ETHANOL EXTRACT

The antibacterial activities of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) against some Gram positive isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus and interococcus faecalis were assayed using ethanol extract. The agar-well and paper disc diffusion method were used to determine the inhibitory effect of the thyme leaves on the tested microorganism. The extract produced different zone of inhibition on the tested organism. The ethanol extract had the highest antibacterial effect against interococcus faecalis (21.6±3.51 mm) at 100% and Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (21.3±3.2l mm) at 100%, while at 75% Enterococcus faecalis had the highest zone of inhibition (l 7±2.64 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (12.3±2.5l mm), while at 62% Enterococcus faecalis showed the highest zone of inhibition (12±3.46 mm) while Staphylococcus aureus has the lowest zone of inhibition (11.3±1.52 mm). The ethanol extract had the highest antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (20.6±4.04 mm) at 87% and Enterococcus faecalis has the lowest zone of inhibition (20.3±1.52 mm) at 87% while at 50% Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest zone of inhibition (6.33±1.15 mm) while Enterococcus faecalis has the lowest zone of inhibition (5±0 mm). Among these isolates, Enterococcus faecalis were highly sensitive to the thyme oil at different percentage (100%, 75%, 62%) while Staphylococcus aureus were little more sensitive to the thyme oil at 87% and 50% using the same solvent (ethanol). The increase in multidrug resistant strains of pathogenic microorganism has led to extensive phytochemical and pharmacological studies of Thymus vulgaris as an important source of medicinal substances which possess antibacterial properties and their effective medicinal application, as well as use in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries

This experiment aimed to investigate the subchronic toxicity of Icacina trichantha ethanolic extract and its impact on the liver's biochemical and histological parameters in male Wistar rats. The research specifically focused on examining the potential positive or negative effects of the extract. The main objective was to evaluate liver function by analyzing various biochemical
parameters, including liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT), total protein, albumin, bilirubin, and lipid profile. Over a period of 28 days, twelve male Wistar rats were divided into four groups, with the first group serving as the control. The rats in the other groups were orally administered the extract in different solutions. After the specified time, the rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture. The collected blood samples were then used to analyze the biochemical parameters. The histological examinations of the liver showed vasodilation, normal hepatocytes and activation of Kupffer cells. The results of this study indicate that Icacina trichantha has specific effects on Wistar rats, particularly in terms of regulating liver function, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. These specific effects suggest a complex interaction between the active compounds in the extract and the physiological processes of the rats. The observed changes in important biochemical markers demonstrate the potential of Icacina trichantha as a source of therapeutic bioactive compounds. However, caution should be exercised when using it, and further research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms of action and assess its safety and effectiveness in clinical settings. Nevertheless, these findings offer valuable insights into the specific effects of Icacina trichantha and provide a foundation for future investigations into its pharmacological potential. aminations of the liver revealed vasodilation, normal hepatocytes, and activation of Kupffer cells.

Cerebellar disorders are a class of neurological impairments characterized by unsteady gait anduncoordinated movements, typically resulting from lesions or pathologies affecting the cerebellum. These disorders may arise from congenital anomalies, hereditary ataxias, or exposure to environmental neurotoxicants such as heavy metals. Mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, is known to exert deleterious effects on the central nervous system. Its lipophilic nature enables it to cross the blood-brain barrier, where it accumulates and induces oxidative stress, leading to neuroinflammation, neuronal damage, and impaired motor coordination. Dietary antioxidants have shown promise in combating mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Accordingly, this study investigated the activity of ethanol extract of Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) against mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induced cerebellar toxicity in Wistar rats. In this study, fortytwo (42) Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups (A-F). Group A rats served as control; Group B received 4 mg/kg body weight [bw] of HgCl2 only; Group C received 4 mg/kg bw of HgCl2+ 250 mg/kg of P. ostreatus; Group D received 4 mg/kg bw of HgCl2 + 500 mg/kg of P. ostreatus; Group E received 250 mg/kg bw of P. ostreatus only and Group F received 500mg/kg bw of P. ostreatus only. All administrations were done orally for twenty-eight (28) days. Neurobehavioural activity was subsequently evaluated using the Open Field, String, Movement Initiation and Step Tests. Following the assessments, the experimental rats were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and the cerebellum harvested for antioxidant enzymes activity, lipid peroxidation, mercury concentration and histological assessments. The findings revealed that rats exposed to HgCl2 exhibited significant (p <0.05) weight loss, motor deficit, impaired antioxidant defense, elevated lipid peroxidation, elevated mercury levels and degeneration of Purkinje cells and molecular layer neurons. However, co-administration with P. ostreatus significantly (p < 0.05) mitigated these mercury-induced cerebellar alterations in Wistar rats. Overall, the findings from this study indicate that P. Ostreatus mitigates mercuric chloride-induced cerebellar toxicity, primarily through its antioxidant, neuroprotective, and metal-chelating properties, thus making it a promising agent for the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at managing mercury neurotoxicity and its associated motor impairments.