| dc.description.abstract | For many decades people have used plants for healing various ailments. Plant products have been used in herbal remedies especially for their anti-infective properties. The following study was undertaken to assess the anti-infective value of Atriplex lindleyi and to determine how the plant extract effects metabolism, and health of male rats. Plant anatomy was done to determine which components are present in the plant leaves and to assess which components might be responsible for the production or storage of the chemical products within the leaves that may contain the secondary chemical. The leaves were sectioned using a freeze microtome. Liquid CO2 and Hamilton's freeze solution was used to freeze the plant leaves and sections were made ranging from 15-25 microns. Elemental analysis was also done on the plant material to determine the concentration of selected elements within the plants. The analyses were done using the Unicam Solaar M series atomic absorption spectrometer. Four microbes were used for the antimicrobial screening. Various concentrations of the plant extract was prepared and tested against Staphylococcus aureus
(ATCC29213), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853), Mycobacteium smegmatis and Candida albicans (ATCC10231). Amphotericin B served as the positive control for C. albicans whilst Ciprofloxacin was used for the three bacterial strains. Screening was done using the disc diffusion method. Metabolic studies were done on 20 Wistar male albino rats. This was done to assess the metabolic, haematological and histological effects of the herbal
extract on the animals.
The one component within the leaf that seemed to be most outstanding was the sclereids. Since sclereids have a protective function, it can be speculated that secondary compound storage and/or production might occur at this site, but further studies are required before absolute conclusions can be drawn in this regard. The difference in the elemental concentrations between the soil and plant samples was not statistically significant.
The antimicrobial screening showed no herb-induced inhibitory effects on the four selected microbes at either of the extract concentrations used. The metabolic studies showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in urine excretion on days 15 and 45. This significance might indicate that the plant has diuretic properties. There is a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the urine pH values between the control and experimental groups. The urine pH however, remained alkaline. The herbal extract caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Haemoglobin levels. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in both the mean cell volume (MCV) and Hematocrit percentage of the rats on the herbal extract. The mean cell haemoglobin count (MCHC) significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the rats on the herbal extract. All white blood cell parameters remained (p>0.05).Even though there was no herb-induced effect on the white cell parameters, the decrease in the red blood cell parameter Haemoglobin, may be reason for concern. Histological sections of the liver and testes showed no differences between the control and experimental rat groups. Whilst this medicinal herb showed no antimicrobial effects, it may possibly have diuretic value. Given its favourable safety profile, further studies on this medicinal plant should be pursued even though it had an input on certain blood biochemical indices, all of which though remained within physiologically normal Iimits. | en_US |
