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Abstract:The comparative studies on anthelmintic potency of Carica papaya seeds was investigated in naturally infected Red Sokoto goats. Forty Red Sokoto goats (average 12 ± 0.25 kg body weight) infected naturally with helminthes were used to compare anthelminthic potency of Carica papaya seeds in aqueous and crude extract forms and Thiabendazole treatment against intestinal worms. The animals were randomly assigned into four treatment groups (A, B, C and D) consisting of 10 Red Sokoto goats per group. The animals in group A were not treated (negative control) while B undergone thiabendazole anthelmintic treatment (positive control). Groups C and D were given the powdery and aqueous forms of C. papaya seed extract via feed at 300 mg/ kg body weight/day and at 1:10 ml (w/v) of water respectively for 3 days. Before anthelmintic treatments and 1 st and 2 nd weeks after administering the anthelminthics, faecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological and haematological analysis. Data collected were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Treatments of both aqueous and powdery forms of C. papaya seed extract resulted a significant increase (p < 0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte counts. Conversely, there was significant (p > 0.05) decrease in the eosinophil counts. The reduction in the faecal egg counts of helminth when C. papaya seed extracts applied was significantly (p < 0.05) comparable to those obtained for Thiabendazole treatment. However, the efficacy of aqueous form of C. papaya seed extract was more significant (p < 0.05) than the crude (powdery) extract administered via the feed. The study therefore concludes that C. papaya seed extracts have comparable anthelmintic potency to Thiabendazole and that aqueous forms were more efficient than powdery forms when administered in Red Sokoto goats as an alternative to anthelmintic to synthetic dewormers in rural areas in controlling helminthosis.

This study investigates the comparative hepatoprotective activity of crude ethanol extracts of Cuscuta australis against acetaminophen (APAP) intoxication. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6 replicates: Group 1 which served as control received water. Group 2 was orally administered 835 mg/kg body wt. of paracetamol on day 8. Groups 3 and 4 were orally administered ethanolic extracts of the seed of Cuscuta australis in doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Group 2 on the 8th day. Groups 5 and 6 received similar oral doses of Cuscuta australis stem extracts for 7 days and then intoxicated as in Groups 3 and 4. Group 2 rats showed severe periportal hepatic necrosis, significantly elevated serum hepatic injury markers, markedly increased lipid peroxidation, and decreased hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities. Remarkably, Cuscuta australis (seed and stem) extract pretreatments in Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6, most especially, the stem extract pretreatment in Groups 5 and 6, improved better the hepatic histoarchitecture, the hepatocellular, and the oxidative stress injury markers in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusively, ethanol extractions of Cuscuta australis stem appear to protect the liver from acetaminophen intoxication better than the seed counterpart.

The ameliorative effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on cardiovascular functions and osmotic fragility of wistar rats exposed to petrol vapour OM Azeez*, SA Adah, FH Olaifa, A Basiru & R AbdulbakiUniversity of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria *Correspondence: Tel.: +2348033858362; E-mail: misibisol@yahoo.com Abstract The present study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorating effects of Moringa oleifera extract compared to captopril and candesartan cilexetil on cardiovascular functions and osmotic fragility of rats exposed to petrol vapour. Twenty five adult male Wistar rats (130g-200g) were randomly grouped to five with five rats in a group. Group 1 (control) was not exposed to petrol fume. Groups 2 (petrol only), was exposed to petrol fume only. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were pretreated with Moringa oleifera extract (40mg/kg), captopril (25 mg/kg) and candesartan (16mg/kg), respectively before exposure to petrol vapour, 10 minutes every day for eight weeks. All groups were given feed and water ad-libitum. Petrol vapour was generated by using human compressor nebulizer adopted for rats and connected to fume chamber where the rats were kept. The pretreatment were administered by oral cannula. At the end of the exposure, 0.2ml of blood samples obtained from individual rat in each group were suspended in separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) was determined by spectrophotometer. Electrocardiography was done using EDAN 10. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in EOF of the rats exposed to petrol vapour only. However, Moringa oleifera, captopril and candesartan cilexetil significantly ameliorated this effect. There was no significant difference in the amelioration of Moringa oleifera and candesartan cilexetil. There was absence of p-wave and significant increase in heart rate observed in the electrocardiogram of petrol only group, this was significantly restored in the Moringa oleifera, captopril and the candesartan cilexetil group. The results showed that exposure to petrol vapour elevated EOF, resulted in atria arrhythmia and increased heart rate. These effects were ameliorated by pretreatment with Moringa oleifera, captopril and candesartan cilexetil. The amelioration in Moringa oleifera was comparable with that of candesartan cilexetil suggesting that Moringa oleifera may be an Angiotensin II receptor blocker.