Hypoglycemic effect of Treculia africana Decne root bark in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The solvent partitioned purified fractions of the hydro-acetone root bark extract of the African breadfruit (Treculia africana Decne) were evaluated for hypoglycemic activities in normal and diabetic albino rats. Fasting blood glucose levels were estimated by the use of a glucometer at pre-determined intervals after oral administration of the test extracts/fractions. Results revealed that the test fractions have only a slight effect on blood sugar level of normal rats. On short term and chronic administration in diabetic rats however, diethyl ether-soluble (DEF) and the water-soluble (WSF) fractions significantly reduced the fasting blood sugar levels (p<0.05) at differing rates when compared with the control group of animals. The diethyl ether soluble fraction (10 mg kg(-1) dose level) was found to exhibit the highest activity giving 69.4% reduction in blood sugar level (at 240 hours) which was in comparable range with the reference standard glibenclamide (0.5 mg kg(-1)) which reduced blood sugar levels by 65.8% below the initial baseline values.

Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in Nigerian diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, and hypertensive-diabetic patients.

Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins were assessed in three groups of Nigerians at increased risk for atherosclerotic heart disease. The three patient groups, diabetes mellitus (n = 15), essential hypertension (n = 12), and hypertensive-diabetes mellitus (n = 11), were compared with age-matched, apparently healthy controls (n = 14). In subjects with diabetes mellitus, triglyceride and its related apolipoproteins CIII and CIII:NonB were significantly higher than controls. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower; its related ratios, total/HDL-C and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C were significantly higher than those for controls. Subjects with hypertension and hypertensive-diabetes mellitus had significantly higher values than controls for those lipids and lipid fractions considered atherogenic (total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, and the total/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios) as well as apolipoproteins B, CIII, and lipoprotein particles Lp(a) and CIII:NonB. Only hypertensive-diabetes mellitus subjects had lower HDL-C levels, while hypertension patients had significantly higher apolipoprotein AI and LpAI concentrations than controls. Subjects with hypertensive-diabetes mellitus had significantly worse lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein profiles both in terms of increased atherogenic and reduced anti-atherogenic parameters compared with subjects with diabetes mellitus or hypertension only. These studies suggest that Nigerians with diabetes, hypertension, and especially both hypertension and diabetes need to be fully evaluated from a lipid and lipoprotein standpoint, and any abnormalities detected need to be taken into consideration during therapy of this group of high-risk patients.

Menstrual bleeding pattern and iron status in women fitted with copper and non-medicated intrauterine contraceptive devices.

A prospective study of the menstrual bleeding pattern and iron status was conducted in 42 healthy Nigerian women volunteers before and after being fitted with either a medicated, copper T (TCu.200B) (n = 20) or a non-medicated, Lippes loop (n = 22) intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). After about six months of use, the mean fasting serum iron and packed cell volume (PCV) were significantly higher (+32% and +6% respectively), mean serum ferritin was significantly decreased (-14%) compared to the pre-insertion levels in the copper T IUD users. In the Lippes loop IUD users, mean fasting serum iron was significantly lower (-11%), mean PCV was higher (+5%). The changes observed in the mean levels of serum ferritin and the duration of menstrual bleeding did not reach a statistical significant level. Among the two groups, only the changes in the mean fasting serum iron was significant (P < 0.01). In all, only the women fitted with Lippes loop IUDs had a decrease in the levels of both serum iron and body iron stores (ferritin), however, no clinical anaemia was observed at six months of use.

Plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles in Nigerian university athletes and non-athletes.

The fasting plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles were determined in 14 healthy Nigerian male athletes and controls matched for sex and anthropometric parameters. The mean levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein (apo) AII and E were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the athletes than in the controls. However, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between the mean values of the plasma triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, apo AI, B, Lp(a), LpA1 and CIII:NonB respectively for the athletes and controls. A priori, the potential effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk was also compared using three predictor ratios - total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol (TC:HDL), LDL cholesterol: HDL cholesterol and apo B:AI. The mean of the three ratios was lower in the athletes than in the controls; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Based on our data, exercise appears to decrease the TC:HDL ratio in the athletes by lowering LDL-cholesterol, while the HDL-cholesterol is unaffected. We conclude that physical activity has salutary effects on the lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles of healthy Nigerian men.

Fasting plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in Nigerian women using combined oral and progestin-only injectable contraceptives.

Fasting plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein (apo) profiles were determined in Nigerian women using a low-dose combined oral (Lo-Feminal + Fe) (n = 18), a progestin-only injectable (Depo-Provera) (n = 16) contraceptives and matched controls (n = 18). The mean of plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apo B and Lp(a) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in women using contraceptives than the controls. The mean of total and LDL-cholesterol and apo B were also significantly higher in the oral contraceptive users than those on progestin-only injectables. Furthermore, the mean of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indices, total/HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL/HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01), were significantly higher in women on oral contraceptives than the controls. There were no statistically significant differences between the indices in the women using progestin-only injectables and the controls. Based on this finding, it is concluded that the use of steroidal contraceptives is associated with alterations of lipid and apolipoprotein profiles in Nigerian women and that the use of low-dose combined oral contraceptives may be associated with an increased CVD risk.

