Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder of man, whose devastating effect is increasing by the day and severity almost at epidemic level. This study was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) leaves extract and its effect on hepatic enzymes, total protein and albumin in alloxan induced diabetic rats. A total of twenty animals was divided into four experimental groups consisting of five animals each. The groups included a positive control, negative control, diabetic-treated Ipomoea batatas and Diabetic-treated tolbutamide for 14 days. All were fed normal diet ad libitum. After the treatment a significant reduction was observed in fasting serum glucose levels in the treated diabetics' rats. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction of feed and water intakes by the animals after the treatment with Ipomoea batatas and tolbutamide. Treatment also improved the weight gain compared to untreated diabetic rats. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the diabetes untreated is significantly higher compared to that normal and treated animal and others treated with extract and tolbutamide. A Similar trend was observed in the Aspartate transaminase and Alanine transaminase activity, respectively, the reversed was observed in the albumin and total protein level, respectively. Hence, the result shows that the extract is not toxic and possesses anti-diabetic properties.
In order to investigate sex differences on the effects of inorganic mercury on antioxidant enzymes in different compartments, male and female albino rats were exposed to mercury (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mg/kg) for 12 weeks. At the end of mercury exposure, total mercury in liver, kidney and whole blood was determined using Inductively‐Coupled Plasma Spectrometry (ICP‐MS) while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the liver, kidney, plasma and erythrocytes were determined by standard methods. Inhibition of CAT and SOD in plasma and erythrocyte characterised the effects of inorganic mercury in female animals with the same trend in SOD of male but vice versa in CAT respectively. Inorganic mercury exposure inhibited CAT by 23% (liver) and 84% (kidney); SOD by 30% (liver) and 16% (kidney) respectively in female animals. In the male animals, a 26% inhibition of SOD was observed in the <a name=”_GoBack”></a>liver whereas CAT was inhibited by 66% in the kidney. Correlation analysis shows a negative relationship between tissue mercury levels and the two antioxidant enzymes specifically in female. Our findings support sex differences in the effects of mercury on depletion of antioxidant enzymes.
Introduction: The use of Nauclea latifolia and Alchornea cordifolia plants as herbal curative medicine is fast growing and the need to investigate the likely toxicity to avert severe medical issues. Aims: To assess the toxicity level, the liver function enzyme activities in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) administered with both ethanolic bark extracts of Nauclea latifolia and Alchornea cordifolia were studied. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four (84) rabbits were arbitrarily grouped into seven (n = 12), where group 1 is the control, and the remaining groups were orally administered with 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic bark extract of Nauclea latifolia and Alchornea cordifolia (LD50>1000mg/kg). In each group, after 24 hours of administration on the 1st, 3rd and 7th days, three animals were sacrificed. Markers of liver functions: serum alkaline phosphate (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes activities were monitored using spectrophotometry instrument. Results: The results show a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of ALP, AST and ALT activities at all doses for the days of administration of both ethanolic bark extracts of Nauclea latifolia and Alchornea cordifolia when compared to the control. Conclusion: The study suggests that ethanolic bark extracts of Nauclea latifolia and Alchornea cordifolia may possess relative hepatoprotective activity.
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