RESUMEN
Evaluation of the effects of Calliandra portoricensis extracts on oxidative stress (antioxidant) enzymes was carried out using wistar rat model. The anti-oxidant enzymes evaluated were superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). These extracts were used to ascertain their potency in enhancing these enzymes activities in envenomed rats. A total of 30 rats were randomly assigned into 5 treatment groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 (control) received nothing. Group 2 received viperian venom only. Groups 3, 4 and 5 received same amount of venom in addition to calculated doses of flavonoid-rich, polyphenol-rich and whole ethanolic extracts respectively. The dosages of the venom and the C. portoricensis extracts were administered intramuscularly. After about 4 hours, the rats were sacrificed, serum collected and the oxidative stress enzymes assayed. Marked decrease of SOD, CAT and GPx enzymes activities occurred in the group 2 rats while increases (P<0.05) were observed in groups 3, 4 and 5 experimental rats. These findings suggest that C. portoricensis extracts actually attenuated the obliterating effects of the viperian venom on the naturally-occurring anti-oxidant enzymes in experimental wistar rats.
RESUMEN
Effect of whole ethanolic and selective solvent extracts of C. portoricensis plant was carried out in wistar rats to ascertain their efficacy in ameliorating or attenuating the haemotoxicity of venom of carpet viper. A total of 30 wistar rats were used, divided into 6 rats per group of control, venom, venom/flavonoid-rich, venom/polyphenol-rich and venom/whole ethanolic extracts. The control was given nothing while the other groups were given 200μg venom/rat and 0.5 ml 100mg/100g body weight (b.w.) of rat as “anti-dote” concentration. This “antidote” was given intramuscularly 4-6 hours after the administration of the venom. The result obtained showed significant increase (P<0.05) in the haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cell count especially in neutrophils and marked decrease (P<0.05) in platelet parameters. These findings suggest that whole ethanolic and selective solvent extract of C. portoricensis may be effective in ameliorating and indeed reversing the haemotoxicity occasioned by carpet viper haemotoxin in wistar rats.
RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the consequence of oral administration of Calliandra portoricensis (C. portoricensis) leaf extract on the stomach and pancreas in Swiss albino mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three groups of mice (B, C and D) were treated with 4 mg/kg of C. portoricensis extract. Group A was the control and received an equivalent volume of distilled water. Group B received C. portoricensis leaf extract for 7 days, Group C received C. portoricensis leaf extract for 14 days, and Group D received C. portoricensis leaf extract for 28 days. At different stages in the study, the mice were sacrificed and the stomach and pancreas were excised and fixed in 10% formol saline for histological analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The result showed a normal microstructural outline in groups B and C as compared with the control. However, animals in group D showed disorganization of the mucosa and discontinuation of epithelial lining of the stomach while the islets of Langerans in the pancreas were at various degree of degeneration as compared with the control mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present finding suggests that chronic administration (28 days as seen in this study) of C. portoricensis leaf extract may inhibit the proper function of the stomach and pancreas.</p>