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BackgroundEffect of aqueous extracts of Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Capsicum fructensces (cayenne pepper) and their mixture on oxidative stress in rats fed high Cholesterol/high fat diet was investigated. Rats were randomly distributed into six groups (n = 6) and given different dietary/spice treatments. Group 1 standard rat chow (control), group 2, hypercholesterolemic diet plus water, and groups 3, 4, 5, 6, hypercholesterolemic diet with 0.5 ml 200 mg · kg-1 aqueous extracts of garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper or their mixture respectively daily for 4 weeks.ResultsPronounced oxidative stress in the hypercholesterolemic rats evidenced by significant (p < 0.05) increase in MDA levels, and suppression of the antioxidant enzymes system in rat’s liver, kidney, heart and brain tissues was observed. Extracts of spices singly or combined administered at 200 mg.kg-1 body weight significantly (p < 0.05) reduced MDA levels and restored activities of antioxidant enzymes.ConclusionsIt is concluded that consumption of garlic, ginger, pepper, or their mixture may help to modulate oxidative stress caused by hypercholesterolemia in rats.

The effect of Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit pulp extract on dyslipidemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in the liver of high‐fat diet‐fed rats was investigated. High‐fat diet‐mediated alterations in liver and serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, very‐low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, and alanine and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly (P < 0.05) reversed by the T. cucumerina pulp extract. The extract increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase in the mitochondria and post‐mitochondria fractions of rat liver. The increase significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated high‐fat diet‐mediated reductions in antioxidant enzyme activities. High‐fat diet‐mediated elevation in the levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and DNA fragmentation in rat liver was dose‐dependently lowered by the extract. The data obtained from this study showed that the T. cucumerina fruit pulp extract palliated high‐fat diet‐mediated dyslipidemia, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in rats. Practical Applications Trichosanthes cucumerina fruit pulp can be developed into a nutraceutical product to treat liver disorders. It can also be consumed at home and as substitute to Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. The fruit pulp of T. cucumerina is sweet tasting, aromatic, deep red in color and does not go sour as quickly as paste of L. esculentum.

Monocrotophos is an organophosphate pesticide used in agriculture to control insect pests. Changes in performance and haematological parameters (such as packed cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes) were used to assess the effect of the pesticide on rats chronically exposed to 12.5 parts per million (ppm), 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm for 10 days, while the control rats were placed on borehole water. Administration of the pesticide to the animals resulted in several physical deteriorations including appearance and agility. A significant reduction (p < .05) was observed in the weight gained by rats while the liver-to-body weight ratio increased significantly (p < .05) as the level of exposure to monocrotophos increased. Whereas packed cell volume, white blood cells and lymphocytes increased significantly (p < .05), neutrophils and eosinophils counts reduced significantly (p < .05) as the concentration of monocrotophos in the drinking water increased. Overall, the data indicated that exposure to monocrotophos portends serious consequences on the performance and haematological parameters of rats.

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The yield and characteristics of Alpha-amylase obtained from some sprouting Nigeria cereals (maize, acha, rice and sorghum) were compared using standard procedures. The result indicated maximum α-amylase yield was attained from 72-120 hours of sprouting cereals). Of all the sprouted cereals, acha gave rise to the highest amylase yield (16.6 ± 0.02x10 2 and the least was exhibited by maize (11.0±0.04x10 2) . The optimum temperature for α-amylase activity was 60 0 C for maize and rice while that of acha and sorghum was 70 0 C. The optimal pH for the activity of α-amylase from sprouting maize, rice, acha, and sorghum were exhibited at 6.5, 5.5, 6.5 and 5.8 respectively. The apparent kinetic parameters, V max and K m , were 9.0x10 -2 and 0.23; 12.5x10 -2 and 0.56; 7.0x10 -2 and 0.29; 12.5x10 -2 and 0.50 for α-amylase from sprouting maize, acha, rice and sorghum respectively. It is concluded that α-amylase obtained from sprouting Nigeria cereals manifest differences in quality and quantity, and may be useful in different starch processing industries.

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