Water-soluble phenolics from Phoenix dactylifera fruits as potential reno-protective agent against cisplatin-induced toxicity: pre- and post-treatment strategies.

Nephrotoxicity is the major side effect of cisplatin, an effective platinum-based chemotherapeutic drug that is applicable in the treatment of several solid-tissue cancers. Studies have indicated that certain water-soluble phenolics offer renal protection. Thus, this study investigates the role of pre and post-treatment of rats with water-soluble phenolics from Phoenix dactylifera (PdP) against nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin. Rats were either orally pretreated or post-treated with 200 mg/kg body weight of PdP before or after exposure to a single therapeutic dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) for 7 successive days intraperitoneally. The protective effects of PdP against Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity was based on the evaluation of various biochemical and redox biomarkers, together with histopathological examination of kidney tissues. The composition, structural features, and antioxidative influence of PdP were determined based on chromatographic, spectroscopic, and in vitro antioxidative models. Cisplatin single exposure led to a substantial increase in the tested renal function biomarkers (uric acid, creatinine, and urea levels), associated with an increase in malondialdehyde indicating lipid peroxidation and a significant decline (p < 0.05) in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the renal tissue when compared with the control group. A marked decline exists in the kidney antioxidant enzymes (catalase, SOD, and GPx). Nevertheless, treatment with PdP significantly suppressed the heightened renal function markers, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. Spectroscopic analysis revealed significant medicinal phenolics, and in vitro tests demonstrated antioxidative properties. Taken together, results from this study indicate that pre- and/or post-treatment strategies of PdP could serve therapeutic purposes in cisplatin-induced renal damage.

Flavonoid glycoside fraction of Ginkgo biloba extract modulates antioxidants imbalance in vanadium-induced brain damage.

Human and animal diseases have always been reported to be treated by medicinal herbs owing to their constituents. Excess sodium metavanadate is a potential environmental toxin when consumed and could induce oxidative damage leading to various neurological disorders and Parkinsons-like diseases. This study is designed to investigate the impact of the flavonoid Glycoside Fraction of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) (at 30 mg/kg body weight) on vanadium-treated rats. Animals were divided randomly into four groups: Control (Ctrl, normal saline), Ginkgo Biloba (GIBI, 30mg/kg BWT), Vanadium (VANA, 10 mg/kg BWT) and Vanadium + Ginkgo biloba (VANA + GIBI). Markers of oxidative stress (Glutathione Peroxidase and Catalase) were assessed and found to be statistically increased with GIBI when compared with CTRL and treatment groups. Results from routine staining revealed that the control and GIBI group had a normal distribution of cells and a pronounced increase in cell count respectively compared to the VANA group. When compared to the VANA group, the NeuN photomicrographs revealed that the levels of GIBI were within the normal range (***p < 0.001; ** p < 001). The treatment with GIBI showed a better response by increasing the neuronal cells in the VANA+GIBI when compared with the VANA group. The NLRP3 Inflammasome photomicrographs denoted that there was a decrease in NLRP3-positive cells in the control and GIBI groups. The treatment group shows fewer cells compared to that of the VANA group. The treatment group shows fewer cells compared to that of the VANA group. The findings of the study confirmed that ginkgo biloba extract via its flavonoid glycoside fraction has favorable impacts in modulating vanadium-induced brain damage with the potential ability to lower antioxidant levels and reduce neuroinflammation.

Xylopia aethiopica suppresses markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death in the brain of Wistar rats exposed to glyphosate.

