scholarly journals Effect of aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica ssp adansonii on milk production and prolactin release in the rat

2004 ◽  
Vol 182 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z Lompo-Ouedraogo ◽  
D van der Heide ◽  
EM van der Beek ◽  
HJ Swarts ◽  
JA Mattheij ◽  
...  

In view of the traditional belief that Acacia nilotica ssp adansonii (AN) can stimulate milk production in lactating women, experiments were performed to determine the effect of an aqueous extract of AN on milk production in rats. Female rats that received oral doses of aqueous extract of this plant during their first lactation produced about 59% more milk than controls (P<0.01). Pup weight gain was also significantly higher than that in the control group. A lower dose, comparable to that used by women to improve their milk yield, led to about 33% more milk with the same growth rate for pups as that in the high-dose group. The extract of AN was found to stimulate the synthesis and release of prolactin (PRL) significantly (P<0.05). In addition, the mammary glands of oestrogen-primed rats treated with the extract showed clear lobuloalveolar development with milk secretion. This study demonstrates that the aqueous extract of AN can stimulate milk production and PRL release in the female rat and could consequently have the properties claimed for lactating women.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenqiang You ◽  
Junying Sun ◽  
Feng Xie ◽  
Zhiqin Chen ◽  
Sheng Zhang ◽  
...  

Fermented papaya extracts (FPEs) are obtained by fermentation of papaya by Aspergillus oryzae and yeasts. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of FPEs on mammary gland hyperplasia induced by estrogen and progestogen. Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including a control group, an FPE-alone group, a model group, and three FPE treatment groups (each receiving 30, 15, or 5 ml/kg FPEs). Severe mammary gland hyperplasia was induced upon estradiol benzoate and progestin administration. FPEs could improve the pathological features of the animal model and reduce estrogen levels in the serum. Analysis of oxidant indices revealed that FPEs could increase superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the mammary glands and serum of the animal models, and decrease the proportion of cells positive for the oxidative DNA damage marker 8-oxo-dG in the mammary glands. Additionally, estradiol benzoate and progestin altered the levels of serum biochemical compounds such as aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and alanine transaminase (ALT), as well as hepatic oxidant indices such as SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). These indices reverted to normal levels upon oral administration of a high dose of FPEs. Taken together, our results indicate that FPEs can protect the mammary glands and other visceral organs from oxidative damage.


Author(s):  
Goze N. Bernard ◽  
N’Dri N. Mathieu ◽  
Yapo A. Paul

Background: In the framework of the valorization of traditional medicine, the biotolerance study of a hydroethanol 70% extract from trunk bark of Terminalia superba (HE 70%) Engl. and Diels (Combretaceae), a medicinal plant used for the treatment of gastric ulcer in Côte d'Ivoire was carried out by oral administration repeated for 28 days to three rat groups at doses 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg per body weight (b.w.).Methods: Fifty rats were randomly divided in four groups of ten animals including three test groups and one control group. Each group included five male and five female rats. An additional satellite group of ten rats in group treated at high dose (750mg/kg b.w.) was included in order to observe reversibility, persistence or late appearance of toxic effects at least 14 days after stopping the treatment. Three doses were prepared (250; 500 and 750mg/kg b.w.) corresponding to extract concentrations (12.5; 25 and 37.5mg/ml) were given to groups B, C and D respectively. Group A, served as control group, received distilled water at 2ml/kg b.w. Groups B, C and D, received orally HE 70% extract at 250, 500 and 750mg/kg respectively. Serum AST, ALT, total and direct bilirubin, total, HDL, LDL-cholesterols, triglycerides, urea and creatinine were estimated using standard methods.Results: The blood withdrawal analysis done previously (day 0) and at the end of every week on dry tubes revealed that at all weeks and for all doses, this extract do not affect serum values of total and direct bilirubin, creatinine, total, HDL, LDL-cholesterols and triglycerides. Oppositely, this extract reduced significantly (P<0.05) ALT serum rate at the 14th and 28th day at 750mg/kg b.w. respectively. In addition, at the 28th day, AST rate decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 750mg/kg b.w. Glycemia showed a significant (P <0.05) reduction at the 28th day at doses 500 and 750 mg/kg b.w. In contrast, urea increased significantly (P<0.05) at the 28th day at 500mg/kg b.w.Conclusions: This study showed that the use of a hydroethanol 70% extract from trunk bark of T. superba would be hepatoprotective, nontoxic for kidneys, liver and hypoglycemic at the studied doses.


