Comparative Study of Effect of Honey on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Healthy Male and Female Subjects.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of honey on blood pressure and heart rate on healthy male and female subjects. Methodology: 20ml honey orally administered was evaluated in hundred healthy male and female subjects. Their basal systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were taken as the control values. After measuring their basal SBP, DBP and HR, 20ml of honey was orally administered and the systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured at 15, 30, 60 minutes with a digital sphygmomanometer and analogue sphygmomanometer as a check. Results: The results of this study showed that mean SBP decreased (p=.05) significantly in female compared to male at control, after 15, 30 and 60 minutes of oral administration of 20ml of honey. DBP decreased (p=.05) significantly in female compared to male at control, after 15 minutes and 60 minutes of oral administration of 20ml of honey and HR decreased (p=.05) significantly in female compared to male at 60 minutes of oral administration of 20ml of honey. Conclusion: The effect of honey on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate shows that it has a hypotensive effect in healthy male and female subjects.

Effect of Calabash Chalk on the Histomorphology of the Gastro-Oesophageal Tract of Growing Wistar Rats

Background: Calabash chalk is a naturally occurring mineral consumed by members of some Nigerian communities for pleasure and by pregnant women as a remedy for morning sickness. The consumption of this geophagic material motivated our interest on the effect of the chalk on the histomorphology of the gastro-oesophageal tract. Methods: Twenty-eight young Wistar rats, 4 weeks old, were divided into 4 groups of equal size. Group 1 animals served as controls and received 1 mL of distilled water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 received orally 1 mL of a Calabash chalk suspension containing 40 mg/mL for 14, 21, and 28 days, respectively. Upon completion of the treatments, the animals in groups 2, 3, and 4 were sacrificed on days 15, 22, and 29, respectively, and the control group animals were sacrificed on day 29. All animals were euthanised using chloroform anaesthesia. The oesophagus and the stomach of each animal were dissected out and routinely processed for histological studies. Results: There was oedema with haemorrhages in the mucosa of the stomach, and acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and koilocytic changes were observed in the mucosa of the oesophagus of the groups treated with 40 mg/mL of Calabash chalk suspension. Conclusion: Calabash chalk caused histological changes to the stomach and the oesophagus that may lead to other pathophysiological conditions.