The herbicide "Roundup" is used extensively in agriculture to control weeds. However, by translocation, it can be deposited in plants, their proceeds, and the soil, thus provoking organ toxicities in exposed individuals. Neurotoxicity among others is one of the side effects of roundup which has led to an increasing global concern about the contamination of food by herbicides. Xylopia aethiopica is known to have medicinal properties due to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is hypothesized to neutralize roundup-induced neurotoxicity. Thirty-six (36) Wistar rats were used for this study. The animals were shared equally into six groups with six rats each. Glyphosate administration to three of the six groups was done orally and for 1 week. Either Xylopia aethiopica or vitamin C was co-administered to two of the three groups and also administered to two other groups and the final group served as the control. Our studies demonstrated that glyphosate administration led to a significant decrease in antioxidants such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase. We also observed a significant increase in inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, C-reactive protein, and immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3, cox-2, and p53 proteins (p < 0.05). However, Xylopia aethiopica co-administration with glyphosate was able to ameliorate the aforementioned changes when compared to the control (p < 0.05). Degenerative changes were also observed in the cerebellum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex upon glyphosate administration. These changes were not observed in the groups treated with Xylopia aethiopica and vitamin C. Taken together, Xylopia aethiopica could possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties that could be used in combating glyphosate neurotoxicity.

D-ribose-L-cysteine exhibits neuroprotective activity through inhibition of oxido-behavioral dysfunctions and modulated activities of neurotransmitters in the cerebellum of Juvenile mice exposed to ethanol.

Alcohol exposure to the cerebellum has been known to trigger cerebellar dysfunctions through several mechanisms. This present study was designed to evaluate the repealing effect of D-ribose-L-cysteine (DRLC) on alcohol-induced cerebellar dysfunctions in juvenile BALB/c mice. The animals were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10 per group). Mice were given oral administration of normal saline (control), DRLC (100 mg/kg, p.o), ethanol (0.2 mL of 10% w/v), or DRLC (100 mg/kg, p.o) + ethanol (0.2 mL of 10% w/v). On day 29 of the study (i.e., 24 h after the administration of the last respective doses), neurochemical quantification of the respective levels of serotonin and dopamine, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in the cerebellar tissues of the mice were analyzed. Compared with the saline-treated group, the studied neurochemical indices were modulated across the various experimental groups. The administration of ethanol significantly modulates the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) as well as contents of total antioxidants, activities of superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, with a concurrently increased level of lipid peroxidase in the cerebellar tissue of the mice. DRLC significantly reverses these effects in the DRLC + ethanol co-treated group. Combined exposure to DRLC + ethanol counteracts the deleterious effect of ethanol in the cerebellum of juvenile BALB/c mice via monoamine neurotransmitter, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant status, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase action pathways. Therefore, DRLC could be a pharmacologic or therapeutic agent in attenuating the deleterious effects of alcohol on the cerebellum.

Preliminary assessment of proanthocyanidin isolates of Vitis vinifera seed on the central nervous system of male Albino mice.

This study evaluated the potential neurobehavioral effects of proanthocyanidin-rich-fraction (PRF) obtained from Vitis vinifera seed in male Albino mice. Adult (2½- to 3-month old) male Albino mice were treated with PRF (200, 100, 50 mg/kg) and subjected to diverse behavioral models specially designed for the assessment of central nervous system-acting agents. One-shot intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of PRF (200 and 100 mg/kg) decreased the rectal temperature, exploratory activities (locomotion, rearing, and grooming), anxiety-like responses (% open-arm time, open-arm entries but decreased the total number of enclosed arm times). However, acute i.p administration of PRF decreased the total score of apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviors, latency to hexobarbitone-induced sleep, and increased the total sleep duration. Moreover, indices of convulsion (tonic flexion, extension, clonic convulsion, stupor, and recovery time) were decreased in the PRF treatment groups, especially the PRF (50 mg/kg)-treated mice. Based on these present findings, it could therefore be inferred that systemic administration of PRF of V. vinifera seed origin induces diverse modification on the behaviors of the treated mice stemming from anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, sedative, and decrease in core temperature.

Proanthocyanidin from Vitis vinifera attenuates memory impairment due to convulsive status epilepticus.

