In vivo studies on the biochemical indices of Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with Alstonia boonei leaf and root extracts.

BACKGROUND: A study on the biochemical indices of albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated with Alstonia boonei aqueous and ethanolic extracts was undertaken. METHODS: 216 males mice were randomly assigned to six treatment groups each containing six mice for both aqueous and ethanolic extracts experiments. P. berghei NK-65 was inoculated into the mice intraperitoneally and establishment of infection confirmed. Administration of extracts of was done after phytochemical and acute toxicity tests at varying concentrations, for both suppressive and curative tests. Blood samples collected by ocular puncturing were examined for the biochemical indices; ALT, AST, ALP, creatinine and total protein using the standard procedures. RESULTS: A. boonei extracts suppression of P. berghei in mice was comparable to the standard drug. Significantly higher (p<0.05) recovery of mice treated with A. boonei extracts was observed. The biochemical indices examined all had significantly (p<0.05) increased concentration after 7 days post-infection, except for total protein concentration which had no significant increase or decrease due to A. boonei extracts administration. CONCLUSION: The antiplasmodial potentials of A. boonei leaf and root extracts were dosage and duration-dependent, and have demonstrated satisfactory normalization of altered biochemical indices due to malaria.

Improved infant hemoglobin (Hb) and blood glucose concentrations: The beneficial effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation of malaria-infected mothers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

One hundred and fifty-two malaria-infected pregnant women whose pregnancies had advanced to the 6th month were randomised into two study groups - supplemented and placebo groups, after obtaining their approved consents. Ten thousand international units of vitamin A soft gels were administered to the supplemented group three times per week. Vitamin A soft gels devoid of their active ingredients were administered thrice weekly to the placebo group. Two hundred thousand international units of vitamin A was administered to the supplemented groups within 8 weeks postpartum. Placebo was given to the control group at same time after delivery. The regimen was continued in the two groups at three-month intervals until 12 months. Quarterly, 3 ml of venous blood was collected from each infant in the two groups and was used for the estimation of hemoglobin concentrations and determination of blood glucose levels. Hemoglobin concentrations were estimated using hemiglobincyanide method while the blood glucose levels were determined with a glucometer. Analysis of variance, Fisher's least significant difference and t-test were used for data analysis. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. Both hemoglobin concentrations and blood glucose levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the supplemented group than in the placebo group. The malaria infection mitigating effects of maternal vitamin A supplementation have been established in the present study and supported by previous studies. Vitamin A supplementation, fortification of foods with vitamin A and diversification of diets, are advocated for maintenance of good health and protection against some infectious diseases.

Effects of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi MACF) (Rutaceae) peel oil against developmental stages of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Laboratory bioassay of the essential oil extracted from the grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) peel by steam distillation was carried out against the developmental stages of the yellow fever vector Aedes aegypti to evaluate its toxicity, and ovicidal and larvicidal potency. Volatile oil components isolated and characterized by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry included varying levels of monoterpene aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. Test results of the essential oil showed that egg hatching was completely inhibited at 400 ppm, while further development of 1st to 2nd larval stage was inhibited at 100 ppm. Regression analysis results also indicated that the peel essential oil significantly (p<0.01) reduced the viability of the test eggs and inhibited the development of 1st larval stage to 2nd larval instar. The LC50 and LC90 values obtained for 2nd instars (180.460, 334.629 ppm, respectively); and for 4th instars (210.937, 349.489 ppm, respectively) after 24-hour exposure were time but not dose dependent, as each LC value was a product of an inverse relationship between the oil concentration and exposure time. The results indicated that the peel oil could be a potent persistent larvicide.