Abstrato

Plasma TNF?, Ammonia and total bile acids may indicate treatment outcome in patients with elevated blood pressure treated in herbal homes.

Mathew Folaranmi Olaniyan* , Tolulope Busayo Ojediran and Donatus Fn Ozuruoke

Study background: Ammonia which is a toxic substance is converted to less toxic urea in the liver for excretion through the kidney. Pear avocado leaves have be successfully applied in the traditional treatment of elevated blood pressure in Oke- Ogun area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Liver also metabolizes drugs and herbal extracts applied in the treatment of elevated blood pressure. Apart from using pot-treatment blood pressure, plasma levels of inflammatory markers and other biochemical substances may indicate treatment outcome. Aims and objectives: To determine Plasma TNFα, Ammonia and Total Bile Acids as anbindication of treatment outcome in patients with elevated blood pressure treated in herbal homes. Material and methods: The subjects studied include thirty (30) patients in ten (10) herbal homes aged 38 – 67 years who have just received treatment and thirty (30) age matched hypertensive patients recruited from 5 major hospitals who have never received herbal treatment but have just received treatment in the hospitals. Blood samples were obtained from the patients a day after the completion of the dose and or treatment. Fasting Total Bile Acids, Plasma Urea and Plasma ammonia were determined biochemically by spectrophotometry; Plasma TNFα, HIVp24Ag-Ab, anti-HCV, HBsAg by ELISA, identification of Plasmodium by Giemsa Thick blood film technique and AFB by Ziehl Nelseen staining.