This study determined the potential hepatotoxicity of Paraquat dichloride (PQ) and ameliorative effect of selected nutritional supplements. Male Wistar albino rats were intraperitoneally administered sub-lethal concentration of Paraquat dichloride (1.5 mg/kg body weight) at alternate days and concomitantly treated daily with nutritional supplements (glutathione, vitamin C and garlic) for three weeks. Hepatotoxic and protective effect of PQ and nutritional supplements were respectively determined by assay of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and determination of bilirubin, total protein, and albumin concentrations. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status were determined by total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and glutathione concentrations. The result obtained showed that PQ administration induced elevations of AST, ALT and ALP activities, increase in serum bilirubin, and significantly decreased albumin, indicating hepatic dysfunction. The significant increase in lipid peroxidation productmalondialdehyde, and decrease in glutathione concentration and total antioxidant capacity confirms the potential of PQ to induce oxidative hepatic damage. However, oral administration of vitamin C and garlic showed effective protection against paraquat induced toxicity. The mode of toxic action of PQ and the biochemical role of vitamin C, garlic and glutathione were discussed in details. The results of this study indicate that vitamin C and garlic are important antioxidant in the treatment and management of PQ induced toxicity.
Background. Paraquat (PQ) is a pesticide commonly used in the control of weed in agricultural practices worldwide. Exposure to PQ has adverse biochemical and physiological consequences to humans and animals. The mechanism of toxicity is linked to the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Presently, no single effective antidote to PQ toxicity has been established. Therefore, the need to continually investigate different treatment approaches is of paramount importance. Objective. This study evaluated the capacity of selected dietary supplements to attenuate paraquat-induced kidney dysfunction and damages by determining some kidney function biomarkers and oxidative parameters. Methods. Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were randomly separated into six groups. Each group (except Normal control) was intoxicated every other day with 1.5 mg/kg body weight of PQ and four groups (except PQ and Normal control groups) were treated daily with 40 mg/kg of garlic, glutathione and vitamin C for two weeks. Results. The results showed significant (p 0.05) increases in concentration of kidney malondialdehyde, urea, creatinine, and blood lipid profiles. Also, significant decrease in concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, kidney glutathione and total antioxidant capacity were presented by PQ control group compared to other PQ exposed groups treated with the antioxidant compounds. Conclusions. PQ-induced changes indicated kidney dysfunction and damage. However, the administration of antioxidant supplements attenuated the PQ-induced biochemical and physiological dysfunction in the rats.
The methanolic fruit extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera was analyzed for the presence of phytocompounds, their bioactivity, the functional groups involved in this activity, and its amino acid profile using standard procedures. Phytochemicals such as tannins, phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids were identified as being highly present. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis identified 16 bioactive compounds, with 2-thiopheneethanol (58.77%) being the most abundant. Curcumin, with the most diverse pharmacological role, and other bioactive compounds such as cedren-13-ol, 8 (1.56%), N-benzyl stearamide (4.46%), a prominent fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor; pthalic acid, butyl undecyl ester (1.49%); and phenol, 2, 6-bis (1,1 dimethyl ethyl) (1.46%), were also present. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of alkanes, esters, benzene rings, aliphatic, sulfonic acid, and methylene chains. Also, the amino acid analysis of the T. tetraptera revealed that the fruit contains 18 amino acids. Leucine (4.20%), phenylalanine (3.37%), and valine (3.25%) were the most abundant essential amino acids identified, with glutamic (7.20%) and aspartic acid (5.61%) having the highest concentrations as non-essential amino acids. This therefore indicates that T. tetraptera fruit could be used as a pharmacological or therapeutic agent as well as a dietary condiment, particularly at this time when there is a demand for novel protein sources. Keywords: Tetrapleura tetraptera, phytochemicals, GC-MS, FTIR, amino acid, curcumin
In Nigeria and many other developing countries of the world, the incidence of mycotoxin- contamination of foods and food products has attracted attention and stirred a lot of concern for food safety. This work aims at detection of aflatoxigenic and ochratoxigenic synthetic genes from fungal isolates of palm oil as a veritable means for the evaluation of foods for possible mycotoxin contamination. In this study, fungal isolates from palm oil samples collected from the five states of South-east geopolitical zone in Nigeria were screened for aflatoxin and ochratoxin biosynthetic genes using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (mPCR). The assay relied on three sets of primers that amplify aflatoxgenic Aspergillus, ochratoxigenic Aspergillus and Penicillium species under optimized PCR conditions. Optimum multiplex PCR assay was standardized for simultaneous detection of toxigenic Aspergillus and ochratoxin producing Penicillium species targeting AflR, AflS and pks genes involved in aflatoxin and ochratoxin metabolic pathways respectively. AflR primer pair gave specific amplification for aflatoxigenic A. flavus but did not give amplification for A. niger and P. chrysogenum. While AflS and pks gave amplification for only aflatoxigenic and ochratoxigenic A. niger and P. chrysogenum. In the evaluation and monitoring of mycotoxin-producing fungi during the processing of food and feed commodities, Multiplex PCR approach could be a veritable tool to supplement the conventional analytical techniques.
Background: The ethanol extract of Combretum dolichopentalum (EECD) is employed in Nigeria to stabilize the uterus after parturition. The ability of EECD to confer protection on rats destabilized by moderate concentrations of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was evaluated. Methods: Fifty rats were assigned to 5 groups of 10 rats each. The experimental animals after acclimatization were handled accordingly: Groups 1 and 2 respectively were maintained on food and water only throughout the study. Group 3, 4, and group 5 were pre-treated with 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg body weight of EECD and 50 mg/kg of silymarin for 28 respectively. All groups except group 1 were intoxicated to 0.2 ml/kg body weight of CCl4, administered via an intraperitoneal route on day 29. Serum pipetted from the blood of the rats after cardiac puncture was assayed for antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation product and serum iron, zinc and biocarbonate. Haematological analysis was also conducted. Results: Administration of CCl4 at 0.2 ml/kg b.w slightly increased the oxidizing species as indicated in the concentration of malondialdehyde in the rats while reducing the antioxidant enzymes; it increased the Iron and zinc concentrations and also the haematological parameters except for the white blood cells. However, this was corrected by pre-treatment with the EECD dosedependently. Conclusion: These characteristics portends that the crude ethanol extract of C. dolichopentalum could be employed to correct minor oxidative perturbation induced by CCl4 intoxication
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