The mechanism of anti-diabetic activity of Gongronema latifolium was evaluated. The ethanol extract of the leaves of G. latifolium were fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and ethanol. Phytochemical screening of the dried fractions were carried and then acute toxicity tests on mice carried out. The induction of diabetes mellitus was achieved with 150 mg/kg b.w for mild diabetes and 300 mg/kg b.w for the severe condition. The effects of the crude ethanol extract (CEE) and its fractions on alloxan-induced hyperglycaemia were monitored. The result obtained reveals that crude ethanol extract significantly and dose-dependently reduced hyperglycaemia. The fractions of the ethanol extract equally reduced hyperglycaemia but the level of reduction was affected by the phytochemical content. This suggests that an intact pancreas is required for the hypoglycaemic action which is the mechanism of action of the sulphonylureas.
The effects of the ethanol extract from Buchholzia coriacea seed on inflammatory response using fresh egg albumin-induced paw edema in rats were examined. Antinociceptive activity of the extract using writhing test with acetic acid-induced pain in mice and the antipyretic activity in yeast-induced fever in rats were also examined. Oral administration of the extract (at the dose of 400mg/kg and in a dose dependent manner) significantly (p< 0.05) decreased the paw oedema induced by fresh egg albumin in rats. The extract (at 400mg/kg) also significantly (p< 0.05) inhibited yeast-induced pyrexia in rats when compared to the control. The extract was also found to possess significant (p< 0.05) dose dependent antinociceptive response in mice at 800 mg /kg. The results support the use of Buchholzia extract for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
This study was designed to determine the spermatogenic and haematological effects of aqueous and ethanolic stem bark extracts of Hymenocardia acida on Aluminium chloride-induced toxicity in male wistar rats. Thirty male albino Wistar rats were used and toxicity was induced using 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) AlCl 3 . The rats were distributed into six groups of five rats each. The drug and extract administration lasted for seven days, thereafter the animals sacrificed. The results indicated that oral dose of 100 mg/kg bw extracts of H. acida did not show any significant (p>0.05) change in testosterone levels when compared with both normal and negative control. Ethanolic extract showed non-significant (p>0.05) increase on Luteinizing hormone (LH) when compared with both normal and negative control group. Administration of AlCl 3 caused a significant (p<0.05) decrease in Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), while the plants extracts caused a non-significant increase when compared with the negative control. Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) increased significantly (p<0.05) in negative control, but decreased significantly in groups treated with aqueous and ethanolic extract of H. acida when compared with the negative control. Induction of AlCl 3 -toxicity caused a non-significant (p>0.05) alterations of most of the haematological parameters evaluated, but administration of the plant extracts was able to mildly ameliorate these effects (especially on RBC and Hb). The result of this study shows AlCl 3 toxicity causes alterations of LH, FSH and TBARS, but aqueous and ethanolic stem bark extracts of H. acida may possibly ameliorate the alteration. Also, AlCl 3 -toxicity mildly influences the synthesis of certain haematological indices, but the extracts may modulate some of this interference.
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