Gbola Olayiwola

Evaluation of the Ethnomedical Claims of Murraya koenigii.

Abstract Based on sethnomedicine, Murraya koenigii. (L.) Spreng. is used as a stimulant, antidysentery, and for the management of diabetes mellitus. Twelve carbazole alkaloids were isolated from the stem, seed, and leaf of the plant growing in Nigeria and Sri Lanka. The methanol extracts were devoid of hypoglycemic activity, and some isolates decreased insulin secretion when they were subjected to both in vivo. and in vitro. (insulin secretion from INS-1 cells) antidiabetic tests. The cytotoxicity of the leaf and stem methanol extracts determined by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay were LC50 61.5 and 14.5 µg/ml, respectively. These extracts caused CNS depression in albino mice at the dose levels of 25–400 mg/kg. Also, they had an IC50 of 34.0 and 35.0 µg/ml at 24 h, respectively, against trichomonas. These results confirmed the use of the plant as an antidysentery caused by trichomonas but refute the antidiabetic and stimulant ethnomedical claims for the plant. The differences observed in their alkaloidal composition suggested probable influence of geographical location on the elaboration of carbazole alkaloids in the plant and differences in the localization of carbazole alkaloids in the plant parts.

Caffeine and sleep-deprivation mediated changes in open-field behaviours, stress response and antioxidant status in mice.

Objectives Effects of daily caffeine consumption on open-field behaviours, serum corticosterone and brain antioxidant levels were investigated after six hours of total sleep-deprivation in prepubertal mice. We tested the hypothesis that daily caffeine consumption may significantly alter behaviour, stress and antioxidative response of prepubertal mice to an acute episode of total sleep-deprivation. Methods Prepubertal Swiss mice of both sexes were assigned to two main groups of 120 each (subdivided into 6 groups of 10 each, based on sex), and administered vehicle or graded oral doses of caffeine (10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 mg/kg/day) for 14 days. On day 14, a main group was subjected to 6 h of total sleep-deprivation by ‘gentle-handling’. Open-field behaviours were then assessed in both groups, after which animals were euthanized, and levels of corticosterone, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase assayed. Results Horizontal locomotion, rearing and grooming increased significantly, compared to control, with sleep-deprived (SD) mice showing stronger caffeine-driven responses at higher doses; and SD female mice showing sustained response to caffeine, compared to respective males. Plasma corticosterone increased with increasing doses of caffeine in both non sleep-deprived (NSD) and SD mice; although SD mice had higher corticosterone levels. Sleep-deprivation and/or higher doses of caffeine were associated with derangements in brain antioxidant levels. Conclusion Repeated caffeine consumption and/or acute sleep-deprivation led to significant changes in pattern of open-field behaviour and stress/antioxidant response in mice. Responses seen in the study are probably due to modulatory effects of caffeine on the total body response to stressful stimuli.

Chronic administration of gabapentin and a gabapentin-carbamazepine combination reversibly suppress testicular function in male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The effect of chronic administration of gabapentin, carbamazepine or a gabapentin-carbamazepine combination on testicular function in male rats was investigated to determine the effect of combining reduced doses of anti-epileptic drugs on the management of seizures, particularly with respect to the testis sequellae of chronic anti-epileptic administration. Male rats were randomized into four groups (n=10). Each group received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections for 28days as follows: Group I, normal saline 0.1mL/day; Group II, gabapentin (GBP) 16mg/kg/day; Group III, carbamazepine (CBZ) 20mg/kg/day; and Group IV, sub-therapeutic doses of both GBP (8mg/kg) and CBZ (10mg/kg)/day. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, five rats from each group were sacrificed and the remaining rats were allowed to recover for another four weeks. Sperm characteristics, serum testosterone, and histological integrity of the testis was assessed 24h after treatment and after 28days of drug withdrawal. GBP, CBZ, and GBP-CBZ combination significantly reduced the absolute weight of the testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle (p<0.05). Moreover, epididymal sperm count and morphology were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in GBP, CBZ, and GBP-CBZ groups. Reduction in serum levels of testosterone for all of the treated groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). The cytoarchitecture of the testicular tissue in the testis of CBZ and GBP-CBZ groups showed disorganization. The altered testicular function were almost restored in GBP treated rats. CBZ and GBP-CBZ combination have delayed but reversible antifertility in the rats. Hence, chronic administration of GBP, CBZ, and GBP-CBZ combination reversibly reduced testicular function in male rats.