Author(s):  
Sajad Jeddi ◽  
Saeedeh Khalifi ◽  
Mahboubeh Ghanbari ◽  
Asghar Ghasemi

Background and objective: The effects of hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation on carbohydrate metabolism have been mostly studied in male animals. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate effect of fetal and neonatal hypothyroidism (FH and NH) on the glucose tolerance in middle-aged female rat offspring. Methods: Pregnant female rats were divided into three groups: Rats in the control group consumed tap water, while those in the FH and NH groups consumed 250 mg/L of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in their drinking water during gestation or lactation periods, respectively. After weaning, the female offspring were separated and divided into 3 groups (n=8/group): Control, FH, and NH. Body weight was recorded monthly and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed at month 12. Results: Compared to controls, female rats in the FH group had significantly higher plasma glucose levels than controls throughout the IVGTT except at min 60. Values at min 5 of the FH and control group were 196.1±1.9 and 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, respectively (P<0.05). In the NH group, plasma glucose levels were significantly higher only at min 5 (185.7±14.1 vs. 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism during fetal or neonatal periods caused glucose intolerance in middle-aged female offspring rats.


2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 243
Author(s):  
Ariyanto Harsono

Background Evidence begin to accumulate that high-dose sub-lingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is as effective as subcutaneousimmunotherapy (SIT) in the treatment of childhood asthma.Since the capacity of sublingual area is similar whether the doseis high or low, the efficacy of low dose may be important to bestudied.Objective To investigate the efficacy of low-dose sublingual im-munotherapy in the treatment of childhood asthma.Methods Parents signed informed consent prior to enrollment,after having received information about the study. Patients weremoderate asthma aged 6-14 years with disease onset of lessthan 2 years before the commencement of the study and peakexpiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability of more than 15%. Pa-tients were randomly allocated into group A, B, and C whoreceived subcutaneous immunotherapy, low-dose sublingualimmunotherapy, and conventional asthma therapy, respectively.Randomization was stratified into two strata according to agei.e., 6-11 years or 11-14 years. Patients of each stratum wererandomized in block of three for each group. At the end of threemonths, lung function tests were repeated. The primary outcomewas PEFR variability at the end of the study. The study wasapproved by the Ethics Committee of Soetomo HospitalSurabaya.Results Distribution of variants as represented by sex, age,eosinophil count, and total IgE concentration were normal inthe three groups. PEFR variability decreased significantly from16.97+0.81 to 8.50+5.08 and 17.0+0.87 to 8.40+4.72 in groupreceiving SIT and SLIT, respectively (p<0.05), but decreasednot significantly from 17.00+0.83 to 10.82+0.5.41 in control group(p>0.05).Conclusion Low-dose SLIT is as efficacious as SIT in the treat-ment of moderate asthma in children


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 620-629
Author(s):  
Chenqiang Lin ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Longjun Chen ◽  
Yu Fang ◽  
Jichen Chen

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the Dictyophora echinovolvata spore polysaccharides (DESP) affect the immunity in immunocompromised mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). The healthy female Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups, including a normal control (NC) group, a positive control group, a model control (MC) group, and three groups treated with low-, intermediate-, and high-dose polysaccharide, respectively. A series of immunoregulatory properties were determined, including humoral and cellular immunity, immune function, and immune factors of mononuclear macrophages. Compared with NC and MC groups, treatment with DESP significantly increased the spleen index and decreased the thymus index; increased the serum concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, IgM, hemolysin, IL-1β, and IL-2; delayed the allergic reaction; and improved the splenic lymphocyte transformation ability; and enhanced the phagocytosis of macrophages and the ability to secrete IL-6, TNF-α, caspase-1, and NO with DESP supplementation. These results indicated that DESP might have a good regulatory effect on CTX-induced immunodeficiency in mice, adjust the body’s immune imbalance, and improve the symptoms of low immunity.


Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Ouabo Meguem ◽  
Landry Lienou Lienou ◽  
Marie Stéphanie Chekem Goka ◽  
Richard Simo Tagne ◽  
Didiane Mefokou Yemele ◽  
...  

