Acute toxicity study was carried out on three most common types of "Gadagi" tea preparations, "sak'',"sada" and "magani".. LD 50 values of each type of the tea were determined. Results of phase I and phase II of the study showed no mortality was recorded in any of the experimental groups of rats in 24hours and up to four weeks after oral administration of 5000mg/kg of each type of the tea. Hence, oral administration of all the "Gadagi" tea preparations studied at a dose of less than or equal to 5000mg/kg (equivalent to 7.90cm 3 , 6.90cm 3 and 8.20cm 3 for "sak", "sada" and "magani" respectively) could be safe.

Context: Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures. Several antiepileptic drugs have been used over the years and these drugs have shown serious side effects, thereby prompting the use of medicinal plants to avert the resultant side effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Aim: To evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice. Study Design: Experimental cohort study. Subjects and Methods: We evaluated the anticonvulsant effect of the flavonoid-rich fraction (FRF) of Ficus platyphylla stem bark (FPSB) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures in mice by measuring its antioxidant activity in vivo and in vitro and identify possible flavonoids present via Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LC MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Statistical Analysis: One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the level of significance at a 95% confidence interval followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test using SPSS software. Result: The FRF of FPSB exhibited weak anticonvulsant activity against PTZ-induced seizure in mice. Maximum anticonvulsant activity (25% protection) was observed at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg with a delay in the meantime of onset of myoclonic jerks and latency to tonic seizure. The effect of the fraction was found to be dose-independent. The FRF contains a flavanone Astilbin (flavonoid 3 O glycosides) which may have effectuated the high antioxidant activity against 2,2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) while increasing brain glutathione content and decrease in malondialdehyde content. Conclusion: Although the anticonvulsant capacity of FRF on PTZ-induced mice was minimal, this further requires an exploration of other seizure models to ascertain its mechanism of action.

Background: Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) belong to the family of Cyperaceae and the order of Commelinalis. It has been existing for more than 4,000 years ago. Objective: To determine the nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, ash, moisture and carbohydrate) of nut, to extract and characterize oil from varieties of tiger nuts, to determine the mineral elements presence in the nut. Study Design: A descriptive research design was adopted by this study to determine the nutritional composition (protein, fat, fiber, ash, moisture and carbohydrate) of nut, to extract and characterize oil from varieties of tiger nuts and to determine the mineral elements presence in the nut. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at Biochemistry Department, Bayero University Kano, between April, 2019 to September, 2019. Methods: The Proximate compositions were determined using the method describe by Association of official analytical chemist’s, while Carbohydrate were determined by difference. The physicochemical properties were determined using the method describe by American oil Chemist’s society and Mineral composition were determined. Results: The proximate composition of the yellow variety was moisture (9.48%), ash (2.07%), fat (33.5%), protein (6.11%), crude fibre (17.5%) and carbohydrate (31.2%). Corresponding values of the brown variety was moisture (9.62%), ash (2.76%), fat (34.2%), protein (6.93%), crude fibre (15.3%) and carbohydrate (30.9%) respectively. The extracted oil has a golden colour and a nutty taste. The saponification, acid, peroxide, iodine and free fatty acid values of the yellow variety were found to be 210.8±4.28, 3.17±0.64, 1.00±0.52, 78.7±13.1 and 0.40±0.21 and the saponification, acid, peroxide, iodine and free fatty acid values of the yellow variety were also found to be 212.2±4.92, 3.36±0.56, 1.06±0.75, 76.5±14.6 and 0.42±0.04 and was not significantly (P> 0.05) different between th yellow and brown varieties respectively. The mineral element (mg/100g) of the brown variety is Mg 133.67, P 527.33, K 957.67, Ca 394, Cu 2.0 and Fe 1.86. Corresponding values for the yellow variety are Mg 118.13, P 159.61, K 384.33, Ca 152, Cu 2.0 and Fe 1.04. Lead and Cadmium were not detected in both varieties. Conclusion: These results indicate that tiger nut tuber oil could be a good source of edible oil, highly nutritive and can provide a lot of energy like some starchy food.

Effect of oral administration of "Gadagi" tea on liver function and serum glucose concentration was assessed on thirty (30) healthy non-pregnant female albino rats. The animals were grouped and administered different doses (mg/kg) i.e. (low dose; 0.75mg/kg for "Sak," 1.40mg/kg for "Sada" and 2.10mg/kg for "magani." Standard dose; 1.50mg/kg for "Sak," 2.80mg/kg for "Sada" and 4.20mg/kg for "magani." High dose; 3.00mg/kg for "Sak," 5.60mg/kg for "Sada" and 8.30mg/kg for "magani") for a period of one week. Animals that were not administered the tea constituted the control group. At the end of one week, the animals were sacrificed and their serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin (total and direct) and glucose levels were determined. Mean serum glucose level of the control animals was significantly higher (p <0.05) than that of the experimental animals. Mean serum ALT, AST and ALP activities and serum bilirubin levels (total and direct) were found to be higher in the experimental animals, than in control group suggesting liver function impairment. Chronic and acute hepatitis were observed from histopathology test in 65% of the experimental animals. Thus, it can be concluded that all the "Gadagi" tea preparations studied are hepatoptoxic particularly at standard and high doses.

No abstract