Haematotoxic evaluation of crude cannabis resin in rats

After chronic administration of crude Cannabisresin (CCR); (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) to Spraque-Dawley albino rats for 21 days; the changes in various haematological indices such as packed cell volume (PVC); total leukocyte count; differential leukocyte count; red blood cell (RBC) count; absolute lymphocyte count; monocyte count; neutrophils and eosinophil counts were evaluated. The results show that the haematological indices such as erythrocytic and leucocytic counts were not significantly (P 0.05) affected by the treatment with the crude cannabinoid resin treated animal groups for the first two weeks of treatment. However in the third week; results showed significant increases (P 0.05) in the above mentioned indices while eosinophils disappeared from the blood of treated groups. It can be concluded from this study that chronic administration of CCR at high doses (above 20mg/Kg) to rats has slight haematotoxic potentials

Chromatographic and anti-motility studies on extracts of loranthus micranthus linn

The anti-motility properties of the leaves of African mistletoe; Loranthus micranthus (Linn); Loranthaceae harvested from Kola acuminatahost tree was studied by the charcoal meal test in mice. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the methanol extract was determined in mice by the Locke's method. The phytochemical constituents of the leaf extract were also determined. An attempt was also made to resolve the extracts into its components using thin layer chromatography (TLC). The leaves of L. micranthus were found to contain alkaloids; cyanogenetic glycosides; saponins; flavonoids; tannins; proteins and resins. The intraperitoneal LD50 of the methanol extract of the leaves in mice was calculated to be 5916 mg/kg. Among the chromatographic solvent systems tested; toluene: diethylamine (19:1) gave the best resolution in all the extracts. The highest number of spots was obtained with the ethanol extract. Result of the charcoal meal test revealed that the methanol extract had a significant dose-dependent anti-motility effect. At a dose of 200 mg/kg; the methanol extract produced a decrease in gastric transit time; which was significantly (P 0.05) higher than that of atropine (10 mg/kg)