Lead nitrate toxicity: its effects on hepatic extracellular matrix fibers, filamentous cytoskeleton and the mitigative potentials of Morinda lucida extract.

In this study, the effect of orally administered methanolic extract of Morinda lucida stem bark (MLSB) was tested for its efficacy to reverse lead nitrate-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Thirty-six female rats were assigned into six groups (n = 6). Rats in group I received 2.2 mL/kg distilled water for 28 days, those in group II received 30 mg/kg lead nitrate for 14 days while those in groups III to VI received 30 mg/kg lead nitrate for 14 days followed by a treatment with 100, 250, 500 mg/kg BW MLSB extract and 0.2 mL/100 kg rats silymarin respectively for 14 days. They were sacrificed after 28 days after which biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical parameters were examined. The results of this study showed a reduction of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities by lead nitrate. Deranged hepatic histomorphology was also observed intracellularly and extracellularly in lead nitrate-treated rats. Altered vimentin arrangement was also observed in lead nitrate-treated rats. However, 250 mg/kg BW dose of Morinda lucida significantly reversed some of these changes while the 500 mg had some toxic effect on liver tissue. We concluded that the extract at 250mg/kg BW dose may be a potential treatment for conditions associated with lead toxicity and other metallic particles.

Protective effects of Vitex doniana (Black plum) against ischemic testes torsion injury: Histological and morphometric features.

We evaluated the effects of Vitex doniana leaves on testes histology and morphometry in Wistar rats following testicular torsion. Thirty male Wistar rats (120-160g) were randomly assigned into six groups (n=5). Surgical procedures were performed under ketamine anaesthesia (5mg/kg i.m). Sham surgery was performed on group A rats and given distilled water for 7 days. Animals in other groups had their left testes twisted at 720° for one hour, sutured, and treated for 7 days. Group B rats were left untreated, groups C, D and E received 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of extract respectively while group F received 100mg/kg of vitamin C. Animals were sacrificed using ketamine (100mg/kg), testes excised, fixed in Bouin's fluid and processed for histology and histomorphometry. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Student Newman- Keuls post- hoc test for multiple comparisons. Seminiferous tubule diameter reduced significantly in group B when compared with control group while the luminal size increased significantly in group B when compared with control group and the treated groups. Group B also showed significant reduction of germinal epithelium when compared with groups A, E and F. Histology and histochemical results revealed atrophic seminiferous tubules, widened interstitial spaces and accumulation of glycogen in the basement membrane in the testes of untreated rats. The study concluded that aqueous extract of Vitex doniana leaves had ameliorative effect on testicular morphology and histology in the torsioned rat model.

Anti-hepatotoxic activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. in animal model of streptozotocin diabetes-induced liver damage.

BACKGROUND: Flavonoid-rich aqueous fraction of methanolic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx was evaluated for its anti-hepatotoxic activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. METHODS: Diabetes Mellitus was induced in Wistar rats by a single i.p injection of 80 mg/kg b.w. streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 6.3). RESULTS: The ameliorative effects of the extract on STZ-diabetes induced liver damage was evident from the histopathological analysis and the biochemical parameters evaluated in the serum and liver homogenates. Reduced levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (3.76 ± 0.38 µM, 0.42 ± 0.04 U/L, 41.08 ± 3.04 U/ml, 0.82 ± 0.04 U/L respectively) in the liver of diabetic rats were restored to a near normal level in the Hibiscus sabdariffa-treated rats (6.87 ± 0.51 µM, 0.72 ± 0.06 U/L, 87.92 ± 5.26 U/ml, 1.37 ± 0.06 U/L respectively). Elevated levels of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of diabetic rats were also restored in Hibiscus sabdariffa -treated rats. Examination of stained liver sections revealed hepatic fibrosis and excessive glycogen deposition in the diabetic rats. These pathological changes were ameliorated in the extract-treated rats. CONCLUSION: The anti-hepatotoxic activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in STZ diabetic rats could be partly related to its antioxidant activity and the presence of flavonnoids.