Cyathula prostrata (Linn.) Blume is a tropical herbal plant known for its important phytochemical contents and medicinal properties. But its impact on animal reproduction and fertility is yet to be fully established. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume will improve the semen quality characteristics of New Zealand White buck rabbit. Twenty-eight post-pubertal buck rabbits were used for the study. The animals were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (n = 7 per treatment) where they were fed either the control diet—0 g C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume or any of the three experimental diets containing the graded levels of C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume incorporated into rabbit pellets at 10, 20 or 30 g C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume per kg feed. The results showed that the semen volume and pH were not different between groups. Interestingly, sperm motility significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, the sperm morphology also decreased in a dose-related fashion with 20 g (77.75 ± 1.31%) and 30 g (79.00 ± 2.20%) C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume being significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with groups 0 g (88.50 ± 1.44%) and 10 g (87.50 ± 4.33%) C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume, respectively. In conclusion, the addition of C. prostrata (Linn.) Blume into the normal rabbit feeds had a positive effect on sperm count, but reduced sperm motility and morphology, and may be associated with spermatogenesis-related problems.
Antimicrobials from plant have enormous therapeutic potentials which have been established a long time ago. The leaves of Chromolaena odarata (commonly called Siam weed), which is an ancient remedy for the treatment of wounds and many ailments was tested for its antimicrobial activities on S. Typhi and Escherichia coli. The agar pour plate method was used to test for its antimicrobial activity on the test isolate, the extracts of Chromolaena odorata was introduced directly into the wells of the two tested organism. Laboratory study shows that Chromolaena odorata has antimicrobial action against these organisms. However, result after a 72hr incubation showed that ethanol extract had the highest zone of inhibition for S. Typhi (37.7mm) and water extract on E coli (32.3mm) and also mean value of leaf extracts of Chromolaena odarata were found to exhibit a significant antibacterial activity against S. Typhi as compared to E. coli, revealing that the extract of Chromolaena odarata is more effective on S. Typhi than E.
coli. This research work establishes a good support to the use of these plants in herbal Remedies and as base for development of new drugs against typhoid fever and E. coli related diseases.This study however concludes that further investigation on the use of this plant should be carried out to test against pathogens of worldwide burden as well as the relative side effects and mechanism of action.
RECOMMENDATIONThe present investigations on Medicinal plant C. odorata is considered as a clinically effective antimicrobial agent against S. Typhi and E. coli. Hence it is recommended as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics for the control of typhoid fever and diseases of E. coli origin such as diarrhoea, urinary tract infection (UTI) etc. The screenings of this medicinal plant reveals it as a source of antimicrobial agents.
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal (ACLM)/Pawpaw leaf meal (PLM) on the haematology of young rabbits aged 12-14 wks. The study involved twenty four (24) young rabbits of both sexes and of mixed breeds randomly allocated to four treatment groups of two replicates per treatment with three rabbits in each replicate. The treatment groups were designated as T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and T 4 , for rabbits fed control meal of concentrate and forage, rabbits fed Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal (ACLM), rabbits fed pawpaw leaf meal (PLM)and rabbits fed a mixture of ACLM and PLM at a ratio of 50:50, respectively. Cool clean drinking water was provided ad libitum to all the treatment groups while the experiment lasted. The experiment lasted for eight weeks at the end of which blood samples were collected from the animals on treatment basis and haematological parameters examined. Haematological parameters examined included Haemaglobin (Hb), Packed cell volume (PVC), Red blood cell (RBC), White blood cell (WBC), Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Eosinophils, Monocytes and Basophils. In these parameters considered, Pawpaw leaf meal showed a significant higher values in Hb (13.35 ± 0.05), PVC (41.50 ± 0.05) RBC (6.08 ± 0.09) and WBC (9.15±1.55) than the control group and other treatment groups. There were however no significant differences (P > 0.05) in virtually all these parameters in the control group (T 1) and the group fed ACLM and PLM mixture (T 4). Therefore, it could be considered that feeding rabbits with Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal, pawpaw leaf meal and their mixture at ratio of 50:50 has no adverse effect on the blood (haematology) of the animals.
Biochemical parameters in blood specimens obtained from semi-adult rabbits of both sexes fed crude oil contaminated diets were examined. The diets had crude oil inclusions of 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20%. Blood samples were obtained from the marginal ear vein of representatives in each treatment group and assayed for urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin and cholesterol. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in biochemical parameters between control and crude oil treated animals. The biochemical changes observed indicate that ingestion of crude oil fractions cause disturbances in kidney and hepatocytes.
Previous studies have shown Costus afer to possess ethno-medical and ethno-veterinary properties, however, the link between C. afer and reproductive activities are not clear. The aim of this research was to assess the impact of C. afer leaf on semen quality characteristics and testosterone levels of adult buck rabbits. Eighteen adult crossbred New Zealand and Chinchilla breeds were divided into three treatments (A, B and C) (n=6) in a completely randomized design (CRD) for 12 weeks. The results showed significant (P<0.05) decrease in sperm motility, sperm count, and normal morphology due to treatment effect. Sperm abnormalities, dead cells, sluggishly motile, and pus cells were significantly (P<0.05) increased in treated group. The treatment had no significant impact (P>0.05) on parameters like appearance (normal), semen volume, and viscosity between the groups. Serum testosterone increased significantly (P < 0.05) in treated groups (C: 21.0 ng/mL; B: 11.6 ng/mL) than control (A: 11.0 ng/mL), respectively. These results indicate that C. afer has a negative fertility impact on buck rabbits.
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