Effects of Ficus asperifolia on normal rat estrus cyclicity

Objective:To evaluate Ficus asperifolia(Moraceae)(F.asperifolia)effecting on regular estrus cycle of Wistar rats.Methods:Air-dried fruits of F.asperifolia were extracted using water.Prior to the test,vaginal smear was monitored daily for a 3-week period to select females with normal(regular)estrous cycle.Those with regular estrus cycle weighing between 150-170 g were randomized into three sets of 15 animals each.Each set was then divided into three groups:Group 1(control)was orally administered with distilled water(10 mL/kg body weight)once a day for 1 week starting from the proestrus stage.Groups 2 and 3 were respectively treated with 100and 500 mg/kg body weight of the plant aqueous extract.The two other sets of 15 animals each were similarly treated as the first set for 3 weeks and 6 weeks respectively.Estrus cycle pattern was monitored before and during plant extract application whereas lipid profile,ovary,uterus and liver growth indices were determined at the end of each treatment.Results:F.asperifolia did not disrupt(0%)the order of appearance of normal estrus cycle stages,namely,proestrus,estrus,metestrus and diestrus.Short-term treatment(1 week duration)exhibited high frequency of appearance of proestrus and estrus stages while mid-(3 weeks)and long-term(6 weeks)treatments revealed constancy in the frequency of all stages irrespective to animal groups.The plasma and organ lipid profile,as well as ovary,uterus and liver growth remained unchanged when compared to distilled water-treated animals.Following long-term administration of plant extract(6 weeks),no adverse effect was noticed.Conclusions:Our data partially support the use of F.asperifolia in common medicine.

Wastewater Treatment Potentials of Vegetated Beds with Brillantaisia cf.bauchiensis Hutch&Dalz and Polygonum salicifolium Brouss ex Wild in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potentials of beds vegetated with medicinal species (Brillantaisia bauchiensis and Polygonum salicifolium) in a constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. The study was carried out between March and September 2017 on plants collected from a natural wetland in Penka-Michel. The two plants species selected based on their ethnobotanical importance were transplanted and allowed to grow to maturity in a prepared natural wetland at Penka-Michel and a constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment on the campus of the University of Dschang. Growth parameters were followed for the two plants species in both wetlands. The physicochemical parameters and faecal bacteria concentrations were measured only for the vegetated and non-vegetated/control beds in the constructed wetland. Overall, the two plants species showed increased growth in height, diameter, leaf number and plants density. The change in diameter and density were very significantly influenced by species type in the constructed wetland than in the natural wetland. Generally, plant growth in height, diameter and density were higher with B. bauchiensis in the constructed wetland than with P. salicifolium in both wetlands. The mean faecal bacteria removal was higher in the vegetated beds for some bacteria than in the non-vegetated/control bed. There was a significant difference in the reduction efficiency of TSS, turbidity, BOD, Faecal streptococci and Total coliforms bacteria between the inflow and the outflow of some treatment beds especially the bed vegetated with Brillantaisia bauchiensis. There were correlations between the two plants species as concerns increased plants height, diameter, leave number, shoot number and nutrients uptake in the constructed wetland beds compared with the natural wetland.