Medicinal plants have protective effect because of the presence of several compounds which have different mechanism of action. This study sought to assess the anti-oxidative effects of butanol seed ...extract of Parkinsonia aculeata on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage on Wistar rats. The Wistar rats were put into five groups, each with six rats: Group A received a daily dosage of liquid paraffin (1ml/kg); Group B received 1ml/kg body weight of CCl4 (30% in liquid paraffin intraperitoneal); Group C, D, and E received the seed extracts at 100, 120, and 160 mg/kg every day for two weeks. Induction of CCl4 was three times a week for two weeks simultaneously with the extract to the last day. After sacrificed, the liver was harvested and homogenized, and used for further analyses. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in all extract treated groups compared to positive control, except the catalase levels of group treated with 160mg/kg. Similar results was observed in vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione in rats treated with 100 and 120mg/kg of the extract. The results of this study revealed that butanol seed extract from P. aculeata has antioxidant properties and can protect Wistar rats' livers from the damaging effects of CCl4.
Pers., (wild custard apple), is a shrub used traditionally to treat respiratory and skin diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated its anti-malaria, anti-snake envenomation and anti-cancer ...activities. However, its toxicological profile remains limited, particularly in male and female animals. This study aims to evaluate the safety of crude aqueous methanol extract of
stem bark (AMEAS) through acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies. The stem bark of
was collected, air-dried, pulverized, and extracted using 70% methanol. Phytochemical screening, elemental analysis, and acute toxicity evaluation were carried out on AMEAS. Sub-chronic toxicity study was conducted on Wistar rats of both sexes at different doses administered orally for 28 days. Elemental analysis revealed the presence of heavy metals and essential mineral elements with the highest contents being calcium (59.88%) and potassium (25.39%). Acute toxicity testing showed no mortality up to 5000 mg/kg, suggesting an LD
greater than 5000 mg/kg. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, no mortality or significant harmful effects were observed. The blood glucose decreased from 13.68 mMol/L at 250 mg/kg to 10.71 mMol/L at 1000 mg/kg, much lower than the distilled water group (17.06 mMol/L). In conclusion, the extract appeared to be well-tolerated, with no obvious adverse effects. AMEAS is rich in Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K). It has been shown to have LD
greater than 5000 mg/kg and is assumed to be safe. On repeated use, AMEAS may cause hypoglycemia and weight loss which may be useful in managing diabetes and obesity respectively.
Undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate immunosuppression, oxidative stress, acceleration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and CD4 T-cell depletion in HIV-infected ...individuals.
The current work reports the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E) and minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu) in 90 HIV positive subjects attending the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria. The serum levels of the micronutrients were correlated with the CD4 count of the subjects.
The results showed that the HIV positive subjects have significantly lower (P < 0.05) levels of vitamins A, C and E. Also, serum Zn, Fe, Cu and CD4 count were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with the HIV negative subjects. Micronutrient deficiencies were more pronounced in HIV positive subjects with CD4 counts less than 200 cell/μl. The results based on age and sex showed no significant (P > 0.05) difference. Vitamins A, E and C and Zn and Fe showed positive correlation with CD4 count of the HIV positive subjects.
The results suggest that the HIV subjects in the study area have lowered serum levels of antioxidant micronutrients and that the levels decrease with increase in the severity of the infection. These may increase the chances of the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects progressing into full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Background : Undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate
immunosuppression, oxidative stress, acceleration of human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and CD4 T-cell depletion in
...HIV-infected individuals. Materials and Methods : The current work
reports the serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E)
and minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu) in 90 HIV positive subjects attending the
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria.
The serum levels of the micronutrients were correlated with the CD4
count of the subjects. Results : The results showed that the HIV
positive subjects have significantly lower (P < 0.05) levels of
vitamins A, C and E. Also, serum Zn, Fe, Cu and CD4 count were also
significantly (P < 0.05) lower compared with the HIV negative
subjects. Micronutrient deficiencies were more pronounced in HIV
positive subjects with CD4 counts less than 200 cell/μl. The
results based on age and sex showed no significant (P > 0.05)
difference. Vitamins A, E and C and Zn and Fe showed positive
correlation with CD4 count of the HIV positive subjects. Conclusion :
The results suggest that the HIV subjects in the study area have
lowered serum levels of antioxidant micronutrients and that the levels
decrease with increase in the severity of the infection. These may
increase the chances of the symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects
progressing into full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
Background: Aqueous leaf extract of Albizia chevalieri has been reported to have a significant hypoglycemic effect in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: The effects of the aqueous ...leaf extract on hema-tologic variables and histopathologic analyses were assessed in rats treated with acute and sub-chronic doses. Rats treated with acute doses received between 0 and 3000 mg/kg body weight of the extract orally in a single dose, whereas those treated with sub-chronic doses received between 0 and 1500 mg/kg body weight per day for 28 days. Blood and tissue samples were analyzed for the tested parameters at the end of the observation period. Results: The extract had no significant (P>0.05) effect on hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, packed cell volume, white blood cell and differential counts, and platelets count in the acute toxicity test. The mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of rats treated with acute and sub-chronic doses of the extract were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) and differential counts were significantly (P<0.05) different from the control in a non-dose dependent fashion in the sub-chronic toxicity study. Rat liver, kidney and heart tissues analyzed histopathologically were normal upon both acute and sub-chronic administration of the extract. Conclusion: Aqueous leaf extract of A chevalieri, which has been reported to have a significant hypoglycemic effect in alloxan diabetic rats, might be safe in the tested doses.
Uvod: Postoje izvješća o značajnom hipoglikemijskom učinku vodenog ekstrakta lišća biljke Albizia chevalieri kod dijabetičnih štakora s šećernom bolesti izazvane aloksanom.
