Antiplasmodial effects of Allium sativum extract on haematological Parameters of Albino Wistar rats infected with Plasmodium berghei

This study aimed at evaluating the antiplasmodial effects of Allium sativum (bulbs) on haematological parameters of albino rats infected with Plasmodium berghei, divided the animal model into groups, viz: the experimental group (with five different concentrations of 100, 300, 500, 800 and 1000mg/kg), the normal-control (non-inoculated), negative-control (inoculated, but untreated) and positive control (inoculated and treated with 10mg/kg Combisunate). Allium sativum ethanolic extracts were administered and monitored for four days before the treatment. Afterwards, the average parasitaemia was calculated and the average percentage parasite inhibition (suppressive effect) was obtained. Result showed that the parasitemia level for the treated groups decreased progressively for the five-day period. This is indicative in the mean number of the percentage parasitized red cells of 1000mg/kg doses as 9.055±2.06 on the first day post inoculation and 0.30±0.04 on the fifth day. The decrease is also observed in the 100, 300, 500 and 800mg/kg groups. Except the untreated group which showed a progressive increase in parasitemia level with average percentage parasitized red cells as 11.33±1.97 on the first day post inoculation and 18.15±1.49 on the fifth day. The haematological result showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in values of RBC, PCV, Hb, and neutrophils in the inoculated groups, especially the untreated group. As compared to the treated groups, these parameters showed progressive increase as concentrations increased. Conclusively, it can be inferred that the bulbs of Allium sativum have antiplasmodial potentials and can therefore be purified for development of antimalarial drugs.

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and quantitative phytochemical evaluation of the dichloromethane and methanolic leaf extracts of Solenostemon monostychus P. Beauv

Solenostemon monostachyus P. Beauv (Lamiaceae family) is an important herb that is widespread in West and Central Africa.The leaves are used in various decoctions traditionally to treat diseases most especially microbial infections associated with the foot. In this study, the phytochemicals (qualitative and quantitative) of the plant were determined. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the plant were also evaluated by standard methods. Results showed alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins phenolics in the methanolic extract of Solenostemon monostachyus. Cardiac glycosides and steroids absent in the methanolic extract were found present in the dichloromethane extract. The quantitative phytochemicals recorded were alkaloids (18.05 ± 0.87%), saponins (11.3 ± 0.56 %), tannins (3.3 ± 0.19 GAE). The antioxidant activity testing showed that the methanolic extract has higher DPPH scavenging ability over dichloromethane extract and standard ascorbic acid. In the antimicrobial activity testing, the cup-plate diffusion method was used and the result showed that the dichloromethane extract inhibited the growth of Bacillus species at concentrations 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 20 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml while methanolic extract inhibited the growth of bacillus species only at 100 mg/ml with 5 mm zone of inhibition. However, both methanol and dichloromethane extract showed no antimicrobial activity on the other test organisms such as Psudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion both methanolic and dichloromethane extracts of Solenostemon monostachyus are potential sources of antimicrobial and antioxidant.

Evaluation of hepatotoxicity effect of methanol leave extract of Gongronema latifolium in Albino rats

Gongronema latifolium is highly medicinal in nature. The fundamental ingredients used for medicinal purposes are stored in the various parts of the plant such as the fruits, seeds, leaves, root and stem. This present study is aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxicity effect of methanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium on albino rats. This study was divided into five groups normal control groups: received commercial rat feed and water, group 2: received 1000 mg/kg b.w. of leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium, group 3: received 500 mg/kg b.w of leaf extract of G. latifolium, group 4; received 250 mg/kg of leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium, and group 5: received 125mg/kg of leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium. The result shows a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total and conjugate bilirubin when compared to the normal control not giving the extract. Administration graded dosage of 1000mg/kg and 500mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.05) increased the liver damage marker enzymes when compared with groups that received low dosage of 250mg/kg and 125mg/kg body weight and the normal control groups. The histopathological study revealed severe portal inflammation without steatosis and moderate portal inflammation in groups that received 1000mg/kg and 500mg/kg. Therefore, these results suggested that methanol leaf extracts of Gongronema latifolium possess hepatotoxic properties and strict caution must be observed when using the plant extract as a natural remedy of any disease.

