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.

Effects of malathion plus superphosphate or urea on Najdi sheep.

The effects of p.o. administration of the combination of malathion + superphosphate or urea on Najdi sheep were evaluated in sheep dosed as untreated controls, malathion-treated at 25 mg/kg/d, superphosphate-treated at 450 mg/kg/d, urea-treated at 450 mg/kg/d, malathion-treated at 25 mg/kg/d + superphosphate treated at 450 mg/kg/d, or malathion treated at 25 mg/kg/d + urea treated at 450 mg/kg/d. Oral doses of malathion alone were lethal after 6 d, and malathion + urea were fatal after 6-8 d. Malathion + superphosphate caused death after 2-3 d. Malathion, but not superphosphate or urea, inhibited serum cholinesterase activity. Hepatonephropathy correlated with changes in serum AST, ALP, cholesterol, triglyceride, bilirubin, urea, total protein and albumin. Neither malathion nor its combination with superphosphate or urea caused peripheral neuropathy.

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.

Preliminary observations on experimental Ruta graveolens toxicosis in Nubian goats.

We present the first reported study of Ruta graveolens toxicity in 7-8-month-old Nubian goats. Oral administration of 5 g/kg bw per day of R. graveolens leaves caused tremor, dyspnoea, frequent urination, incoordination of movement, ataxia and recumbency, with death after 1-7 days. In goats receiving oral doses of 1 g/kg bw per day of the leaves, the course of toxicity was prolonged and the animals had pallor of the visible mucous membranes and loss in condition; one died on day 17, the others being slaughtered on days 41 and 46. The clinical effects were correlated with pathological changes in various organs, alterations in serum aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, total protein, cholesterol, urea and other serum constituents, haematological values and the concentrations in the tissues of copper, iron, zinc, manganese, calcium and phosphorus.

Response of broiler chicks to dietary Rhazya stricta and Nigella sativa.

1. Rhazya stricta leaves and Nigella sativa seeds were fed to 7-d-old Hibro broiler chicks at 20 and 100 g/kg of the diet for 7 weeks. Although 20 and 100 g/kg N. sativa seed diets did not adversely affect growth, a decrease in body weight and feed efficiency and hepatonephropathy were observed in the chicks fed on the 100 g/kg R. stricta diet. 2. These changes, associated with macrocytic hypochromic anaemia, were correlated with alterations in serum aspartate transaminase' (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities and concentrations of total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, calcium and other serum constituents. 3. The effect of 20 g/kg R. stricta diet on chicks was not associated with development of biliary hyperplasia or catarrhal enteritis after 7 weeks of treatment.

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.

Response of Najdi sheep to oral administration of Citrullus colocynthis fruits, Nerium oleander leaves or their mixture.

Susceptibility of sheep to oral administration of Citrullus colocynthis fruits, Nerium oleander leaves or their mixture is described in 12 sheep assigned as untreated controls, C. colocynthis-treated at 0.25g/kg/day, N. oleander-treated at 0.25g/kg and plant mixture-treated at 0.25g of C. colocynthis/kg plus 0.25g of N. oleander/kg. The daily use of 0.25g of C. colocynthis/kg for 42 days was not fatal to sheep and caused slight diarrhoea, catarrhal enteritis, centrilobular hepatocellular fatty change and degeneration of the renal tubular cells. Single oral doses of 0.25g of N. oleander/kg were lethal to sheep within 18-24h and caused uneasiness, grinding of the teeth, dyspnoea, anorexia, frequent urination, ruminal bloat, ataxia and recumbency before death. The main lesions were widespread congestion and haemorrhage, pulmonary cyanosis and emphysema and severe hepatonephropathy. Rapid death was also observed in sheep receiving single doses of the mixture of the two plants. Effects were correlated with changes in the activities of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate transaminase (AST) and concentrations of cholesterol, bilirubin, total protein, albumin, globulin and urea and haematological parameters.

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.

Effects of amitraz given by different routes on rats.

Three-mo-old male Wistar rats were sprayed with 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm amitraz 2 w apart or given single doses of 50, 100, or 250 mg/kg p.o, i.m. or i.p. No effects were observed in the amitraz-sprayed rats. Single doses of amitraz p.o, i.m. or i.p. was non-toxic at 50 mg/kg, toxic at 100 mg/kg and lethal at 250 mg/kg within 24 h of dosing. Survivors were killed 48 h post-dosing. Features of toxicity were depression, incoordination of movement, paresis of the limbs, hepatonephrotoxicity, muscular hemorrhage at site of injection and peritonitis following i.p. injection. These changes, accompanied by leucopenia, were correlated with alterations in serum AST and concentrations of serum constituents. Amitraz did not inhibit serum ChE activity.

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.

Comparative effects of diazinon and malathion in Najdi sheep.

The comparative effects of diazinon and malathion on Najdi sheep were described in sheep allotted as untreated controls, diazinon-treated at 25 mg/kg/d or 50 mg/kg/d, and malathion-treated at 25 mg/kg/d or 50 mg/kg/d. Although serum cholinesterase (ChE) activity was reduced, neither significant clinical signs nor severe pathological changes were produced in sheep dosed orally with 25 or 50 mg diazinon/kg/d for 21 d. Both oral dose levels of malathion were lethal to sheep between 1 and 6 d and caused, prior to death, hyperexcitability, tremors, clonic convulsions, salivation, nasal discharge, incoordination of movement, paresis of the limbs and recumbency. Lesions were widespread congestion and hemorrhage, patchy pulmonary cyanosis, gastroenteritis and hepatonephropathy. These changes were accompanied by increases in the activities of serum SDH and AST, in the concentrations of urea, triglyceride and cholesterol, and decreases in ChE activity and in RBC, PCV and Hb values.

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.