Thesis Abstract

<p> Cola nitida has been in use in the eastern parts of Nigeria for the<br>management of certain ailments and as an aphrodisiac in the<br>management of some sexual dysfunctions. However the effects of this<br>extract in some health parameters in human objects have not been<br>reported. This work, then, was aimed at investigating the effect of<br>water extracts of kola pods on lipoprotein concentrations on albino<br>wistar rats.<br>Rats were used in this study and they were divided into several groups<br>and fed with a high calorie food (cow’s brain) so as to increase the<br>blood lipoprotein concentration in the rat models. The effect of the<br>water extracts of the sample used was compared with a known drug<br>and the results statistically compared to ascertain the effect of the<br>water extract on the rat models.<br>The results of this work indicate that water extracts of cola nitida pods<br>can be used in the management of mild lipoprotein dysfunctions thus<br>substantiating the reasons for its use in sexual erectile functions. <br></p>

Thesis Overview

<p> 1.1 INTRODUCTION<br>Cola Nitida has been used in folk medicine as an aphrodisiac,<br>an appetite suppressant, to treat morning sickness, migraine headache,<br>and indigestion (Esimone et al., 2007). It has also been applied<br>directly to the skin to treat wounds and inflammation (Newall et al.,<br>1996)on the teeth and gums. There has also been speculations as to its<br>use in the treatment of peptic ulcer, however, in Nigeria there is no<br>record of the incidence of peptic ulcer.<br>According to Esimone (2007), cola nitida tree is native to West<br>Africa. Cola nuts are obtained from cola trees. Cola nitida belongs to<br>the genus cola and family steriliaceae. They are commonly used to<br>counteract hunger and thirst; in some cases it is used to control<br>vomiting in pregnant woman and also as a principal stimulant to keep<br>awake and withstand fatigue by students, drivers, and other menial<br>workers.<br>Lipoproteins are found in the liver and cells. The liver is the<br>largest organ inside the body. The liver is dark reddish-brown and<br>consists of two main lobes. There are over 300 billion specialized<br>cells in the liver that are connected by a well organized system of<br>“bile” ducts and blood vessels called the biliary system. <br></p>