Balé Bayala

Combined effects of testosterone propionate and Leptadenia hastata Pers. (Decne) aqueous extracts on immature castrated male rats

To evaluate the competition between testosterone propionate (TP) and Leptadenia hastata aqueous extracts, immature castrated male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. L. hastata aqueous extracts reduced significantly the weight of androgen-dependant sex glands, the level of phosphatase acid prostatic (PAP) and fructose in seminal vesicles and prostate, and the serum testosterone level. When TP was administered simultaneously with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of L. hastata aqueous extracts, a potentiate action was observed with 100 mg/kg of L. hastata by the increase of androgen-dependant sex glands weights, fructose and PAP levels in seminal vesicles and prostate, and the serum testosterone level. The anti-androgenic effect of L. hastata appeared with the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg which reduced significantly the weight of androgen-dependant sex glands, fructose and PAP levels in seminal vesicles and prostate and serum testosterone level. From these findings, it was concluded that the effect of TP was potentiated with low doses of L. hastata and antagonized with high doses. This study confirmed the anti-androgenic effects of L. hastata aqueous extracts in immature castrated male rats. Key words: Leptadenia hastata , testosterone propionate, anti-androgenic activity, rats. INTRODUCTION The increasing interest in the effects of the components of plant extracts on humans and wildlife has been reflected in the number of recent papers and international conferences devoted to this topic (Weisburger, 1999; Arbonnier, 2000; Vasudeva and Sharma, 2006). Plant-derived chemicals that influence endocrine activities in both humans and animals have received a great deal of attention due to their possible beneficial as well as adverse effects (Gamache and Acworth, 1998). Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne (Asclepediaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant of West Africa, commonly

Effect of the aqueous extract of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern) J. Moore on some fertility parameters in immature female rat

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Senecio biafrae is a plant from the huge family of Asteraceae used in the African pharmacopoeia for the treatment of many ailments among which is infertility. MATERIAL AND METHODS The aqueous extract, which was primarily subjected to polyphenol analysis, has been administered to immature female rats for 20 days at 8, 32, 64 and 128 mg/kg of body weight. The day following the treatment, the animals were sacrificed; their serum, ovary and uterus were retained respectively for reproductive hormones, ovarian and uterine proteins, and ovarian cholesterol assays. RESULTS Light body weight gain variation of treated animals was observed during the experimental period. A significant increase (p ˂ 0.05) in serum estradiol and proteins as well as in uterine weight (p ˂ 0.01) of all Senecio biafrae treated animals was noted. No significant variation was noticed in the ovarian weight and follicle numbers. CONCLUSION The various biochemical and physiological parameters of fertility were significantly improved with the aqueous extract of Senecio biafrae, thus attesting some of its traditional usage.

Comparison of the in vitro anthelmintic effects of Acacia nilotica and Acacia raddiana

Gastrointestinal nematodes are a major threat to small ruminant rearing in the Sahel area, where farmers traditionally use bioactive plants to control these worms, including Acacia nilotica and Acacia raddiana. The main aim of this study was to screen the potential anthelmintic properties of aqueous and acetone extracts of leaves of these two plants based on three in vitro assays: (1) the egg hatch inhibition assay (EHA); (2) the larvae exsheathment inhibition assay (LEIA) using Haemonchus contortus as a model; and (3) an adult mortality test (AMT) applied on Caenorhabditis elegans. For the EHA, only A. raddiana was effective with IC50 = 1.58 mg/mL for aqueous extract, and IC50 = 0.58 mg/mL for acetonic extract. For the LEIA, all extracts inhibited the exsheathment of larvae compared to the controls, and the aqueous extract of A. nilotica was more larvicidal with IC50 = 0.195 mg/mL. In general, all responses to the substances were dose-dependent and were significantly different from the control group (p < 0.05). For the AMT, the extracts of the two Acacia species were effective but A. raddiana showed greater efficacy with 100% mortality at 2.5 mg/mL and LC50 = 0.84 mg/mL (acetonic extract). The addition of polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) to the extracts suggested that tannins were responsible for blocking egg eclosion and inducing adult mortality but were not responsible for exsheathment inhibition. These results suggest that the leaves of these Acacia species possess ovicidal and larvicidal activities in vitro against H. contortus, and adulticidal effects against C. elegans.

Comparative effects of the crude methanol/methylene chloride extract and fractions of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern) J. Moore on some fertility parameters in immature female Wistar rats

Abstract Objective To assay the comparative effect of Senecio biafrae leaves and stems methanol/methylene chloride extract as well as its hexane, n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions on reproductive function of immature female rat. Methods Various doses of the methanol/methylene chloride extract and fractions were orally administered for 20 consecutive days to immature female rats. The parameters of the rats such as body, ovarian and uterus weight, uterine, ovarian and serum proteins, ovarian cholesterol as well as follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and progesterone levels were recorded. Results Levels of ovarian cholesterol and protein as well as uterine protein were doubled principally in animals treated with the ethyl acetate fraction not matter what dose was administered. The animals treated with crude extract presented a significant increase (P Conclusions Results of the present study provide evidence on the inducing effect of the methanol/methylene chloride extract of S. biafrae and its fractions on immature female rats fertility parameters in serum, ovary and uterus.