glucose level of each group. Another set of twenty five rats (diabetic rats) were randomly distributed into five groups of five animals each while the additional sixth group was the positive control consisting of five normal rats. Treatments were as follows: Group I, diabetic treated with A. vogelli at a dose of 500 mg/kg bwt; Group II, diabetic treated with P. curatellifolia at a dose of 500 mg/kg bwt; Group III, diabetic treated with glibenclamide 600μg /kg bwt; Group IV, diabetic treated with mixture of Parinari curatellifolia and A. vogelli (1:1) (500 mg/kg bwt); Group V, diabetic untreated (control negative) while group VI was the positive control. Results: A significant reduction in postprandial sugar level was observed after 30 min in all treatments. The extracts individually and in combined form also showed effective decrease in plasma glucose levels on the diabetic rats. There were significant reductions (p<0.05) in low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels and significant increase (p<0.05) in high density lipoprotein (HDL)–cholesterol in the treated diabetic group compared to the negative control. Furthermore, significant reductions in aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT) levels were observed in the treated diabetic animals compared to the untreated. Also significant reduction in the creatinine and increase in the protein levels respectively were observed in the treated diabetic groups. Conclusion: The results showed that the respective extracts and the extract mixture had both good hypoglycaemic activity and beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.