ABSTRACT
This research work was carried out to determine the effect of Anchomanes Difformiis on ion-homeostasis 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 Anchomanes Difformiis, Group B was given 500mg/kg body weight of Anchomanes Difformiis, Group C was given 700mg/kg body weight of Anchomanes Difformiis 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 Ion-Homeostasis level for each of the animals was tested.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 MEDICINAL PLANTS
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 (Porter 1997). 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).
Medicinal plants such as Anchomanes difformiis, Achanthus montanus, Allium ascalonicum .L, Mezoneuron benthamianum baill and Diocleareflexa hook .F are continually being utilized as therapeutic agents in formulations for treating diseases in the traditional ethno-medicinal system. Plants have an inert ability to combat ailment and maintain one’s state of good health, since it provides the body with vital nutrients (Coskum et al., 2005). Plants have been proved scientifically to 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. Mbagwu (2009) stated that man has used plants from the earliest times to cure disease and relieve physical suffering. He maintained that the medicinal value of drug plant is due to the presence of some chemical substances (active ingredients) that produce a definite physiological action in the human body (Mbagwu, 2009).
1.2 AIM OF STUDY The aim of this research is to investigate the toxicological effect of Anchomanes difformiis ethanol extract on ion-homeostasis in adult wistar rats.