The biochemical implication of chloramphenicol-induced lymphoma and the ameliorative potential of Justicia carnea and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on male Wistar rats were evaluated in this study. Seventy (70) male Wistar rats with average body weights of 128g were randomly grouped into 14 of 5 rats each. Group 1 received commercial rat feed and water ad libitum. Rats in groups 2-14 were given 250mg/kg bodyweight of chloramphenicol by oral intubation for 28 days. Results of blood samples collected after 28 days from all the groups showed normal blood film in Group 1 and abnormal increases and lymphocytes and the presence of blast cells in Groups 2-14. Group 2 did not receive any treatment and is referred to as the negative control. The remaining groups (3-14) were administered with aqueous leaf extracts of J. carnea (Groups 3-6), C. aconitifolius (Groups 7-10), and a combination of both extracts (Groups 11-14) in doses of 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, 1500mg/kg and 2000mg/kg respectively, for 28 days. Data obtained showed that lymphocytes were elevated (p<0.05) in Group 2 lymphocytosis and there was the presence of blast cells indicating lymphoma when compared to Group 1. The combination of J. carnea and C. aconitifolius was able to ameliorate the chloramphenicol-induced lymphoma better than the single therapy of each extract. The result of the investigation supports the earlier findings that chloramphenicol could cause acute lymphocytic leukemia. It further provides evidence that combined extracts of J. carnea and C. aconitifolius may have an ameliorative effect in blood diseases connected to over-exposure to chloramphenicol.
This study was designed to evaluate the antiplasmodial activities of aqueous leaf extracts of Ficus trichocarpa and Lasianthera africana on chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei (NK65) infected male albino mice. P. berghei was obtained from National Institute for Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria, and maintained in the laboratory by serial passage in mice. Chemo-suppressive, prophylactic, and curative procedures were used to appraise the antiplasmodial potentials of the extracts. A total of 305 albino mice were used for this study. Forty-five albino mice which were divided into 9 groups were used for the acute toxicity study of F. trichocarpa and L. africana. For chemo-suppressive and prophylactic assessment, 180 albino mice were divided into 2 sets of 90 rats grouped into 6 of five albino mice each respectively, while 70 mice were used for the curative assessment. The remaining 10 infected mice served as donor mice. The infected mice were orally treated daily with 5 mg kg‾1 chloroquine 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg kg‾1 bodyweight of F. trichocarpa and L. africana respectively, and a combined extract of F. trichocarpa and L. africana in a 1:1 ratio. The In vivo antiplasmodial effect of L. africana extract against P. berghei infection showed a significant (p˂0.05) dose-dependent schizonticidal activity for the prophylactic test. The percentage suppression of the malarial parasite by F. trichocarpa and L. africana after a 4-day treatment followed a dose-dependent manner and were significantly (p˂0.05) higher than the percentage suppression of groups treated with the combined extracts. Results of the prophylactic study showed that the percentage suppression of the parasite by the aqueous leaf extract of L. africana at each administered dosage was above 30%. It was, therefore, concluded that the leaf extracts of F. trichocarpa and L. africana possess antimalarial potencies when administered individually than as a combined regime and this property could be exploited for antimalarial therapy.
Human exposure to elevated levels of environmental contaminants is an important concern of health toxicology. This study assessed the toxicity level of toxic metals including Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni) in samples of water, seafood (Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis niloticus, Cottus gobio) and vegetable (Telfairia occidentalis) from the adjacent area of Elebele River, Nigeria, bioconcentration and toxic metal exposure posed to communities consuming these foodstuffs. The following indices: single-factor index and the comprehensive pollution index, metal pollution index, estimated daily and weekly intakes, hazard index and lifetime cancer risk were applied. Samples of water, seafood and vegetable were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that the concentrations of metals except for Cd in water samples were higher than the permissible limits by international organisations. Results also revealed that the concentrations of metals in foodstuff samples were within limits. Furthermore, the values of estimated weekly intakes calculated were lower than the limits of provisional tolerable weekly intakes established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. This suggests no health risks and is consistent with the HI results. However, As was a major contributor (96.9%) to health risks associated with the ingestion of water. Lifelong consumption of T. occidentalis might be hazardous in the study locality. The carcinogenic risk was > 1 × 10‒4 for As and Ni. Therefore, to reduce the health risk and the extent of metal contamination, steps must be taken for the efficient removal of metals from the water body.
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