This study investigated the effects of proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (PRF) of Vitis vinifera seed extract on the markers of hippocampal-dependent memory in convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) rat model. One hundred juvenile Wistar rats were randomized into 6 groups. Group 1 (n = 10) received propylene glycol (PG 0.1 ml/100 g) intraperitoneally (i.p), while convulsion was induced in groups 2-6 (n = 18 each) using lithium (127 mg/kg i.p) and pilocarpine hydrochloride (40 mg/kg i.p). The established CSE rats in groups 2-6 received a daily treatment of PG (0.1 ml i.p), PRF (30 mg/kg i.p), PRF (20 mg/kg BW i.p), PRF (10 mg/kg BW i.p) or diazepam (5 mg/kg BW i.p) for seven days. Thereafter, they were kept untreated but with access to feed and water for 21 days. The control and CSE-treated rats were subjected to behavioral tests, while the biochemical and histomorphological evaluations of the hippocampus were done after the sacrifice. The results were presented as mean ±â€¯SEM in graphs or tables. The level of significance was considered when p < 0.05. There was significant decrease in the hippocampal-dependent memory, hippocampal weight and an increased malondialdehyde concentration following CSE. The activities of acetylcholinesterase decreased significantly in the PRF-treated CSE rats. The hippocampal glial cells and granule count increased significantly following CSE, with various neurodegenerative features in the CA1 of the hippocampus. These derangements were attenuated significantly following PRF treatment. Memory impairment following CSE may be attenuated with the administration of PRF from V. vinifera seed in rats.

COVID-19: sitting is the new smoking; the role of exercise in augmenting the immune system among the elderly.

INTRODUCTION: Like smoking, sedentary lifestyle is an issue of great concern because of its deleterious health challenges and implications. Given the global spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), social isolation regulations and laws have been implemented in many countries to contain the spread of the virus and this has caused a drastic shift from the usual physically demanding life to a sedentary lifestyle characterized by significantly reduced physical activities and prolong sitting. METHODS/DATA SOURCE: Human and nonhuman primate literature was examined to compare experimental and clinical modulation of inflammatory cytokines by exercised-induced myokines. DATA SYNTHESIS: Experimental and clinical evidence was used to examine whether exercised-induced myokines can prime the immune system of the elderly population during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The immune system changes with advancement in age which increases the likelihood of infectious disease morbidity and mortality in older adults. Several epidemiological studies have also shown that physical inactivity among geriatric population impacts negatively on the immune system. Evidences on the importance of exercise in priming the immune system of elderly individuals could be an effective therapeutic strategy in combating the virus as it may well be a case of "let those with the best immune system win".

Graded doses of grape seed methanol extract attenuated ataxic movement, cerebellocortical toxicity, and impairment following chronic carbamazepine treatment in male Wistar rats.

This study investigated the effects of chronic cotreatment of carbamazepine (CBZ) with grape seed methanolic extract (GSME) on the markers of neurotoxicity and motor coordination in male rats. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups (n = 6) and treated orally with propylene glycol (PG 0.1 ml/day), CBZ (25 mg/kg), CBZ (25 mg/kg) + GSME (200 mg/kg), CBZ (25 mg/kg) + GSME (100 mg/kg), or CBZ (25 mg/kg) + GSME (50 mg/kg) for 28 days. Thereafter, the animals were subjected to motor-coordination tests and, eventually, sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The cranium was opened and the brain excised. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cerebellum were homogenized for the biochemical assessment, while representative brain was fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for the histomorphological investigation. The results were presented as mean ±â€¯SEM, analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc analysis where appropriate, while p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Indices of motor coordination were significantly (p = 0.0014) impaired with a significant (p = 0.0001) increase in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the PFC and cerebellar tissue. In addition, the activities of glutathione increased (p = 0.0001) significantly in the CBZ + GSME-treated rats. All these anomalies were attenuated in the CBZ + GSME treated rats. Coadministration of GSME with CBZ may ameliorate CBZ-induced neurotoxicity, histoarchitectural disorganization of PFC and cerebellum with resultant effect on fine motor actions.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis derangement following chronic phenytoin-levetiracetam adjunctive treatment in male Wistar rats.

