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Napoleona imperialis is a wild plant commonly found in South eastern part of Nigeria which is mostly used for the treatment of wounds. The aim of this research was to evaluate the in vitro anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous and ethanol extracts of leaves and roots of Napoleona imperialis. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging potential of the extracts were evaluated with ascorbic acid as standard. Lipoxidase activity, membrane stabilization and percentage inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was assayed using spectrophotometric method with reference drugs as standard. The DPPH radical scavenging potential of the aqueous leaf extract was observed to be maximum at a concentration of 150 μg/ml which is similar to the result obtained for ascorbic acid. There was a statistically significant difference in the ABTS radical scavenging potential of the ethanol leaf extract (23.67±0.61) and ethanol root extract (32.54±0.84) at 10 µg/ml when compared with ascorbic acid (9.90±0.26). The ethanol leaf extract showed a significantly higher percentage inhibition of lipoxidase activity at 100 μg/ml (20.88±0.77) and 150 μg/ml (31.20±0.80) when compared to reference drug (26.28±0.68 and 31.67±0.82 respectively). Furthermore, the ethanol leaf extract demonstrated a percentage membrane stabilization activity of 41.78±1.08 and 43.65±1.12 at 20 μg/ml and 50 μg/ml respectively compared with the standard drug diclofenac (38.35±0.99 and 41.86±1.08 respectively). The present study therefore suggests that extract of N. imperialis has good anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potential and could be ameliorated in diseases due to inflammation and oxidation.

The effect of Vitamin E on some cardiac parameters following concomitant administration of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and ciprofloxacin in male Wistar rats was investigated. Thirty-five male Wistar rats weighing between 190 – 220 g, used for the study were randomly divided into seven groups of five animals each. Group I served as the control. Group II - VII were administered; 8 mg/kg body weight (bw) of AL; 7.14 mg/kg bw of Ciprofloxacin; 8 mg/kg bw of AL + 7.14 mg/kg bw of Ciprofloxacin; 8 mg/kg bw of AL + 8.57 IU of Vitamin E; 7.14 mg/kg bw of Ciprofloxacin + 8.57 IU of Vitamin E; and 8 mg/kg bw of AL + 7.14 mg/kg bw of Ciprofloxacin + 8.57 IU of Vitamin E respectively. All the drugs were administered at their therapeutic regimen. Some cardiac parameters investigated include lipid profile, Troponin I, Troponin T, Creatine kinase, Lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase. The result showed significant (p< 0.05) increase in all the parameters of cardiac function when treatment groups were compared with control. The observed increase in cardiac indices were however significantly (p< 0.05) ameliorated in Groups V, VII and VII which were co-administered with Vitamin E compared with Groups II, III and IV which received the test drugs independently. The weights of the heart tissues showed the same trend with the parameters of cardiac function assessed and upon administration of vitamin E. The results obtained suggest the antioxidative role of vitamin E in alleviating the negative effects induced by artemether-lumefantrine and ciprofloxacin combination treatment, which may be from the impact of free radicals that may have been generated by the combined drugs.

The protective effect of vitamin C against theobromine induced toxicity in male albino Wistar rats was investigated. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats weighing between 140 – 160 g were divided into 5 groups with 5 rats in each group. Group 1 served as the control. Group 2 received 700 mg/kg body weight of theobromine daily for 4 days. Group 3 was administered 100 mg/kg body weight of Vitamin C daily for 21 days. Group 4 was intoxicated with 700 mg/kg of theobromine daily for 4 days before treatment with 100 mg/kg of Vitamin C for 21 days while Group 5 received 700 mg/kg of theobromine daily for 4 days and was allowed to recover naturally for 21 days. Biochemical indices of liver, kidney function and lipid profile were assayed using serum. The liver, kidney and heart tissues were used for histological studies. Significant increase (p

Background: The effect of ethanolic leaves extract of Justicia schimperi on liver function was investigated. The liver enzymes studied include aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and bilirubin. Methods: 30 adult albino Wistar rats with weight ranging from 150g to 224g were used. They were divided into five groups of 6 rats per group. Varying doses of 274mg/kg, 547mg/kg, 821mg/kg and 1095mg/kg per body weight of Juisticia schimperi leaves extract were orally administered daily to test groups II, III, IV and V for 14 days respectively. Group (I) however served as control that received normal rat pellets and water only. Results: The results showed that there was a significant increase (p

