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Articles
by
C. Ezeali |
Total Records (
3 ) for
C. Ezeali |
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K.N. Agbafor
,
C. Ezeali
and
E.I. Akubugwo
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Extracts of various parts of Newbouldia laevis are used traditionally in Eastern Nigeria in management and treatment of several diseases, including some neurological disorders. This study investigated anticonvulsant and analgesic potentials of leaf and root extracts. The extracts were prepared with deionized water and ethylacetate. Extracts doses of 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg kg1 b.wt. were used for the investigations. Anticonvulsant potential of the extracts against pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion was tested in albino rats, by measuring time for convulsion onset, duration of convulsion and plasma glucose and Ca2+ levels before, during and after convulsion, using diazepam as standard. The hot plate method was used to investigate the analgesic property of the extracts using morphine sulphate as standard. Pretreatment of the animals with different doses of the extracts delayed the onset of convulsion in a dose-dependent manner. Convulsion was not observed in 800 mg kg1 b.wt. of Deionized Water Leaf (DWL) extract and in diazepam pretreated groups. The extracts decreased significantly (p<0.05) the severity of convulsion and prolonged the duration of convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole. The plasma concentration of glucose and Ca2+ decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the test groups through the course of convulsion, while they did not change significantly (p>0.05) in the non-convulsed groups. All the extracts at all doses and 4 mg kg1 of morphine sulphate (an analgesic) showed a significant (p<0.05) percentage inhibition against hot plate induced pain. The difference between the analgesic potentials of 800 mg kg1 of DWL extract and 4 mg kg1 morphine sulphate was not significant (p>0.05). These findings indicate that the extracts may be effective in management/treatment of convulsion and pains. |
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A.J. Uraku
,
N. Ezeani
,
C. Ezeali
,
F.U. Ali
,
C.A. Afiukwa
and
L.N. Ebenyi
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Effects of leaf extract of Spilanthes uliginosa (SW) on total protein, albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin levels in ethylene glycol exposed albino rats were studied. The animals were divided into 3 groups namely; A, B and C and groups A and B were subdivided into 2; AI, A2, B1 and B2. All the groups and subgroups contained 6 albino rats each and were given water and food ad libitum. Groups A1 and B1 with A2 and B2 were treated with 1.85 mg kg1 and 3.70 mg kg1 of 90% ethylene glycol intraperitoneally once, respectively. Groups B1 and B2 were also given 1 mL of the plant extract, respectively by oral incubation for 21 consecutive days while group C received only the water and food. The average body weights of the treated groups decreased significantly at p<0.05 compared to control. The result showed no significant change at p<0.05 in total protein levels and significant decrease in albumin, total and direct bilirubin levels compare to control. The result obtained suggests toxicity of ethylene glycol and the ability of the plant extract to affect the levels of the analyzed parameters. |
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A.J. Uraku
,
O.H. Uraku
,
S.C. Onuoha
,
N. Edwin
,
C. Ezeali
,
N.N. Ezeani
,
O.U. Obasi
,
N.V. Ogoh
,
E.J. Dingwoke
,
O.F. Orinya
,
F.N. Nweke
,
P.E. Ozioma
and
B.N. Enemchukwu
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Background and Objective: Lead is an environmental pollutant. The painful invasive chelation therapy makes it exigent to continue the protracted treatment against lead toxicity. This study is aimed at evaluating the protective effect of the methanol and flavonoid-rich leaf extracts of T. triangulae on lead-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: Thirtysix male albino rats were used and were distributed into five groups; A, B, C D and E. Groups D and E were further subdivided into three; D1, D2, D3, E1, E2 and E3. Both groups and subgroups contained four rats each. All groups except A were intraperitoneally injected a single dose of 50 mg kg1 b.wt., of lead chloride and commenced treatment within 30 min of lead injection. Group A and B were given distilled water and 50 mg kg1 b.wt., of lead chloride only, respectively. Group C was treated only with 40 mg kg1 vitamin C while groups D1, D2, D3 and E1, E2, E3 were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg kg1 b.wt., of methanol and flavonoid-rich leaf extract of T. triangulae, respectively for 14 days once daily. Blood were collected for determination of antioxidant indices in plasma using standard method and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The result showed that methanol and flavonoid-rich extracts significantly (p<0.05) decrease the Malondialdehyde (MDA) level that was triggered by the increase oxidative stress when treated with lead. The levels of glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were increased significantly when treated with the extracts. Conclusion: The outcome of this study showed that the extracts have a protective effect on lead-induced toxicity. |
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