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Purpose: This study evaluates the acute and sub-acute toxicity of 80% methanolic extracts of the leaves of Justicia schimperiana in Wistar albino rat models. Methods: Dried powdered leaves of Justicia schimperiana were macerated in 80% methanol. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 423 for acute and 407 for sub-acute toxicity testing. A single dose of 5000 mg/kg extract was orally administered to three female rats for the acute toxicity study. The plant extract was administered orally for 28 days in daily dosages of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for the sub-acute study. Animals in a control group were given distilled water. A total of 40 rats (5 rats/group/sex) were used for the sub-acute toxicity testing. Daily food intake and weekly body weight measurements were done. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 28-day treatment period for hematological, biochemical, and histopathological tests. One-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed for the analysis. Results: The single-dose oral administration of the plant resulted in no deaths or serious morbidity. The median lethal dose was >5000 mg/kg. The 28-day oral treatment of the plant extract had no significant effect on general behavior, food intake, organ weight, biochemical parameters, or the majority of the hematological markers, with the exception of the decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit in the 1000 mg/kg extract-treated groups compared to the controls. Both sexes experienced significant weight increases at all dosage levels. With the exception of minor alterations in a few of the organs, no significant histological change was identified. Conclusion: It is concluded that the single-dose and repeated-dose 28-day oral administration of the methanolic leaf extract of Justicia schimperiana is relatively safe.
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Background: Reference intervals for clinical laboratory parameters differ based on several factors, including age, sex, genetic variation, and geographic location. This variation influences clinical decisions and treatment monitoring. Currently, Ethiopia has used adopted reference intervals from manufacturer values derived from non-Africans. Therefore, the aim this study was to determine reference intervals for absolute and percentage CD4+ T cells for an apparently healthy population in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 361 apparently healthy people in four subcities in Addis Ababa from January to June 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire after informed consent had been obtained. Blood samples were collected and CD4+ T-lymphocyte enumeration performed using a BD FACSPresto near-patient CD4 counter. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 20. Reference intervals were determined by a nonparametric test estimating percentiles 2.5 (lower limit) and 97.5 (upper limit) with 95% CIs. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 337 (183 female and 154 male) healthy participants of median age 28 (IQR 17-35) years were included in the final analysis. Medians of absolute and percentage CD4+ T-cell counts (932.0 and 42.9, respectively) of female participants were significantly higher than male participants (802.5 and 38.7, respectively; P<0.05). Reference intervals for absolute CD4+ T-cell count and percentages in males were 483.8-1,310 cells/µL and 18.1-57.3 and in females 447.8-1,479.8 cells/µL and 25.6-58.9, respectively. Conclusion: The CD4+ T-count reference intervals established in this study showed some inconsistency from the manufacturer's provided values and other studies and also revealed sex differences, necessitating sex-specific locally established reference intervals.
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INTRODUCTION: Achyranthes aspera, Chenopodium murale, Satureja punctata, Rumex abyssinicus and Aloe pulcherrima are traditionally used to treat urolithiasis in Ethiopia. However, there are limited reports on toxicity studies. OBJECTIVE: This study was intended to evaluate the acute and sub-acute toxicity effects of plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The crude extracts of A. aspera and C. murale leaves, S. punctata aerial parts, R. abyssinicus rhizomes, and A. Pulcherrima gel were prepared using 70 % ethanol. In acute toxicity, 125, 500 and 2000 mg/kg were tested in a stepwise manner; whereas 2000 mg/kg administrated to female rats using gavage during sub-acute toxicity. On day 14 and 28, blood samples were collected from retro-orbital sinus; liver and kidneys of each animal were collected under anaesthesia. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Dunnett's comparison test of the Graph Pad Prism. RESULTS: No mortality and significant weight loss for all extracts in both toxicity tests. In acute toxicity, C. murale extract significantly reduced hemoglobin and platelets (P < 0.01) compared with the control. Likewise, S. punctata (P < 0.05) and R. abyssinicus (P < 0.01) extracts revealed significant reduction in platelet count. An exposure to C. murale and R. abyssinicus extracts reduced the concentrations of platelet distribution width and platelet larger cell ratio (p < 0.05) during sub-acute toxicity test. The level of creatinine reduced due to A. aspera extract administrations(P < 0.05). Liver histopathological examinations revealed focal periportal hepatitis following sub-acute toxicity test of C. murale. Histopathological studies of liver demonstrated that R. abyssinicus, A. aspera and S. punctata extracts showed mild acute liver injury. A. pulcherrima was not associated with any toxicity. CONCLUSION: C. murale extract showed hematological, and histopathological toxicity profiles in rats. Furthermore, chronic toxicity studies of A. aspera, S. punctata and R. abyssinicus extracts would be beneficial to ensure safety.