No abstract

In Africa and elsewhere, medicinal plants including Spilanthes uliginosa, Ocimum basilicum, Hyptis spicigera and Cymbopogon citratus are still widely used in the treatment of malaria and other ailments. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vivo antiplasmodial effect of ethanolic leaf extract of these plants in mice. Oral acute toxicity of the extracts was evaluated in mice using modified Lorke's method and their in vivo anti-plasmodial effect against early infection, curative effect against established infection and prophylactic effect against residual infection were studied

No abstract

No abstract

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is common in all populations. Iodine and other trace elements naturally occur in the soil but erosion leaches off these elements from the soil. This results in a continued loss of trace elements from the soil. In the present study, the levels of iodine, selenium, zinc and lead in the environment (measured in soil, bitter leaves (Vernonia amygdalina), cassava roots (mannihot utilissima, staple food in Nigeria), and drinking water) and urinary iodine from school children (n=200), pregnant women (n=60) and women of child bearing age (n=60) were determined for Nanka prone to soil erosion and Oba all in Anambra State, Nigeria (used as control) to assess their risk to IDD. The levels of selenium, zinc and lead were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry while the levels of iodine in the environment and urinary iodine were estimated using the method of Dunn et al.,(1993). In this study there was a positive correlation between iodine and the metals. The results show that the mean concentrations of total soil zinc (0.69 +/- 0.16 ppm); lead (0.40 +/- 0.12 ppm) values in Oba were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than values from Nanka (Zn = 0.33 +/- 0.10 ppm; Pb = 0.21 +/- 0.09 ppm). However, total soil values for selenium and iodine in soil were not significantly different in the two communities. Mean concentration of total vegetable zinc (0.63 +/- 0.14 ppm) value in Oba is significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the value from Nanka (Zn = 0.31 +/- 0.07 ppm). However, total vegetable values for I, Se and Pb were not significantly different in the two communities. Also, mean concentration of total cassava zinc (0.65 = 0.15 ppm) in Oba was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than Zn (0.44 +/- 0.1l ppm) from Nanka. However, values for Se, Pb, and I were not significantly different in the two communities. Mean concentration of total water iodine (105.25 +/- 10.44 microg/L) in Oba was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the value from Nanka (I = 89.8 +/- 6.42 microg/L). However, total water values for Se, Zn, and Pb were not significantly different in the two communities. The mean urinary iodine concentration of 170.65 +/- 27.17 microg/L in school children from Oba was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the mean concentration of 156.12 +/- 16.48 microg/L found in school children from Nanka. However, the mean urinary iodine concentration of all the women (pregnant and non-pregnant) were not significantly different in the two communities but they are below the recommended daily intake. The results show that people living in Nanka and Oba, could be at risk of IDD.

No abstract

Background: Maternal micronutrient and antioxidant status is critical to fetal growth and survival. Poor socioeconomic conditions in the rural areas portend undernutrition with inevitable micronutrients deficiencies. Presently, there are conflicting reports on the serum levels of some mineral antioxidants during pregnancy. Aim: To determine the serum concentrations of some antioxidant minerals-copper and manganese, in rural pregnant women of different parities. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, involving 195 rural pregnant women, in different trimesters and parities. They were recruited from antenatal clinics of some rural health centres in southeastern Nigeria. The controls were 50 age-matched, nonpregnant, nulliparous, and apparently healthy women, who were not menstruating at the time of sample collection. Results: The results showed that copper was nonsignificantly lower (P = 0.14), while manganese was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in pregnant women than nonpregnant women. Over gestation, there was no significant changes (P = 0.081; F = 2.268; r 2 = 0.028) in copper concentrations as pregnancy progressed while manganese increased significantly (P < 0.001; F = 18.370; r 2 = 0.195), and remained relatively so, throughout gestation. However, both antioxidants increased progressively and significantly as parity increased (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Parity influences the levels of these antioxidant minerals in pregnancy and therefore should play significant role in the determination of the actual dose of supplements, if need be, of these antioxidants during pregnancy. Indeed assessment and supplementation of copper and manganese during pregnancy should be individualized to avoid deleterious fetomaternal consequences.

No abstract