Résumé
To investigate antidiabetic effects of Tetracarpidium conophorum seed (TECOSE) against biomarkers of diabetes-induced nephropathy in rats. Methods: Powdered seed (500 g) of TECOSE was extracted with 5 L of 100％ methanol for 72 h followed by concentration of filtrate.Diabetes was induced in rats with 75 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal streptozotocin. The rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5 in each group) namely group A- normal control,group B- diabetic control, groups C, D and E were diabetic rats treated with 500 mg/kg body weight TECOSE orally, 7 mg/kg body weight metformin orally and subcutaneous 0.3 IU/kg body weight HumulinR, respectively. All rats were treated once daily for 2 weeks. Blood samples and urine were collected for biochemical estimations. Kidney was harvested for histomorphological studies. Results: TECOSE (500 mg/kg body weight) significantly (P<0.05) reduced blood sugar levels as effective as metformin and insulin. The plant extract also significantly (P<0.05) reduced levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid, proteinuria, ketonuria, hematuria and glycosuria while it significantly (P<0.05) increased glomerular filtration rate. Histomorphological study of the kidney of untreated diabetic rats showed features suggestive of glomerulosclerosis and tubular necrosis while that of treatments with TECOSE extract, metformin and insulin showed near normal histoarchitectures. Conclusions: Streptozotocin at 75 mg/kg body weight induces diabetic nephropathy in rats and TECOSE possesses potentials to prevent diabetic renal damage.
Résumé
The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of ailments is increasing around the globe. This study assessed the antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic benefits of black tea (BT) and Z. zanthoxylum (Zz) in rats. Thirty two albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups each containing four animals. Group 1 normal control; animals in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed standard diet supplemented with BT or ZZ or a combination of both at equal amounts (3% each), respectively. Animals in group 5 are control rats, fed diet supplemented with cholesterol and groundnut oil at a dose level of 100 g and 300g/25 kg diet respectively. Rats in groups 6, 7 and 8 were fed the same high lipid diet but supplemented with BT, Z.z or mixture of both respectively. Lipid enriched diet caused a significant increase in total cholesterol, total lipids, and triacylglycerols in both serum and liver. Serum phospholipids, LDL-C, and atherogenic index significantly increased compared with normal control group. BT and Zz significantly increased fecal total lipids, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels as well as significantly increased serum malondialdehyde, interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha compared to healthy control. Consumption of black tea, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloid or a combination mixture of them by healthy and hyperlipidemic hypercholesterolemic rats resulted in significantly decreased lipid parameters in serum and liver and significant reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammation. These results suggest that both black tea and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloid had anti-atherogenic and hypolipidemic effects and reduced oxidative stress via inhibition of inflammation and lipid peroxidation.
Résumé
Background and Aims of Study: Malaria in pregnancy remains one of the infectious diseases threatening the health of pregnant women and the unborn child in Africa. The use of Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) as intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) has been shown to greatly reduce the impact of malaria in pregnancy and its complications when administered appropriately according to set protocol. The aim of this study is to ascertain the appropriate use of SP among pregnant women who received ante-natal care (ANC) and determine its relationship with feto-maternal outcome. Place and Duration of Study: Daughters of charity Primary Health Center, Kubwa, Abuja, between January 2010 and June 2011. Methodology: A retrospective study of 200 pregnant women, who attended ANC, delivered and followed-up to post-natal clinic at Daughters of Charity primary health centre and was administered SP between January 2010 and June 2011. Ante-natal records were retrieved and socio-demographic variable, number of doses of SP received as well as feto-maternal outcome were collected and analyzed. Results: The use of IPTp among pregnant women in this facility is low, accounting for only 6% of the study population, while 79% were not administered IPTp throughout their pregnancy. Majority of the primigravida (61 out of 70) who were more vulnerable to malaria in pregnancy did not receive any dose of IPTp. Conclusion: More effort is required to increase IPTp coverage in the community. This may be achieved by improving the awareness of IPTp among health care workers, pregnant women and the entire community at large.