Background The aqueous methanolic extract of Andira inermis(A. inermis) stem bark was screened for phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity, acute oral toxicity, and preliminary prophylactic normoglycaemic test and effect on Oral Glucose Tolerance in albino rats. Methods Andira inermis was double macerated and extracted with 80% methanol. Phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity were performed using standard methods. The extract was screened for in vitro antioxidant activity using Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging spectrophotometric assays. Prophylactic control of glucose was evaluated in normoglycaemic and glucose-challenged albino rats. Graded test doses (100–400 mg/kg body weight) of the extract were used in the investigation. The effects observed were compared with that of glibenclamide (0.2 mg/kg) and distilled water control groups. Results The stem bark extract of A. inermis was found to contain saponins, terpenes, tannins, steroids, flavanoids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates and alkaloids. The extract was found to have a significant in vitro antioxidant activity in both methods. The oral acute toxicity study showed the extract had LD50 greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced blood glucose levels in normoglycaemic animal model (the control group seen to have − 5.6(− 8.7%) poor glucose handling; and the glibenclamide& extract treatment group (100 mg/kg) to positively reduce blood glucose 14.8(26.8%) & 16.4(25.9%) respectively). The glucose challenged test, from the 1st hour, showed − 57.4(− 89.4%),-26.8(− 33.8%),-23.8(− 26.3%),-12.8(− 13.9%) and − 9.8(− 10.4%) for the vehicle control, glibenclamide (positive control), and the 100, 200 & 400 mg/kg extract treatment groups respectively. The extract showed mild hypoglycemic effect in the results recorded, up to the 4th hour. Conclusion The results of this study elucidated that the aqueous methanolic extract of Andira inermis stem bark possessed potent antioxidant phyto-constituents with potential hypoglycaemic effects that could be explored for therapeutic use worldwide following isolation and characterization of the bioactive principles. And the results also authenticate the folklore use of the plant.
The study was set to investigate the potency of stem bark extract of Sterculia setigera as a hepatoprotective agent against acute administration (overdose) of acetaminophen in experimental animals. Experimental animals were grouped into six treatments with each group containing five rats. Group 1 was the placebo, Group II was the standard treatment orally administered acetaminophen at a dosage of 250 mg/kgbw and thereafter treated with the standard drug silymarin at 100 g/kgbw after 6 h, to Group III (negative treatment) was orally administered acetaminophen only, at a dosage of 250 mg/kgbw without follow up treatment with standard drug (silymarin). Groups IV, V and VI were orally administered 70% methanol stem bark extract at a dosage of 200, 400 and 600 mg/Kgbw six hours after being orally administered with the hepatotoxic acetaminophen. The trial treatment was carried out for a period of three weeks. The inadequacy of herbs used in curing of liver diseases and other dysfunctions caused by allopathic drugs is enough reason to focus on systematic scientific research to evaluate some species of plants that are traditionally claimed to possess hepato-protective activities.
Hypnosis is a state of mind that is characterized by focused attention and heightened receptivity for suggestions. It is either established by compliance with instructions or achieved naturally; the critical nature of the mind is bypassed during hypnosis and acceptable suggestions are delivered. Misperceptions about hypnosis by clinical practitioners and their clients have been shaped through years of inaccurate but interesting portrayals of hypnosis in books, plays, and movies. Part of the misperceptions is that individuals with seemingly magical powers to manipulate the unsuspecting innocent with their authoritative voice commands and penetrating eyes are depicted as hypnotists. This chapter will review the traditional and conventional approaches used in hypnosis, their advantages and disadvantages as well as where hypnosis is used as a complementary or alternative therapy to the modern day orthodox medicine. Despite the pejorative image display of hypnosis and misconceptions surrounding it, hypnosis still has numerous applications in contemporary medicine. Hypnotherapy conducted by a trained therapist is considered as a complementary or safe alternative to present day orthodox medication for numerous ailments.
The aqueous methanolic Andira inermis stem bark extract was screened in evaluation of its potential for its toxic effect in a 28 days study using the oral route only. The sub acute study was carried out in Wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each; control group (a) received distilled water while the aqueous methanolic Andira inermis stem bark extract treatment groups (b), (c), and (d), received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively, for a period of 28 days, with their intake of feeds, water and signs of abnormality observed. At the end of the sub acute study, the rats were anaesthetized with chloroform and blood collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical and haematological evaluation. And the visceral organs (liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and spleen) excised for weighing and patho-morphological examination. The aqueous methanolic Andira inermis stem bark extract was found to; reduce the intake of water weekly, drop intake of feeds; significantly increased the red blood cell count (RBC), the haemoglobin concentration (HB), as well as the pack cell volume (PCV). The renal indices, showed the electrolytes sodium and chloride of the treatment groups (b, c and d) to be significantly different from the control. Urea was noticed to have reduce significantly and creatinine insignificantly. The organs weights across the Andira inermis treatment groups were noticed to be insignificantly (P › 0.05) different from the control for all the organs sampled (Lungs, Liver, Heart and Spleen) except for the kidney (organ weight which was noticed to have increased significantly). The patho-morphologies of the organs showed the heart to be normal, the kidney was normal in the control and the other treatment groups 100 mg 400 mg and 200 mg but a rat (an outlier) in one of the 200 mg group was noticed with tubular necrosis; the liver indicated a non concentration-dependent hepatitis while the lungs and the spleen presented an infective process. It was concluded that, the aqueous methanolic extract of Andira inermis is a safe medicinal plant with the capacity to; raise red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (HB) as well as the pack cell volume (PCV); proffers a nephro- protective property; shrunken spleen; have a hepato-protective property and as well was non toxic to the heart and lungs. These findings warrants further pharmacognostic efficacy experimental research to harness the array of benefits of Andira inermis as discovered in this study.
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