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Acute and sub-chronic toxicity proﬁle of methanol leaf extract of Gouania longipetala in rats

2013-10-31T00:00:00Z

Title: Acute and sub-chronic toxicity proﬁle of methanol leaf extract of Gouania longipetala in rats Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Maxwell, I. Ezeja; Aruh O., Anaga Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Gouania longipetala leaves are commonly used in folkloric medicine in Africa and other parts of the world for treatment of edema, febrifuges, veneral diseases, lumbago, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus malaria, etc. This study therefore evaluated safety proﬁle of the methanol leaf extract of the plant using acute and sub-chronic studies in rat model. Materials and methods: Acute toxicity test of the plant lasted for 48 h with oral administration of graded doses (100–4000 mg/kg) of Gouania longipetala extract (GLE) in rats. The rats were observed for signs of toxicity and death. The sub-chronic toxicity was evaluated by administration of different doses (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) of GLE daily in feed for 90 days. On days, 30, 60 and 90, blood samples collected from the retro-orbital plexus of the eye of the rats were used for evaluation of serum biochemistry, hematology, lipid peroxidation and in vivo antioxidant activities. Histopathological evaluations of the kidney, liver, lungs and heart were also done. Results: The acute toxicity test revealed no observable signs of toxicity or morbidity. Sub-chronic study showed that GLE signiﬁcantly (po0.05) increased relative liver weight on day 90 at 10 mg/kg. There were no signiﬁcant variations in the hematological parameters of both GLE treated and untreated rats. The extract signiﬁcantly (po0.05) reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low density lipoproteins and increased high density lipoproteins which was more prominent on day 90 at the dose of 10 mg/kg. The extract signiﬁcantly (po0.05) increased liver enzyme markers at the doses used. GLE also signiﬁcantly (po0.05) increased serum urea at the dose of 10 mg/kg on day 90. The extract caused dose-dependent and signiﬁcant (po0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase and decrease in malondiadehyde. Histopathological studies revealed degenerative changes in the kidney and liver. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that Gouania longipetala is well tolerated in short term therapies, but may have long term toxic effects on the kidney and liver. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The antiinflammatory activity of extracts from the root of Combretum dolichopetalum

1998-04-05T00:00:00Z

Title: The antiinflammatory activity of extracts from the root of Combretum dolichopetalum Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Adimorah, R. I. Abstract: The methanol and chloroform extracts of the root of Combretum dolichopetalum were obtained and gave yields of 6.48% w/w and 0.38% w/w respectively. The methanol extract significantly inhibited car ageenin-induced mouse paw edema in a dose-dependent manner after an oral treatment. The maximum effect was achieved at a dose of 600 mg/kg and the result was comparable to that of indomethacin (10 mg/kg). The antiinflammatory activity of the chloroform extract against croton-oil induced mouse ear edema was significant (p < 0.001) and increased with the dose. The maximum effect (93%) was achieved with 1.0 mg of the extract per ear. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The antiinflammatory activity of extracts from the root of Combretum dolichopetalum

1998-04-05T00:00:00Z

The anti-snake venom activities of the methanolic extract of the bulb of Crinum jagus (Amaryllidaceae)

2006-06-27T00:00:00Z

Title: The anti-snake venom activities of the methanolic extract of the bulb of Crinum jagus (Amaryllidaceae) Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Ode, O.J. Abstract: The anti-snake venom activities of the methanolic extract of the bulb of Crinum jagus plant (Amaryllidaceae) were investigated in vitro and in vivo against the venoms of three notable snake species: Echis ocellatus, Bitis arietans and Naja nigricollis. The extract was prepared by cold marceration in 50% methanol at 37 1C with intermittent shaking for 48 h. An yield of 12.8% w/w dry extract was obtained. Oral administration of C. jagus extract (1000 mg/kg) protected 50% of mice, while injection of a 30 min pre-incubated mixture of the same dose of extract and venom gave 100% protection against the lethal effects of E. ocellatus venom (10 mg/kg, i.m.). The intraperitoneal administration of the extract at 250 mg/kg, 30 min before the injection of E. ocellatus venom (10 mg/kg, i.m.), signiﬁcantly (po0.05) prolonged the death time of poisoned mice. C. jagus extract (500 mg/kg, per os), gave 50% protection against B. arietans venom (9.5 mg/kg, i.m.) in mice while the pre-incubation of a mixture of the same dose of venom and extract (500 mg/kg), prior to injection (i.p.) of the mixture, gave only 33.3% protection. The pre-incubation of 500 mg/kg of C. jagus extract with N. nigricollis venom (6 mg/kg) prior to i.p. injection of the mixture protected 50% of the treated mice. There were generally no signiﬁcant differences in the death times of mice that were given the same dose of the extract orally 30 min before injection of the venoms and those administered with the pre-incubated mixtures of venom and extract. The pre-incubation of the extract and E. ocellatus venom (5 mg/kg) for 30 min, before the i.m. injection of the mixture, signiﬁcantly reduced inﬁltration of inﬂammatory cells to the site of injection 4 h post treatment. The concentrations of plasma creatine kinase in poisoned mice were signiﬁcantly (po0.01 or po0.05) reduced after the injection (i.p.) of C. jagus extract (1000 mg/kg) pre-incubated with E. ocellatus (5 mg/kg) or B. arietans (7 mg/kg) venom, respectively. The bulb extract of C. jagus blocked the haemorrhagic activity of a standard haemorrhagic dose (2.8 mg/ml) of E. ocellatus venom at various concentrations (1.7, 3.3 and 6.7 mg/ml). The methanolic bulb extract of C. jagus was therefore able to signiﬁcantly protect mice from death, myonecrosis and haemorrhage induced by the lethal effects of venoms of notable snake species in Nigeria. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The antisnake venom activities of Parkia biglobosa (Mimosaceae) stem bark extract

