Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S E Adam.
Man has always made use of flora to alleviate suffering and disease. This review presents information on the various therapeutic applications of plants used in traditional medicine, their active principles and observed side effects in animals and human beings. We also focus on the gaps in our knowledge about plant toxicoses that require scientific investigations and offer some logical conclusions.
Symptoms, lesions and changes in growth, haematology and clinical chemistry were investigated in Brown Hisex chicks fed diets containing 0.5% Jatropha curcas seed or 0.5% Ricinus communis seed. High mortality and more severe changes occurred in chicks on Ricinus diet than Jatropha feed. The results indicated that caution should be observed in tropical countries where people are accustomed to chewing castor bean when in need of a laxative.
Citrullus colocynthis seed was fed at 2% and 10% of the basal diet to 7-d-old Bovans-type chicks for 6 w. Average body weights and efficiency of feed utilization were markedly depressed in the chicks on 10% Citrullus feed, and the serum activities of LDH, AST and CK and concentrations of total lipid and zinc were significantly increased. The concentration of serum total iron binding capacity was particularly reduced in chicks on 2% Citrullus feed. The concentrations of other serum and blood constituents and of hepatic copper, manganese and zinc were not significantly changes. Lesions seen in the intestines, livers, kidneys and other tissues were fully reversed 4 w after removal from the experimental diet.
The effect on 7-d-old Bovans chicks of 10 or 2% Linum usitatissimum seed in their basal diet for 6 w was determined. The feeding of either Linum-seed diet caused a significant increase in growth rate in spite of the development of centrilobular hepatocyte fatty vacuolation and an inflammatory cell response in the intestinal lamina propria and renal cortex. These effects were correlated with alterations in some hepatorenal function and hematology parameters.
Six out of 15 Nubian goats kids were given single oral doses of metolachlor (Dual 720 EC) at 2,000 or 500 mg/kg liveweight and died within 1 h of the dosing. Other 6 goats were given daily oral doses at 200 or 25 mg/kg and died or were slaughtered between days 8 and 25. In goats receiving single doses, the signs of poisoning were convulsive episodes, incoordination of movement, tremors, severe muscular spasms, stiffness, profuse salivation, respiratory distress, abnormal posture and recumbency. In goats receiving metolachlor at daily doses, the signs were similar, but developed slowly. Increases in the activities of serum AST and GGT and in the concentration of urea, and decreases in total protein concentration were correlated with clinical changes and lesions.
Copper sulphate was administered by the oral or intravenous route to five dromedary camels. Two camels (1 and 2) receiving copper sulphate at 200 mg per kg per day by drench died within 8 days and camel 3, receiving 100 mg per kg per day by the same route, was slaughtered on day 172. Intravenous injection of 2 mg per kg per day caused the death of camel 4 on day 95 and camel 5, treated similarly, was slaughtered on day 138. Anorexia, dullness, diarrhoea, dehydration and recumbency in camels 1 and 2 were probably clinical signs of copper toxicity. Camels 3, 4 and 5 lost weight. Jaundice was not a prominent clinical sign. The main lesions in camels 1 and 2 were fatty change and necrosis of the liver cells, dilatation and necrosis of kidney tubules, catarrhal abomasitis, enteritis and congestion of the blood vessels of the heart. In camels 3, 4 and 5 the hepatic lesions were mild, with leucocytic infiltration and gastrointestinal and heart lesions were either mild (camel 3) or absent (camels 4 and 5). Cytoplasmic copper granules in hepatic cells were generalized in distribution but more concentrated in the centrilobular zone. In the kidney these granules were confined to the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules. Copper accumulated in the liver and kidneys of all the camels and zinc accumulated in the liver and kidneys of those receiving copper sulphate intravenously. Macrocytic hypochromic anaemia developed in camels 3, 4 and 5 and haemoconcentration in camels 1 and 2. The concentration of serum copper, zinc and iron increased in animals 1, 2 and 4, and unbound iron binding capacity decreased in four camels. There was a rise in the activity of gamma GT, GOT, LDH and CPK in the serum of all the animals. Serum ALP activity, however, increased in camels 1 and 2 and decreased in camels 3, 4 and 5.
Nubian goats were given single or repeated dosages of 5, 2.5 and 0.25 g/kg of dried leaves or stem of C. tomentosa by drench and died or were slaughtered at various times post-dosing. One goat receiving Capparis stem at 2.5 g/kg on every other day basis for 8 days developed signs of toxicosis and recovered following cessation of plant administration. The prominent features of toxicity were inappetence, locomotor disturbances, paresis especially of the hind limbs and recumbency. Lesions comprised perineuronal vacuolation in the gray matter of the spinal cord at the sacral region, centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis, degeneration of the renal proximal convoluted and collecting tubules, serous atrophy of the cardiac fat and renal pelvis and straw-coloured fluid in serious cavities. In Capparis-fed goats, anaemia developed and the results of kidney and liver function tests were correlated with clinical abnormalities and pathologic changes.