The haematopoietic potential of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract in Plasmodium berghi-berghi infected mice treated with Hippocratea africana root bark extract was investigated. Thirty (21) adult mice weighing 27 – 33g were divided into seven (7) groups with three (3) animals in each group. Group 1 served as normal control while Groups 2 – 7 were parasitized with Plasmodium berghi-berghi and Group 2 was the test control (parasitized and untreated) group. Group 3 was administered 8mg/kg bw of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days. Group 4 and 5 received daily, 200mg/kg bw and 300mg/kg bw of extracts of Hippocratea africana and Jatropha tanjorensis respectively for 4 days. Group 6 received 8mg/kg bw of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days followed with 300mg/kg bw of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract for 4 days. Group 7 was treated with 200mg/kg bw of Hippocratea africana root extract for 4 days followed by 300mg/kg bw of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract for 4 days. Significant anti-plasmodial activity was observed with artemether-lumefantrine and Hippocratea africana root bark extract administration. Plasmodium berghi-berghi infection induced alterations in haematological indices such as decreased RBC count, platelet count, haemoglobin concentration and heamatocrit and increased WBC count. Administration of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract showed improved haematological indices particularly in the red blood cell counts and haemoglobin concentration. Jatropha tanjorensis has haematopoietic activity in Plasmodium berghi-berghi infected mice treated Hippocratea africana root bark extract.

The effect of ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina on some indices of liver, kidney function and lipid profile in male albino Wistar rats intoxicated with theobromine was investigated. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats weighing between 140 g – 160 g used for the study were divided into 6 groups with 5 animals in each group. Group I served as control while Group 2 received 700 mg/kg bw of theobromine daily for 4 days. Group 3 received 400 mg/kg bw of V. amygdalina leaf extract daily for 21 days while Groups 4 and 5 were treated with 400 mg/kg bw of V. amygdalina leaf extract for 21 days before and after intoxication with 700 mg/kg bw of theobromine for 4 days respectively. Group 6 was given 700 mg/kg bw of theobromine daily for 4 days and then allowed for 21 days without treatment. Serum was obtained from whole blood and used to determine activities of some serum enzymes and lipid profile as well as kidney function. The liver, kidney and heart were excised and used for histological studies. The results show significantly increased serum enzyme activities, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentration in Group 2 compared to the control (P < 0.05). HDL cholesterol was significantly decreased in theobromine treated group when compared to Group 1 (P < 0.05). Administration of V. amygdalina leaf extract alone showed results close to those of the control. Group 4 showed decreased serum enzyme activities, decreased concentration of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol while HDL cholesterol was increased significantly when compared to Group 2. Group 5 also showed a significant difference in the biochemical indices when compared to Group 2 while Group 6 show decreased serum enzyme activity that was significant when compared to Group 2. The urea and creatinine concentrations were significantly increased in theobromine intoxicated animals while administration of Vernonia amygdalina normalised these parameters. Histology of the liver, kidney and heart revealed altered cellular architecture following administration of theobromine (Group 2) while normal histological features were restored after treatment with ethanol leaf extract of V. amygdalina. The study has demonstrated that ethanol leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina ameliorate and protect liver, kidney and heart of male albino Wistar rats against theobromine induced toxicity and modulates the adverse effects on lipid profile.

The effect of nicotinic acid on lipid profile of albino Wistar rats was investigated to assess its role in the management of lipid related disorder such as dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and hypertension. Consequently, nicotinic acid at varying pharmacological doses was administered to different groups of albino Wistar rats. This was followed by the examination of the effect on serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The nicotinic acid was administered to five groups of experimental animals (group B - F) for twenty-one days at the concentrations of 250mg, 500mg, 750, 1000mg and 1250mg per 70kg per day respectively while 'group A' served as the control. The results showed a reduction of TC in all groups when compared to the control. Interestingly, at a dose of 1000mg, there was a significant decrease in TG and VLDL, the percentage composition of HDL increased by 8% when compared to the control. The binding of nicotinic acid to its receptor (HM74/HM74A) is believed to decrease the level of intracellular cyclic AMP thereby inhibiting lipolysis in adipocytes.

The effect of co-administration of chloroquine and cefuroxime on kidney function of albino Wistar rats was undertaken. The levels of serum electrolytes, bilirubin, urea and creatinine were assessed. Histology of kidney was also investigated. Data obtained were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods such as SPSS statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results were considered significant at (P