Extract of Ocimum gratissimum (OG), also known as scent leaf, is popularly used to treat diabetes mellitus and its hypoglycaemic activity has been confirmed by in vivo studies. The aim was to investigate the effect of this extract on placenta development and birth outcome in diabetic pregnancy. Forty two pregnant rats weighing 150-200 g were used. They were divided into control and extract treated diabetic and non-diabetic groups with 6 rats in each subgroup. Extract treated groups were administered 200 and 400 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of OG orally after the induction of diabetes by administration of alloxan monohydrate after an overnight fast. Treatment commenced in the second trimester and lasted till end of pregnancy. On day 18 of pregnancy, 3 rats from each group were sacrificed and placentae harvested and weighed. On the day of delivery, birth weight and other parameters were recorded. Results show that OG administration caused a significant decrease in placental weights, birth weights, litter sizes and placental-birth weight ratio in both diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancy. In conclusion, the observed decrease in placenta-birth weight ratios may suggest a protective beneficial effect of this extract against macrosomia in diabetic pregnancies and increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

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Introduction: There is growing interest on trying to explore the importance of fasting to health as it has been practiced as religious exercises for centuries. This study assessed the haematological and serum electrolytes effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on mice. Methods: Fifty (50) male mice were randomly assigned into five (5) groups A, B, C, D and E (n=10). Group A (control) was fed normal chow ad libitum, experimental groups B,C,D and E were fasted seven weeks intermittently for 12, 18, 24 and 48 hours respectively. Blood samples were collected and analysed for haematological and electrolyte indices. Data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Results: Our findings revealed no significant differences in the RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC between the different fasting groups and the control. There was increase significantly in group C for Red density width-coefficient of variance (RDW-CV) and group C and E for Red density width-standard deviation (RDW-SD). Platelet count decreased, plateletcrit increased significantly in group C. There were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet-large cell count (P-LCC) and Platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR). Sodium ion decreased significantly in group C and chloride ion decreased significantly in group B, C and E. There were no significant differences in serum potassium ion and bicarbonate ion. Conclusion: 12, 24 and 48 hours IF are safe and do not negatively influence hematological indices and electrolyte levels but 18 hours IF could have a slight negative effect on platelet count, plateletcrit and sodium ion levels.