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Summary:The effects of caffeinated and non-caffeinated paracetamol administration, with or without vitamins A and E supplementation on the protein and enzyme levels in Wistar albino rats were investigated using cafeinated paracetamol and paracetamol as caffeinated and non-caffeinated paracetamol respectively, and water soluble acetic acid derivatives of vitamins A and E. Serum AST, ALT and ALP levels (u/l) significantly increased (P<0.05) following paracetamol administration. Caffeination as well as administration of vitamins A and E caused significant decreases (P<0.05) in AST and ALP levels in all test groups when co-administered with paracetamol and in ALT level except in the cafeinated paracetamol + Vitamin E group in which ALT and ALP level except in the cafeinated paracetamol + vitamin E group in which ALT and ALP levels significantly increased (P<0.05). Total serum protein level (g/100ml) significantly increased following caffeination as well as during coadministration of cafeinated paracetamol and Vitamin E; and significantly decreased during coadministration of paracetamol and vitamin A. Paracetamol administration without caffeination or supplementation with vitamin A and E can therefore cause increases in serum liver enzymes that is suggestive of liver necrosis which can be ameliorated to varying degrees by caffeine, vitamin A and E.

Summary: Effect of alcohol and kolanut interactions on biochemical indices of neuronal gene expression in Wistar albino rats was studied. Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of five (5) rats per group. The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water). Groups 2 -6 were treated for a period of 21-days with (10% v/v) 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol, 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, and 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure, the brain of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total protein, DNA, RNA and protein/RNA ratios. The status of neuronal gene expression was monitored through assessment of these parameters. The results showed that alcohol-kolanut co-administration decreased brain total protein, DNA, RNA levels and protein/RNA ratios, and inhibited gene expression. These effects, in turn, inhibited DNA transcription, MRNA splicing and protein synthesis, and polypeptide expression, which are necessary for the growth, development, differentiation and cell survival.

Fractionation of the crude ethanolic extract of vernonia amygdalina using organic solvents of increasing polarities yielded activity directed fractions of benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, methanol and residue E. Phytochemical screening of the fractions show that there were significant differences (p≤0.05) qualitatively in the levels of tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, saponins and alkaloids in the various fractions. While the benzene extract had very low levels of tannins, saponins and alkaloids, the ethyl acetate fraction had low levels of tannins and terpenoids as well as very low levels of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, and alkaloids. The butanol fraction had a high level of tannins, low level of flavonoids and saponins while the methanol fraction had high levels of tannins and flavonoids as well as low levels of cardiac glycosides, saponins and alkaloids with a very low level of terpenoids. The water soluble residue E had very high levels of tannins, a high level of saponins, low levels of alkaloids and very low levels of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and terpenoids. Phytochemical content of the various fractions increased with increasing polarities of the organic solvent used. The relatively high Phytochemical content of the butanol, methanol and residue E fractions may be exploited for medicinal purposes.

The immunomodulatory effect of Carotenoid complex from Golden Neo-Life Dynamite (GNLD) and carrot extracted Carotenoid was assessed using 24 albino Wistar rats. The rats were assigned to 4 groups of 6 rats each consisting of group 1(control group treated with distilled water), group 2 (treated with olive oil), group 3 (treated with carrot extract + olive oil) and group 4 (treated with GNLD Carotenoid complex + olive oil). The concentration of carrot extracted Carotenoid and that of the GNLD Carotenoid complex were559mg/kg.The animals were sacrificed after 21 days of treatment and whole blood collected for analysis of immune parameters. The parameters included; percentage lymphocytes, percentage eosinophils, percentage monocytes and platelet count. There were significant increases (P<0.05) in groups 3 and 4 which received carrot extract and Carotenoid complex supplement when compared to group 1 and 2 which received distilled water and olive oil. This supports the claim that Carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects. However, it is clear that there were significant increases (P<0.05) in percentage lymphocytes (40.15± 1.33), monocytes (2.50± 1.31), neutrophils (60.08± 2.06) and platelet count (7.91± 0.53) in group 4 which received carotenoid complex when compared to that of group 3 which received carrot extract; lymphocytes (33.01 ± 3.20), monocytes (1.52 ± 0.52), neutrophils (60.12 ± 1.50) and platelet count (7.81 ± 0.52).These significant increases(P<0.05) show that both carotenoids have immunomodulatory effects; and that the GNLD Carotenoid complex which consists of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, Zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and alpha-tocopherol is more potent in its immunomodulatory effect compared to the carrot extracted carotenoid which contained mostly alphacarotene and beta-carotene alone.