The leaves of Anchomanes difformis are used in traditional medicine to promote health in the ageing. This study investigated the antidiabetic activity of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Anchomanes difformis in albino rats. Diabetes was induced by intra-peritoneal injection of 160 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. Plant extract (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) was administered orally and blood glucose levels were monitored at 2 hourly intervals and daily for 14 days. The LD50 was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins and alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The two doses of the extract produced a statistically significant reduction of fasting blood glucose levels during the acute study and prolonged treatment for 14 days when compared to glibenclamide and the negative controls. The plant extract seems to possess a dosedependent anti diabetic effect. Further studies will be done to evaluate the toxicological effects of this plant extract.

These results support the claims on the traditional use of the of Ipomoea involucrata leaves in the treatment of toothache, rheumatic pains and other inflammatory conditions. Studies on the isolation and structural elucidation of the active principle are still needed being carried out.

The public advertisement with indiscriminate sale of herbal bitters has led to increase in consumption without adequate information on the safety profile of the product. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of HB cleanser® bitters (a polyherbal mixture composing of Aloe vera, Acinos arvensis, Moringa oleifera, Chenopodium murale and Cinnamomum aromaticum, Allium sativum on haematological parameters in Wistar rats. Twenty-eight animals were randomly allotted into 4 groups comprising 7 animals each. HB cleanser® bitters was administered at doses of 1 ml/kg, 1.03 ml/kg and 1.29 ml/kg according to the manufacturers recommendation while the fourth group was administered with normal saline orally for 28days consecutively. Feed and fluid intake were measured daily. Haematological parameters (PCV, RBC, WBC, HB, platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil) were evaluated. Flavonoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides were revealed as the phytoconstituents. The results showed that the HB cleanser bitters at 1.03 ml/kg significantly (P<0.05) increased the WBC (17.00 ± 3.22 x109/L), while there was a non-significant ((P>0.05) decrease in RBC, PCV and Hb (4.88 ± 0.14 ×1012/L, 44.40 ± 1.17%, 14.54 ± 0.55 g/dl) when compared to control. A non-significant increase in platelets occurred at all doses. The findings of this study have shown that HB cleanser® bitters caused an increase in white blood cell count with a reduction in haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count hence, it should be taken with caution.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of HB Cleanser bitters on biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats. Twenty-eight animals were assigned into four groups of seven animals each. Groups A, B, C received 1, 1.03 and 1.29 ml/kg of the HB bitters respectively while group D (control), received 1 ml normal saline. All administrations were done orally and daily for 28 days. The feed and fluid intake were measured daily and the body weight weekly. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. Acute toxicity results showed that the LD50 of HB Cleanser Bitters was greater than 5000 mg/kg with no mortality. There was a significant (P<0.05) increase in body weight. In addition, HB bitters caused at 1 ml/kg significant (P<0.05) increase in total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and urea more than the other doses compared to negative control. A significant (P<0.05) decrease was observed in the levels of total protein and albumin compared to negative control. The findings from this study showed that HB cleanser Bitters may adversely affect hepatic and renal indices and therefore should be used with caution.

To determine mother’s perception and management of fever in their children. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out at the children outpatient clinic of the department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, over a one-year period, January to December, 2012. Every mother who presented with her child to the children outpatient clinic was recruited and interviewed using a structured questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent, as they presented their children to the children outpatient clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital until   we recruited 324mothers, whose children aged between 0-16 years into the study.  A little over half of these mothers had completed secondary education. The thermometer was used by 209(64.50%) mothers and the preferred route was by mouth 135(41.67%). 175(54.01%) mothers  reported temperature <35ºC as fever. 49.07% of the mothers were worried about the consequences of the fever.  43(13.3%) would give paracetamol. 24(7.4%) would tepid sponge. 15(4.6%) would give a cold bath. 6(1.9%) expose the child to air with reduced clothing. 4(1.2%), wrap the child with warm and thick cloth. 2(0.6%) gave antibiotics. 11 (3.4%) gave antimalaria.  6(1.9%) gave teething drugs. 1 (0.3%) gave nothing. Most mothers got their information on knowledge of fever management from doctors and nurses-164(50.62%). Paracetamol was the most commonly used drug by mothers for the treatment of fever at home-217 (67%). 87(26.852%) would take the child to hospital if fever persisted. This study found a significant association between using physical methods such as giving cold bath to reduce fever, and tepid sponging to reduce fever with no formal education P < 0.0001 and P< 0.0165 respectively. Data was analyzed using Epi-info version 7. Mothers awareness of fever in Port Harcourt is low and Paracetamol is commonly given to children with fever.