Healing Effects of the Methanol Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) Ocimum
gratissimum, (Lamiaceae) and their Combination on Croton Oil-Induced Hemorrhoid in
Rats
Mary Olufunmilayo Ologe1, Olufunke Julianah Iwalewa2, 4, Joseph Ayotunde Badejo3*, Emmanuel Adegboyega Iwalewa5, Ezekiel Olugbenga Iwalewa3.
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin. Ilorin.
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
- Pharmacy Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Health Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
- Department of Crop and Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
| Key words:
Hemorrhoids, Vernonia amygdalina and Ocimum gratissimum, nitric oxide, histological procedures…
*Corresponding Author: :
Page No: 176–186
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AbstractPlant decoctions have been used since ancient times for various diseases. It is usually believed that combining different plants from different sources ensures efficacy. Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) and Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiaceae) and their combination have been used in treating various illness such as cold, growth, immunity and infections. The study aimed to determine the effects of methanol extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and Ocimum gratissimum (OG) leaves and their combination on croton oil-induced hemorrhoid in rats. We adopted the histological procedures of recto-anus portion of Wistar rats before and after treatment, determine the rectal temperature, measure the weights of rectum (rectum-anus portion measuring 2 cm), the % reductions in the swelling of the rectum of the treated animals in relation to the control, the anus swelling coefficient (the recto-anus coefficient- RAC) and the amount of NO release from homogenized rectum as an index of inflammation and protection from treatment. One hundred and ten (110) rats group into 10 groups (10/gp) were treated orally as follows; Groups I – negative control, Group II -Hemorrhoid inducer as negative control, Group III, (Vernonia amygdalina (VA) 400 mg/kg extract, Group IV (Ocimum gratissimum (OG) 400 mg/kg extract). Group V -combined 400 mg/kg extracts of both VA + OG. Group VI – Cortisol 200 mg/kg as positive control. The remaining 4 groups were treated rectally as follows; Group VII – Starch as negative control, Groups VIII – VA 400 mg/kg extract, Group IX- OG 400 mg/kg extract and. Group X – combined 400 mg/kg extracts of both VA + OG. Groups II – X also received 0.16 ml of hemorrhoid inducer inserted into rat anus for 10 seconds. Quantitative estimation of edema was done by determining the weight of the recto-anal tissue. The recto-anal coefficient was estimated as a direct measure of inflammation. Biochemical parameters such as NO were estimated in each group after the therapy. Histopathological variations among the groups were analyzed. Statistical analysis of the data affirms the curative effect of VA and OG on Hemorrhoids. The results demonstrated that VA and OG were effective when compared to cortisol. The results also showed that there was a significant decrease in NO production compared to negative controls and that there was no remarkable derangement in the cytoarchitecture of the anorectum tissues. It was therefore concluded that methanol leaf extracts of VA and OG may possess cytoprotective potential.
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