Study of the antiallergic activity of the leaves of Moringa oleifera (moringaceae) in the albino mouse Mus musculus

Allergic diseases are constantly growing, however the efficiency of classical treatments is not total. Thus, new therapeutic tools are considered such as phytotherapy. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effect of the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera in mice. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of poly terpenes/sterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids but also the absence of quinones and saponosides. The acute toxicity study at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) by the oral route revealed that the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera is not toxic and would have an oral LD50 greater than to 2000 mg/kg bw. The anti-allergic effect of Moringa oleifera leaf Total Aquous Extract (E.T.A.) was evaluated by observing the number of scratching in allergic mice treated orally with two different doses of this extract. A reduction of the number of scratching in mice treated with the extract was observed. This was confirmed by hematological analysis where a considerable increase in the number of immune cells and a decrease in the recruitment of these cells to inflammatory sites were observed. This confirms that the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera has a dose-dependent antiallergic activity

Hierarchical cluster analysis: A statistical tool to study sheep behavior under heat stress

Sheep farming, and the income generated from this endeavor, contributes significantly to the global economy and rural livelihoods. Therefore, it is vital to maintain the productivity of this industry in the face of changing climate patterns. In the context of sheep farming, animals are exposed to a higher heat load as global temperatures are increasing, leading to heat stress. This heat stress conditions can adversely affect animal productivity and welfare resulting in reduced feed intake, physiological (panting, higher respiration, higher heart rate, etc.) and behavioral changes (lying down, standing, seeking shade, etc.) to compensate for increased heat load ultimately leading to lowered productivity. Considering this, it is important to monitor sheep behavior in order to implement improved management practices to compensate for changes in climate. The current short study investigated sheep behavior at different times throughout the day. The data generated was analyzed using the hierarchical cluster analysis method in order to integrate all variables into a single representative dendrogram that could summarize sheep behavior. While hierarchical cluster analysis has been applied in diverse scientific fields, as far as we know, the statistical application reported here is novel in the context of sheep behavior in response to climate change. We studied sheep behavior throughout the day (9:00 – 9:50; 10:00 – 10:50; 11:00 – 11:50; 14:00 – 14:50; 15:00 – 15:50; 16:00 – 16:50). Shade was provided in the form of trees. The following indicators were recorded over a period of twelve months at two week intervals: number of animals eating grass, ruminating and resting. The statistical evaluations undertaken resulted in the generation of a dendrogram which integrated all evaluated variables to categorize the behaviors undertaken at different times during the day. The dendrogram indicated three groupings of sheep behavior that were distinctly different from each other. The analysis shown here indicates that the use of hierarchical cluster analysis culminating in the construction of a dendrogram can effectively synthesize large datasets to outline similar relationships (in this study, this was in the context of observed behaviors). This statistical method applied to sheep physiological studies may help interpret experimental data in the context of climatic change.

Conceptual Background of Bioaccumulation in Environmental Science

Environmental metal pollution is one of the serious global problems with severe health effects due to its persistence and accumulation in living organisms, these require biological strategies such as bioaccumulation for remediation, the main environmental contaminants are associated to water, soil, and air. Meanwhile, Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of pollutants in living organisms which enable to assess the risk related to their presence in the ecosystems. In other words; Bioaccumulation is the net result of all uptake and loss processes, such as respiratory and dietary uptake, and loss by egestion, metabolism, passive diffusion, transfer to offspring and growth. Hence, this paper provides the conceptual background of bioaccumulation factors, effect of heavy metals on the ecosystems, and the organisms involved in the processes as well as some fishes and plants responsible for bioaccumulation.

Ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants (Carica papaya L. and Agelanthus dodoneifolius (DC.) Polhill & Wiens) used in the treatment of Hepatitis in Burkina Faso, phytochemistry and antioxidant activity

Hepatitis are pathologies of various etiologies affecting millions persons and the management by modern medicines still faces many difficulties. Our study aimed to make a repertory of medicinal plants used in the treatment of hepatitis in the Urbans areas of Bobo-Dioulasso, Dédougou and Fada N'Gourma followed by the phytochemical quantification and antioxidant activity of the most cited ones. We conducted an ethnobotanical survey among traditional Heath practitioners in the three studied locations to achieve this objective. Methanolic extracts of the plant organs were obtained using an extractor apparatus. Polyphenolic compounds contents quantification was done by spectrophotometry using Follin-Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum trichloride. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by three methods (ABTS●+, DPPH●, FRAP) and the reading of optical densities was performed with the spectrophotometer. A total of, 101 traditional healers were interviewed and 52 species were inventoried as being used in hepatitis care in the three localities. Among the species regularly cited in the different localities were Carica papaya (8%) and Agelanthus dodoneifolius (13%), and these two species were selected for the further investigation. Among the parts of plants most used there are roots (45%). Phytochemical investigations of C. papaya and A. dodoneifolius revealed that the best polyphenolic compound content was obtained by the unripe seeds of C. papaya with respectively 14.06±0.68 mg EAG and 4.37±0.57 mg EQ for 100 mg of extract. A. dodoneifolius extract was given the best antioxidant activity on ABTS●+ radical inhibition method with 9279.19±416.37 µmol EAA/g. All these activities could partially justify the use of screened species in the traditional treatment of hepatitis.