The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics A Textbook of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics for Physicians and Medical Students. By Prof. Louis Goodman and Prof. Alfred Gilman. Pp. xiii + 1383. (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1941.) 50s. net.

The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics

Experimental Neurology By Prof Paul Glees Pp xii + 532 (Oxford: Clarendon Press; London: Oxford University Press, 1961) 75s net

The Nervous System

Natural Product Research

Background: Health and mental related illnesses has emerged as a new challenge in the rural and undeveloped areas in Ogoniland where petroleum exploration activities have devastated the entire ecosystem. Many of the school children are no longer zealous about their academic activities, as their performances in school are always very poor. It has been reported that the children’s poor performance in school is closely linked with several health and mental challenges suffered by these children in the highly polluted areas. \nMethods: The study comprises of 383 primary school teachers selected from 8 rural communities in the four (4) Ogoni Local Government Areas (Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Khana) in Rivers State where massive environmental pollution has been reported. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from the teachers on the children’s exposure to oil pollution; self-rated mental illnesses and behavioural symptoms among the school children, perception to petroleum pollution and mental illnesses. \nResults: The results revealed that the signs of mental illnesses like anxiety disorder, attention-deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, mood disorder, schizophrenia and eating disorder were noticeable among the school children. The children also exhibited behavioural challenges such as extreme fear, difficulty in concentrating, self-imposed injuries, aggressive behaviour, avoiding other classmates and poor academic performances. The field survey further revealed that mental illnesses and behavioural challenges were common in areas of massive petroleum pollution of the environment. Other causes of these illnesses were revealed to be poverty and psychoactive substance use. \nConclusion: It was concluded that constant exposures of the children to environmental pollution is associated with decreasing neuroplasticity of the brain.

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Petroleum Pollution and Decrease Neuroplasticity in Brain Development of the Ogoni Children in Rivers State, Nigeria

Fraxinus rhynchophylla belongs to the family of Oleaceae and also called as Chinese ash wood possesses various pharmacological properties such as neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, etc. Therefore we synthesized ZnO nanoparticles using Fraxinus rhynchophylla wood extract as reducing and capping agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized with the aid of UV-Spec, DLS, FT-IR and TEM analysis. Green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were then assessed for anti-nociceptive property by using various nociception models such as thermal stress-induced, acetic acid, glutamate, capsaicin, and formalin-induced nociception. The sedative effect of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated with an open field test. UV-Spectroscopic analysis confirms the formation of ZnO nanoparticles and the characterization studies DLS, FT-IR, and TEM analysis prove it has ideal nanoparticle can be used as a nano-drug. Results of both thermal stress-induced methods hot plate and tail immersion nociception test verified the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles are a potent antinociceptive drug. ZnO nanoparticles effectively reduced the abdominal writhes in acetic acid-induced nociception and it also significantly decreased the nociception activity in another glutamate, capsaicin, and formalin-induced nociception models. Open field experiment proved that synthesized ZnO nanoparticles are less sedative compared to the standard antinociceptive drug morphine. Overall our findings authentically confirm ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from Fraxinus rhynchophylla wood extract is a novel drug that persuasively reduces nociception in different nociceptive induced mice models and can be the best alternative for allopathic drugs which renders severe side effects.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Fraxinus rhynchophylla extract by green route method attenuates the chemical and heat induced neurogenic and inflammatory pain models in mice

Background: Telfairia occidentalis seed is a multipurpose plant with many attributes and considerable therapeutic potentials. Carbon Tetrachloride is one of the oldest and most widely used toxins for experimental induction of liver fibrosis in laboratory animals. The Liver is usually the organ to receive the effect of this chemical thereby causing hepatotoxicity, simply because of its method of metabolism, as well as carrying out the first pass effect by metabolizing endogenous and exogenous substances hence its consideration.
Aim: The aim is to evaluate the histomorphologic anatomy of the liver with Telfaira occidentalis seed upon CCL4 induced toxicity in wistar rats.
Methods: Telfairia occidentalis seeds were harvested and oven dried at the temperature of 400c for 4 days with an extract made from it using chloroform while the seed was immersed in a bowl of chloroform and stirred. The Lethal dose (L50) was made using the proposed new method and at 5000 mg/kg, no mortality occurred. In this experiment, a total of 20 adult wistar rats of 4 groups with 5 Rats in each group were used; Group 1 (Control group) received food and water ad libidum, Group 2 (Negative Control) received food, water ad libidum and CCL4 alongside Olive oil at the same volume of 0.5 ml, Group 3 received food, water ad libidum, CCL4 alongside olive oil at the same volume of 0.5 ml and 400 mg/kg of the extract, Group 4 received food, water ad libidum, CCL4 alongside olive oil at the same volume of 0.5 ml and 800 mg/kg of the extract which all lasted for 14 days. At the 15th day, the rats were sacrificed and histological slides were made.
Results: The histological slides showed the rats in group 1 had their normal features; rats in group 2 had several abnormal features and rats in group 3 and 4 showed hepatocurative effect by bringing the liver gradually back to normal.
Conclusion: At the end, it was shown that Telfairia occidentalis seed has constituents that can improve the status of an impaired liver.

