Aqueous extract of Pedalium murex D. Royen ex L. leafy stem protects against lead induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: Lead exposure seriously impairs male reproductive function. The protective capacity of Pedalium murex leafy stem and fruit aqueous extracts against lead testicular toxicity is evaluated to find herbals drugs able to improve semen quality. METHODS: Phytochemical screening were performed according to classical methods. Twenty four male rats were divided into four groups of six rats each and received the following treatments via oral route: distilled water; 0.2% lead acetate in drinking water; 0.2% lead acetate in drinking water with 400 mg/kg P. murex aqueous leafy stem extract; 0.2% leaded water with 400 mg/kg P. murex aqueous fruit extract. Treatments were administered for 70 days. Body and reproductive organs weights, sperm parameters and testicular histological sections of each group were examined. RESULTS: Flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, alkaloids, and lignans were found in both extracts. Lead intoxication reduced sperm motility and count but increased the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperms. The germinal epithelium of seminiferous tubules histoarchitecture was disorganized by lead. The leafy stem extract was effective in reducing lead induced testicular disruption whereas fruit has not shown any beneficial effect. CONCLUSIONS: P. murex leafy stem aqueous extract is effective against semen alterations caused by lead.

A 90-Day Oral Toxicity Study of an Ethanolic Root Extract of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. in Wistar Rats.

BACKGROUND: Plant medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind; hence, studies on their safety for use are essential for the control of adverse drug effects. In Benin, Caesalpinia bonduc is one of many medicinal plants used as aphrodisiac, and for treatment of various ailments including prostatic hyperplasia. Despite its numerous ethnomedicinal benefits, toxicological information associated with its chronic use is currently limited. OBJECTIVE: The present study therefore assessed the toxicity of an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc in Wistar rats. METHODS: Caesalpinia bonduc root extract was administered by oral gavage at doses of 31.25, 125, and 500 mg/kg/day for 90 days to male Wistar rats, after which body weight changes, food consumption, urinary parameters, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, organ weights changes, gross pathology, and histopathology of vital organs were assessed. RESULTS: There were no death or abnormal clinical signs, no significant changes in body weight gain or urinary parameters, and no changes in necropsy and histopathology findings of vital organs associated with extract treatment. However, some indices such as erythrocytes, total cholesterol, and aspartate amino transferase increased in rats treated with high doses of the extract, as well as relative weight of testes, followed by a decrease in food intake and prostate relative weight. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that an ethanolic root extract of Caesalpinia bonduc does not cause significant adverse effects and suggest its tolerability up to 500 mg/kg for daily administration of 90 days.

Evaluation de la toxicité de «anteprost »: médicament traditionnel amelioré, utilisé contre l'hypertrophie benigne de la prostate

Objectif : Evaluer la toxicité du phytomédicament 'Antéprost' chez les animaux de laboratoire. Méthode : Après une extraction hydro-alcoolique, un criblage phytochimique a été réalisé. Ensuite une dose unique de 5000 mg/kg de poids corporel a été administrée aux cobayes dans l'étude de toxicité aiguë avec une surveillance des animaux pendant 15 jours. Au cours de l'étude de toxicité subchronique, trois différentes doses (153,6 mg/kg/jr, 307,2 mg/jr et 614.4 mg/kg) ont été administrées quotidiennement pendant 90 jours à des rats Wistar des deux sexes. Ils ont été surveillés pour tout signe de toxicité et les données relatives aux poids corporels, consommations alimentaires, para-mètres biologiques ainsi qu'à l'histologie des organes ont été relevées. Résultats : Plusieurs composés phytochimiques ont été mis en évidence dans notre extrait. Nous n'avons enregistré ni de mortalité ni de signes de toxicité aussi bien dans le comportement des co-bayes que dans leur consommation alimentaire au terme des quinze jours d'observation. L'étude de toxicité subchronique n'a révélé aucun signe de toxicité. Le poids corporel des animaux ainsi que la consommation alimentaire, les paramètres biochimiques, hématologiques et histologiques n'ont pas été significativement modifiés. Conclusion : Cette étude a permis de montrer que la DL50 d u médicament traditionnel amélioré''Antéprost'' est supérieure à 5g/kg chez le cobaye. Aucune toxicité n'a été observée au cours de l'étude de la toxicité subchronique de 90 jours. Toutes ces données suggèrent que le produit est rela-tivement non toxique aux doses étudiées

HLA Class II Allele, Haplotype, and Genotype Associations with Type 1 Diabetes in Benin: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported the implication of HLA-DR/DQ loci in the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D). Since no such study has yet been performed in Benin, this pilot one aimed at assessing HLA class II allele, haplotype, and genotype associations with T1D. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Class II HLA genotyping was performed in 51 patients with T1D and 51 healthy unrelated controls by means of the PCR-SSP method. The diagnosis of T1D was set up according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to assess the associations between T1D and HLA alleles, haplotypes, and genotypes. RESULTS: Participants were aged 1-24 years. T1D was significantly associated with DR3, DQA1∗05:01, DQB1∗02:01, and DR3-DR4. No significant associations were observed with DR4, DQB1∗03:02, and DQB1∗06:02. CONCLUSION: Certain HLA class II alleles, haplotypes, and genotypes were related to T1D and may be used as genetic susceptibility markers to T1D in Benin.