Vol 16, No 2 , 2015-1, African Scientist

Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant used widely in Nigeria as a blood-booster. The toxicity of the extracts of J. carnea was carried out to evaluate its haematological and histopathological effects on Wistar albino rats. The aqueous and ethanol extracts used for this study were obtained using the Soxhlet extraction method. A total of fifteen (15) rats in five treatment groups were used for this study. Different concentrations of the leaf extracts were administered to the animals for fourteen (14) days, after which they were observed for mortality and toxicity.

Tympanotonus fuscatus var .radula (L) is a species of periwinkle living in the black mud of the mangrove swamp forest along the brackish water mangrove swamp forest area of the West Africa rivers and in the Cross river in Nigeria. The proximate and mineral contents of it flesh and shell were investigated using techniques recommended by AOAC. The moisture, crude protein, ash, fat contents of the flesh were 50.00 mg/100gm, 22.32mg/100gm, 1.22 mg/100gm, and 10.02 mg/100gm respectively.

This study investigated the influence of aqueous fruit extract of Xylopia aethiopica on the liver function in apparently healthy pregnant Wistar rats. Twenty Wistar rats weighing 140-210 g were divided into four groups (n = 5). Group 1 was the control group and received only distilled water orally, while groups 2, 3 and 4 served as the test groups and each received orally 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg of the aqueous extract, respectively for 7 days from Day 7 of pregnancy to Day 14.

This study investigated the antidyslipidemic activities of the aqueous extract of Petiveria alliaceae leaves against high fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in male wistar rats. Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups of control (n =15) and high fructose diet (n = 30) , each group received water and control diet and fructose enriched diet and water ad- libitum respectively for six weeks to induce metabolic syndrome.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental increase of vegetable oil in pig feed formulated from agro-industrial waste on body weight and biochemical parameters of pigs. Twelve female large White x Dunroc weaner pigs (15.5 ± 0.82kg) were divided into four treatment groups (A-D) corresponding to four formulated diets. Diet A (control) contained compounded diet without vegetable oil, while diets B, C, and D contained compounded diet with 1, 2, and 3% supplemental vegetable oil respectively. The animals were treated for two weeks.

Application of dry ground leaves of Moringa oleifera (Lam.) as soil nutrient augment for the productive assessment of seven accessions of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) was studied. The experimental pots (containing 4 kg of soil) were treated with 0 g (control), 10 g, 20 g and 35 g of dry powdered leaves in three replicates, arranged as completely randomised block design. Data collected include percent germination, number of days to flower bud formation, number of flower buds and flowers formed, number of pods produced per plant and 100-pod fresh and dry weights.

ABSTRACT: Studies have shown that edible clay contains metal contaminants, and its ingestion may be toxic to the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of edible clay on serum lipid profile of female Wistar rats. Forty (40) healthy female Wistar rats, weighing 150 - 200 g, were sorted into four groups named group 1 - 4 with 10 rats each (n = 10). Group 1 was the control and orally received distilled water daily, while groups 2–4 received various doses of edible clay suspension ranging from 200, 800 and 1600 mg/kg respectively, through the same route for 28 days.