Summary Dicliptera verticillata is a medicinal plant traditionally used in western Cameroon to cure female infertility. This experiment was designed to assess the effects of the aqueous extract of Dicliptera verticillata (AEDv) on fertility and gestation in female rats. Oral increasing doses of AEDv were administered to immature female rats over 20 d. After this time, some animals were mated with fertile males and some fertility parameters were assayed; the other animals were euthanized for preliminary toxicity parameters analysis. The effects of AEDv on the different stages of gestation were assayed on selected animals previously controlled for estrous cycle regularity and mated. AEDv led to an increase in serum, uterine and ovarian proteins as well as in ovarian and uterine weights (P < 0.05) in immature female rats. Hepatic proteins significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in high dose-treated animals (50 and 100 mg/kg) compared with controls. The number of implantation sites and the fertility rate were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the antifertility activity increased significantly (P < 0.05) in treated rats compared with controls. When administered from the 1st to the 5th day of pregnancy, AEDv led to a decrease of more than 60% in the implantation rate in high dose-treated rats (50, 100, and 400 mg/kg). From the 6th to the 9th day, the implantation, gestation rates and the number of fetuses decreased significantly in all treated groups. From the 11th to the 20th day, a 50% resorption and decrease in gestation rate were reported in 50 mg/kg dose-treated animals. AEDv possesses weak contraceptive and abortifacient effects during pregnancy.


2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayati Yuksel ◽  
Erkan Karadas ◽  
Hikmet Keles ◽  
Hasan Huseyin Demirel

In this study, experimentally lindane-induced histopathological changes and proliferation and/or apoptosis in germ cells in the rat testes were investigated. A total of 40 healthy fertile 3-month-old male rats were used. Animals were divided into 4 groups, each containing 10 rats. Group 1 (control) was given only pure olive oil, Groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered lindane at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/bw, respectively, by gastric gavage for 30 days. Microscopically, degenerative changes were observed in the lindane-treated groups. For proliferative activity PCNA immunolabelling and for germ cells apoptosis TUNEL methods were performed. Although a strong PCNA positivity in the control group was observed, a gradual decrease was noted in the lindane-treated groups especially at higher doses. Significant increases of apoptosis were seen in the lindane-treated groups compared to the control group. A decrease in testosterone concentrations was observed in lindane-treated groups compared to the control group. The study indicates that high-dose lindane intoxication contributes to the suppression of spermatogenesis through a reduction of germ cell proliferation and an increase of germ cell death in rat testes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barnabé Lucien Nkono Ya Nkono ◽  
Selestin Dongmo Sokeng ◽  
Paul Désiré Dzeufiet Djomeni ◽  
Frida Longo ◽  
Pierre Kamtchouing

<p><strong>Methodology:</strong> Wistar rats were randomly assigned into eight groups of five animals each: four male groups and four female groups. Each sex group had a control group receiving distilled water and three test groups receiving 200, 500 and 1000mg/kg respectively. Animal’s body weights were recorded on the first day and once a week for the four experiment weeks. The hematological analysis included total WBC count, total RBC count, Hb, %HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Biochemical/serum profile studies include TG, TC, ALT, AST, urea and TP. Tissue specimens of the liver, kidney and lung were subjected to histological examination using standard hematoxylin-eosin staining.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> In male rats, aqueous extract showed significant decreases in relative weight of liver with extreme significance P&lt;0.001 at a dose of 200mg/kg (vs. control group), P&lt;0.001 of lung at all the doses, P&lt;0.05 (200 and 500mg/kg) and P&lt;0.01 (1000mg/kg) in heart weight. In relative kidney weight, only the dose of 1000mg/kg showed a significant increase vs. normal control male rats. Unlike male rats, only relative kidney weight in female rats was significantly different from the control group in a dose-dependent manner. The aqueous extract treated male groups showed significant increases P&lt;0.001 (1000mg/kg) of total WBC count and MCHC, significant decreases of %HTC (dose response manner), P&lt;0.05 total RBC count (at doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg) and Hb P&lt;0.01 (500mg/kg) vs. normal male rats. In female rats, the haematological study showed significant increase P&lt;0.01 of total WBC count (at the doses of 500 and 1000mg/kg), significant decreases P&lt;0.05 and P&lt;0.01 of total RBC respectively at the doses of 200 and 1000mg/kg, significant decrease of Hb with extreme significance P&lt;0.001 at the dose 1000mg/kg, %HTC also decrease dose response manner vs. control female rats. Biochemical study showed in male rats significant decreases in level of TG P&lt;0.001 (at the doses of 200 and 500mg/kg) and urea, although it showed any dose-dependent effect vs. control male rats. AST also decreases (P&lt;0.05) in male rats at the dose of 200mg/kg but significantly increase P&lt;0.001 at the dose of 500mg/kg. In the female rats, biochemical study revealed significant increases in level of TG P&lt;0.001 and urea P&lt;0.01 at the dose of 200mg/kg and significant decreases in level of TG P&lt;0.01, AST P&lt;0.05 and urea P&lt;0.05 at the dose of 500mg/kg (vs. control female rats). Microscopically, there were mild hepatic and renal tissue injuries supporting the hematological analysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The results indicated that aqueous extract of <em>Alstonia boonei</em> De Wild is toxic in high doses.</p>