Molasses at 10, 30 or 50% of the diet for 12 w was not toxic to goats and could be used as an inexpensive substitute for sorghum grain. No animals showed signs or lesions of illness attributable to feeding molasses. There were no differences among treatment groups in any of the following parameters: WBC, RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCHC, GOT, uric acid, urea, cholesterol, and zinc. Serum creatinine, total protein, iron, copper, magnesium and calcium varied between groups but remained within the ranges for normal goats. Feedlot performance indicated that utilization of molasses energy for body weight gain was a function of intake; feeding 50% dietary molasses did not produce economic weight gain.
Brown Hisex chicks were fed diets containing 2% and 5% Azadirachta indica leaf from their 7th to 35th day of age. Thereafter, the chicks were fed control diet for 2 weeks. A depression in body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization was observed in chicks fed A. indica leaf when compared with the control. The main clinicopathological changes were increases in lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities and uric acid and bilirubin concentrations and decreases in the total protein levels in serum. Changes in the values of erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin were remarkable and associated with yellow discoloration on the legs and combs and hepatonephropathy. Tissue recovery was incomplete 2 weeks after removal from the experimental diets.
Jatropha curcas seed, a multi-purpose medicinal plant product, was fed at 0.1 and 0.5% to Brown Hisex chicks for 4 w to measure it's effects upon growth and the structure and function of vital organs. Liver and kidney function tests included serum SDH, GDH, GOT, total protein, potassium and other serum constituents in addition to total tissue lipids and hematology. J. curcas intoxication in chicks was characterized by growth depression, hepatonephropathies and widespread hemorrhages and congestion.
Pretreatment of Nubian goats with 14 daily doses of 20 mg phenobarbitone sodium/kg increased the toxicity of temik (aldicarb) and sumicidin (fenvalerate) as reflected by the development of more severe clinical signs and lesions and in death in the pre-treated goats.
Feeding Jatropha curcas seed at 0.5% of the basic diet for 2 w was not lethal to chicks. In chicks fed 0.5% Ricinus communis seed or a mixture of 0.5% J curcas + 0.5% R communis for 2 w, there was dullness, poor growth, locomotor disturbance and death. Pathological changes were correlated with alterations in clinical chemistry and hematology.
The combination of 0.5% Abrus precatorius seed and 2% Cassia senna fruit in the diet of Lohmann broiler chicks caused severe lesions, reduced weight gain, inefficient feed utilization and anemia. Organ lesions correlated with changes in clinical chemistry and hematology. Tissue recovery was not complete 2 w following withdrawal of the test diet. Feeding 0.5% Abrus or 2% Senna diets alone produced decreased growth and tissue lesions that did not return to normal 2 w following return to normal rations.
Brown Hisex chicks were fed Azadirachta indica ripe fruit at 2, 5 or 10% of basic diet from their 7th to 35th d of age. Decreased body weight gain and efficiency of feed utilization and hepatonephropathy were most severe in chicks fed the 10% A indica diet. These changes were accompanied by anemia and increases in LDH, GOT and ALP activities and uric acid concentration and by decreased serum total protein. Hepatocytes and renal tubular cells did not completely revert to normal 2 w after removal from the test diets.
The effect of oral or parenteral administration of crude saponin extract from Balanites aegyptiaca seed kernal on Hisex-type chicks was studied. Seven-d-old chicks were given 5 mg Balanites crude saponin/kg/d im, 25 mg/kg/d ip or 250 mg/kg/day po for 3 w. When compared to controls, the body weights of dosed chicks were depressed and serum LDH and GOT activities and uric acid concentrations were significantly elevated. There were no consistent differences in serum GGT, CPK, total cholesterol and total protein between control and dosed birds. The main lesions were fatty cytoplasmic vacuolation and necrosis of hepatocytes, lymphocytic nodules, epithelial cell degeneration of the renal tubules, catarrhal enteritis and varying degrees of hemorrhage in the thigh and breast muscles. Myositis or peritonitis were observed in chicks given Balanites crude saponins im or ip, respectively.
The aqueous extract of Albizzia anthelmintica bark at 10-150 g/kg orally showed no toxicity and high anthelmintic activity (68-100%) against experimental Hymenolepis diminuta infection in albino rats. The water extract from A. lebbek bark at 10-100 g/kg orally was less effective against the cestode and was toxic to rats at the highest dose tested (150 g/kg).
The oral administration of the aqueous fraction of Albizzia anthelmintica bark extract in a concentration range of 50-150 g/kg body weight was safe and infestation with Hymenolepis diminuta was completely eliminated. The butanolic fraction of A anthelmintica bark extract given by stomach tube in concentrations ranging from 25-150 g/kg was highly toxic to rats and was inactive against H diminuta.
Ochratoxin A was fed at 0.5 ppm to Lohmann-type chicks from 7 d of age for 4 w. Body weights and efficiency of feed utilization were depressed and the activity of serum SDH and GDH and the concentration of uric acid were significantly increased. The concentration of serum total protein and potassium and Hb, PCV, RBC and WBC were significantly decreased in the test group. Lesions were seen in vital organs, with hemorrhage in the thigh. A slow recovery in the kidney was observed 3 w after removal from the experimental diet.