Evaluation of toxicity profile of leaf base extract of Sorghum bicolor in rat

The toxicity profile of 70% methanolic extract of Sorghum bicolor leaf base widely used in ethnomedicine was evaluated in male rats treated daily for 28 days using 100 – 400 mg/kg p. o. doses. No adverse clinical signs were observed. There was no significant change in the feed intake, body weight and relative organ weight except the significant (P < 0.05) reduction in weight of kidneys and increase in relative weight of the testes observed at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively. No gross or histopathological changes were seen in the kidneys, heart, spleen, lungs, liver and testes. No significant effect was observed in the haematological indices (packed cell volume, heamoglobin, totaland differential white blood cells), hepatic function indices (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, totalprotein) as well as renal function indices (urea and creatinine). Uric acid was however reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Study of effect on serum lipid profile showed no significant effect on cholesterol but a significant reduction of triglyceride at 200 mg/kg p. o. dose. The results suggest that S. bicolor leaf extract is relatively safe

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients in various locations of Kaduna state, Nigeria

Background/Method: A total of one thousand seven hundred and fifteen (1715) patients, consisting of nine hundred and thirty eight (938) female and seven hundred and seventy seven (777) male patients were screened for Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection from seven locations representing the four geographical zones of Kaduna State. Results: Out of the 1715 patients screened, 275 (16.03%) were found positive for N. gonorrhoeae infection. The prevalence rate of N. gonorrhoeae infection per location were in Zaria 70 (22.08), Kaduna 32 (21.33%), Pambeguwa 58 (18.35%), Kafanchan 25 (16.66%), Kachia 19 (12.66%), Giwa 31(11.70%), and Soba 34 (10.76%). Results showed that the age group 15-20 years had the highest prevalence of infection (31.05%) followed by the age group 36-40 years and 21-25 years with prevalence of 26.06% and 22.80% respectively. The highest prevalence in males (23.91%) occurred in the age group 36-40 years while the highest prevalence of infection in the female patients (11.18%) was found in the age group 15-20 years. Out of the 275 gonococcal isolates, 225 (81.82%) were resistant to penicillin, 206 (74.91%) to ampicillin, 122(44.36%) to tetracycline, 34(12.36%) isolates to erythromycin, and 16(5.82%) isolates were resistant to gentamicin. All the 275 N. gonorrhoeae isolates were sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Ceproxine and Oflozacin. Out of the 225 penicillin resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae189 (84%) were positive for beta-lactamase production. The prevalence of beta-lactamase (Penicillinase) producing N.gonorrhoeae (PPNG), was statistically significant with X2 = 12.25 which was greater than X2t value. Generally there was high prevalence rate of N.gonorrhoeae infection in Kaduna State and the Conclusion: N. gonorrhoeaeisolates were highly resistant to most commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of gonorrhoea in Kaduna State. (Nig J Surg Res 2003; 5: 50 – 56) Key words: Gonorrhoea, antibiotic susceptibility, treatmen

Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry in Zaria, Nigeria

No Abstract. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 52 (2) 2004: pp. 91-9