Background: Plants are important source of chemical substances with therapeutic effects. Although, the promising potentials for good number of medicinal plants are being established, there exists in developing countries where people resort to herbal plants without proper awareness of the associated risks particularly in event of excessive or chronic use. Hence, the need to evaluate the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cadaba farinosa used traditionally for treatments of gastrointestinal parasites, cancer and diabetes in North-Eastern Nigeria. To evaluate the histological and biochemical effects of aqueous leaf extract of Cadaba farinosa on liver of adult Wistar rats.Methods: Twelve adult Wistar rats of both sexes were used and divided into four groups of three rats each. Group 1 served as control. Aqueous leaf extract were orally administered for 28 days at doses of 100, 200 and 300mg/kg respectively. Biochemical and histological analysis were performed.Results: This study showed significantly elevated levels of aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase in animals treated with Cadaba farinosa (especially the highest dose 300mg/kg) compared to negative control. Elevated liver enzymes were corroborated by histopathological changes of liver exhibiting ballooning degenerations and steatohepatitis.Conclusions: Cadaba farinosa causes hepatic injury. Hence, further work needs to be done to ascertain whether reducing the dose of Cadaba farinosa would ameliorate this effect. Authors speculate that injury to multiple organelles including fat droplets and endoplasmic reticulum contribute to this characteristic finding.

Background: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic disease associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which progressively induces depletion of CD4+ T cells, and increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections. Previous reported studies associated HIV-infected men with sexual dysfunction; hypogonadism is the most common endocrinological disorders. Its prevalence remains poorly defined and widely ranging from different studies.Methods: This study evaluated a total of 135 serum sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) and its correlation with CD4+ counts among HIV patients on HAART, HAART naïve patients and negative control subjects (n=45). CD4+ cell counts were estimated using standard flow cytometry method and serum sex hormones by competitive enzyme immunoassay technique.Results: There were significantly lower testosterone and CD4+ levels (p<0.05) among HIV positive HAART naïve men compared to negative control. LH and FSH indicated significant increased (p<0.05) among HIV positive men on HAART.Conclusions: Antiretroviral therapy improves sexual functions in males infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Hence, further study to evaluate its effects on other sexual behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is among the most prevalent and costly chronic diseases in the world. Unfortunately, immediate prospects for a cure are not available. We aimed to determine the in vivo antidiabetic activity, histologic, and biochemical effect of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit extract on alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-six Wistar rats were allotted into six groups (n=6). Group I was normal  control. Group II was induced with diabetes but not treated.Groups III-V were induced with diabetes and treated with 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg extracts while Group VI was treated with Metformin once daily for 14 days. Animals were euthanized, and blood samples were collected for biochemical assays. The liver, kidney, pancreas, and testis were excised and processed by the paraffin wax method. RESULT: Oral administration of BA extract significantly (P<0.05) reduced blood glucose, liver enzymes, and creatinine levels in diabetic animals. The extract also improved the body weights of diabetic animals and microscopic anatomy of the pancreas, testis, liver, and kidney parenchyma compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Balanites aegyptiaca phytochemicals reduced blood glucose level and improved the histology of the liver, kidney, pancreas, and testis. Further study is recommended to identify the phytochemicals and mechanism of action.

The use of extracts of medicinal plants for treatments or prevention of diseases is a common health practice in most African societies. Anacardiumoccidentale is by far the most important flowering plant of the anacardiaceae family with great ethnomedicinal importance to third world countries including Nigeria, Brazil, India and Philippines. Traditionally, extracts of Anacardiumocciden tale are used as anti-diabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive agents. Base on disparities in the toxicological reports on the plant, this research seeks to evaluate the possible histological effect of ethanolic stem bark extract of the plant on the kidneys which are major excretory organs of metabolic products. Fourteen newly waned rabbits were divided into four groups of three animals each. Group 1 is negative control. Extract administered to groups (II, III and IV) at 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg showed congested Glomerular Tufts devoid of urinary space. Hence, the cellular compartments are vulnerable to damage. Chronic toxicity studies are needed to further support the safety use of this plant for treatments.

Introduction Haematological parameters(such as packed cell volume, platelet, neutrophils, lymphocytes, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell count and white blood cell count) are frequently used to evaluatefunctional characteristicsof blood and blood forming organs [1,2].Assessments of theseparametersare not limited to establisheddiagnosis of deleterious diseases norprognosis,but also relating the blood functions of plant extracts[3,4].Extracts of plant are alternative remediesinthe managements of blood