Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) and Azadirachta indica (AI) are widely used in Nigeria for medicinal purposes and have also been shown to affect weight changes anecdotally through mechanisms not yet defined. There are reports of decreased food consumption and weight gain in rats consuming HS extracts as the drinking solutions but there is paucity of data on the effect of these two extracts, administered by gavage, on weight changes during pregnancy and lactation. This study was therefore designed to investigate this in relation to food and fluid intake. 40 pregnant rats weighing 150-200 g were used for this study. They were divided into three groups: control, HS and AI groups. HS and AI groups were subdivided into two subgroups of low and high doses. Extract administration was orally by gavage and commenced on day 1 of pregnancy and ended on postnatal day 21. Food and fluid consumption were monitored throughout pregnancy and lactation. The results showed that the aqueous extract of HS and AI increased consumption of food and fluid during pregnancy and lactation, increased maternal weight gain during pregnancy and lactation. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that consumption of aqueous extracts of HS and AI during pregnancy and lactation increased fluid and food intake and weight gain of dams with a possible potential to accelerate weight loss or decrease postpartum weight retention during lactation.
Background: Azadiradita indica seed has been used in traditional system of medicine. It is known to be natural medicine with many benefits. Toxicological studies have reported that toxic effects may be related to the complex mixtures of active constituents and other chemicals which increase the risk of adverse reactions. Objective: The purpose of the study was designed to isolate and characterize the toxic constituents with a view of recommending for clinical trials. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The seeds were collected, identified and extracted with conventional Soxhlet extraction technique. Chromatographic techniques were used for fractionation and isolation of the toxic constituents. A total of eighty- four (84) adult Albino rats of both sexes were randomly assigned into fourteen (14) groups containing 6 rats in each group. Each group I-VI received one of the 100, 500, or 1000 mg/kg of Methanol Extract (ME) or Hexane Extract (HE), respectively. Group VII was the control and received 0.5 ml/kg of the vehicle, 3% v/v Tween 80. Group VIII-XIV received 100 mg/kg of Pet-ether-ethylaceate fraction (PEF), Methanol fraction (MF), Methylene Chloride /Acetone fractions 9:1, 8:2 and 7:3 (MAC-1, MAC-2, MAC-3), Isolate 1 (TN-1), and Isolate 2 (TN-2), respectively. Extracts and fractions were administered orally once daily for 30days for animals in group I-XII. Groups XIII-XIV were treated for only 10 days. On days 10, 20, 30, 3 ml of blood was withdrawn from each rat by an ocular puncture for liver function test (ALT and AST). Body/ organ weights were equally used as a toxicity guide in the separation of toxic constituents. Results: The ME and various fractions caused significant (P<0.05) increase in the activities of ALT and AST. The isolated compounds TN1 and TN2 also caused a significant effect on AST and ALT. The toxic effect of TN-2 was higher than that exhibited by TN-1. The methanol and fractions caused significant (P<0.05) dose related increase in the body weight of treated animals. TN-1 and TN-2 caused significant (P<0.05) reduction in the organ weight of the treated animals. Conclusion: Although there was no evidence of lethality for acute toxicity of the extract, chronic oral administration of the extract and solvent fractions caused hepatotoxicity. Structure elucidation revealed TN-1 and TN-2 to be 6- deacetylnimbin and Nimbolide, respectively.
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