Materijali i metode: ...Učinak vodenog ekstrakta lišća Albizia chevalieri na hematološke varijable i patohistološku analizu ispitan je kod štakora kojima su davane akutne i subkronične doze ovoga pripravka. Štakori na akutnim dozama primili su između 0 i 3000 mg/kg tjelesne težine ekstrakta oralno u jednoj dozi, dok su oni na subkroničnim dozama primali između 0 i 1500 mg/kg tjelesne težine na dan kroz 28 dana. Testirani parametri analizirali su se u uzorcima krvi i tkiva na kraju razdoblja promatranja.
Rezultati: Ekstrakt nije imao značajnog učinka (P>0,05) na koncentraciju hemoglobina, crvenu krvnu sliku, volumen koncentriranih stanica (engl. packed cell volume, PCV) (hematokrit), bijelu krvnu sliku i diferencijalnu krvnu sliku, te broj trombocita u testu akutne toksičnosti. Nije bilo značajnog učinka na srednji stanični volumen (engl. mean cell volume, MCV), srednju vrijednost staničnog hemoglobina (engl. mean cell hemoglobin, MCH) i srednju koncentraciju staničnog hemoglobina (engl. mean cell hemoglobin concentration, MCHC). kod štakora na akutnim i subkroničnim dozama ekstrakta (P>0,05). U studiji subkronične toksičnosti, PCV, bijela krvna slika i diferencijalna slika (P<0,05) pokazali su značajne i od dozi neovisne razlike od kontrolnih vrijednosti. Pa-tohistološka analiza tkiva jetre, bubrega i srca štakora pokazala je normalne nalaze kako nakon akutnog tako i nakon subkroničnog davanja ekstrakta.
Zaključak: Vodeni ekstrakt lišća Albizia chevalieri, za koji je objavljeno da ima značajno hipoglikemijsko djelovanje kod štakora sa šećernom bolesti izazvane aloksanom, mogao bi biti siguran za primjenu u ispitivanim dozama.
This paper presents an experimental investigation of a cross-flow packed-bed humidification–dehumidification (HDH) desalination system. The influence of mass flow ratio (MR), feed temperature, and ...cold water flow rate on the system performance indicators such as system productivity, gain output ratio (GOR), recovery ratio (RR), and components (humidifier and dehumidifier) effectiveness values is investigated and discussed. The study equally examines the impact of stream extractions and injections on the performance of HDH system through mass balancing, which minimizes the entropy generation in the system. The results show that the system is capable of producing distillate water of about 144 L/d and can reach a GOR of 2.7, and RR of 1.33%. Furthermore, the obtained results suggest that it is possible to improve the cycle performance through mass balancing, as we recorded an improvement of about 68%, 4%, 17%, 12%, and 2% for GOR, productivity, RR, humidifier effectiveness and dehumidifier effectiveness, respectively, over the baseline case (without mass balancing).
This work involves an experimental investigation of a novel air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) unit with an installed circulating fan within the condensation chamber. The installed fan breaks the ...resistance to mass and heat transfer in the gap chamber by inducing fluid mixing and a turbulent dissipation rate, which enhances the overall mass and heat transfer characteristics of the system and consequently the overall performance of the system. The system performance, such as vapor flux, specific thermal energy consumption (STEC), and desalinated water cost, of the new AGMD is evaluated and compared to the traditional AGMD system. The influence of fan design variables, including fan revolution, fan thickness, and fan diameter, on system performance is investigated. Furthermore, the effect of feed water temperature on the system’s performance is assessed and presented. Results indicate that fan speed significantly improves the performance of the new AGMD system compared to conventional AGMD designs. Fan thickness recorded a marginal effect, and fan diameter registered some influence, while fan revolution exhibits the strongest impact on the system’s performance. The new system can attain a maximum flux and minimum STEC of 34.16 kg/m2·h and 710.72 kWh/m3, respectively, as against the conventional units, which registered a peak vapor flux and lowest STEC of 17.69 kg/m2·h and 1,141.25 kWh/m3, respectively.
Abstract Context: Precise anatomical knowledge of lumbar pedicle dimensions is necessary to make a clinical diagnosis of lower back pain, and any structural deviation of the pedicles may result in ...interference with the weight transmission mechanism and compression of neural structures. Aim: To evaluate the morphometric dimensions of lumbar vertebral pedicles among normal adults in Kano by using computerized tomography scan images. Materials and Method: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in the radiology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). This study was conducted over 1 year and included 110 adults aged 18–75 years involving both sexes in Kano, using their CT scan images from L1 to L5, following IRB ethics approval. Each vertebral pedicle was measured in transverse and sagittal planes. The measurements included the pedicle width (PW), sagittal pedicle height (SPH), and the pedicle chord length (PCL) of individual pedicles. The mean and standard deviations for each measurement parameter were determined, and parametric correlation tests were performed to determine the relationships between age, sex, and ethnicity. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was performed using the statistical software package IBM SPSS Statistics version-23 for Windows. The significance level was considered at P < 0.05. Results: Mean PW size increased craniocaudally along the lumbar spine from L1 (7.49 ± 1.52 mm) to L5 (14.31 ± 1.93 mm). A gradual decrease in mean SPH sizes from L1 (14.53 ± 1.32 mm) to L5 (11.73 ± 1.38 mm) was noted, while mean PCL showed an irregular “U” pattern, with the smallest size at L4 (44.63 ± 3.42 mm) and highest at L2 (46.80 ± 3.85 mm). All measured dimensions were significantly higher in the right pedicles and among male subjects ( P < 0.05). Age and ethnicity did not consistently affect pedicle dimensions ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study observed right pedicle dimensions and male subjects as having significantly larger pedicle diameters, with age and ethnicity not having a significant effect on pedicle sizes across all vertebral levels.
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