School of Biological Sciences
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Browsing School of Biological Sciences by Author "Allison, L. N."
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Item Open Access Effect of malaria parasite on platelet among pregnant women in Owerri, Imo State Nigeria(eScience, 2017) Allison, L. N.; Mgbemena, I.; Amadi, A. N. C.; Ezike, M. N.; Ukoma, A. A.; Iwu, D. O.Malaria is a formidable global parasitic infection that presents a major health challenge in Tropical countries especially among pregnant women and children. It has a profound alteration or reduction effects on hematological parameters such as platelets in pregnant women. The study was carried out to determine the effects of Plasmodium falciparum on platelets of pregnant women in Owerri, Imo state Nigeria. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) blood samples of pregnant women were collected at Holy Rosary hospital Emekuku in owerri. The blood samples were screened for malaria infection using thick and thin Giemsa blood films. Results showed that 50 (33.33%) were positive for malaria parasite showing significant signs, with visible fever accompanying the infections. Normal platelet number ranges from 150 X 109/ L; 400 X 109/L. The association of hematological parameters and diagnosis of malaria infection among people living in malaria endemic areas were retrieved. The most commonly changed parameters are platelet count. Presence of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women from endemic areas was useful as supportive diagnostic criteria for malaria in cases with low levels of parasite number. Therefore, when used with other clinical and microscopy parameters, it can significantly improve malaria diagnosis and timely treatment for malaria infection.Item Open Access Screening of ethanol extract of combretum racemosum and euphorbia hirt leaves for possible activity on trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice(Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher, 2016) Mgbemena, I. C.; Allison, L. N.; Udensi, U. J.; Nweke, K. E.; Nwachukwu, A. A.; Ezea, C. O.Enrichment of medicinal plants with biologically active compounds which induce various chemo-therapeutic effects has made a good turn and philosophy in the science of pharmacology. In the light of the popular notion of the use of Combretum racemosum and Euphorbia hirta as potent ethnopharmaceutical botanicals, this study was done to determine the trypanocidal activity of the ethanol leaf extracts of the plants against Trypanosoma brucei brucei which was induced in Swiss albino mice. The animals were inoculated intraperitoneally (IP) with trypanosome load of 106, and were then kept under standard conditions for 10 days to enable circulation and reproduction of the parasite within them. Parasitaemia level was detected and analysed via microscopy. Both plants proved positive by overall reduction in the mean parasitaemia level as the days progressed at concentrations of 50,100 and 200mg/kg body weight respectively. Acute toxic dose for analysis of the high dose extract toleration was also checked by a 1000mg/kg administration of the extracts, while diminazene aceturate, a standard trypanocidal drug was used as control. Combretum racemosum exhibited its best trypanocidal activity at the 200mg/kg concentration, and Euphorbia hirta was at its best at 50mg/kg. Following the administration of diminazene aceturate (control) the parasites were cleared within four days of administration. The results derived were confirmed with statistical analysis using SPSS 16 software at p<0.05, and posits the possible utilization of these extracts of Combretum racemosum and Euphorbia hirta as trypanocidal agents.