The biochemical effects of chronic administration of efavirenz, which is commonly used as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1, on the intracranial auditory relay centers [i.e., the inferior colliculus (IC) and medial geniculate body (MGB)] of adult Wistar rats were carefully studied. Rats of both sexes (n Z 30), with an average weight of 200 g, were randomly assigned into treatment (n Z 15) and control (n Z 15) groups. Rats in the treatment group each received the recommended daily dose of 600 mg/70 kg (1.71 mg/200 g) of body weight of efavirenz daily for 30 days, while the control group rats received an equal volume of distilled water alone daily for 30 days. The rats were sacrificed after 30 days, and the IC and MGB were carefully removed for further biochemical assays. These analyses indicated that levels of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), a non-enzyme biomarker of oxidative stress, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) whereas levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in treated tissues than in control tissues. Chronic administration of efavirenz may therefore have an adverse effect on the auditory sensibilities by affecting the IC and MGB of adult Wistar rats.

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Background: Stress, whether internal or external, has been shown to play a role in the accumulation of oxidative free radicals which leads to cellular modification of normal organ or body function. Centella lujica (C. lujica) is a commonly cultivated herb with therapeutic benefits in various studies. This study aims to evaluate its beneficial effect on the brain and liver of mice exposed to sleep deprivation-induced stress.Methods: Albino mice were treated with distilled water (control), C. lujica (50 and 100 mg/kg) or astaxanthin (50 mg/kg) for seven days. All groups except control were then subjected to three-days of sleep deprivation using the grid suspended over water model beginning from day 4 of treatment. Behavioural assessments followed by biochemical assays and histological analysis were carried out thereafter.Results: Sleep deprivation caused an increase in blood glucose and triglycerides levels but reduced high density lipoproteins. Brain pro-oxidant levels were increased with a concomitant decrease in antioxidants, recognition memory was diminished while depressive-like symptoms were enhanced and neuronal viability of hippocampal CA1 as well as prefrontal cortex cells was reduced in sleep-deprived mice. However, supplementation with C. lujica reversed these effects as significantly as astaxanthin.Conclusions: C. lujica possesses antioxidant property that makes it an effective adaptogen against stress induced responses in mice.

Honey is a mixture of sugars and other compounds. With respect to carbohydrates, honey is mainly fructose (about 38.5%) and glucose (about 31.0%) (Crane, 1999), making it similar to the synthetically produced inverted sugar syrup which is approximately 48% fructose, 47% glucose, and 5% sucrose. Honey's remaining carbohydrates include maltose, sucrose, and other complex carbohydrates (Crane, 1975). As with all nutritive sweeteners, honey is mostly sugars and contains only trace amounts of vitamins or minerals. Honey also contains tiny amounts of several compounds thought to function as antioxidants, including

Background: Sleep deprivation has often been implicated in several neurological disorders. Centella lujica is a psychoactive herb with medically-beneficial therapeutic potential. The current study sought to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Centella lujica supplement in experimental animals.Methods: Sleep deprivation in mice was done using the multiple platforms over water model.Results: Upon treatment with Centella lujica supplement, the parameters of anxiety-like behaviour induced by sleep deprivation were found to be significantly diminished in comparison to the sleep deprived animals.Conclusions: Centella lujica treatment significantly decreased hyper locomotion, and anxiety-like behaviour caused by sleep deprivation.