Objective:To investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana(A.africana)and its beneficial effect on haematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Method...Objective:To investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana(A.africana)and its beneficial effect on haematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods:A total of 30 rats including 24 diabetic and 6 normal rats were used for this study.Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.After being confirmed diabetic,animals were orally treated with distilled water or extracts at 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days.The haematological parameters including red blood and white blood cells and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups compared with the controls.Results:The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels while the best result was obtained at 200 mg/kg body weight The feed and water intake in diabetic rats were significantly reduced while weight loss was minimized at both dosages.Similarly,the levels of red blood,white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved after extract administration at both doses.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of bark of A.africana possesses antihyperglycemic properties.In addition,the extract can prevent various complications of diabetes and improve some haematological parameters.Further experimental investigation is needed to exploit its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.展开更多
In the present study, the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition of Afzelia africana seed oil were determined and also effect of the oil-based diet on growth performance and plasma lipid profile were monit...In the present study, the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition of Afzelia africana seed oil were determined and also effect of the oil-based diet on growth performance and plasma lipid profile were monitored using twenty Wistar albino rats allocated into two groups of ten rats each. The control group was fed with soybean-based diet while Afzelia africana oil-based diet was fed to the test group ad libitum for 28 days. Results showed the acid, saponification, iodine, and peroxide values of the oil to be 3.30 ± 0.27 mg/KOH/g oil, 124.54 ± 0.79 mg/KOH/g oil, 11.17 ± 0.39 g/100 g, and 10.01 ± 0.53 meq/g respectively. Also, linoleic (53%) and oleic acids (21.34%) were found to be the predominant unsaturated fatty acids present, while the predominant saturated fatty acid present is Palmitic acid (14.78%). The body weight of the experimental rats maintained on diet formulated with Afzelia africana seed oil was reduced compared to the rats fed with control diet. The plasma concentration of triglycerides and high density lipoprotein was not significantly different (p Afzelia africana oil-based diet. The decline in plasma total cholesterol levels suggests good quality of the oil. The various parameters investigated reveal the potentials of Afzelia africana seed oil and could serve as a good diet supplement.展开更多
Research work on the improvement and breeding of indigenous hardwood species in Nigeria started about four decades ago. Such studies prove to be fruitful in planning various conservative programme specific to differen...Research work on the improvement and breeding of indigenous hardwood species in Nigeria started about four decades ago. Such studies prove to be fruitful in planning various conservative programme specific to different habitats. The present preliminary study focuses on the flowering and fruiting pattern of a 5 year old Afzelia africana artificial forest at Eastern Research Station, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. The parameters observed were phenology, flowering intensity, floral biology, fruit set and floral visitors. Flowering was first observed in 2012 (three years after planting) and subsequently in 2014 (five years after planting), although no fruit was set until 2014. All the processes of flowering to fruiting took place between January to August, with flowering peak occurring in March. The flowering intensity was very low, ranging among 286, 138, and 54, with a very low flower to fruit ratio. It is presumed that the relative young age of the trees and reduced population size amongst other probable factors may have accounted for this observation. This study is the first record of flowering and fruiting pattern of this species at plantation level in Nigeria. By late July/August, matured fruits were ready for harvest.展开更多
文摘Objective:To investigate the antidiabetic properties of aqueous extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana(A.africana)and its beneficial effect on haematological parameters in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.Methods:A total of 30 rats including 24 diabetic and 6 normal rats were used for this study.Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.After being confirmed diabetic,animals were orally treated with distilled water or extracts at 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days.The haematological parameters including red blood and white blood cells and their functional indices were evaluated in diabetic treated groups compared with the controls.Results:The extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels while the best result was obtained at 200 mg/kg body weight The feed and water intake in diabetic rats were significantly reduced while weight loss was minimized at both dosages.Similarly,the levels of red blood,white blood cells and their functional indices were significantly improved after extract administration at both doses.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the aqueous extract of bark of A.africana possesses antihyperglycemic properties.In addition,the extract can prevent various complications of diabetes and improve some haematological parameters.Further experimental investigation is needed to exploit its relevant therapeutic effect to substantiate its ethnomedicinal usage.
文摘In the present study, the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition of Afzelia africana seed oil were determined and also effect of the oil-based diet on growth performance and plasma lipid profile were monitored using twenty Wistar albino rats allocated into two groups of ten rats each. The control group was fed with soybean-based diet while Afzelia africana oil-based diet was fed to the test group ad libitum for 28 days. Results showed the acid, saponification, iodine, and peroxide values of the oil to be 3.30 ± 0.27 mg/KOH/g oil, 124.54 ± 0.79 mg/KOH/g oil, 11.17 ± 0.39 g/100 g, and 10.01 ± 0.53 meq/g respectively. Also, linoleic (53%) and oleic acids (21.34%) were found to be the predominant unsaturated fatty acids present, while the predominant saturated fatty acid present is Palmitic acid (14.78%). The body weight of the experimental rats maintained on diet formulated with Afzelia africana seed oil was reduced compared to the rats fed with control diet. The plasma concentration of triglycerides and high density lipoprotein was not significantly different (p Afzelia africana oil-based diet. The decline in plasma total cholesterol levels suggests good quality of the oil. The various parameters investigated reveal the potentials of Afzelia africana seed oil and could serve as a good diet supplement.
文摘Research work on the improvement and breeding of indigenous hardwood species in Nigeria started about four decades ago. Such studies prove to be fruitful in planning various conservative programme specific to different habitats. The present preliminary study focuses on the flowering and fruiting pattern of a 5 year old Afzelia africana artificial forest at Eastern Research Station, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. The parameters observed were phenology, flowering intensity, floral biology, fruit set and floral visitors. Flowering was first observed in 2012 (three years after planting) and subsequently in 2014 (five years after planting), although no fruit was set until 2014. All the processes of flowering to fruiting took place between January to August, with flowering peak occurring in March. The flowering intensity was very low, ranging among 286, 138, and 54, with a very low flower to fruit ratio. It is presumed that the relative young age of the trees and reduced population size amongst other probable factors may have accounted for this observation. This study is the first record of flowering and fruiting pattern of this species at plantation level in Nigeria. By late July/August, matured fruits were ready for harvest.
