Introduction:
Aspilia africana is a plant commonly used to stop bleeding, heal wound, and manage various stomach complaints. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of A. africana on biochemical (liver function tests, renal function tests, and lipid profile), histopathological (kidney and liver) and haematological parameters of the female Wistar rats. Methods: To study acute toxicity, the median lethal dose (LD50) was determined by oral administration of different doses of the extract to 8 groups of 3 rats each and the animals were observed for 24 hours for signs of toxicity. To evaluate the toxicological effect of the extract, 3 groups of 5 animals each received 0.5 mL normal saline (control), 250 or 500 mg/kg of the extracts for 2 consecutive weeks. Results: Data revealed the LD50 of the extract to be >5000 mg/kg.bw. There was no significant variation in organosomatic indices of the animals fed with aqueous and ethanol extracts of A. africana leaves. In comparison with the control, there were significant increases (p<0.05) in serum liver and kidney biomarkers, high density lipoprotein, and white blood cells while some red cells indices, platelets, some lipid profile levels reduced significantly (p<0.05). A marked alteration in hepatic and renal architectures was also observed. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that the A. africana leaf may not be safe as medicine despite the outcome of LD50 acute toxicity studies. For it to be integrated in folk medicine, we recommend its use at minimal doses.
The aim of this study was to investigate the renal protective properties of aqueous leaf extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum from Nigeria against petrol vapour -induced toxicity on the kidney of male albino rats. Fifty apparently healthy male albino rats aged 8 weeks and weighing between 165 g -185 g were randomly divided into five groups of ten animals each. Group 1 served as control and were not treated with the plant extract or exposed to gasoline vapour. Group 2 served as negative control and were exposed to the gasoline vapour but not treated with the plant extract. Groups 3, 4 EJMP, 19(3): 1-8, 2017; Article no.EJMP.33358 2 and 5 were treated with the plant extract at 20 mg/kg body weight, 40 mg/kg body weight, 60 mg/kg body weight respectively and exposed to the gasoline vapour for 5 hrs daily for 21 days. Results show that mean body weight of treated animals increased significantly (p≤ 0.05) compared to negative control. Haematological parameters; PCV, Hb, Total bilirubin, WBC and RBC increased, while renal function biomarkers Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ and Cl also increased in the treated animals compared to the negative control respectively. The effect of the plant extract is dose dependent. The results show that the plants extract has renal protective potential on the experimental animals.
Original Research Article
Materials and methods Sample collection: Three-point water samples were collected from the waterside River thus. The first point, Upstream, was at the bank under the bridge and close to the road. The second point, Downstream, was at the other bank far off the bridge and road but close to the residential and factory walls. The third point, Midstream, was at the mid point of the Upstream and Downstream. The water samples were collected using a properly labeled plastic containers and used without any treatment.
HDTMA and TMPA cations intercalated bentonite clay has been assessed for the effective removal of methylene blue dye (MB) in aqueous solution. The adsorbents has been characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Various sorption parameters like effect of initial MB concentration, contact time and pH were used to investigate the sorption process. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms as well as Pseudo First order, Pseudo Second order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models were applied to investigate the sorption mechanisms. Results from the adsorption experiment confirmed 180 minutes as equilibrium time for maximum sorption of MB by both organoclays. Increase in initial MB concentration resulted to a corresponding increase in the adsorption capacities of both organoclays. Adsorption of MB by the organoclays were highly influenced by pH, as maximum sorption of MB was achieved at pH of 7. Among the isotherm and kinetic models exploited, the Langmuir isotherm and Pseudo second order kinetic model gave best fit to the experimental data respectively. Results from thermodynamic studies showed that the process of adsorption of MB onto the organoclays were feasible, spontaneous and exothermic; and successful reapplication of regenerated spent organoclays (Bt-HDTMA and Bt-TMPA) yielded MB dye removal percentage of 89.6 and 85.3% respectively at 60 minutes contact time. Therefore, the results obtained from the entire study confirms the efficacy of HDTMA and TMPA intercalated bentonite clay for effective removal of cationic dyes in aqueous solution at optimal experimental conditions
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