A study entitled Anti-diabetic effects of Allium cepa (onions) aqueous extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic Rattus novergicus.

The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of the increasing dosages of Allium cepa aqueous extracts on alloxan - induced diabetic Rattus novergicus for possible use in the management ofdiabetes mellitus was investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 54 out of a total of 63 adult R.novergicus using 150 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. Increasing dosages (200, 250 and 300 mg/kg) ofA. cepa aqueous extracts were given to the diabetic rats for six weeks while the control rats got eithernormal saline (1 ml) or increasing dosages of glibenclamide (2.5, 3.8 and 5.0 mg/kg) during the sameperiod. Blood glucose level, total serum lipids and total serum cholesterol were assessed with routine methods. F-LSD was employed to test significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatment means.Increasing dosages of A. cepa aqueous extracts produced a dose-dependent significant (P < 0.05)reductions in the blood glucose levels, total serum lipid and total serum cholesterol when compared with that of the control rats. Its hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects could represent a protective mechanism against the development of hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia characteristic of diabetes mellitus. It can be concluded from this study that the levels of total serum cholesterol, total serum lipids and blood glucose levels which were actually raised in alloxan diabetic rats can be lowered by onions aqueous extracts (Ozougwu 2010). http://www.academicjournals.org/jmpr/PDF/pdf2011/4April/Ozougwu.pdf

Hypoglycemic effects of Allium cepa, Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale aqueous extract on AlloxanInduced diabetic Rattus novergicus The study compared the hypoglycaemic effects of the increasing dosages of A. cepa, A. sativum and Z. officinale aqueous extract on alloxan induced diabetic Rattus novergicus for possible use in the management of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus was induced in 108 out of a total of 117 adult Rattus novergicus using 150mg/kg b wt of alloxan monohydrate. Increasing dosages (200, 250 and 300mg/kg bw ip) of A. cepa, A. sativum and Z. officinale aqueous extracts were given to the diabetic rats for six weeks while the control rats got either normal saline (1ml) or increasing dosage of glibenclamide ( 2.5, 3.8 and 5.0mg/kg b wt ip) during the same period. Blood glucose level from each treatment was evaluated using o toluidine method. F-LSD was employed to test significant differences (P < 0.05) among treatment means. From the experimental findings, it is possible to conclude that the three plant extracts studied exhibited promising hypoglycaemic activity in alloxan-diabetic rats. The hypoglycaemic effects could represent a protective 2 mechanism against the development of hyperglycaemia common in diabetes mellitus Eyo et. Al (2011). http://www.medicaljournal-ias.org/Belgelerim/Belge/05-EyoJSXHMVRWGP60639.pdf

Excision and Incision Wound Healing Potential of Saba florida (benth) leaf extract in Rattus novergicus Saba florida (Benth) belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It is very abundant in undisturbed forest and coastal regions in Africa. It is a folkloric medicine for a variety of ailments including skin ulcer. However there are no scientific reports on wound healing activity of the plant Saba florida (Benth).This study was carried out to evaluate the wound healing potential of Saba florida leaf extract in Rattus novergicus as experimental animals. All experiments were conducted following standard procedures. The extract in the form of an ointment was used for evaluating the wound healing potential in excision wound model. In the incision wound model , the extract was administered orally in graded doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. Saba florida leaf extract demonstrated higher percentage of wound contraction in the excision wound model compared to the standard (Povidone iodine ointment) and the control. In the incision wound model healing rate was dose dependent. In both excision and incision wound models, wound surface protein increased and wound surface microbial load decreased after days. The healing or wound contraction elicited by Saba florida leaf extract in this investigation following topical and oral administration strongly support the verbal claim of traditional doctors on the use of this plant Omale and Isaac (2010). http://www.kejapub.com/ijpbr/docs/IJPBR10-01-04-03.pdf

Effect of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on fertility in male rats. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of alcoholic extract of black seed Nigella sativa L. on fertility parameters in white male rats (Rattus norvegicus). A total of 60 mature males were divided into three equal groups. The first one (Control) intake drinking water, while the other two groups (T1 and T2) intake the extract in two doses (0.5 and 1.5 g/Kg, respectively) daily for 53 days. The results revealed that treatment with alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa led to significant decrease (P< 0.01) of excitation time in its three stages (1stmount, 1st ejaculation and 2nd trail), significant increase (P<0.01) in body weight gain (g), reproductive parameters (seminiferous tubules thickness and diameters, account of spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids, free spermatozoa, account of sertoli and Leydig cells, diameter of Leydig cells and the height of epithelial cells entirely covered epididymal caudal), hormones (testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone) as well as protein concentration, and significant decrease (P<0.01) in leutinizing hormone and cholesterol concentration. It could be concluded that daily oral administration of 0.5 and 1.5 g/Kg B.W of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa L. for 53 days lead to clear improvement of male rats fertility Al-Sa'aid et . al (2009). http://www.vetmedmosul.org/ijvs/media/conf-2-20e.pdf
Prothrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures how long it takes blood to clot. A prothrombin time test can be used to check for bleeding problems. PT is also used to check whether medicine to prevent blood clots is working. Blood clotting factors are needed for blood to clot (coagulation). Prothrombin, or factor II, is one of the clotting factors made by the liver. Vitamin K is needed to make prothrombin and other clotting factors. Prothrombin time is an important test because it checks to see if five different blood clotting factors (factors I, II, V, VII, and X) are present.