Changes in Erythrocytic Membrane Free Energy of Albino Rabbits Administered Ethanol Leaf Extract of Spondias mombin Linn.

Aims: To determine the effect of ethanol extract of Spondias mombin Linn on membrane potential energy, the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in an easily accessible model cell, erythrocyte, was studied. The effect on the first approximation estimates of erythrocytic free energy changes (ΔG) was calculated. Study Design: Randomized study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria between January 2010 and February 2011). Methodology: Twenty-five female albino rabbits (1.47 ± 0.17 kg) of the same age set were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals. The first group served as the baseline control, the groups II and III animals were intraperitoneally administered 1ml of 750 mg/kg body weight of S. mombin extract daily for 7 and 14 days respectively, while groups IV and V animals were intraperitoneally administered 1ml of 0.14 IU/kg body weight of oxytocin drug ((Pitocin®, USA) daily for 7 and 14 days respectively. Plasma and lyzed red blood cells obtained were analyzed for extracellular and intracellular erythrocyte concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium using standard methods. Results: The study showed that both the extract and oxytocin administrations significantly (p<0.05) reduced intracellular [Mg2+] and extracellular [K+] and [Ca2+], with a concomitant increase in intracellular [Ca2+]. Both treatment with the extract and oxytocin, did not significantly (p>0.05) alter [Na+] and extracellular [Mg2+]. On the other hand, while the extract did not affect intracellular [K+], oxytocin significantly (p<0.05) reduced it. The results also indicated that while the extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the [K+]-based estimated ΔG, oxytocin treatment reduced it. On the other hand, both the extract and oxytocin caused a non-significant (p>0.05) drop in the Ca2+ based ΔG, with no significant (p>0.05) alteration of the [Na+] and [Mg2+] based estimated ΔG. The pole reversa observed with the study of the Ca2+-based ΔG indicates depressive effect of both the extract and oxytocin on Ca2+ ATPase pump. Conclusion: The observations above indicate that, while the use of the extract might enhance energy generation and conservation, the use of oxytocin might elicit exhaustive utilization of energy.

Free Radical Scavenging and In-vitro Antioxidant Effects of Ethanol Extract of the Medicinal Herb Chromolaena odorata Linn.

The ethanol extract of the leaf of Chromolaena odorata (Linn) was assessed for freeradical- scavenging and antioxidant potentials. Ability of the extract to scavenge reactive intermediates (superoxide ion O2 ·-, hydrogen peroxide H2O2, nitric oxide NO˙, hydroxyl radical OH˙) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, were used to assess its free radical scavenging potentials. Antioxidant potential was studied by assessing invitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation in both the brain (Neuro-protective potentials) and liver homogenates of Fenton-oxidant stressed rabbits. Inhibition of protein oxidation was assessed in-vitro by loss of protein thiol (P-SH), while assessment of the reducing power of the extract was further used to assess antioxidant capacity. Results obtained showed the ability of the extract to scavenge free radicals and reactive intermediates in a dose-response manner. The plant also had good antioxidant capacity. The secondary plant metabolites found earlier in the extract may explain reasons for the bio-efficacy of the plant. These findings are of great importance in view of the availability of the plant and its observed possible diverse applications in medicine and nutrition.

Assessment of chest radiographs for quality assurance and radiation protection

A retrospective study of 1000 chest radiographs randomly selected from various government and private owned hospitals in the southern part of Nigeria covering a period of twenty years was carried out. Accuracy in patient positioning; beam collimation and identification of radiographs were assessed as indicators for quality assurance and radiation protection. The result showed that for male 59 were rotated and 41 were not. For the female; 60 were rotated while 39 were not. 95.30 radiographs were inadequately collimated; and 69.30 were properly identified. This suggests poor quality and exposure of patients to unnecessary radiation though more attention was paid to identification of radiographs