Background: Phenylhydrazine (PHZ) is a chemical agent commonly used to induce haemolytic anaemia and associated haematological disturbances in experimental animals. Abelmoschus esculentus (okra) contains bioactive constituents that may have protective effects against toxicant-induced alterations. This study investigated the effects of ethanolic leaf extract of A. esculentus (EEA) on selected physiological and haematological parameters following PHZ-induced toxicity in Wistar rats.
Methods: Wistar rats were divided into five experimental groups: Group A served as the control, Group B received PHZ only, Group C received 100 mg/kg EEA, Group D received PHZ (40 mg/kg) plus 100 mg/kg EEA, and Group E received PHZ (40 mg/kg) plus 200 mg/kg EEA. Body weight, feed intake, relative spleen weight, red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) were assessed. Data were analysed using Student's t-test and analysis of variance followed by post hoc LSD multiple comparison, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: PHZ administration significantly reduced RBC count, Hb concentration, and PCV compared with the control group (p < 0.05). EEA administration significantly improved these parameters compared with the PHZ-only group. RBC, Hb, and PCV values increased to 6.31–6.78 × 10¹²/L, 13.43–15.47 g/dL, and 39.93–45.40%, respectively, across the EEA-treated groups. PHZ also significantly reduced feed intake during Weeks 1 and 2, whereas EEA administration significantly increased feed intake during these periods. Body weight increased across all groups, although the increase was not significant in the PHZ + 100 mg/kg EEA group. Relative spleen weight increased significantly in the higher-dose EEA group.
Conclusion: Ethanolic A. esculentus leaf extract ameliorated PHZ-associated haematological alterations and improved feed intake in Wistar rats, suggesting potential protective activity against PHZ-induced toxicity.
E. O. Nweke, Mmesoma Charity Chukwunwike, A. Obi et al.· Journal of Tropical Medicine...· 1 citation
Background: Aspirin is widely used for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties but may produce tissue injury, including hepatic alterations at high or repeated exposure. Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) contains bioactive compounds with antioxidant and potentially protective properties. This study investigated the biochemical and histological effects of ethanolic S. lycopersicum fruit extract on aspirin-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups of five animals. Group A served as the normal control, while Group B received aspirin (300 mg/kg). Groups C, D, and E received aspirin (300 mg/kg) followed by ethanolic tomato fruit extract at 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, respectively, for 14 days. Serum AST, ALT, and ALP, relative liver weight, body weight, food and fluid intake were assessed. Liver tissues were examined histologically following haematoxylin and eosin staining.
Results: AST was significantly higher in Groups C, D, and E than in the aspirin-only group (P<0.05). ALP was significantly increased in Groups C and D but not Group E. ALT showed no significant differences among groups. Relative liver weight did not differ significantly. Histologically, the aspirin-only group showed moderate hepatocellular degeneration, inflammatory-cell aggregation, hepatocellular clearing, and cytoplasmic ground-glass changes. Extract-treated groups demonstrated moderate hepatic regeneration with generally mild inflammatory changes.
Conclusion: Ethanolic S. lycopersicum fruit extract was associated with histological evidence of hepatic regeneration following aspirin exposure, although biochemical findings did not demonstrate consistent hepatoprotection. Further studies incorporating oxidative-stress markers and phytochemical characterization are warranted.
E. O. Nweke, E. Okoye, A. Obi et al.· IPS Journal of Toxicology· 0 citations
Phenylhydrazine is a hydrazine derivative widely used experimentally to induce oxidative and haemolytic tissue injury in animal models. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of ethanolic extract of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) leaves on phenylhydrazine-induced gastric toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats (140-220 g) were randomly assigned into five groups of five animals each. Group A (control) received feed and distilled water ad libitum; Group B received phenylhydrazine only (40 mg/kg); Group C received ethanolic extract of A. esculentus only (100 mg/kg); Group D received phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg) co-administered with the extract (100 mg/kg); and Group E received phenylhydrazine (40 mg/kg) co-administered with a higher dose of the extract (200 mg/kg). Administration was carried out daily by oral cannula for 21 days. Body weight, relative stomach weight, and gastric histoarchitecture were assessed at the end of the study. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract, determined by Lorke's method, exceeded 5000 mg/kg, indicating a wide margin of safety. Rats induced with phenylhydrazine alone (Group B) showed a non-significant reduction in body weight and relative stomach weight, alongside severe histological gastric ulceration with marked inflammatory cell infiltration of the submucosa. Co-administration of the extract with phenylhydrazine (Groups D and E) was associated with visibly reduced ulceration and progressively improved mucosal healing relative to Group B, with the higher extract dose (Group E) showing the more advanced histological recovery. These findings suggest that ethanolic extract of A. esculentus exerts a dose-related gastroprotective and ameliorative effect against phenylhydrazine-induced gastric injury, supporting its potential as a dietary adjunct in the management of oxidative gastric mucosal damage.
E. O. Nweke, Benedict Onyekachukwu Ekwuno, A. Obi et al.· IPS Journal of Basic and Cli...· 1 citation
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