Susceptibility of Bovans chicks to low dietary levels of Ammi visnaga and Artemisia herba-alba.

Ammi visnaga seeds and Artemisia herba-alba shoots were fed to 7-d-old Bovans chicks at 2% and 10% of diet for 9 w. The 10% A visnaga seed was toxic but not lethal to chicks and caused a consistently reduced body weight gain, inefficient feed utilization, enterohepatonephropathy, anemia, and alterations of serum aspartate transaminase and creatine kinase activities and cholesterol, total lipid and uric acid concentrations. The depression in growth and damage to vital organs of chicks fed 10% A herba-alba shoots 2% A visnaga seed, or 2% A herba-alba shoots were less marked.

Effect of feeding Acacia abyssinica and of its extracts given by different routes on rats.

The effect of a diet consisting of 2% and 10% of Acacia abyssinica bark on Wistar rats treated for 6 weeks was examined. A 2% A. abyssinica diet was not toxic to rats. Impairment of growth and hepatonephropathy were observed in rats on a 10% A. abyssinica diet. By whatever route it was administered, either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally (p.o.), the ethyl acetate extract in daily doses of 500 mg/kg body weight was the most toxic and lethal to rats and caused hepatonephropathy, widespread hemorrhage and congestion and fibrinous peritonitis following i.p. administration. The aqueous and ethanol extracts i n similar doses to ethyl acetate extract were only lethal to rats when given via the i.p. route. Lesions were accompanied by anemia, leukopenia and alterations in serum AST activity and concentrations of urea, total protein and albumin.

Effect of combination of Capsicum frutescens and Citrullus colocynthis on growth, haematological and pathophysiological parameters of rats.

The toxicity of diet containing 10% of Capsicum frutescens or 10% of Citrullus colocynthis fruits or their 1:1 mixture (5% + 5%) to rats treated for 6 weeks was evaluated. Body weight loss, inefficiency of feed utilization, diarrhoea, and enterohepatonephropathy characterized C. colocynthis toxicosis in rats. Despite impairment of rat's growth neither nephropathy nor diarrhoea was detected in rats fed the 10% C. frutescens diet. Feeding the mixture of C. frutescens and C. colocynthis caused more pronounced effects and death of rats. Vital organ lesions accompanied by anaemia and leucopenia were correlated with changes in serum ALP, AST and ALT activities with alterations in concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea and other serum constituents. Serum bilirubin concentration did not change.

Toxicity of Nerium oleander and Rhazya stricta in Najdi sheep: hematologic and clinicopathologic alterations.

The toxic effects of oral administration of 0.25 g/kg Nerium oleander leaves, 0.25 g/kg Rhazya stricta leaves or their mixture at 0.25 g/kg N. oleander leaves plus 0.25 g/kg R. stricta leaves on Najdi sheep were investigated. Daily oral dosing of R. stricta leaves for 42 days was not fatal to sheep while single oral doses of either N. oleander leaves or the mixture with R. stricta leaves proved fatal to animals within 24 hours with dyspnea, grunting, salivation, grinding of the teeth, ruminal bloat, frequent urination, ataxia and recumbency prior to death. The main lesions were widespread congestion or hemorrhage, pulmonary cyanosis, emphysema, bronchotracheal froths, and hepatonephropathy. The clinical and pathological changes were correlated with alterations in serum LDH and AST activities and concentrations of cholesterol, bilirubin, urea, total protein, albumin, and globulin and hematological values.

Effect of feeding Cuminum cyminum fruits, Thymus vulgaris leaves or their mixture to rats.

Cuminum cyminum fruits and T. vulgaris leaves were fed to male Wistar rats at 2% or 10% of standard diet for 6 w. A mixture (5% +5%) of the 2 plants was also fed to rats for a similar period. Diets containing 2% C. cyminum fruits, 2% or 10% T. vulgaris leaves were not toxic to rats. Impairment of growth and enterohepatonephropathy were observed in the rats fed a diet containing 10% C. cyminum fruits. These changes were also seen in the rats fed the mixture of the 2 plants and were accompanied by leukopenia, anemia and increases in serum AST activity and urea and by decreased total protein and albumin levels.

Toxicological interactions of Cassia senna and Nerium oleander in the diet of rats.

The toxic effects of diet containing 10% of C. senna L. fruits or 10% of N. oleander L. leaves or their 1:1 mixture (5% + 5%) on male Wistar rats treated for 6 weeks were investigated. Diarrhea was a prominent sign of C. senna L. toxicosis. In both phytotoxicities, there were decreases in body weight gains, inefficiency of feed utilization, dullness and enterohepatonephropathy. These findings accompanied by leukopenia and anemia were correlated with alterations of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea and other serum constituents. In both phytotoxicities, the ability of the liver to excrete bilirubin remained unchanged. Feeding the mixture of C. senna L. fruits and N. oleander L. leaves caused more serious effects and death of rats. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Combined toxicity of Cassia senna and Citrullus colocynthis in rats.