The effects of phenytoin (PHT), levetiracetam (LEV) or their adjunctive treatment on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in male Wistar rats were determined. Twenty-eight male rats (150-180 g) were randomised into four groups (N = 7). Groups I to IV received intraperitoneal treatment of either normal saline (0.2 ml i.p) or PHT (50 mg/kg i.p) or LEV (50 mg/kg) or PHT (25 mg/kg) and LEV (25 mg/kg) combination for 28 days. The organ weight, concentrations of reproductive hormones and semen profile were determined, while the brain, epididymis and testis were preserved in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for the histomorphological study. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results were presented as mean ± SEM in graphs or tables, while the level of significance was taken at p < .05. The semen profile was altered significantly in all the treatment groups. The gonadotrophic releasing hormone, luteinising hormone and testosterone concentration decreased significantly in the PHT- and PHT + LEV-treated groups compared with control. There were various disruptions in the hypothalamus, pituitary and testis of the PHT- and PHT + LEV adjunctive-treated rats. In conclusion, chronic PHT + LEV treatment may pose deleterious effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis than single treatment of either of the two drugs in male rats.

Microanatomy, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system of the visual cortex of rats following withdrawal from prolonged lead nitrate administration.

Exposure to lead (Pb) has been shown to alter the function of central nervous system and affect cholinergic neurons of the visual cortex in animal models. This study sought to investigate the withdrawal symptoms and oxidative stress on the visual cortex after lead exposure. A total of 20 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=10): group A, control, received 10 ml/kg of distilled water for 30 days orally; group B, lead treated group, received 10 mg/kg of lead nitrate solution for 30 days orally. Group B was divided into two subgroups, group B1 serves as non-recovery while B2 serves as recovery (withdrawal). Five rats from each group were sacrificed under ether anesthesia 24 hours after the last oral administration of lead, while the remaining 5 rats (withdrawal subgroup) were sacrificed 30 days after the last oral administration of lead. The visual cortex was grossed from the brain tissue and processed for histology. Blood/serum samples were obtained and markers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPX]), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]) were analyzed. Lead-exposed rats display a significant reduction in the SOD, CAT, and GPX level as well as increased in MDA level. However, following a recovery period, a non-significant improvement was seen in the histoarchitecture of the visual cortex.

Dexamethasone as endocrine disruptor; type I and type II (anti) oestrogenic actions on the ovary and uterus of adult Wistar rats (Rattus Novergicus).

OBJECTIVE: Dexamethasone is a widely used glucocorticoid, which has been prescribed increasingly in recent years. The effects of Dexamethasone on the ovary and uterus was investigated in present study. METHODS: Twenty (20) adult female Wistar rats, weighing 130-170 g were assigned to four (4) groups of five (5) animals each. The rats in the control group received saline, while the rats in the experimental group was subjected to oral treatment of dexamethasone of 12 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 7 mg/kg doses daily for a period of 10 days, respectively. The rats were slaughtered after 24 hours of the last administration, and the uterus and ovaries were harvested following abdominal incision. Histological and biochemical investigations were carried out and the results were analyzed using ANOVA with the Graph-Pad prism software package 6. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the activities of the carbohydrate metabolic enzymes of the uterus in the dexamethasone-treated groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). Vacuolation, atrophy, thick epithelium, enlarged cells, inactive interstitial glands and follicular cyst, characterized the histological observation in the dexamethasone-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: This present study revealed that high-dose dexamethasone causes multiple changes in the histological features of the ovary and uterus, exerting type I and type II anti-oestrogenic effects on the female reproductive compartment.

Morphine-alcohol treatment impairs cognitive functions and increases neuro-inflammatory responses in the medial prefrontal cortex of juvenile male rats.

In the developed and developing world, opioid consumption in combination with alcohol has become one of the substances abused. In this experiment, we examined the effects of alcohol, morphine, and morphine+alcohol combination on cognitive functions and neuroinflammatory responses in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of juvenile male rats. Alcohol (1.0 ml of 15% v/v ethanol twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart), morphine (0.5 ml/kg of 0.4 mg/kg morphine chlorate twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart), morphine+alcohol co-treatment (0.5 ml/kg of 0.4 mg/kg morphine chlorate+1.0 ml of 15% v/v ethanol twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart) were administered for 21 days. Treatment with morphine+alcohol significantly impairs cognition functions in the Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and novel object recognition tests, furthermore, the treatment significantly increased the quantitative count of astrocytic cells and also conferred marked neuronal cell death in the mPFC, which were studied by glial fibrillary acidic protein immunochemistry for astrocytes and Cresyl violet for Nissl's substance distribution in neurons respectively. These results suggest that alcohol, morphine, and morphine+alcohol co-treatment may trigger cognitive deficits and neuroinflammatory responses in the brain.

