Objective:This study aims to elucidate the effect of Ocimum gratissimum on hematological parameters in rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty male albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups of ten rats each. Group 1 was control, while groups 2 (LD) and 3 (HD) received 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of the extract orally once daily. Rats in all three groups received normal rat chow and drinking water ad libitum for 28 days. Complete blood count was done using an automatic counter.Results:The HD group had significantly (P<.05) higher red blood cell (RBC) counts, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), and platelet counts as compared with the control and LD groups. No significant changes were observed in the total white blood cell (WBC) count of the three groups, but significantly (P<.05) lower lymphocyte and higher neutrophil counts were observed in the HD group compared with the LD group. The mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet–large cell ratio (P–LCR), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were significantly (P<.05) reduced in the HD compared with the LD group. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and RBC distribution width–standard deviation were significantly (P<.05) lower in the HD group than in control. No significant changes were observed in levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and RBC distribution width–coefficient of variation among the groups.Conclusion:We conclude that oral administration of O gratissimum increases RBC, PCV, Hb, platelet count, and neutrophils and also leads to a decrease in platelet indices (i.e., MPV, P–LCR, and PDW).

Summary:Gonglonema latifolium is a climbing perennial plant that belongs to the family of asclepidaceae. The medicinal uses of the leaves and stem bark extract of Gonglonema latifolium has been reported in many scientific literatures to include anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-ulcerative etc. There is paucity in scientific reports on the medicinal properties of the root extract. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the phytochemical constituents and effect of ethanolic root extract of Gonglonema latifolium on some hematological parameters. Eighteen (18) albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 (control) was fed on normal rat chow + drinking water, the test groups (group 2 and 3) in addition received extract treatment (p.o) at a dose of 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively. The feeding regimens lasted for 14 days. Results show that the extract contains polyphenols, glycosides, reducing sugars and alkaloids. The mean RBC count for control was 4.44 ± 0.15 x10 6 cells/mm 3 , this did not differ significantly from the test groups. The total WBC counts were 3.79 ± 0.15 x10 3 cells/mm 3 , 3.37 ± 0.19 x10 3 cells/mm 3 and 5.54 ± 0.39 x10 3 cells/mm 3 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. WBC was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the high dose (group 3) compared with control. Mean PCV (%) were 33.60 ± 0.81, 37.20 ± 0.80 and 34.80 ± 1.35 for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The PCV was significantly (P<0.05) higher in low dose extract recipients (group 2) than in control. Hb content, MCV and MCH did not differ significantly among the groups, but MCHC was significantly lower in the test groups compared with control group. Neutrophils were significantly (P<0.001) reduced in the test groups, while the eosinophils and monocytes count were significantly increased in the test groups than in controls. In conclusion, the extract has little or no effect on RBC count, PCV, MCV and MCH. But low doses of the extract significantly increased the Hb count while high doses significantly increased WBC count, probably due to increase in eosinophil and monocyte counts. MCHC was dose-dependently reduced. The extract was also observed to contain polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides and reducing sugars.

d o w n l o a d f r o m a s i t e h o s t e d b y M e d k n o w P u b l i c a t i o n s (w w w. m e d k n o w. c o m) .

Microbial evaluation of two edible seafood, Pomecia palludosa (apple snail) and Ergeria radiate (clam) were undertaking in this study to ascertain its consumption safety. These seafood were processed as either fresh sundried or cooked oven-dried samples. Results revealed thatthe bacteria loadin fresh samples of E. Radiate (2.20 × 10 6-TNT CFU/ml) was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with P. palludosa (6.10 × 10 3-3.30 × 10 8 CFU/ml). The coliform count was also significantly (p<0.05) higher in E. radiate (4-10 coliform/100 ml) than in P. palludosa (3-6 coliform/100 ml). Cooking significantly (p<0.05) reduced the bacteria load and coliforms in both samples. In P. palludosa, a total of 26 bacteria were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia were most frequent, a total of 20 bacteria were isolated from E. radiata, Vibro spp. and E. coli being most frequent. The three fungi isolates from fresh E. radiate and P. palludosa were completely eliminated by cooking. In conclusion, fresh samples of clam and apple snail contain huge microbial load, hence adequate processing and proper cooking is needed before they are consumed. Nevertheless, the vast microbial loads in these species of seafood could serve as a ready source of microbes in some processing industries.

The antioxidant capacity of 2 African seeds and 8 vegetables were analyzed using ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP assay) after water and acetone extractions. The contents of ascorbic acid, phenolics and flavonoids were determined and their correlations with FRAP value were investigated. The results showed that Vernonia amygdalina was stronger (4.84 mM/100 g dry weight (DW)) than other vegetables analyzed in antioxidant capacity based on total FRAP values. Baphia nitida was the lowest in total FRAP value (1.26 mM/100 g DW). Treculia africana seed was higher than Telfairia occidentalis seed in total FRAP value. T. occidentalis leaf had antioxidant capacity than its corresponding seed. All water extracts were higher in FRAP value than the acetone extracts. FRAP value was significantly correlated with the contents of ascorbic acid, phenolics, or flavonoids in water extracts and with flavonoids in acetone extract, in which ascorbic acid and flavonoids contributed most in the water extracts based on multivariate regression analysis. In conclusion, the different African seeds and vegetables were remarkably different in antioxidant capacity.