Heavy Metals and Microbial Contaminants in a Commercial Polyherbal Product in Nigeria

The heavy metal and microbial contaminants levels were evaluated in a commercial polyherbal product against the backdrop of reports of high levels of such contaminants in similar herbal products elsewhere in Nigeria, India and China. Atomic absorption spctrophotometric technique was used for the analysis of the herbal product for the levels of heavy metal contents while the bacterial count was by the pour plate culture method and the subsequent specific identification was achieved by sub culturing and application of Cowan and Steel procedures. The result showed that, Nasara pile syrup (NPS) contained lead, nickel, cadmium, chromium, copper and manganese in excess of the WHO permissible maximum limit  for heavy metals in consumable items. The total bacteria count was 2.86 x 107 CFU/mL and the bacteria identified included Bacillus cerus, Bacillus spharicus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus lentus, Lactus bacillus and Yeast.The bacteria load was high enough to initiate gastrointestinal infection. These results suggest that prolong consumption of the herbal product may result in heavy metal accumulation in the body and chronic poisoning. Therefore, the distribution and consumption of this herbal product should be strictly regulated.Key words: Nasara pile syrup, heavy metals, microbial contaminants, herbal product

Antipsychotic effect of aqueous stem bark extract of Amblygonocarpus andongensis in Wistar albino rats

The study of antipsychotic efect of the aqueous stem bark extract of Amblygonocarpus andongensis was carried out on amphetamine induced psychosis in 42 Wister albino rats weighingbetween 105 and 3052g using two indices feeding and locomotor activity. Twelve out of the 42 rats were divided into two groups; six per group. Group 1 and 2 received 15mg/kg body weight ooral amphetamine. Oral chlorpromazine (0.5mg/kg) was administered to group 2 rats in additon The remaining 30 rats were divided ino 5 groups: A, B, C, D and E, each group comprised 6 rats. All the groups received 15 mg/kg body weight of amphetamine but E received 05mg/kg oral chlorpromazine in addton. However, B, C and D received 450, 900 and 1350mg/kg bodyweght of Amblygonocarpus andongensis aqueous stem bark extract. Feeding and locomotor activities were measured in groups 1 and 2 and A, B, C, D and E rats respectively. The result showed that there were significant diferences in feeding and locomotor parameters between groups 1 and 2 and among groups A, B, C and E (

Hepatoprotective effects of methanol extract of Carissa opaca leaves on CCl4-induced damage in rat

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Carissa opaca </it>(Apocynaceae) leaves possess antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects, and so may provide a possible therapeutic alternative in hepatic disorders. The effect produced by methanolic extract of <it>Carissa opaca </it>leaves (MCL) was investigated on CCl₄-induced liver damages in rat.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>30 rats were divided into five groups of six animals of each, having free access to food and water <it>ad libitum</it>. Group I (control) was given olive oil and DMSO, while group II, III and IV were injected intraperitoneally with CCl₄(0.5 ml/kg) as a 20% (v/v) solution in olive oil twice a week for 8 weeks. Animals of group II received only CCl₄. Rats of group III were given MCL intragastrically at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw while that of group IV received silymarin at a dose of 50 mg/kg bw twice a week for 8 weeks. However, animals of group V received MCL only at a dose of 200 mg/kg bw twice a week for 8 weeks. The activities of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) were determined in serum. Catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSR) and quinone reductase (QR) activity was measured in liver homogenates. Lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBARS), glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration was also assessed in liver homogenates. Phytochemicals in MCL were determined through qualitative and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hepatotoxicity induced with CCl₄was evidenced by significant increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and H₂O₂level, serum activities of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH and γ-GT. Level of GSH determined in liver was significantly reduced, as were the activities of antioxidant enzymes; CAT, POD, SOD, GSH-Px, GSR, GST and QR. On cirrhotic animals treated with CCl₄, histological studies showed centrilobular necrosis and infiltration of lymphocytes. MCL (200 mg/kg bw) and silymarin (50 mg/kg bw) co-treatment prevented all the changes observed with CCl₄-treated rats. The phytochemical analysis of MCL indicated the presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phlobatannins, terpenoids, coumarins, anthraquinones, and cardiac glycosides. Isoquercetin, hyperoside, vitexin, myricetin and kaempherol was determined in MCL.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that MCL has a significant protective effect against CCl₄induced hepatotoxicity in rat, which may be due to its antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties.</p

Teachers’ Utilization and Transferability of Vocational Skills to Persons with Special Needs

This study aimed at assessing teacher’s utilization and transferability of vocational skills to children with special needs in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 10 special educators and 20 special needs persons from the two special schools. Skills Utilization Questionnaire (SUQ), Teachers’ Acquisition Questionnaire (SAQ), observation and unstructured interview were the instruments for data collection. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Data obtained were analyzed using simple percentages and t-test. The results showed that the level of teachers’ utilization of vocational skills for persons with special needs was not significantly high, but the level of teachers’ transferability of vocational skills was significantly high. Thus, we suggest that qualified teachers who are vocationally advantaged should be employed by the government and the missions to impart those skills to persons with special needs.Keywords: Vocational skills, persons with special needs, utilization and transferability of vocational skills

Attenuation of salt-induced hypertension by aqueous calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa

Summary: The aqueous calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) has a folk reputation as an antihypertensive agent. On account of its antioxidant properties and probably high K+ concentration, we hypothesized that HS may attenuate the development of salt-induced hypertension. Sprague-Dawley rats (n=8 each) were treated for 12 weeks as follows: control (normal diet + water), salt-loaded (8% salt diet + water), HS (normal diet + 6mg/ml HS), salt+HS (8% salt diet + 6mg/ml HS) and furosemide (normal diet+ 0.25mg/Kg furosemide). Their blood pressure and heart rates were measured and responses to noradrenalin and acetylcholine (0.01mg/kg respectively) were estimated. The cationic concentration of 6mg/ml HS was determined. The Na+ and K+ concentrations of 6mg/ml HS were 3.6 and 840mmol/l respectively. The mean arterial pressure  (MAP±SEM; mmHg) of salt loaded rats (184.6±29.8) was significantly higher than control (113.2±3.0; P&lt;0.05), HS (90.0±7.4; P&lt;0.001) salt+HS (119.4±8.9; P&lt;0.05) and furosemide (94.9±11.5; P&lt;0.01). The MAP of salt+HS and control rats did not differ significantly and the effect of HS was comparable to furosemide. The pressor response to noradrenalin or vasodilator response to acetylcholine remained similar in all groups. These results suggest that HS attenuated the development of salt-induced  hypertension and this attenuation may be associated with its high K+ content or high potassium: sodium ratio and not with altered  pressor/depressor response to noradrenalin or acetylcholine. Also the effects of HS and furosemide on blood pressure are comparable.Keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx, salt-induced hypertension, anti-hypertensive effect, High dietary K+, K+:Na

BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL: A COMPARISON OF PATIENTS MANAGED IN SECONDARY AND TERTIARY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS IN SOKOTO, NORTHWEST NIGERIA.

Purpose: This study is aimed at comparing blood pressure control (BP) of hypertensive patients managed in a tertiary health center and that of their counterparts in secondary health institutions. Methods: One hundred and fourteen outpatients managed for hypertension in a tertiary hospital and 146 patients visiting 2 secondary health care institutions were selected by simple random sampling during their clinic visits. Information such as demographic data, baseline blood pressure, comorbidities and antihypertensive treatment were obtained from case not</jats:p