Morphine-alcohol treatment impairs cognitive functions and increases neuro-inflammatory responses in the medial prefrontal cortex of juvenile male rats / 대한해부학회지

In the developed and developing world, opioid consumption in combination with alcohol has become one of the substances abused. In this experiment, we examined the effects of alcohol, morphine, and morphine+alcohol combination on cognitive functions and neuroinflammatory responses in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of juvenile male rats. Alcohol (1.0 ml of 15% v/v ethanol twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart), morphine (0.5 ml/kg of 0.4 mg/kg morphine chlorate twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart), morphine+alcohol co-treatment (0.5 ml/kg of 0.4 mg/kg morphine chlorate+1.0 ml of 15% v/v ethanol twice daily, subcutaneously, 7 hours apart) were administered for 21 days. Treatment with morphine+alcohol significantly impairs cognition functions in the Morris water maze, passive avoidance, and novel object recognition tests, furthermore, the treatment significantly increased the quantitative count of astrocytic cells and also conferred marked neuronal cell death in the mPFC, which were studied by glial fibrillary acidic protein immunochemistry for astrocytes and Cresyl violet for Nissl's substance distribution in neurons respectively. These results suggest that alcohol, morphine, and morphine+alcohol co-treatment may trigger cognitive deficits and neuroinflammatory responses in the brain.

A comparative study of the lateral geniculate body of rat (Rattus norvegicus), bat (Eidolon helvum) and pangolin (Manis tricuspis).

In this study, the lateral geniculate bodies (LGB) of rats, bats and pangolins were compared using histological and quantitative histochemical parameters to observe possible modifications that enable these mammals to cope with their habitation particularly with respect to their diet. The study was conducted using ten adult Wistar rats, ten fruit bats and eight pangolins comprising of both sexes. After being sacrificed by cervical dislocation, their skulls were opened using bone forceps to expose the brains. The lateral geniculate bodies were excised from each brain tissue, homogenized and homogenate studied spectrophotometrically for the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The LGB tissue samples meant for histological studies were fixed in 10% formol calcium and processed for paraffin wax embedding. Serial sections of 3?m thickness were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) and Cresyl fast violet (CFV) stains. The stained tissues were studied under the light microscope. Application of one-way ANOVA statistical method showed that there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the activities of LDH, G-6-PDH, ACP, ALP and AChE of the LGB of the three mammals as revealed in the quantitative histochemistry of these enzymes and markers. Histological observations revealed no observable differences in the relative distribution of neurons and their supporting glial cells within the LGB of the three mammalian species. The comparison of the differences observed in the histological and the quantitative histochemical activities in these mammalian species revealed a variation in the visual perception and their individual peculiarities in relation to their mode and pattern of living.

Histological study of smoke extract of Tobacco nicotiana on the heart, liver, lungs, kidney, and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats.

