Aluminium neurotoxicity is implicated in Alzheimer's disease, which is marked by progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment and structural degeneration, leading to complete incapacitation. Formation of excess reactive oxygen species causes oxidative stress, which is the hallmark of aluminium toxicity. A quest to counteract these pathologies led to investigating Zingiber officinale (ZO) extracts on cognitive and anti-oxidative potentials against aluminium chloride (AlCl3)-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss mice. The oral lethal dose of ZO was estimated as 4,743 mg/kg. Forty-eight adult female Swiss mice of weight 21-27 g were then assigned to eight groups (n=6): Group 1 were the control (40 mL/kg distilled water), while groups 2-8 were respectively, administered AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) alone, and with Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg), ZO ethanol extract (474, 949 and 1,423 mg/kg), ZO dichloromethane (949 mg/kg), and ZO methanol (949 mg/kg) extracts for 21 days. The classic labyrinth test was carried out subsequently, the animals sacrificed, and their brain homogenized for biochemical assay. There was a significantly (p<0.05) increased latency to complete the labyrinth test by the AlCl3 group compared with the control. The ZO extracts treated groups had decreased latency to complete the labyrinth test, and these were significant (p<0.05) in the 949 and 1,423 mg/kg ethanol extract groups. Biochemically, AlCl3 significantly (p<0.05) elevated acetyl cholinesterase and malondialdehyde levels, while reducing superoxide dismutase activity: These adverse effects were reversed significantly (p<0.05) following treatment with extracts of ZO. In conclusion, ZO ethanol extract and its dichloromethane and methanol fractions improved cognitive activities, and possessed anticholinesterase, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective potentials.

Tobacco, which is a product of Nicotiana tabacum, has nicotine as its principal phytochemical. Nicotine has been reported to be an addictive drug and the leading cause of tobacco addiction worldwide with consequent renal implications. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of Nicotiana. tabacum on serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels as indices of renal function in male rats. A total of 18 male wistar rats weighing 140-230g were used for this study. The animals were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C), containing 6 rats each. Group A served as control while Group B and C were orally administered sublethal doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight of the Nicotiana. tabacum extract respectively once per day for three weeks. At the end of the experimental period, all the animals were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for biochemical assay.The results showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in the serum concentration of sodium, potassium and urea levels of rats treated with the extract when compared with the control. However, serum concentrations of chloride, bicarbonate and creatinine showed no significant appreciable differences between the treated groups and the control group (p<0.05).In conclusion, the study showed that aqueous extract of Nicotiana tabacum is associated with renal dysfunction with consequent hypernatremia and hyperkalemia, and may also suggest impaired urea clearance by the kidneys in male wistar rats.