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Aqueous extract of the leaf and root ofNauclea latifolia Sm. (Rubiaceae) is used in Nigerian folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. This work is carried out to investigate the effect ofNauclea latifolia leaf extract on lipid profile and cardiovascular activity of rats. Normal and 10% coconut oil fed rats were treated with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract ofNauclea latifolia leaf for 2 weeks. Forty-eight mature male albino rats of the Wistar strain were divided into two experiments of four groups, each group having 6 animals. Experiment I animals were treated with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract whilst experiment II animals were fed 10% coconut oil meal before treatment with the water-soluble fraction of the ethanol extract. A single oral dose ofNauclea latifolia was 170, 340 and 510 mg/kg body wt/day of the extracts respectively for 2 wks. There was no significant change in the lipid profile of the experimental animals as compared with the controls. There was about 40% relaxation on contracted thoracic aorta that was pre-contracted with 2 μM phenylephrine. The viability of the tissue was tested against 10 μM of acetylcholine. There was no significant (P>0.05) change in Na(+) concentration in the serum. However, the K(+) concentration in the serum of the experimental animals showed a significant increase. The study shows that ethanol extract ofNauclea latifolia has vasodilator action on the aorta and that lipid profiles of experimental rats were not affected. Furthermore, the increase in the K(+) may be contributing to the vasodilator effect ofNauclea latifolia.

The oxalate, hydrocyanic acid, phytic acid and phosphorus contents of twelve leafy vegetables were determined. The values ranged from 47.7-194.3 mg/100 g DM, 4.32-23.8 mg/100 g DM, 90-260 mg/100 g DM and 215-1110 mg/100 g DM, respectively. The ratio of phytic acid to phosphorus ranged from 13.9-90.7. The leaves contained low levels of hydrocyanic acid, while the oxalate, phytic acid and phosphorus contents were high. The results are discussed in terms of their clinical implications and nutritive values.

Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baillon) Urb. (Humiriaceae) is used as a palm wine additive in Nigeria. When a saline extract was administered to rats at i.p. doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight, serum enzymes indicative of liver damage were elavated in a dosedependant manner. Histological examination of the livers of the treated animals showed mild sinusoidal dilatation and early necrosis (125 mg/kg) or moderate sinusoidal dilatation and congestion with focal hepatocyte necrosis (250 mg/kg). These results showed that the bark extract of Sacoglottis gabonensis is hepatotoxic.

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The immunomodulatory effect of Carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted Carotenoid was assessed using 24 albino Wistar rats. The rats were assigned to 4 groups of 6 rats each consisting of group 1(control group treated with distilled water), group 2 (treated with olive oil), group 3 (treated with carrot extract + olive oil) and group 4 (treated with GNLD Carotenoid complex + olive oil). The concentration of carrot extracted Carotenoid and that of the GNLD Carotenoid complex were559mg/kg.The animals were sacrificed after 21 days of treatment and whole blood collected for analysis of immune parameters. The parameters included; percentage lymphocytes, percentage eosinophils, percentage monocytes and platelet count. There were significant increases (P<0.05) in groups 3 and 4 which received carrot extract and Carotenoid complex supplement when compared to group 1 and 2 which received distilled water and olive oil. This supports the claim that Carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects. However, it is clear that there were significant increases (P<0.05) in percentage lymphocytes (40.15± 1.33), monocytes (2.50± 1.31), neutrophils (60.08± 2.06) and platelet count (7.91± 0.53) in group 4 which received carotenoid complex when compared to that of group 3 which received carrot extract; lymphocytes (33.01 ± 3.20), monocytes (1.52 ± 0.52), neutrophils (60.12 ± 1.50) and platelet count (7.81 ± 0.52).These significant increases(P<0.05) show that both carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects; and that the GNLD Carotenoid complex which consists of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, Zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha-tocopherol is more potent in its immunomodulatory effect compared to the carrot extracted carotenoid which contained mostly alphacarotene and beta-carotene alone.

Aim: This study aims to determine the presence of some vitamins and minerals in both T. stans and C. afer leaves. Materials and Methods: Composition of some vitamins and minerals of ethanolic extract of T. stans and C. afer leaves were evaluated and collected at Malabo Campus, University of Calabar, Calabar and from Eman-Uruan local government area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria respectively. The parameters investigated were determined using standard biochemical methods. Results: The leaves contained a variety of vitamins (A, D, E, B complex and C) with vitamin E-(276.33.±3.28 mg/100 g) for Tecoma stans and (265.67±5.49 mg/100 g)for Costus afer. T. stans recorded higher concentration in mg/100 l for the determined vitamins except for vitamin D, whose Original Research Article

Lipid profile status of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats treated with ethanolic leaf extract of Solenostemon monostachyus was assessed. A total of 24 rats were used for the experiments and were divided into four groups (that is, Diabetic Control (DC), Normal Control (NC), Insulin Treated (INS) and S. monostachyus (SM) treated groups), with 6 rats each. The extract, 250 mg/kg body weight, was administered twice daily for 21 days. The serum glucose level in mg/dl was 70.00±10.50 for SM treated groups, 256.00±15.00 for DC. There was significant decrease at p>0.05 in blood glucose of rats administered with the extract. The lipid profile values for SM were triacylglycerol (TG, 58.00±2.00), total cholesterol (TC, 35.00±1.00), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c, 35.00±1.00), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c, 16.90±0.30), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c, 14.70±0.53) and for DC were TG (155.47±2.76), TC (137.88±5.91), HDL-c (31.94±2.93), VLDL-c (27.54±1.15), LDL-c (95. 99±4.72). The result for the lipid profile of SM treated groups showed significant decrease (P>0.05), when compared with DC groups. Based on the results obtained from this study, it may be concluded that the ethanolic leaf extract of SM has hypoglycaemic properties and was able to alleviate elevations in lipid profile and oxidative stress induced by streptozotocin in Wistar albino rats.