Body weight loss, inefficiency of feed utilization, diarrhea, ruffled hair and enterohepatonephrotoxicity were effects on male Wistar rats fed diet containing 10% Cassia senna or 10% Citrullus colocynthis ripe fruits for 6w. Rats fed a 1:1 mixture (5% + 5%) of fruits from these plants were more adversely affected and had deaths than rats fed the individual plants. The changes associated with the macrocytic hypochromic anemia and leukopenia were increased serum AST, ALT and ALP activities, increased urea, and decreased total protein, albumin and calcium. Serum bilirubin concentration did not change.

A preliminary study on the anthelmintic activity of Calotropis procera latex against Haemonchus contortus infection in Najdi sheep.

The anthelmintic activity of Calotropis procera latex was investigated in sheep that had been infected with single oral doses of 12000 infective Haemonchus contortus larvae. Inappetence, dullness, erosive abomasitis, decreased haemoglobin concentration and increased eosinophils were the main features of haemonchosis in the sheep. In the sheep treated with single oral doses of 0.01 ml or 0.02 ml/kg body weight of C. procera latex, egg production was significantly reduced, but not completely suppressed, and fewer adult Haemonchus worms were found in the abomasum. Although the appetite improved, the haemoglobin concentration and serum copper, iron and zinc levels were still reduced after therapy with Calotropis latex. Calotropis latex showed a concentration-dependent larvicidal activity in vitro within 20 min of application.

Effects of various levels of dietary Artemisia abyssinica leaves on rats.

Artemisia abyssinica leaves, a traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders, were fed to male Wistar rats at 2% and 10% of the standard diet for 6 weeks. A 2% A. abyssinica leaf diet was not toxic to rats. Depression in growth, hepatopathy and nephropathy were observed in rats fed a diet containing 10% of A. abyssinica leaves. These findings were accompanied by leukopenia, anaemia and alterations of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities with changes in concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol and urea.

Preliminary toxicity study on the individual and combined effects of Citrullus colocynthis and Nerium oleander in rats.

The toxicity of diet containing 10% of Citrullus colocynthis fruits or 10% of Nerium oleander leaves or their 1:1 mixture (5%+5%) for rats treated for 6 weeks was determined. Dullness, ruffled hair, decreased body weight gains and feed efficiency, and enterohepatonephropathy characterised treatment with C. colocynthis and N. oleander given alone. Diarrhoea was a prominent sign of C. colocynthis poisoning. Organ lesions were accompanied by leucopenia, anaemia and alterations in serum AST, ALT and ALP activities and concentrations of total protein, albumin, urea, bilirubin and other serum constituents. Feeding the mixture of C. colocynthis and N. oleander caused more marked effects and death of rats.

Effects of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides), and fermented and processed fermented millet on Nubian goats.

The effects of Pearl millet, fermented millet, or processed fermented millet were investigated in 15 goats assigned as untreated controls, Pearl millet-fed (166.6g/animal/d), fermented millet-fed (166.6 g/animal/d or 83.3g/animal/d), and processed fermented millet-fed (166.6g/ animal/d). Pearl millet caused goiter within 72-108 d, and changes in thyroid follicles were correlated with clinical manifestations and alterations in serum and tissue iodine and selenium concentrations. Neither fermented nor processed fermented millet produced goiter, but their toxicity was characterized by ruminal bloat, dyspnea, diarrhea, ataxia, and enterohepatonephrotoxicity with death within 5-15 d. Organ lesions correlated with changes in serum enzymes and other serum constituents, hematology, and tissue and serum iodine and selenium concentrations.

Effects of various levels of dietary Lepidium sativum L. seeds in rats.

A toxicity study was made on Lepidium sativum L. seeds used in Saudi traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Lepidium sativum L. seed fed to Wistar albino rats at 2% (w/w) was non-toxic, Ten percent (w/w) was toxic but not fatal and 50% (w/w) of the diet for 6 weeks was lethal and caused depression in growth rate and entero-hepato-nephrotoxicity. Organ lesions accompanied by anemia and leukopenia were correlated with alterations in serum AST and ALT activities and concentrations of total protein, cholesterol, urea, and other serum constituents.

Toxicity of Chrozophora obliqua in rats.

The toxicity to Wistar rats of Saudi Chrozophora obliqua used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diverse ailments was investigated. C. obliqua leaves were fed to rats at 2% or 10% of the standard diet. When compared with controls, body weight gains and feed efficiency were adversely affected by both treatments. Although the rats fed 10% C. obliqua diet had the lowest growth rate, bouts of soft faeces and enterohepatonephropathy no death occurred among the rats. These changes were accompanied by increases in serum GGT and AST activities, in urea and cholesterol concentrations, decreases in total protein and albumin levels, macrocytic hypochromic anaemia and leucopenia.