BACKGROUND: Some of the effects of tobacco on man's health are well documented in many scientific reports. Whenever tobacco is used either in smoked or chewed form, nicotine is absorbed by the lungs and oral cavity and is spontaneously moved into the bloodstream where it is circulated throughout the body system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this investigation. The animals were randomly assigned into two groups, A and B, of five animals each. The animals in group B (treatment group) were exposed to smoke from a completely burnt 0.74 g leaf extract of Tobacco nicotiana, wrapped in 0.5 g of sterilized cotton wool for 5 minutes three times daily (7 am, 10 am, and 1 pm). The animals in group A (control group) were exposed to smoke from completely burnt 1.24 g of sterilized cotton wool with the same parameters as observed with the treatment groups. The duration of exposure was 5 days. Three hours after the last exposure, all the animals were killed by cervical dislocation. The heart, liver, lungs, kidney, and testes were carefully excised, blotted dry, and fixed in formol saline for histological analysis using Hematoxylin and Eosin stain. RESULTS: Using the light microscope, it was observed that the histoarchitectural profiles of the studied organs in the sections obtained from the control animals were well preserved. Histopathological observations of the heart, liver, lungs, kidney, and testes in the treated animals showed a varying pattern of histological alterations, and distortions such as mild edema and occasional destruction of myocardial fibers, degeneration of the hepatocytes, reduction in the population of the germ cells, enlargement of the alveoli, alveolar hemorrhage, shrinkage of the glomerulus and glomerular hemorrhage were observed in the sections of the organs of the study of the animals in the treatment group when compared with the control group, hence showing that the smoke extract of Tobacco nicotiana has adverse and compromising effects on the heart, liver, lungs, kidney, and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. CONCLUSION: From these observations, it can be inferred that the exposure of male Sprague-Dawley rats to the smoke extract of Tobacco nicotiana may be associated with structural damage of some vital organs.

Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) enhances kidney and liver functions in Wistar rats

Botanical drugs are complementary therapies in the management and treatment of clinical conditions. This study was aimed at investigating the possible changes in the structural and functional entities of two vital organs, the liver and kidney, following oral administration of ethanolic leaf extracts of Catharanthus roseus. Thirty-two wistar rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned into three treatment (n=24) and control (n=8) groups. The animals in the treatment groups A, B, and C respectively- received 400 mg, 300 mg and 200 mg per kg body weight of Madagascar periwinkle extract for twenty-one days, while the animals in the control group (group D) received an equal amount of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The administration was performed orally using an orogastric tube over twenty-one days (21d). Twenty-four hours after the last administration, all the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Laparatomy was performed and the liver and kidney excised, trimmed free of fat, and rinsed in cold phosphate buffered saline solution. The liver was quickly fixed in 10% formolsaline, while the kidney was fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histological processing. Blood samples collected from the abdominal aorta and portions of the liver stored at -20°C in the refrigerator were used for the biochemical analysis of kidney metabolites and liver enzymes respectively. It was observed that the activities of the kidney metabolites and liver enzymes following the administration of the ethanolic extract of C. roseus were statistically and significantly reduced in a dose-dependent pattern in all the experimental groups when compared with the control group. The results obtained from this study suggest that the oral administration of ethanolic extracts of C. roseus has no compromising effect on the kidney and liver and may enhance the functional features of the organs of Wistar rats to a greater extent (AU)

No disponible

Some effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Datura metel on the frontal cortex of adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Datura has been documented as a plant with hallucinogenic properties. Although it has a reputation as one of the ‘darker’ hallucino gens, historically it has been widely used by societies in both the Old and New World, and indeed continues to be used today. It is one of the drugs of abuse in Nigeria; young people add the decoction (of the leaves or the fruit) of the plant to their drinks in order to get “high”. This is because it is cheap and readily available in comparison with to marijuana. The alkaloids present in the plant have been in demand in the past and its application as a subject for botanical and medical research is vast. The aim of this study is to highlight some of the effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Datura metel on the frontal cortex of adult Wistar rats. Twenty wistar rats were used for this study. The treatment groups consisted of 3 subgroups designated A, B, and C and these were given 200 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bwt of the extract respectively, while the control group, designated D, received equal volumes of phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Administration was performed once daily over seven days using an orogastric tube. Twentyfour hours after the last administration, all the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The brains were carefully extracted from the skulls of the animals and fixed in 10% formol calcium for histological examination. Special staining techniques such as Cresyl fast violet (CFV) and Feulgen DNA were employed followed by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. It was observed from this study that the administration of aqueous extracts of Datura metel (at the doses administered) had deleterious effects on the frontal cortex of adult albino Wistar rats. There were vacuolations in the stroma of the brains of the rats in the extract treatment group and the degree of vacuolation was dose-dependent (AU)

No disponible