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ABSTRACT
The prevalence of asthma has significantly increased over the past 3 decades. Asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder of the lung that is characterized by bronchoconstriction, lung tissue inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Histamine is a substance found naturally within the mammalian body. It causes the airways to tighten up in patients with asthma (who have hyperactive airways). Medicinal plants have continued to point out their effectiveness and dominant role in the health care system and therefore the recognition and development of healthful plants are on the increase principally in developing countries where herbs have continued to be their major supply of the drug. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ethanol extract of Solanum nigrum leaves on lymphocyte and basophil count after histamine challenge in an ovalbumin-synthesized guinea pig. The plant materials were obtained from the Department of Biochemistry environment, University of Benin. Identification and botanical authentication of the plant were done at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin. A specimen was deposited in the same Department‟s herbarium with a voucher number UBHs320. Three weeks-old, male guinea pigs, weighing (375- 380) g, were used for the study. Asthmatic models were conducted using methods by Bramley et al (1995) and Armitage et al., (1961), modified by Kumar, (2011). Results showed that pretreatment of ova-sensitized guinea pigs with normal saline (control), graded doses of S. nigrum ethanol leaf extracts, and a standard drug (25mg/kg bw aminophylline) on the time taken for histamine-induced pre-convulsive dyspnea to occur. It was observed that there was a significant time difference between the animals administered normal saline and those administered a low dose (50 mg/kg bw) of S. nigrum extract (p < 0.05).