PIP: Fasting plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein profiles, and apolipoprotein fractions were assayed in 18 Nigerian women taking low-dose, combined oral contraceptive (OC), 16 using an injectable progestin, and in 18 controls. The OC, Lo-Feminal + Fe, contained 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 0.3 mg norgestrel, with 7 placebos of 75 mg ferrous fumarate. Depo-Provera (150 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate) was the injectable. Lipids and HDL-cholesterol were determined on a Hitachi 737 automated chemistry analyzer, and apolipoproteins were assayed by ELISA or electroimmunoassay. Total cholesterol, low-density cholesterol (LDL), apo B, and Lp(a) were significantly higher in OC users than in controls, and total cholesterol, LDL, and apo B were also significantly higher in OC users than in injectable users. Cardiovascular disease risk ratios, calculated as total cholesterol/HDL, were significantly higher in OC users than in controls, but these ratios did not differ between injectable users and controls. While LDL and the atherogenic lipoproteins apo B and Lp(a) were higher in these OC users, it is likely that other factors need to be considered, such as age, smoking, blood pressure, and glucose tolerance, to estimate the overall risk of cardiovascular disease for Nigerian OC users.

Effects of an aqueous extract of cotton seed (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) on adult male rats.

Twenty adult male rats per group in 4 treatment groups were injected intraperitoneally at 08.00 hours with 0.1 ml of an aqueous cotton seed extract (Gossypium barbadense Linn.) (Malvaceae) in concentrations of (a) 105.25, (b) 21.21, (c) 4.65, (d) 2.325 mg ml-1 (kg body weight)-1, respectively. A fifth group (control) was given 0.1 ml of pyrogen free distilled water per rat. Five rats per treatment group were sacrificed at 2, 8, 24 and 168 hours respectively after treatment. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) showed no change. Plasma testosterone was lower (p less than 0.05) than that of control at 2 and 8 hours, with recovery by 168 hours post treatment. Plasma creatinine was raised by 2 hours, with recovery by 8 hours. Plasma urea rose gradually but persistently to a maximum of 168 hours. Plasma aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) transaminases were significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that of controls throughout the study. Testicular histology showed early germ cell disorganization followed by progressive fibrosis (sperm cytoskeleton) by 24 hours. There was evidence of recovery by 168 hours. It is concluded that aqueous extract of cotton seed meal contains substances that can rapidly cause damage to testicular, liver, kidney and muscular tissues.

A comparative study of oral glucose tolerance tests in Nigerian women on three types of steroidal contraceptives.

Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed on 146 Nigerian women volunteers using one of three types of steroidal contraceptives: high-dose combined pills; low-dose combined pills and injectable progesterone. Twenty-six appropriately matched nonusers served as controls. The OGTT curves were analysed using the H-index (HI). Women on injectable progesterone and high-dose combined pills, respectively, had significantly higher (P less than 0.05) mean HI than the controls. The low-dose combined pills had the least effect on carbohydrate metabolism.

Steroidal contraceptives and changes in individual plasma phospholipids: possible role in thrombosis.

The changes in the levels of individual phospholipids were studies in women during prolonged use of three types of steroidal contraceptive preparation: high-dose combined pills (Noriday 1 + 50 Fe); low-dose combined pills (Nominest Fe) and progestin-only injectables (Depo-Provera). Women on high-dose combined pills had significantly higher (p less than 0.05) mean lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), sphingomyelin (SPH), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels, respectively, than the women on low-dose combined pills, progestin-only injectables and the controls, respectively. Women on low-dose combined pills had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) mean LPC and PS levels, respectively, than the controls, while women on progestin-only injectables had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) mean PS and PE levels, respectively, than the controls. Based on the reported high activities of PS and PE in hemostasis, the PE/total plasma phospholipids, PS/total plasma phospholipids and the sum of PE and PS/total plasma phospholipids ratios were calculated to assess the possible overall effect of the changes in plasma phospholipids in steroidal contraceptive users. The results obtained using these indices agree with some earlier reports of an estrogen dose-dependent risk/incidence of thrombosis in steroidal contraceptive users. It is concluded that the observed dose-dependent estrogen-induced alterations in phospholipids, and, most especially, the PE and PS fractions may bear a relationship with thrombotic conditions.

Studies on the spermiostatic actions of some local mineral water drinks.

Caffeine and the trace metals iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), silver (Ag) and mercury (Hg) were determined in six locally purchased mineral water drinks in Ile-Ife, Nigeria in a bid to determine the constituents in the drinks which may be responsible for their observed in vitro spermiostatic actions. There was no association between the caffeine and the trace metals content of the drinks and their in vitro inhibition of sperm motility. Some other possible factors are also discussed.

Copper intrauterine contraceptive devices and serum essential metals.

Serum levels of the essential metals, iron (Fe), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca), were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in one hundred and twenty randomly selected adult Nigerian female volunteers fitted with copper T or Delta T intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) for a period of 3-18 months, and their normal age-matched controls. The mean serum concentration of all the essential metals was lower in the women fitted with copper IUDs than the control group. The differences, however, are not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05).

In vitro inhibition of sperm motility by some local mineral water drinks.

The effect of eight common local mineral water drinks in Ile-Ife, Nigeria (seven cola and one lemon-based) on sperm motility in vitro was carried out. There was no significant difference in the pH values of all the drinks, the pH ranged between 2.30-2.50. After one minute, Pepsi-Cola had the least inhibitory effect on sperm motility, Bitter-lemon had the strongest effect, while the other brands had varying effects between the two extremes. The percentage motility inhibition by the mineral water drinks is also a function of the initial total sperm count in the semen.