Assessment of Liver Histomorphology and Curative Effect of Chloroform Extract of Telfairia Occidentalis Seed on Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL4) Induced Liver Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Aims: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) is a plant known to possess very high phenolic compound. The study evaluated hematological indices, anti-oxidative properties and gastroprotective potentials of CA leaf-supplemented diet. Methodology: Male Wistar rats weighing between 80-100 g were divided into 5 groups of n=18. Group 1 animals were fed with normal diet and groups 2-5 were fed with diets supplemented with 1%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% of C. aconitifolius powdered leaves continuously for 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Original Research Article Onasanwo et al.; ARRB, 35(2): 107-118, 2020; Article no.ARRB.55882 108 Hematological indices were examined in the whole blood plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT) were investigated, and changes in stomach architecture were also examined via histology. Results: There was a progressive increase in weight gain at different weeks of feeding with Cnidoscolus aconitifolius-supplemented diet (CAD). Malondialdehyde level decreased (p<0.05) significantly in 1% CAD at 8 weeks of feeding when compared to normal diet group. Glutathione at the 8th and 12th weeks of feeding with 1% CAD and 10% CAD significantly (p<0.05) decreased when compared to the group fed normal diet. Catalase activity increased (p<0.05) significantly in 1%, 2.5% and 5% CAD groups when compared to the group fed normal diet at 4 weeks of feeding. There was increase in haematological indices across all the groups during the weeks of feeding. The microscopic examination of the stomach epithelial layer reveals improvement with no serious damage across all the groups. Conclusion: Cnidoscolus aconitifolius-supplemented diet moderately improves blood anti-oxidant against oxidative stress and the hematological indices with time. The diet also maintains the structural integrity of the stomach wall without causing any damage.

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Hematoprotective and Gastroprotective Effects of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Linn)-Supplemented Diet in Male Wistar Rats

Evaluation of Psychoactive Substance use and its risk factors among Public School Students of Rivers State, Nigeria

Background and Aim: Since there is an increasing demand by people for means of enhancing the neuro-cognitive functions of the brain and the side effects of many neuro-cognitive drugs which have left many persons with irreversible neurological damage. This situation has lead to our investigation of the neuro-cognitive properties (learning and memory) of the plant, Ficus thioningii (wild fig). Methods: 30 Adult Swiss mice weighing between 16 -21g, were divided into 3 groups, 10 mice per group. Before the neurobehavioral parameters were assessed, the LD50, acute toxicological screenings of the plant were determined. Group A being the control, received rat feed with normal saline, group B being the low dose were administered with Ficus thoninngii extract at a dose of 10mg/kg and group C being the high dose were administered with Ficus thoninngii extract at a dose of 20mg/kg, this administration lasted for 14 days. All animals were allowed clean drinking water. Results: The data’s were analyzed and the results showed that on days 1, 2 and 3 of acquisition training mice from low dose and high dose learned equally when compared to the control. In the reversal training, memory was improved in the low dose and high dose treated mice when compared to control at (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001). During the probe trial, the swim duration in the South-East quadrant was significantly higher for high dose and low dose compared to control (p<0.01 and at p<0.001). However, during the visible platform task, the swim latencies for the low dose and high dose group were also significantly lower compared to control (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that consumption of Ficus thoninngii extracts enhances learning and memory in mice, thus Ficus thoninngii containing diet may be beneficial in the improvement of learning and memory.

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Effect of Acute Administration of Ethanol Extract of Wild Fig (Ficus thonningii) on Spatial Memory and Learning in CD-1 Mice

Background and Aim: Beans contain serotonin and its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) which is known to have neurobehavioral effects on pain sensation. In the present study, we have planned to evaluate the effect of chronic consumption of beans diet on pain sensation in mice. Methods: Forty CD-1 mice were randomly assigned into four groups, namely, control, cooked beans diet (50% w/w), uncooked beans diet (50% w/w), while another set of mice were placed on serotonin precursor (5-HTP) diet (0.2 mg/50 g w/w) for 30 days. All the mice had access to clean drinking water ad libitum. Before the neurobehavioral parameters were assessed, the phytochemical analysis of the beans, LD50of the beans, and that of the serotonin precursor (5-HTP) were determined. Serotonin concentration was measured in the beans using gas chromatography analysis. The tail flick and hot plate test were used to assess the pain sensation. Results: In tail flick test, the latency of tail flick in the study group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to the control group in both phases, thus showing a decrease in pain sensation. In hot plate test, the frequency and duration of right hind paw lick in the study group were significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to control, representing a decrease in pain sensitivity. The latency of jump was significantly higher than the control, showing a decrease in pain sensitivity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that beans diet decreases pain sensation in mice.

Aduema Wadioni

Papers

Assessment of Liver Histomorphology and Curative Effect of Chloroform Extract of Telfairia Occidentalis Seed on Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL4) Induced Liver Toxicity in Wistar Rats

Hematoprotective and Gastroprotective Effects of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Linn)-Supplemented Diet in Male Wistar Rats

Evaluation of Psychoactive Substance use and its risk factors among Public School Students of Rivers State, Nigeria

Effect of Acute Administration of Ethanol Extract of Wild Fig (Ficus thonningii) on Spatial Memory and Learning in CD-1 Mice

Pain sensation in CD-1 mice following long-term consumption of beans diet in the tail flick and hot plate test