ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Kafura pelebe (camphor) {C10H16O} is a chemical substance used mostly amongst the Yoruba ethnic group in Western Nigeria to treat infantile colic during early childhood. This study assess the neurotoxic potentials of Kafura following sub-chronic exposure in female albino Wistar rats. METHODS: Twenty-eight female rats (mean weight of 130 g) were randomly selected and assigned into four (4) groups. Control, received 1ml coconut oil while the treatment groups received 79, 158 and 237. mg/kg b.wt (d ose p.o) of Kafura for the period of 14 days. On day fifteen, animals were dissected and the brain organ excised for the homogenate and histopathologic assay, blood samples were also collected for haematological analysis. Morris Water Maze experiment for reference memory was also carried out to ascertain effect of Kafura in the Central Nervous system (CNS). RESULTS: A trend toward decreased body-weight gain and increase brain weight was observed in Kafura-treated rats but was statistically not significant, compared to control. The biochemical assessment of the antioxidant status of brains of Kafura-treated rats showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in activities of some anti-oxidant enzymes (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxide (GPx), and Catalase (CAT)). There was increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and Total protein activities in the brain of treated rats compared to control. Alterations of the haematological parameters were observed, with the plasma granulocytes, lymphocytes, and haemoglobin (HGB), showing significant decrease in the treated rats compared to control. The water maze test showed a marked increase in spatial learning and memory time (seconds) in kafura-treated rats, compared to control and across treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides indication that kafura Pelebe shows apparent neurotoxicity in experimental animals. Incessant exposure in humans though may lead to development of some central nervous system defects.
ABSTRACT
This study evaluates the reproductive toxicity of ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from crude methanolic leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum in male Wistar rats. Acute toxicity was assessed to determine the safety dose, Sub-chronic reproductive toxicity studies were carried out by administering daily 25, 100 and 400â¯mg/kg body weight doses of the fractions to respective group of animals and 1â¯ml of normal saline daily for the control group for 28 days. Blood, epididymis and testes were harvested for reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, and histopathologic analysis respectively. There was significant (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) increase in serum levels of testosterone, body-weight gain, sperm count. There was also apparent increase in mean-testicular weight and preservation of testicular histology with increase spermatogenesis in both the ethyl acetate and butanolic fraction treated groups compared with control. Serum levels of luteinising hormone was however significantly (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) decrease across the groups compared to control. These effects were more pronounced in the butanolic fraction group compared to the ethyl acetate treated group. Sperm motility was also significantly (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) higher in the ethyl acetate treated group compared to control. Findings from this studies demonstrate that these fractions were non-toxic at the tested doses with regards to male reproduction but, rather, exhibited fertility enhancing effects which was better with the butanolic fraction. Our findings also shows that the ethyl acetate fraction may be safer than the butanolic fraction.
