Effect of gavage treatment with pulverised Garcinia kola seeds on erythrocyte membrane integrity and selected haematological indices in male albino Wistar rats.

This study examines the effect of the whole seed of Garcinia kola [GKS] on various blood parameters, in adult male albino rats. Five groups, of 6 animals per group, were treated by gavage with suspensions of graded concentrations of GKS daily for 5 weeks. The animals were then sacrificed and blood was obtained for estimation of the data herein presented. Packed red cell volume [PCV], hemoglobin concentration [Hb], and red blood cell count [RBC] showed significantly [P<0.05], increased response to treatment with GKS; while the platelet and white blood cell [WBC] counts showed no corresponding increase with increasing GKS dosage. The mean red blood cell volume [MCV] and mean cell hemoglobin [MCH] levels decreased with increasing GKS dosage. Prothrombin time [PT] and activated partial thromboplastin time [APPT] were both prolonged with increased GKS dosage; while the serum lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) decreased significantly [P<0.05] with increased GKS dosage.

Effect of dietary Garcinia kola seed on selected serum electrolytes and trace metals in male Albino rats.

The effects of various doses of dietary intake of Garcinia kola seed powder [incorporated in animal feed at levels of 5% w/w, 10% w/w and 20% w/w and fed daily for six weeks] on serum levels of selected electrolytes [K+, Na+, CI-, HCO3-, Mg2+ and Ca2+] and trace metals [Cu2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+] were studied in male Albino rats [100-150 g body wt]. The pair-fed controls received basal feed diet daily for six weeks. Results showed a significant [P<0.05] dose dependent elevation of serum CI-, HCO3-, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+. These findings point to a possible relationship with already documented histopathology of various organs [such as the gonads] induced by Garcinia kola seed. It is also conjectured that the documented antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antidiabetic and antifertility effects of Garcinia kola seed may have underlying involvement of alterations in body levels of trace metals and electrolytes.

Antispasmodic and spasmolytic effects of methanolic extract from seeds of Garcinia kola on isolated rat small intestine.

The antispasmodic and spasmolytic effects of methanolic extract of seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel were studied on smooth muscle preparations in vitro. The influence of the extract on rat duodenum, jejunum and ileum was investigated using acetylcholine and barium chloride as agonists. The extract exhibited dose-dependent antispasmodic effects on contractions induced by acetylcholine, and dose-dependent spasmolytic effects on spasms induced by cumulatively increased concentrations of acetylcholine and barium chloride. The graded log concentration-response curves for acetylcholine were non-parallel but shifted to the right in the presence of the extract. It is concluded that the Garcinia kola extract inhibits smooth muscle activity via other mechanisms but not involving neither cholinergic nor adrenergic receptor interaction.

Effects of extracts of seed and leaf of Piper guineense on skeletal muscle activity in rat and frog.

The pharmacological effects of leaf and seed extracts of Piper guineense were investigated on phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm activity following electrical stimulation in vitro. The Leaf and seed extracts (10 micrograms-1 mg/mL) and (50-800 micrograms/mL) respectively produced biphasic effects consisting of an initial enhancement followed by secondary transient or prolonged depression of twitch tension in response to electrical stimulation of both muscle and nerve. These effects were similar to that of decamethonium (2-800 mg/mL). An increased concentration of extracellular Ca2+ in vitro reversed the twitch contraction inhibited by the leaf and seed extracts in a dose related pattern following electrical stimulation. It is concluded that the leaf and seed extracts of Piper guineense possess among other pharmacological properties, a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking action.

Histological alterations by a diet containing seeds of Garcinia kola: effect on liver, kidney, and intestine in the rat.

Histological examination of liver, kidney, and duodenum of rats fed a diet containing 10% (w/w) dry powdered seeds of Garcinia kola for 6 weeks revealed cellular changes that were not observed in pair-fed control animals. The main cellular changes observed in the rats fed on Garcinia kola diet included vacuolation of duodenal villous epithelial cells, numerous intracytoplasmic vacuoles in hepatocytes, and mild hydropic degeneration in cells of the renal proximal tubular epithelium. These changes are probably due to the flavonoids contained in G. kola seeds.

Calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate toxicity in the rat: ultrastructural effects on skin collagen.

The effect of calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA) i.v. infusion on skin ultrastructure was studied in the rat with the aid of transmission electron microscopy. High magnification electron micrographs of collagen fibrils were analysed with a computer aided image analyser, in terms of the Gaussian distribution of fibril diameter and the distance between cross striations of collagen fibrils (D-spacing). CaEDTA caused marked depletion of collagen fibrils in the skin. The collagen fibrils from CaEDTA treated rats exhibited significant increases in D-spacing (about 30%) and diameter (about 40%) compared to saline treated controls. These findings are consistent with earlier published biochemical data indicating that CaEDTA enhances collagen degradation in the rat.

Calcium EDTA toxicity: renal excretion of endogenous trace metals and the effect of repletion on collagen degradation in the rat.

Studies on total hydroxyproline concentrations in urine of rats infused with toxic doses of CaEDTA at 6 mmol/kg per 24 hr for 48 hr or injected i.p. with the chelate at 4.8 mmol/kg/day for 10 days, indicate a two- to six-fold increase in urine excretion of the imino acid. This is due to increased degradation of collagen induced by CaEDTA. CaEDTA infusion was also shown to enhance urine excretion of some trace metals (Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe). Rats infused with CaEDTA for 36 hr showed a gradual fall in concentration of hydroxyproline in the urine, following cessation of chelate infusion. The decline in hydroxyproline concentrations was faster in rats receiving trace metal (Zn, Co, Mn or Ni) treatment during the post-CaEDTA infusion period; suggesting that the metals may affect collage, making the protein less susceptible to degradation in the body.

Isometamidium residues in goat tissues after parenteral administration.

Concentrations of isometamidium in goat tissues were examined at intervals following a single intravenous or intramuscular dose (0.5 mg/kg) of drug. Appreciable concentrations of isometamidium were still detectable in liver (6.78 microgram/g) and kidney (3.26 microgram/g) 12 weeks after intravenous administration. Intramuscular injections resulted in lower and less sustained tissue concentrations of the drug. Isometamidium was not detectable in adipose tissue, spleen or skeletal muscle (except at the site of injection) probably because of the limited sensitivity of the assay method, estimated at 2.3 microgram/g of tissue.

Renal ultrastructural changes induced by calcium EDTA in rats.

Calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (CaEDTA) was found to induce definite ultrastructural changes in the rat kidney, when infused intravenously at toxic doses (6 mmoles/kg/24 h). These changes consisted of increased vacuolation and lysosomal activity in the proximal tubular epithelium and decreased electron density of the glomerular basement membrane. No abnormalities were seen in the mitochondria.