2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhe Cui ◽  
Zhuorui Shan ◽  
Lintong Hou ◽  
Qiuju Wang ◽  
Juan J. Loor ◽  
...  

This study examined the effect of mixed medicinal herbs from China in the ground form on milk yield and various blood metabolites before and after parturition in Holstein cows. Crushed Agastache rugosus, Scutellaria barbata, Pericarpium citri reticulate, and Radix glycyrrhizae were used to develop TCMF4. Thirty-two Chinese Holstein cows were randomly divided into a control group or groups receiving 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 kg TCMF4/cow/d from −7 through 21 d relative to parturition. Blood samples for serum isolation were collected at −7, −1, 1, 7, 14, and 21 d relative to parturition and used to measure glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), total protein, albumin, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase. Milk production was recorded daily for the first 21 d postpartum, and composition was analyzed at 7, 14, and 21 d. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for multiple comparisons. The average milk production during the first 21-d postpartum was 28.7 ± 6.9, 27.2 ± 7.1, 31.2 ± 6.8, and 38.5 ± 6.1 kg/d for control group and groups receiving 0.1, 0.3, or 0.5 kg TCMF4. Thus, average daily milk production increased between 9 to 34% by supplementation with TCMF4 compared with the control group. Compared with the control group, in the middle dose group, milk concentrations of lactose and total protein decreased by 21 and 19%, respectively, at d 7 around parturition, while total solids increased by 23% at d 21 in the high-dose group. Furthermore, compared with the control group, serum BHBA decreased by 50 and 20% at d −1 and 21 around parturition in the high-dose group. Overall, TCMF4 supplementation improved dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production of dairy cows during the periparturient period without adverse effects on liver function, and plasma BHBA concentrations of dairy cows tended to decrease when dietary TCMF4 increased, which suggested that TCMF4 might be used as potential additives in dairy cows to improve production performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derya Öztürk Okatan ◽  
Ali Ertan Okatan ◽  
Hatice Hancı ◽  
Selim Demir ◽  
Serap Özer Yaman ◽  
...  

The effect of the electromagnetic field (EMF) established when cell phones are in use on human health, and particularly the head, has been the subject of major scientific research. Phones are usually carried near the lumbar region when not in use, and the kidneys will also inevitably be affected by such fields. We investigated the effects on the kidneys of female rats exposed to a continuous 900-megahertz (MHz) EMF for 1 h daily in mid-late adolescence. Control, sham, and EMF groups were established. The EMF was applied to the application group rats daily on postnatal days 35–59. A pseudo-megahertz effect was applied to sham group rats. All animals were euthanized on postnatal day 60. Right kidney tissues were subjected to routine procedures. Malondialdehyde, total antioxidant status, and total oxidant status (TOS) were investigated in left kidneys, and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was also calculated from these. Histopathological analysis revealed no pathology in either the control or sham groups. However, findings including hemorrhage in glomerulus, vacuolization and irregularity in the proximal and distal tubular epithelium, diffuse glomerular degeneration and edema, occasional degeneration in Bowman capsules, hemorrhage in the medullary region, disturbed nucleus location and morphology, and tubular edema in the cortex were observed in the EMF groups. TOS and OSI values were lower in the EMF group (9.4316 ± 1.0211 and 0.8461 ± 0.0826, respectively) and the sham group (8.2171 ± 0.6437 and 0.7358 ± 0.0545, respectively) than in the control group (11.1522 ± 1.3389 and 1.0085 ± 0.1174, respectively) ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to a continuous 900-MHz EMF for 1 h daily during middle and late adolescence may cause various changes in the female rat kidney at postnatal day 60.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document