Toxicological evaluation of the leaves of Guiera senegalensis (J.F. Gme), Cassia occidentalis (Linn), and Ziziphus mauritiana (Lam)

Background There is a renewed global interest in plant-based medicine in the last few decades as a result of affordability and efficacy of the form of medicine. However, the safety of many medicinal plants and plant preparations has not been determined. To this end, this study determined the safety of the methanol extracts of the leaves of Guiera senegalensis, Cassia occidentalis, and Ziziphus mauritiana, which are plants commonly used in plant medicine in Africa. Results Phytochemistry of the plants’ extracts showed alkaloids were the most abundant phytochemical in the extracts, followed by tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and glycosides, respectively. All the rats behaved normally at doses up to 2000 mg kg−1, while at 3000 mg kg−1, rats in C. occidentalis group developed breathing problems. At 5000 mg kg−1, C. occidentalis group showed convulsion, whereas Z. mauritiana and G. senegalensis rats displayed temporary weakness. After 60-day dosing, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the liver enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT, TP, and ALB) of most of the test rats compared with the control. Kidney function test showed the Na+, K+, Cl−, urea, and creatinine of the test rats were reduced compared with the control, but only significant (p < 0.05) in a few of the parameters. Fatty metamorphosis, lymphocytic infiltration, and karyorrhexis were observed in the liver tissues of the treated rats, but not in the control. Conclusion These results show the plants are nontoxic at moderate doses, but could be injurious at high doses or if taken repeatedly for an extended period.

Magnetic resonance myelography evaluation of the lumbar spine end plates and intervertebral disks

Purpose: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance (MR) myelography in the evaluation of intervertebral disk and end‐plate degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. Material and Methods: Conventional MR and MR myelography examinations were performed in 150 consecutive patients (69 F and 81 M, mean age 45±15 years, range 18–89). Sagittal T1 and T2‐weighted TSE images were compared to MR myelography obtained with a multishot‐TSE‐T2‐weighted sequence (4000/250/fat suppression). Coronal, sagittal, and both oblique MR myelography projections were obtained. Image analysis was carried out independently by two radiologists who categorized lumbar disks into normal, degenerated, or edematous; and vertebral end plates into normal, edematous, or with fatty changes. The proportions were statistically compared at every lumbar intervertebral level. Results: There was good agreement in the classification of disk disease (Kappa: 0.8–0.9). MRI detected a larger number of disk degeneration and end‐plate fatty metamorphosis, while the MR myelography technique depicted a larger number of edematous disks and end plates. Conclusion: MR myelography was of limited value in detecting the same vertebral end‐plate changes observed in MRI, although with similar findings in disk disease. However, the higher detection of edema changes by MR myelography should be analyzed prospectively, as it could be more sensitive than conventional MR sequences.