Aim:This study was designed to investigate the effect on of Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract on the histology of the gastrointestinal tract in rats. Methodology: Fifty adult albino rats and 35 Mice were used for the study. The mice were used for acute toxicity study while the rats were divided into five groups of 10 rats each and were used for the histological study. Groups 2-5 were assigned different dose levels of OGLE in the order 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively while group 1 was given only feed and water. Treatment was given by the oral route and lasted for 28 days. Udoha et al.; EJMP, 27(3): 1-9, 2019; Article no.EJMP.23749 2 Results: Phytochemical compounds identified in the extract include protein and carbohydrate which occurred in high amounts, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in moderate quantities, saponins, steroids and phenolic compounds in low amounts while tannins and alkaloids were absent. An LD 50 and ED 50 values of 2075 mg/kg and 850 mg/kg body weight respectively were obtained for the extract with a Therapeutic Index value of 2.44. Chronic oral administration of the extract also caused various degrees of histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract in all treated animals with significant erosions of the mucosa and submucosa. The gastrointesinal necrosis produced by Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract after long term treatment was dose dependent with 100 mg/kg inducing only mild necrosis of the villi, 200 mg/kg, a higher necrosis of the villi, while 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg induced severe necrosis of both the villi and the intestinal mucosa. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study therefore suggest that Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract is rich in bioactive compounds and may be well tolerated at low to moderate doses during short term treatment but may cause gastrointestinal erosions when used continuously over a long period. Original Research Article

The effect of Chromolaena odorata aqueous leaf extract on Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced gastrointestinal tract infection in adult rats was studied using thirty six (36) adult wistar rats, whose weights range from 72-100g. The rats were allowed to acclimatize for two weeks and checked for fitness through weight check and urinalysis. Twelve rats were used for toxicological study (LD50) while 24 rats were used to determine the antibacterial effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract. The 12 rats for LD50 were divided into three groups of four rats each while the other 24 rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. The antibacterial effect of Chromolaena odorata extract was significantly high in group Q after treatment (4.5±2.12 Cfu/ml) when compared with the mean value before treatment (20.0±4.24 Cfu/ml). The antibiotic effect of ciprofloxacin was higher in group R rats after treatment (0.00±0.00 Cfu/ml) when compared with the mean value before treatment (24.0±1.41 Cfu/ml). But in group S, the mean value of count after treatment was significantly higher (26.5±13.44 Cfu/ml) when compared with the mean value before treatment (14.5±4.95 Cfu/ml) and this is because this group was not treated with either leave extract or antibiotics. Conclusively, the leave extract of Chromolaena odorata could be adopted as an alternative treatment against gastrointestinal tract infections especially those due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

No abstract