ABSTRACT
Launaea taraxacifolia has been traditionally used for the management of conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases. High blood pressure was established by oral administration of L-Nitro Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) a non-selective inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The antihypertensive action of the methanol leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia was examined. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 animals per group: Group A (Distilled water), Group B (Hypertensive rats; 40mg/kg L-NAME), Group C (Hypertensive rats plus 100mg/kg extract), Group D (Hypertensive rats plus 200 mg/kg extract) and Group E (Hypertensive rats plus 10mg/kg of Lisinopril). The treatments were orally administered for five weeks. Haemodynamic parameters, urinalysis, indices of oxidative stress and immunohistochemistry were determined. Findings from this study showed that blood pressure parameters, urinary sodium and indices of oxidative stress increased significantly while In-vivo antioxidant defence systems decreased significantly in hypertensive rats. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant increases in expressions of mineralocorticoid receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme activity and kidney injury molecule-1 in kidney of hypertensive rats. Treatment with Launeae taraxacifolia normalized blood pressure parameters, urinary sodium, oxidative stress indices, antioxidant defence system, and serum nitric oxide bioavailability.
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents , Asteraceae , Hypertension , Plant Extracts , Animals , Male , Rats , Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Blood Pressure , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/metabolism , NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Oxidative Stress , Rats, Wistar , Sodium , Plant Extracts/pharmacologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is an evergreen perennial plant widely used in modern herbal practice and is often available in proprietary herbal preparations. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the semen picture and spermatozoa morphology of West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks treated with Aloe vera extract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve sexually matured WAD bucks, weighing between 11 and 15 kg, were used for the study. The bucks were first used as control (pre-treatment) and later as two groups of six animals each. The first six bucks received 10 mls of the 3% extract while the other six received 10 mls of the 4% of the extract for a 7 day period. Semen was collected from both the 3 and 4% extract treated bucks for the control (pre-treatment), on days eight (first week post-treatment) and fifteen (second week post-treatment) in each case using the electroejaculation method. The spermiogram of the bucks were investigated using standard procedures. Data obtained were analyzed using two way ANOVA and significance reported at p<0.05. RESULTS: The continuous administration of Aloe vera extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced sperm concentration, motility and percentage livability and resulted in increased sperm abnormalities in the WAD buck. CONCLUSION: Aloe vera adversely affected the spermiogram of bucks. The plant can reduce fertility in male animals and is therefore not recommended for medicinal purpose in male animals especially those used for breeding.
ABSTRACT
RESUMEN: Se estudiaron parámetros testiculares y características morfológicas de los espermatozoides testiculares y epididimarios en 20 testículos de toros Fulani blancos. El objetivo fue determinar parámetros testiculares normales y los cambios morfológicos de los espermatozoides durante su trayecto en el epidídimo. Se observó que hubo disminución de espermatozoides llevando droplet citoplasmático proximal (PCD) en el epidídimo, durante la maduración espermática. Se presentaron más cabezas estrechas en el epidídimo izquierdo (0,40) que en el derecho (0,10). Hubo más espermatozoides con cola normal (16.7) en el epidídimo del lado izquierdo que en el lado derecho (13.0). Las células espermáticas tenían colas en loop en mayor cantidad en el epidídimo izquierdo (cabeza, 4.90; cuerpo, 5.30; cola 4.30) que en el lado derecho (cabeza, 4.70; cuerpo, 3.20; cola 5.10). Sin embargo, en la zona caudal del epidídimo derecho el valor promedio fue más alto. En este estudio, en el testículo izquierdo los espermatozoides presentaron más defectos morfológicos (12.96) que en el derecho (12.42). Entre los parámetros epididimarios y testiculares hubo correlación positiva (peso del epidídimo, peso de los testículos y epidídimos, longitud del epidídimo y circunferencias de los testículos y epidídimos p<0.05).