Effects of red chilli (Capsicum frutescens L) on rats.

The effects of red chilli were examined in 12-w-old male Wistar rats fed a commercial diet mixed with ground Capsicum frutescens L fruits at levels of 2% and 10% (w/w) for 8 w. When compared with controls, the general health, body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency were not adversely affected on the rats on feed with 2% Capsicum, while the feed intake and growth rate were depressed and exfoliation of the intestinal epithelium into the lumen and cytoplasmic fatty vacuolation and necrosis of the centrilobular hepatocytes occurred in rats at 4 and 8 w on feed with 10% Capsicum. This correlated with changes in hematology, serum enzyme profiles and other serum constituents.

Toxicity of Commiphora myrrha to goats.

An investigation was made of Commiphora myrrha used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Twelve 6-mo-old male Nubian goat kids were assigned to 4 groups: undosed controls, C myrrha-dosed at 0.25 g plant resin/kg/d, C myrrha-dosed at 1 g resin/kg/d and C myrrha dosed at 5 g plant resin/kg/d. Results of hepatorenal function tests were correlated with clinical and pathological changes. The use of 1 or 5 g plant resin/kg/d caused grinding of teeth, salivation, soft feces, inappetence, jaundice, dyspnea, ataxia and recumbency. Death occurred between 5 and 16 d. Enterohepatonephrotoxicity was accompanied by anemia, leucopenia, increases in serum ALP activity and concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, triglycerides and creatinine, and decreases in total protein and albumin. The oral dose of 0.25 g plant resin/kg/d was not toxic.

Effects on rats of Commiphora myrrha extract given by different routes of administration.

The effect of an ethanol extract of Commiphora myrrha oleo-gum resin on hematological and pathophysiological parameters of male Wistar rats was examined. The extract was given daily for 2 w at 1000 mg/kg bw per os, 500 mg/kg bw i.m. or 250 mg/kg bw i.p. Depression, huddling together, soft feces, jaundice, ruffled hair, hepatonephropathy, hemorrhagic myositis and patchy peritonitis (at the injection site) and death were accompanied by increases in serum ALP and ALT activities, bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine concentrations, and decreases in total protein and albumin levels, and macrocytic anemia and leucopenia. When administered at 500 mg extract/kg bw/d per os or 250 mg extract/kg bw/d i.m. for 2 w it was not lethal, and when given daily for 1 w the effect was less marked.

Development of goitre and enterohepatonephropathy in Nubian Goats fed with pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides).

We present the first reported study of Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) goitrogenesis and enterohepatonephropathy in 5-9-month-old Nubian goats of either sex. The goats were fed 0.25 or 1 g millet per kg body weight per day for 62 days. The effects on thyroid follicles, intestines, liver and kidneys are described and correlated with clinical signs, changes in serum and tissue iodine and selenium concentrations and alterations in serum aspartate transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total protein, total lipids and other constituents and haematological values.

Experimental Rhazya stricta toxicosis in rats.

Saudi Rhazya stricta is used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of various disorders. R stricta leaves were fed to male Wistar albino rats at 2%, 10% or 50% of the diet for 6 w. Decreased growth rate, soft feces, dullness, ruffled hair and hepatonephrotoxicity were observed in rats on 10% and 50% Rhazya diet. Fifty percent Rhazya was fatal to rats, and hepatorenal lesions at 3 and 6 w confirmed changes in serum enzyme activity and in total protein, albumin, bilirubin and urea concentrations. Serum copper was decreased and zinc was increased in rats on 50% R stricta at 3 and 6 w, and were accompanied by anemia and neutropenia. Two percent Rhazya diet promoted growth as the plant leaves contained 28.3% crude protein and 16.6% crude fat and were not deficient in copper, zinc or iron.

Toxicity of Piper abyssinica seeds to Nubian goats.

An investigation is described in which Nubian goats were given daily oral doses of Piper abyssinica seeds at 0.25; 1 and 5 g/kg body weight. The results of liver and kidney function tests were correlated with the clinical and pathological changes. In goats receiving the plant seed at 5 g/kg body weight/day, death occurred within 5-14 days and the main signs were bloated rumen, diarrhoea, dysponoea and ataxia. Enterohepatonephropathy was accompanied by increases in the activity of serum ALP and GGT, in the concentration of cholesterol, globulin, total lipids and urea and decreases in the level of albumin. Piper seed was toxic but not lethal to goats at doses of 0.25 and 1 g/kg body weight.

An estimation of Citrullus colocynthis toxicity for chicks.

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.