MALE WISTAR RATS

Traditional medicine has long played a crucial role in healthcare, particularly in Africa, where medicinal plants are widely used to treat various ailments. Picralima nitida, also known as the African bitter bean, is one such plant valued for its therapeutic properties, including its use in treating malaria, fever, and inflammatory conditions. Yet, regardless of its broad use in traditional medicine, scientific research on its biochemical effects is insufficient, particularly concerning its influence on mineral metabolism and metabolic health. In this study, forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received standard doses of aqueous Picralima nitida extract daily for a specific period, while the control group received no treatment. At the end of the study, serum calcium and uric acid concentrations were analyzed to determine potential alterations in mineral homeostasis. As calcium is essential for bone health, erve function, and enzymatic processes, and uric acid is a key metabolite linked to conditions such as gout and kidney disease, understanding how Picralima nitida affects these parameters is crucial. The findings of this study will contribute to the scientific validation of Picralima nitida in traditional medicine, therefore determining whether its continued use is safe and beneficial for metabolic and mineral homeostasis. Additionally, it could open pathways for further research into its pharmacological applications, potentially leading to the development of standardized herbal treatments based on traditional knowledge.

Cadmium is a toxicant that is not just harmful to the gonads but also the liver. In this study, the ameliorating potentials of Cyperus esculentus on cadmium induced toxicity in Liver was evaluated. Thirty-five male albino wistar rats divided into five groups consisting of seven rats each were used for this experiment. All rats were treated orally via gavage for 28 days. The
group 1 served as the control group was administered normal saline while group 2 was treated with Cadmium only (3 mg/kg body weight). Groups 3 and 4 were co-treated with cadmium and Cyperus esculentus extract at doses of 2 and 4 mL/kg body weight respectively. Following this, histopathology were analysed for all the rats. Biochemically, SOD, CAT and
MDA activities were significantly altered (p<0.05) in cadmium treated group. Group 3 rats showed no significant alteration in SOD, CAT and MDA level. However, there was a significant increase in CAT activities in all rats. Histological section through the liver showed inflammation and necrosis in rats in group 2. However, the histology cross section in group 4 and 5 appeared to have recovered from the damages induced by cadmium. These results showed that Cyperus esculentus ameliorated the toxic effects induced by cadmium on the liver by restoring the morphology of the liver in a dose dependent manner.

This study evaluated the subacute toxic effects of Cell Life IQ on liver function and lipid profile following 28-day repeated oral administration. Cell Life IQ is a widely used dietary supplement, but its safety profile during prolonged intake remains unclear. To assess potential toxicity, experimental animals were randomly assigned into four groups: a control group receiving distilled water and three treatment groups administered 20mg/kg( low dose) , 80mg/kg (medium doses) and 600mg/kg (high doses )of Cell Life IQ. At the end of the exposure period, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of liver function parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and albumin. Lipid profile markers such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also measured. The results showed at high dose there was a significant increase in total and direct bilirubin when compared to other groups. Also there was also increase in AST at the higher dose while ALP and ALT was not significantly unchanged at all groups. There was no significant change in the lipid profile parameters ( triglycerides, HDL, LDL etc) in all the treatment groups when compared to the control groups.