ABSTRACT
This research work was carried out to determine the effect of Menzoneuron benthamainum on fasting blood sugar level of adult wistar rats. Twenty wistar rats (both male and female) weighing between 140g to 160g were used for this research project. They were acclimatized for 14 days after which the animals were grouped into four groups of five rats each. Each animal were administered based on their body weight. The dose given to animals in group A was 300mg/kg body weight of Menzoneuron benthamainum, Group B was given 500mg/kg body weight of Menzoneuron benthamainum, Group C was given 700mg/kg body weight of Menzoneuron benthamainum and group D (control group) was given distilled water. The administration lasted for thirteen days. Blood samples were collected from the tail of the animals and the Lipid profile level for each of the animals was tested.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 MEDICINAL PLANTS
Plants are being used as valuable sources of food and medicine for the prevention of illness and maintenance of human health. All over the world many indigenous plants are widely consumed as food or home remedies especially in the treatment or management of common diseases (Glombitza et al., 1993). The importance of plants in medicine remains even of greater relevance with the current global shift to obtain drugs from plant sources, as a result of which attention has been given to the medicinal value of herbal remedies for safety, efficacy and economy (Mahabir and Gulliford, 1997). The World Health Organization in a number of resolutions emphasized the need to ensure the quality control of plant products by using modern techniques and applying suitable standards (WHO, 1992). Medicinal plants such as Allium ascalonicum .L, Anchomanes difformiis, Mezoneuron benthamianum baill, Achanthus montanus and Diocleareflexa hook .F are continually being used for treating diseases in the traditional ethno-medicinal system in all over the world. However, environment, atmosphere, pollution, soil, harvesting and handling are some of the factors which may play important roles in contamination of medicinal plants by metals and microbial growth (Ajasa, et al., 2004). It is therefore of major interest to evaluate the composition of some metallic elements in herbal plants, because at elevated levels, these metals can be dangerous and toxic (Somers, 1983; Schumacher et al., 1991). Although some trace metals may have both curative and preventive roles in combating diseases. Plants have an inert ability to combat ailment and maintain one’s state of good health, since it provides the body with vital nutrients. Plants are living things that are seen growing on the surface of the earth and usually have root, stem, leaves and produce fruits and seeds. Over the years, man has been faced with the challenges of preventing and eliminating diseases in the body. The discovery of the efficacy of certain plant species in herbal remedies by man may have come as a result of trial and error (Hostettmann et al., 2000). This however, has created some gap in common believe on the treatment of ailments among some related and unrelated human societies of the world. Phytochemical analysis on certain plant species by some modern practitioners have shown some corresponding results with already existing tradomedical information while in some cases have differed completely thereby causing doubt in herbal treatment. The importance of medicinal plants as well as their roles in nature cannot be over emphasized (Shirwakar et al., 2006). Most plants are edible and contain different amount of vitamins, protein or carbohydrates etc, these helps the body to replace worn out cells or tissues, digest food and combat ailments among other health related problems. Since the dawn of history, man has been faced with the challenges of eliminating ailments completely, which inheritance has not been met, therefore different ages have been adopting different measures to help check ailments but from creation to date, plants have always been among the most effective primary measures for this check (Porter, 1997).
Plants have the ability to combat series of ailment and constantly maintain good health, since it provides the body with vital nutrients (Coskum et al., 2005). It has been scientifically proved that plants have the ability to cure ailments by providing some necessary nutrients which may be lacking in the body or by attacking the causative organisms themselves. On the other hand, different plant species perform varied roles (ecological niche) which has been harnessed by the ancient and correspondingly used to combat human pathology. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as practices, knowledge and belief systems which use minerals, plants and animal based remedies, spiritual therapies and exercises to prevent, treat and maintain wellbeing (WHO, 1978). Meanwhile, Muthu et al. (2006) stated that about 80% of the population of the world depends on traditional medicine, mostly herbal remedies, for their primary health care needs. Medicinal plant organs contains active ingredients which can be used for therapeutic purposes or which contain foundation compounds that can be used for the synthesis of useful drugs (Sofowora, 1993). An estimated 25% of prescription drugs and 11% of drugs considered essential by the WHO are derived from plants and a large number of synthetic drugs are obtained from precursor compounds originating from plants.
1.2 AIM OF STUDY
The aim of this study is to investigate the response of lipid profile to the administration of Mezoneuron benthamianum baill in adult wistar rats.