BackgroundSerum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin and total protein levels, as well as the tissue histological assay are known to be useful in assessing the functional integrity of the liver. Also, assessment of red and white blood cells count, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations is useful in determining the effect of some chemical substances on hemotopoietic system. In recent times, reports from medicinal plants research indicate that extracts from some plants are both hepatotoxic and hematotoxic, while others on the other hand are reported to be hepatoprotective and hematopoietic in action. This study considers the effects of aqueous extract of Psidium guajava (P. guajava) leaves on the histology and biochemical indices of liver function as well as hematological indices in rats.MethodsIn this study, phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of P. guajava leaves was carried out. Also, male and female rats were administered with 200 mg/kg body weight oral daily doses of aqueous extract of P. guajava leaves for a period of 30 days. At the end of the administration period, the rats were anaesthesized with chloroform vapors and dissected for the collection of blood and liver tissues which were used for the hematopoietic and liver functions investigations.ResultsPreliminary phytochemical analysis of the plant leaves showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, polyphenols, reducing compounds, saponins and tannins. Liver function tests revealed that the serum ALT, AST and ALP, as well as the concentrations of total protein and albumin in male and female rats were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by the oral administration of the extract. Histopathological study also did not show any adverse alteration in the morphological architecture of the liver tissues in both sexes of the animal model. However, red blood cell counts, hemotocrit and hemoglobin concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) on administration of the extract in both male and female rats. It was therefore observed that the effect of the extract on male rats was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from that obtained for the female rats.ConclusionsThe results of this present study suggested that aqueous extract of Psidium guajava leaves may be hepatoprotective, and not hepatotoxic, with hematopoietic potentials in both male and female rats. These findings are therefore of clinical importance given the various reported medicinal potentials of the plant.

BackgroundPlasma alanine transferase(ALT), aspartate transferase(AST), α-glutamyl transferase(GGT), and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activities are known biomarkers in assessing hepatic functional integrity. A remarkable rise in the activities of these enzymes normally signifies hepatotoxicity of chemical agent(s) in the biological system. Exposure to 17.8 cm3h-1m-3 of PMS blend unleaded gasoline vapors (UGV) for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 20 weeks have been reported to cause hepatotoxicity in rats.MethodsIn this study, the comparative hepatoprotective effect of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) against UGV-induced toxicity was assessed in male and female rats. Retinol and α-tocopherol at prophylactic dosage (400 and 200 IU/kg/day, respectively) were separately administered orally to the test rats concomitant with exposure to UGV in the last two weeks of the experiment.ResultsThe results of this study indicated that exposure to UGV caused significant increase (P < 0.05) in the activities of serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and bilirubin in male and female rats. Oral administration of prophylactic doses of retinol and α-tocopherol produced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the activities of these parameters in male and female test rats, compared with the non-treated test rats; but insignificant increase(P ≥ 0.05), compared with the control. However, the hepatoprotective effect of α-tocopherol was observed to be more potent than that of retinol.ConclusionsThe result of this study demonstrated that the hepatoprotective potency of α-tocopherol against gasoline vapors toxicity was higher than that of retinol in male and female rats, although the female gender of the animal model responded to treatment with both vitamins better than the males. Hence, the work suggested the beneficial effects of both vitamins against hepatotoxicity in individuals frequently exposed to gasoline vapors.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

12 adult male and 12 female Wistar albino rats were used to measure the levels of the serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the luteinizing hormone (LH), the estradiol (E 2 ) and the progesterone in female rats, as well as the FSH, the LH and the testosterone in male rats, following 8-hour daily inhalation exposure to gasoline vapours for 6 weeks, to assess the effect of the vapours on the reproductive integrity of experimental animals. The results showed that the levels of serum FSH and LH obtained for female rats in the test group (3.48±0.03 and 19.97±1.20mIU/ml, respectively) were insignificantly lower (p>0.05), compared respectively to the levels obtained for female rats in the control group (3.62±0.12 and 20.06±0.23mlU/ml, respectively), whereas the levels of serum estradiol and progesterone obtained for female rats in the test group (25.02±2.32pg/ml and 0.18±0.02mg/ml, respectively) were significantly lower (p<0.05), compared respectively to the levels obtained for female rats in the control group (39.84±3.64pg/ml and 0.33±0.02mg/ml, respectively). On the other hand, the levels of serum FSH and LH obtained for male rats in the test group (2.87±0.21 and 3.09±0.32mIU/ml, respectively) were insignificantly higher (p>0.05), compared to the levels obtained for male rats in the control group (2.75±0.14 and 2.93±0.12mIU/ml, respectively).At the same time, the level of serum testosterone in the male test rats (7.82±2.17ng/dl) was significantly higher (p<0.05), compared to the level in the male control rats 4.66±1.85ng/gl. The results of this study showed that the adverse effect of inhalation exposure to gasoline fumes on the reproductive integrity in rats is sex-dependent, with the females being more vulnerable.

Summary:The effect of oral administration of vitamin C on serum lipids and electrolyte profile were investigated in albino rats of the Wistar strain. Eighteen (18) albino rats of opposite sexes weighing between 150-300g were used for the study and randomly assigned on the basis of body weight and litter origin to three study groups of six animals each. The control group received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water), while test groups 1 and II received 100mg/kg body weight and 200mg/kg body weight of vitamin C in 2.5 ml and 5.0 ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. The administration of vitamin C for 30 days produced a significant (P<0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the test groups versus control but there was no change in triglycerides (TG) and High density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Computed HDL: LDL ratio also increased in the treatments relative to the control. Except for computed HDL: LDL ratio all the other changes were dose dependent and there was a slight non-significant increase in all electrolytes (Na + , K + and HCO -3 ) ions. The study confirms the hypocholesterolaemic effect of vitamin C and that Vitamin C has no adverse effect on serum electrolytes. It is suggested that its administration in moderate to high doses may protect against atherosclerosis and hypertension.

BackgroundChanges in the activities of plasma alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are used to assess the functional state of the liver. Significant increase in the activities of these enzymes commonly indicates the hepatotoxicity of chemical agent(s) in the body. Exposure of male and female rats to 17.8 cm3h-1m-3 of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) blend unleaded gasoline (UG) vapors for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 20 weeks have been observed to cause hepatotoxicity. In this study, the potential hepatoprotective effect of vitamin A (retinol) against gasoline vapours-induced toxicity was investigated in male and female rats.MethodsRetinol (400 IU/kg/day) was orally administered to the test rats concomitant with the gasoline vapor exposure in the last two weeks of the experiment.ResultsThe results obtained from this study showed that exposure to gasoline vapors caused significant increase (P < 0.05) in the activities of serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT and bilirubin in both male and female rats. The treatment of the male and female test rats with vitamin A produced a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the activities of these parameters, compared with the test rats without treatment; but insignificant increase(P ≥ 0.05), compared with the control.ConclusionsThe result of this study demonstrates the beneficial effects of retinol, at prophylactic dosage, against gasoline vapours hepatotoxicity in male and female rats, thereby suggesting that retinol may be used to prevent hepatotoxicity in individuals frequently exposed to gasoline vapours.