Background: Moringa stenopetala and related species are commonly used in folk medicine for various human diseases such as antimalarial, antihypertensive, antidiabetic and as antispasmodic. Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of M. stenopetala on blood parameters, and histopathology of liver and kidney in experimental mice. Methods: Fresh leaves of M. stenopetala were collected from Arbaminch area, Southwest Ethiopia, in November 2005. The leaves were dried and extracted with water. Three month-old Swiss albino male mice, which were kept under uniform laboratory conditions, were randomly divided into four groups (one group of controls and three experimental). (The control group was orally given 0.5 ml of distilled water, and groups II, III and IV were given the aqueous leaf extract of M. stenopetala using intragastric tube to achieve the required doses of 600, 750 and 900 mg/kg body weight, respectively once a day at 24 hours intervals for six weeks and then sacrificed). Blood sample was collected from each mouse and examined for hematological and biochemical parameters. Liver and kidney were removed, stained and examined for histopathological profiles. The effects of treatment with aqueous extract of M. stenopetala on hematological, biochemical and histopathology features were compared with control group following standard procedures. Results: Mice treated with 900 mg/kg of the extract per kg of body weight showed a significant increase in body weight compared to the controls (P=0.014). Neither a significant change in the weight nor in histopathology of liver and kidney were observed in the animals treated with aqueous extract of M. stenopetala compared to those of the controls. Serum glucose level (P=0.034) and serum cholesterol level (P=0.016) decreased significantly after six weeks treatment. Conclusion:The aqueous leaf extract of M. stenopetala is shown to increase body weight and reduce serum glucose and cholesterol level in mice. This indicates nutritional and medicinal values, but we cannot yet recommend its therapeutic use before more and complete studies are done. [Ethiop J Health Dev. 2011;25(1):51-57]

Introduction Human embryo is well protected in the uterus by the embryonic membrane, although teratogens may cause developmental disruptions after maternal exposure to them during early pregnancy. Most of the risk factors contributing to the development of congenital anomalies are uncertain; however, genetic factors, environmental factors and multifactorial inheritance are found to be risk factors. Regardless of their clinical importance, there are little/no studies conducted directly related to predisposing risk factors in southwestern Ethiopia. Objective The study aimed to determine the associated risk factors with congenital anomalies among newborns in southwestern Ethiopia. Methods Case—control study was conducted on newborns and their mothers in six purposively selected hospitals in southwestern Ethiopia from May 2016 to May 2018. Data was collected after evaluation of the neonates for the presence of congenital anomalies using the standard pretested checklist. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. P <0.01 was set as statistically significant. Results Risk factors such as unidentified medicinal usage in the first three months of pregnancy (AOR = 3.435; 99% CI: 2.012–5.863), exposure to pesticide (AOR = 3.926; 99% CI: 1.266–12.176), passive smoking (AOR = 4.104; 99% CI: 1.892–8.901), surface water as sources of drinking (AOR = 2.073; 99% CI: 1.221–3.519), folic acid supplementation during the early pregnancy (AOR = 0.428; 99% CI: 0.247–0.740) were significantly associated with the congenital anomalies. Conclusions In this study, risk factors such as passive smoking, exposure to pesticides, chemicals and use of surface water as a source of drinking during early pregnancy had a significant association with congenital anomalies. There is a need to continuously provide health information for the community on how to prevent and control predisposing risk factors.

Background: plants are composed of bioactive chemicals some of which may be toxic. Therefore, scientists advocate for toxicological studies to be carried out in order to ensure the safety of drugs. Accordingl y, this study was aimed to assess the possible toxic effects of Eucalyptus glubulus essential oil-water emulsion after oral administration in mice.

Background : Intrauterine development can be considered as normal development as well as abnormal development. Abnormal development commonly called birth defects occur because of interference of normal development from genetic disorders, environmental factors and the combination of both genetic and environment factors during the critical period of embryogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of birth defects at birth in Southwestern Ethiopia. Methods : Institutions based cross-sectional study design was used. Six hospitals were selected from the existing hospitals in southwestern Ethiopia purposively based on case load. The study was conducted from September 2011 to December 2015 during which 45,951 deliveries were attained. All records of births that were occurred in the selected hospitals during the study period were identified from medical records, to locate the birth defect records.Results : Twenty-one different birth defects were recorded. Of these, 49.6 % of the birth defects recorded were Anencephaly and Hydrocephalus. Five types of birth defects namely: Anencephaly (25.0%), Hydrocephalus (24.6%), Spinal bifida (13.1%), Meningomyelocele (7.1%), and Umbilical hernia (4.8 %) accounted about three-fourth (75%) of all recorded birth defects. The present study revealed that the prevalence of the birth defects at birth was found to be 5.5 per 1000 births. Among twenty one birth defects identified in this study, the neural tube defects were the most frequent with prevalence rate of 4.1 per 1000 birth followed by gastrointestinal defects (0.7 per 1000 births)Conclusions: As compared to other study, the prevalence of birth defect identified in the present study was found to be higher. The neural tube defects were the most prevalent with the frequency of 4.05 cases per 1000.The present study also identified that nearly equal proportions of birth defect occurred among males and females newborns. The majority of the mother who gave birth to birth defects was younger than 35 years old. As the birth defect was found to be a main cases of infant mortality and morbidity, there need to an urgent interventions to control the cases.

Background : Intrauterine development can be considered as normal development as well as abnormal development. Abnormal development commonly called birth defects occur because of interference of normal development from genetic disorders, environmental factors and the combination of both genetic and environment factors during the critical period of embryogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of birth defects at birth in Southwestern Ethiopia. Methods : Institutions based cross-sectional study design was used. Six hospitals were selected from the existing hospitals in southwestern Ethiopia purposively based on case load. The study was conducted from September 2011 to December 2015 during which 45,951 deliveries were attained. All records of births that were occurred in the selected hospitals during the study period were identified from medical records, to locate the birth defect records. Results : Twenty-one different birth defects were recorded. Of these, 49.6 % of the birth defects recorded were Anencephaly and Hydrocephalus. Five types of birth defects namely: Anencephaly (25.0%), Hydrocephalus (24.6%), Spinal bifida (13.1%), Meningomyelocele (7.1%), and Umbilical hernia (4.8 %) accounted about three-fourth (75%) of all recorded birth defects. The present study revealed that the prevalence of the birth defects at birth was found to be 5.5 per 1000 births. Among twenty one birth defects identified in this study, the neural tube defects were the most frequent with prevalence rate of 4.1 per 1000 birth followed by gastrointestinal defects (0.7 per 1000 births) Conclusions: As compared to other study, the prevalence of birth defect identified in the present study was found to be higher. The neural tube defects were the most prevalent with the frequency of 4.05 cases per 1000.The present study also identified that nearly equal proportions of birth defect occurred among males and females newborns. The majority of the mother who gave birth to birth defects was younger than 35 years old. As the birth defect was found to be a main cases of infant mortality and morbidity, there need to an urgent interventions to control the cases.