ABSTRACT
Solanum nigrum commonly known as “Black night shade” belongs to solanacae family. It has medicinal properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiulcer and hepatoprotective activities. It is an African pediatric plant used to treat several ailments which are responsible for infant mortality especially feverish convulsions, eye defect, hydrophobia and chronic skin ailments. It is a potential herbal alternative for cancer chemotherapy. Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airway in which there is an overabundance of eosinophils, mast cells and activated T helper lymphocytes. These inflammatory cells release mediators that trigger, bronchoconstriction, mucus secretion and tissue remodeling. The inflammatory mediators that drive this process include cytokines such as T helper-1 (Th1) cells interleukin (IL)-2, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokines such as-regulated chemokines (TARCs) and macrophage-derived chemokines (MDCs) recruit Th2 cells, growth factors, lipid mediators, immunoglobulins and histamine. Granulocytes are a group of white blood cells that helps the immune system fight off infection and also have small granules or particles. These granules contain numerous proteins that are responsible for helping the immune system. Granulocyte is formed and mature in the bone marrow, an increase in the number of granulocyte occurs in response to infections, autoimmune diseases and allergies. Ovalbumin is the main protein found in egg white, making up approximately 55% of the total protein. In this study, the aim was to determine if Solanum nigrum used as a plant extract to determine the effect on the level of granulocyte concentration on ovalbumin induced asthma in guinea pigs. The animals in all the groups were sensitized, group 1 and 2 was sensitized and challenged but not treated, group 3 and 4 were treated and challenged while group 5 was challenged then treated with Solanum nigrum L. The result shows, from the data analysis, that there was significant decrease in the level of granulocytes in group 3, 4 and 5 when compared with the group 1 which was not treated. In conclusion S.nigrum worked in treating asthma showing it has a high effect on the granulocytes.
