Effect of Irvingia gabonensis fruit juice administration on serum lipid profile of sodium fluoride (NaF)-intoxicated rats was investigated. Twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats divided into four groups of six (6) animals each -one control and three intoxicated groups were used. The normal control (NC) group received only standard pelletized diet and water. All three intoxicated groups received 20 mgkg -1 bodyweight of NaF daily by gavage for 35 days. While the first group (NaFC group) received only NaF, the second in addition was treated with I. gabonensis fruit juice (I. gabonensis group). The third received NaF plus 15 mgkg -1 body weight Quercetin + 100 mgkg -1 bodyweight vitamin E (Q+Vit E group). Result showed that LDL-C was significantly elevated, while HDL-C was markedly reduced in the NaFC group. In the I. gabonensis-treated group, lipoprotein phenotypes were normalized, with HDL-C increasing from 38.92±9.28 mgdl -1 in NaF intoxicated group (NaFC) to 65.14±5.33 mgdl -1 , which was even higher than 60.83±4.56 mgdl -1 obtained in the standard (Q+Vit E) group. Low density lipoproteincholesterol concentration also reduced from 17.3±3.2 mgdl -1 in NaF-intoxicated group to 7.5±1.0 mgdl -1 in I. gabonensis-treated group, which compared favourably with that of the standard. Furthermore, NaF toxicity resulted in the elevation of atherogenic index in the NaFC group. This was significantly (p<0.05) lowered in all other groups. The total non-HDLcholesterol and LDL/HDL ratio were significantly reduced in I. gabonensis-treated rats. This tends to suggest that the juice of I. gabonensis may be useful in alleviating and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Aims: To characterize the chemical composition of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf ethyl acetate fraction. Methodology: Quantitative phytochemical composition was assessed using gas chromatography fitted with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), while chemical characterization was via gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis. The mass spectra peaks were matched with those found in the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) spectral database. Results: Results revealed a rich presence of proanthocyanin, rutin, quinine, flavan-3-ol, anthocyanin, lunamarin, sapogenin, phenol, flavonones, steroids, epicatechin, kaempferol, phytate, oxalate, resveratol, catechin, flavones, tannin, ribalinidine, naringin, and spartein in varying proportion in B. pinnatum leaves ethylacetate fractions. GC-MS analysis of the fractions revealed the presence of at least 50 constituents. The major constituents were Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (24.88%), 10,13-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (29.69%), Tetracosanoic acid, methyl ester (7.84%), Methyl stearate (6.97%), cis-Methyl 11-eicosenoate (6.26%), Methyl 18-methylnonadecanoate (4.99%), Docosanoic acid, methyl ester (3.71%) and 4,7-Methano-1H-indene, octahydro- (2.43%). Conclusion: This rich array of chemical compounds presents B. pinnatum leaves as an important source of potential lead compounds with biological and pharmacological benefits and hence a potential candidate for drug discovery.
Aim: This study focused on the extraction, purification and kinetic studies of lactate dehydrogenase of male chickens from Ebocha oil exploration area, Imo state, Nigeria. Methods: Twenty-one apparently healthy mature (6-9 months) male chickens (Gallus domesticus) from Ebocha oil exploration area, Imo State, Nigeria were screened for lactate dehydrogenase activity, thus accessing the level of chronic cell exposure to gas flaring. Their thigh muscle tissues were severed and investigated for lactate dehydrogenase activity using the standard method and sodium pyruvate as the substrate. Lactate dehydrogenase was isolated and purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, desalted by dialysis and then gel filtration. Results: The enzyme activity increased with advancement in the purification steps and was maximum using dialysis. The values for the lactate dehydrogenase activities were 103.43±3.27 U/L, 279.50±5.38 U/L, 318.16±13.08 U/L, 100.47±2.59 U/L, with a purification fold of 1, 3.7, 6.24 and 2.55 for the purification steps respectively. Also, the values of the protein concentrations were 0.071 mg/ml, 0.050 mg/ml, 0.035 mg/ml and 0.027 mg/ml (values for the crude enzyme, ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and gel filtration respectively). The enzyme showed optimal activity at pH range of 5.5-6.5 and temperature of 30ºC-40ºC. Using sodium pyruvate as the substrate, with a fixed enzyme volume, an increase in the concentration of substrate resulted in increase in enzyme activity until a saturation point 0.3mM was reached. The apparent Km and Vmax values obtained were 0.01 mM and 0.12 U/mg/min. The Lineweaver-burk plot of the partially purified enzyme gave real Km and Vmax values of 0.20 mM and 0.16 U/mg/min respectively. Conclusion: Partial purification procedures and biochemical properties of lactate dehydrogenase, from the muscle tissues of male chickens of Ebocha origin, gives room for more investigation on the metabolic shift caused by chronic exposure of the environment, humans and livestock to gas flaring and petroleum exploration.
Aims: Persea americana (P. americana) dubbed ‘green gold’ is a highly sought after fruit today, with insatiable export market. Different parts of avocadoes have been consumed both for nutritional and health benefits across regions of the world. Therefore, this study investigates the bioactive composition of P. americana seed ethyl acetate fraction and acute toxicological effects. Place and duration of study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria; between May 2019 and October, 2019. Methodology: Quantitative phytochemical composition was assessed using gas chromatography fitted with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and acute toxicity determined using standard method. Results: Result of quantitative phytochemical composition of P. americana seed fraction shows a rich presence of phytochemicals such as epicatechin, kaempferol, proanthocyanin, rutin, resveratrol, ribalinidine, naringin, spartein, quinine, flavan-3-ol, anthocyanin, lunamarin, sapogenin, flavonones, flavones. The quantitative phytochemical composition of P. americana seed shows that among other phytochemicals, the seed is relatively rich in anthocyanin, quinine, epicatechin, tannin and proanthocyanin with concentrations of 69.39 ± 8.33 µg/g, 22.16 ±1.77 µg/g, 21.88 ± 2.53 µg/g, 19.86 ± 1.19 µg/g and 10.98 ± 0.55 µg/g respectively. The acute toxicity studies on the seed reveal that the ethyl acetate fraction of P. americana seed did not elicit any lethal signs of morbidity and mortality at doses up to 5000mg/Kgb.wt. and are therefore considered generally safe. Conclusion: P. americana seed ethyl acetate fraction contains essential phytochemicals with useful phyto-medicinal and nutraceutical benefits. The implications of these findings are further discussed.
Background: The present study evaluated the effect of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana on body weight, serum glucose and oxidative stress parameters in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats. Methods: DM was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; pH = 7.4). A total of 36 adult male Wister albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats. The groups consist of normal untreated rats, untreated DM rats, DM rats treated with 500 mg/kg dimethylguanide (MetforminTM) and DM rats treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of phenolic aqueous leaf extract of Vitex doniana. The rats were treated for 28 days. Serum glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid concentrations, and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were measured using standard methods. The changes in body weight was also measured. Results: The results showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in serum glucose and MDA concentration, whereas serum SOD, CAT activities, as well as GSH and ascorbic acid concentration were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in treated DM groups in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that phenolic aqueous leaf extract of V. doniana promoted increased body weight, ameliorated DM and alleviated reduced antioxidant activities in alloxan-induced DM rats. Phenolic aqueous leaf extract of V. doniana could serve as a potential natural and safe remedy for the management of DM.
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