Summary: This study was carried out to obtain normal lung function values for women in south eastern Nigeria with a view to establishing prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV 1 ) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Lung function values were measured in 600 apparently healthy Nigerian women aged between 18 and 57 years. FVC and FEV 1 were significantly related to height (P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively) and body weight (P<0.01), PEFR was also related to age (P<0.01) and height (P<0.001). Prediction equations for the various lung function indices were as follows: FVC = 0.145 + (1.390Ht) -(0.0076age) + (0.0089wt); FEV 1 = 0.240 + (1.045Ht) -(0.0055age) + (0.0064wt); PEFR = -38.80 + (210.83Ht) + (1.650age) + (0.252wt). Ht is height in meters, wt. is body weight in kilograms and age is age in years. The ventilatory function indices were directly proportional to weight, height and to age. All the observed or measured lung function indices were not significantly different from their predicted values using the above prediction equations. Therefore, we conclude that lung function indices are influenced by the anthropometric parameters viz: age, body weight and height, and the prediction equations stated for FVC, FEV 1 and PEFR for Nigerian women between the ages 18 and 57 years are reliable.

Summary:The effect of oral administration of ethanolic extract of Dennettia tripetala fruits on haematological parameters in albino Wistar rats was investigated. Lethality studies revealed that the extract had an LD 50 value of 251.19mg/kg mice intraperitoneal. Fifteen (15) male albino wistar rats weighing between 150 -200g were used for the study and randomly assigned into three study groups of five animals each. The group 1 control received via oral route a placebo (4ml of normal saline), while test groups 2 and 3 received 85mg/kg body weight and 170mg/kg body weight of D. tripetala extract in 2.0ml and 4.0ml of the vehicle (normal saline) via oral route respectively. The administration of ethanolic extract of D. tripetala for 14 days produced a significant (P<0.05) decrease in RBC and WBC counts in group 2 versus group 1 (control) but the decrease in RBC and WBC counts in group 3 were not significant compared to group 1. There was no significant difference in PCV and haemoglobin levels in groups 2 and 3 compared to control. The differential WBC results showed a significant increase (P<0.001) in neutrophil count in group 2 versus group 1. While neutrophil count in group 3 was significantly decreased (P<0.001) compared to group 1. There was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in eosinophil count in groups 2 and 3 when compared to the control group. From the results, there was a significant decrease (P<0.001) in lymphocyte count in group 2 while a significant increase (P<0.01) in lymphocyte count was observed in group 3 when compared to the control group. There were no significant differences in basophils and monocytes counts in groups 2 and 3 compared to the control group. The study shows that D. tripetala extract, given at moderate to high doses may have hematotoxic effect, but the effect was worse with moderate doses.

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BackgroundGongronema latifolium Benth. (family Apocynaceae) leaves (GL) has interesting medicinal properties. The effects of extracts from G. latifolium on blood pressure (BP) and the possible mechanisms of action were also investigated.MethodsThe ultrahigh resolution liquid chromatography orbitrap MS analysis was used to identify the phytochemicals present. Normotensive Wistar rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and the jugular vein was cannulated for infusion of drugs while the carotid artery was cannulated for direct BP measurement. GL extract (5–20 mg) alone or with nifedipine (10 mg/kg), atropine (2 mg/kg), L-NAME (5 mg/kg), methyl blue (3 mg/kg) and propranolol (1 mg/kg) were administered intravenously to Wistar rats and direct BP measurements were carried out.ResultsSystolic and diastolic BP levels (128/90 mm Hg; MAP 103 ± 3 mm Hg) and heart rates were all significantly (p < 0.01) decreased after GL administration. Raised mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate by atropine, L-NAME and methyl blue were significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after GL administration, while propranolol significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited hypotension caused by GL. Infusion of GL reduced MAP (95 ± 3 mm Hg) comparable with nifedipine (93 ± 2 mm Hg), a calcium channel blocker. The phytochemicals identified were 34 compounds, including oleanolic acid derivatives, flavonoids, antioxidant fatty acids, 2 coumarins and 2 iridoids.ConclusionsThese results suggest that G. latifolium has hypotensive properties mediated by the synergistic activity of the compounds, probably via the β-adrenergic blockade mechanism.

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