Effects of graded dosages of methanolic extract of Aspilia Africana were examined on the estrous cycle, uterine weights and histology to determine its effects on the reproductive functions of 25 cyclic female rats. The rats were randomized into five groups A, B, C, D, and E. They were given 0mg/kg body weight, 150 mg/kg body weight, 200 mg/kg body weight, 250 mg/kg body weight, and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The effect on the estrous cycle was determined by vaginal lavage while routine histological preparations were done with haematoxylin-eosin stains. All values were statistically compared at appropriate confidence intervals. Estrous cycles were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner and histology revealed a dose-dependent toxicity.
Ageratum conyzoides Linn is a medicinal plant used for diverse ethnomedicinal applications including anti-ulcer treatment. Usually, protection of gastric mucosa from injury or ulceration is dependent on the efficacy of intrinsic or induced protective factors against erosive effects of aggressive factors. In this study, our aim was to ascertain the gastroprotective activity of methanolic leaf extracts of A. conyzoides L. and assess the associated roles of gastric mucous cells and p53 protein. This study involved 25 adult male Wistar rats divided into five groups (A-E). Groups A and E were used as normal and test controls while B-D were administered with extracts at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. Gastric mucosal injury was induced via pyloric ligation method. Gastric tissues were processed, stained with periodic acid-Schiff and immunostained for p53 protein (using monoclonal antibody). Stained sections were quantified using image-J software, data obtained were statistically analyzed. The results showed significant increase (p<0.05) in mucous cell population but no significant increase in p53 protein expression in gastric tissues of treated animals. This implied that increase in mucous cell count and down-regulation of p53 protein in gastric tissues play key role in gastroprotective activity of methanolic extracts of A. conyzoides L.
Cissampelos owariensis is a medicinal plant with a wide range of therapeutic uses. In this study, the objective was to further assess its antiproliferative potential using cell proliferation and tumor suppressor markers. Solvent extraction of C. owariensis leaves was done using methanol. Twenty (20) male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups 1–4 (n=5) and respectively administered with methanolic extracts of C. owariensis at 0, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg for 30 days. After treatment, the hepatic tissues were processed and examined histologically and immunohistochemically for cell proliferation (Ki-67) and tumor suppressor (p53) proteins. Immunoexpression of the proteins was quantified using image-J software, the data analyzed with SPSS version 20 and values compared using t-test and one-way analysis of variance. The histological results showed no significant variation in hepatic histomorphology of treated Groups 2–4 relative to non-treated Group 1. However, the immunohistochemical results showed significant (p< 0.05) down-regulation in Ki-67 protein expression and a concomitant significant (p< 0.05) up-regulation in p53 protein expression in hepatic tissues of treated Groups 2–4 relative to non-treated Group 1.These inverse expression patterns of cell proliferation and tumor suppressor proteins following exposure to methanolic extracts of C. owariensis may suggest the antiproliferative potential of the plant extracts.
Introduction: Cadmium is a common heavy metal toxicant that can cause diverse tissue toxicities and pathologies. Conversely, ascorbic acid is a natural anti-oxidant that can ameliorate cytotoxic effects of tissue toxicants. In this study, the objective was to assess the histomorphological profile of liver and kidney tissues of albino Wistar rats after exposure to cadmium-induced damage and ascorbic acid supplementation. Subjects and Methods: 24 animals were divided into four groups (1-4) comprising of six animals each (n=6). Normal control group 1 was given distilled water, test control group 2 given 5 mg/kg Cadmium chloride and test groups 3 and 4 given 5 mg/kg Cadmium chloride + 100 mg/kg ascorbic acid and 5 mg/kg + 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid respectively. The route of the 21 days administration was oral. Thereafter, the liver and kidney of experimental animals were harvested, weighed and processed. Results: Only the test control group 2 showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in mean organ weight compared to normal control group 1. Similarly, only the test control group 2 animals showed significant alterations in the liver and kidney histomorphological profile compared to normal control group 1. Conclusion: The ascorbic acid exhibited prominent ameliorative effect against damaging effect of cadmium exposure leading to relative reparation of liver and kidney histomorphology in albino Wistar rats.
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