2003-10-06T00:00:00Z

Title: The antisnake venom activities of Parkia biglobosa (Mimosaceae) stem bark extract Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Harvey, A.L. Abstract: Snake bites in rural Nigeria are commonly treated with plant extracts. We have studied the ability of one such traditionally used plant (Parkia biglobosa; [Jacq.] Benth., Mimosaceae) to reduce the effects of two snake venoms (Naja nigricollis, and Echis ocellatus) in several experimental models. A water-methanol extract of P. biglobosa stem bark signiﬁcantly ðp , 0:001Þ protected the chick biventer cervicis (cbc) muscle preparation from N. nigricollis venom-induced inhibition of neurally evoked twitches when it was added to the bath 3–5 min before or after the venom. The extract also reduced the loss of responses to acetylcholine (Ach), carbachol and KCl, which are normally blocked by N. nigricollis venom, and signiﬁcantly reduced the contractures of the preparation induced by venom. P. biglobosa extract (75, 150 and 300 mg/ml) signiﬁcantly ðp , 0:05Þ protected C 2 C murine muscle cells in culture against the cytotoxic effects of N. nigricollis and E. ocellatus venoms. The extract protected egg embryos exposed to lethal concentrations of E. ocellatus venom for more than 12 h and completely blocked the haemorrhagic activity of the venom at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/1.5 ml. P. biglobosa extract (400 mg/kg) did not protect mice injected i.p. with 5 and 2.5 mg/kg of E. ocellatus and N. nigricollis venoms, respectively. It, however, protected 40% of the mice from death caused by E. ocellatus venom after the extract and venom were pre-incubated for 30 min before injecting the mixture. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The anthelmintic activity of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol isolated from Piliostigma thonningii stem bark

1998-05-08T00:00:00Z

Title: The anthelmintic activity of D-3-O-methylchiroinositol isolated from Piliostigma thonningii stem bark Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Gray, A.I.; Waterman, P.G. Abstract: Piliostigma thonningii Schum. Milne-Redhead Caesalpiniaceae , dried stem bark collected from Nsukka in September 1990 and identified by Mr A. Ozioko of the Department of Botany, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where voucher specimen is deposited in the herbarium. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The effects of hyperosmolar agents lithium chloride and sucrose on the brain concentration of diminazene aceturate in rats

1994-04-05T00:00:00Z

Title: The effects of hyperosmolar agents lithium chloride and sucrose on the brain concentration of diminazene aceturate in rats Authors: Asuzu, I. U; Odika, I.E; Anika, S.M. Abstract: The concentrations of diminazene aceturate in the brain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected and uninfected rats treated with diminazene aceturate (3.1 mg/kg, im) and either LiC1 (2.5, 5.0 and 10 ~tg/kg) or sucrose (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) were determined. When diminazene aceturate was administered at a standard dose of 3.1 mg/kg (ira), the addition of LiCI (10 ~tg/kg, ira) increased significantly (P< 0.05) the concentration of the drug in the brains of both trypanosome infected and normal infected rats. The addition of sucrose (1.0 g/kg, im) instead of LiCI failed to give any significant increase in diminazene aceturate levels in the brain. The diminazene aceturate levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the organs (brain, kidney, liver and spleen) of trypanosome infected compared to uninfected rats. The concen- tration of diminazene aceturate in the organs increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing concen- trations of LiC1. vc@fuoye.edu.ng

The effects of hyperosmolar agents lithium chloride and sucrose on the brain concentration of diminazene aceturate in rats

1994-04-05T00:00:00Z