RESUMEN
The study investigated the effects of growth media on germination and early growth of A. africana in order to enhance its plantation development. The experiment was divided into two; experiment 1 and 2. Experiment 1 investigates the germination response while experiment 2 investigates the early growth response of Afzelia africana to different growth media. Both experiments were arranged in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). The growth media used for the study were Topsoil (control), sawdust, fine sand, riversand and the mixture. Fifty seeds were sown into each growing medium and experiment was monitored for 8 weeks. Data were collected on germination and early seedling growth parameters. Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data collected. Means separation were carried out using the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The result revealed that germination percentage was significant at 5% level of probability. The highest germination percentage was recorded in topsoil (68%) while the least was recorded in sawdust (40%). There was significant difference at 5% level of probability on seedling performance. The highest mean height was recorded in mixture (14.71 cm) and fine sand recording the lowest (9.53 cm). The highest collar diameter growth was recorded in sawdust (0.63 cm) and the least (0.42 cm) was in fine sand. The highest stem diameter was recorded for sawdust (0.49 cm), and the mixture recording the lowest (0.35 cm). The highest mean for leaf length was recorded in river sand which had 6.93cm, while topsoil and sawdust recorded the least mean (5.40 cm.). Leaf production in A. africana was not significant between the treatments. The study has shown that the germination percentage of A. africana improved significantly with growing media especially topsoil. The use of sawdust and topsoil as growing media for small and large scale propagation of the species can be adopted.
RESUMEN
Background: Traditional and complimentary health care is inarguably the system most close to homes, accessible and affordable. It is also culturally acceptable and trusted by large numbers of people. The affordability of most traditional medicines makes them all the more attractive at a time of soaring health-care costs, neglect of orphaned/non profitable diseases and nearly universal austerity. Aim: Aqueous leaf, stem bark and root bark extracts were evaluated for their anti trypanosomal effect in experimental trypanosomiasis with a view to come up with a phytomedicine that is efficacious, available, accessible and non-toxic to both humans and animals. Study Design: Complete randomized clinical trial design was used in the experiment. Methodology: Ninety five (95) mice were grouped into three (I, II, III) of thirty mice each (with sub groups A, B, C, D, E, and F consisting of five mice each) to which the leaf, stem bark and root bark extracts were administered at a dose of 100, 200, 300, 400 mg/Kgbw, while the remaining five mice served as the control for all the groups. Results: The aqueous leaves extract at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/Kg bw portrayed very low activities except for the 400 mg/Kg bw that displayed a sustained Trypanostatic effect. The aqueous stem bark extract, at doses of 100 and 200 mg/Kg bw portrayed trypanostatic effect while doses of 300 and 400 mg/Kg bw effectively cleared the parasites from circulation on the 13th and 17th days into the treatment respectively. Three and two of treated mice survived and remained apparasitaemic for up to 120 days and beyond in the group treated with 300 and 400 mg/kg bw respectively. In the group treated with the root bark extract, the mice on a dose of 100 mg/Kg bw died some few days into the experiment (6th day) while the dose of 200 mg/Kgbw sustained the animals until the 19th day. Doses of 300 and 400 mg/Kg bw were observed to clear the parasites in circulation after sustained administration for 23 and 16 days respectively. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the potency of the stem bark and root bark crude extracts of Afzelia africana in treating experimental trypanosomiasis and can thus be further purified and packaged as phytomedicine against this dreaded but neglected disease.
RESUMEN
Aim: To establish the in vivo effects of the methanolic extract of Afzelia africana seed on CCl4- induced organ damage on some biochemical parameters. Methods: The rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. In the single administration experiment, rats were intraperitoneally pre-treated with the extract (10mg/kg) for two days before CCl4 intoxication at 0.6ml/kg. In the repeated intoxication experiment, rats were administered the extract (5mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection for 10 consecutive days, and CCl4 (0.6ml/kg) 72 hourly intervals for 10 days. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin (conjugated and total) were analyzed for hepatoprotective effect, while urea and creatinine were used to evaluate kidney function. Results: Data obtained showed significant reduction (P=.05) in the activities of ALT and AST, as well as in levels of bilirubin, urea and creatinine in the Afzelia africana extracttreated rats compared to the CCl4 control. Conclusion: These results indicate that the seeds of A. africana contain constituents that could protect the kidney and liver and ameliorate them from both acute and chronic injuries.
RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzeliaafricana (A. africana) and its beneficial effect on haematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Methods: A total of 30 rats including 24 diabetic and 6 normal rats were used for this study. Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. After being confirmed diabetic, animals were orally treated with distilled water or extracts at 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days. The haematological parameters including red blood and white blood cells and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups compared with the controls. Results: The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels while the best result was obtained at 200 mg/kg body weight. The feed and water intake in diabetic rats were significantly reduced while weight loss was minimized at both dosages. Similarly, the levels of red blood, white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved after extract administration at both doses. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of bark of A. africana possesses antihyperglycemic properties. In addition, the extract can prevent various complications of diabetes and improve some haematological parameters. Further experimental investigation is needed to exploit its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.
RESUMEN
We had recently reported antibacterial activity in the crude extract of the stem bark of Afzelia africana (Akinpelu et al., 2008). In this study, we assessed the biocidal and cell membrane disruption potentials of fractions obtained from the crude extract of the plant. The aqueous (AQ) and butanol (BL) fractions exhibited appreciable antibacterial activities against the test bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the AQ and BL fractions ranged between 0.313 and 2.5 mg/ml, while their minimum bactericidal concentrations varied between 0.625 and 5.0 mg/ml. Also, the AQ fraction killed about 95.8 percent of E. coli cells within 105 min at a concentration of 5 mg/ml, while about 99.1 percent of Bacillus pumilus cells were killed by this fraction at the same concentration and exposure time. A similar trend was observed for the BL fraction. At a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the butanol fraction leaked 9.8 μg/ml of proteins from E. coli cells within 3 h, while the aqueous fraction leaked 6.5 μg/ml of proteins from the same organisms at the same concentration and exposure time. We propose that the stem bark of Afzelia africana is a potential source of bioactive compounds of importance to the pharmaceutical industry.