With rising global reports on reproductive and hematological health indicators, numerous animal based researches have more often focused on herbal-based medical remedies. In this study, the ameliorative potentials of ethanolic leaf extract of Boerhavia diffusa was investigated on reproductive and selected hematological variables in wistar rats [packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cell count (TWBCC), total red blood cell (TRBCC) count and total Platelet count (TPC)]. Twenty five (25) female wistar rats (between 150-200 g) were procured and acclimatized for two weeks in the animal house of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. The rats were then grouped into five (5) groups of five rats each (n = 5). While group I animals received standard rat chow and water at liberty (control), reproductive dysfunction was orally induced in group II rats, using 3.83 mg/kg bw of cypermethrin for 14 days. Groups III, IV and V received (orally) 200 mg/kg bw, 300 mg/kg bw and 400 mg/kg bw of Boerhavia diffusa extract (ethanolic) for five weeks respectively; haven also induced reproductive dysfunction. At the end of the period of administration, animals were euthanized under chloroform anaesthesia and blood sample obtained for hematological analysis, while also harvesting and observing the ovaries for histo-architectural changes. Results from one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent increase in the PCV TPC and TRBCC levels of all groups compared to control, while TWBCC increased insignificantly across groups. More studies to corroborative the observations from this works highly recommended.

For decades now, anthropometric and cardiovascular changes are proven reliable indicators of maternal and child health during pregnancy. In this study, we ascertained the relationship between selected anthropometric [Weight, Height, Body Mass Index (BMI), Head Circumference, Waist Circumference, Hip Circumference and Waist-Hip Ratios] and cardiovascular [Systolic, Diastolic and Mean Arterial Blood Pressures (SBP, DBP and MAP), Pulse Rate (PR)] health indicators for pregnant mothers at different trimesters. Seventy-five (75) pregnant women who registered with the antenatal unit of the central hospital, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria were ethically recruited for the study. The women were then grouped into three (3) of twenty-five (25) subjects each. Grouping was based on their gestational age (Group A = within the First Trimester, Group B = within the Second Trimester, and Group C = within the Third Trimester of pregnancy), and each subject were weekly assessed for the above cardiovascular and anthropometric variables. Using the student t-test, we observed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in anthropometric variables across groups as gestational age increased. This was however different for Height, BMI and Head Circumference. In addition, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) was returned for all cardiovascular parameters as pregnancy age increased per week. However, Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient returned no significant relationship between anthropometric and cardiovascular health indicators across groups with recourse to pregnancy age. More studies that corroborate the results from current 2020 September Edition |www.jbino.com |Innovative Association