Aa Uwakwe

Effect of heat-treatment and defatting on the proximate composition of some Nigerian local soup thickeners

Abstract A comparative study of the effect of heat-treatment and defatting on the proximate composition of melon seeds (Colocynthis citrullus Linn.), dikanut seeds (Irvingia gabonensis) and cocoyam tuber (Colocasia esculenta), mostly used now as conventional soup thickeners in southern Nigeria, was carried out. There was generally no significant difference in proximate composition between raw and heat-processed samples at the 5% level (P = 0.05). In raw and defatted samples, the level of protein in melon seeds was 59.4% higher than in dikanut seeds and 90.3% higher than in cocoyam tuber; but in heat-processed and defatted samples, the protein level in melon seeds was 56.9% higher than in dikanut seeds and 87.5% higher than in cocoyam tuber. Similar trends were observed in the ash contents and ether extracts for both raw and heat-processed samples. However, the level of carbohydrate in raw defatted cocoyam tuber was 29.7% higher than in dikanut seeds and 75.1% higher than in melon seeds, but in heat-processed and defatted samples, carbohydrate level in cocoyam tuber was 36.9% higher than in dikanut seeds and 76.3% higher than in melon seeds. In the undefatted raw and heat-processed samples, the calorific values determined using Atwater factors were highest in dikanut seeds and lowest in cocoyam tubers.

Effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana 'Godseffiana' Muell Arg (Euphorbiaceae) on the hematology, plasma biochemistry and ocular indices of oxidative stress in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana are used in Southern Nigeria for the management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana on the hematology, plasma biochemistry and ocular indices of oxidative stress was investigated in alloxan induced diabetic rats. METHODOLOGY Diabetes mellitus was induced by injection of alloxan (80 mg/kg body weight), via the tail vein. The extract was administered orally at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg (both to normal and diabetic rats), and metformin at 50mg/kg. RESULTS On gas chromatographic analysis of the extract, twenty nine known flavonoids were detected, consisting mainly of 29.77% apigenin, 14.97% quercetin, 11.12% naringenin, 10.62% kaempferol, 9.05% (-)-epicatechin and 4.04% (+)-catechin. Tannic acid and β-sitosterol were also detected. Compared to test control, the treatment lowered (significantly, P < 0.05) plasma glucose, triglyceride, conjugated bilirubin levels, atherogenic index of plasma, plasma alanine transaminase activity, total protein and total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase activity and unconjugated bilirubin, plasma urea, blood urea nitrogen and ocular malondialdehyde contents, lymphocyte and monocyte counts, and not significantly, plasma very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, but increased (significantly, P < 0.05) plasma calcium contents, total white cell and platelet counts, mean cell volume and ocular ascorbic acid content, and (though not significantly) plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol level, red cell and neutrophil counts. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that the extract was hypoglycemic, positively affected the hemopoietic system and integrity and function (dose dependently) of the liver and kidney of the diabetic rats; improved the lipid profile and had no deleterious effect on red cell morphology. It also protected against oxidative stress in ocular tissues. This study also revealed the presence of pharmacologically active compounds in the leaf extract. All of these highlights the cardioprotective potential of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana and support its use in traditional health practices for the management of diabetes mellitus.

Membrane stability of sickle erythrocytes incubated in extracts of three medicinal plants: Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, and Terminalia catappa

Background: Many reports showed that medicinal plant extracts cause alterations on the shape and physiology of erythrocytes. Objective: The present study seeks to ascertain the osmotic stability of sickle erythrocytes incubated in aqueous extracts of Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, and Terminalia catappa. Materials and Methods: The fraction of erythrocytes lysed when suspended in saline solution of varying concentrations was investigated by spectrophotometric method. The percentage hemolysis of erythrocytes in the control and test samples showed a sigmoidal relationship with increasing concentrations of saline solution. Membrane stability was ascertained as mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) index of erythrocytes incubated in 400 and 800 mg/dL aqueous concentrations of the three plant extracts. Results: The two experimental concentrations of P. guajava and T. catappa protected the erythrocytes against osmotic stress, as evidenced by decreases in the values of MCF compared with the control sample (P < 0.05). However, 800 mg/dL of A. occidentale promoted significant (P < 0.05) distabilization of sickle erythrocytes. Conclusion: Whereas the two experimental concentrations of aqueous extracts of P. guajava and T. catappa stabilized erythrocyte membrane, higher concentration (800 mg/dL) of A. occidentale exhibited no membrane protective effect.

Hepatoprotective effect of an aqueous extract of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana 'Godseffiana' Muell Arg (Euphorbiaceae) against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats

The potential of aqueous extract of the leaves of Acalypha wilkesiana, to protect against carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage was investigated in Wistar albino rats. The carbon tetrachloride was prepared 1:5 (v:v) in olive oil, and administered subcutaneously at 1 mL/kg body weight. The extract was administered to both normal and carbon tetrachloride treated rats at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg. On fractionation and gas chromatographic analysis of the crude aqueous extract, thirty nine known alkaloids were detected, consisting mainly of akuamidine (69.027 %), voacangine (26.226 %), echitamine (1.974 %), echitamidine (0.599 %), lupanine (0.521 %) and augustamine (0.278 %). Compared to test control, the treatment dose dependently produced significantly lower (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine transaminase activities. Histopathological studies on the liver sections showed that pre-treatment with the extract protected against carbon tetrachloride induced fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, thus, confirming the results of the biochemical studies. The above results imply that treatment with the plant extract protects the liver against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity, therefore, justifying the use of Acalypha wilkesiana in African traditional health care for the management of liver problems.

Whole blood cyanide levels of mainly dietary origin in a human population sample in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Whole blood cyanide levels in a human population sample of volunteers known to each gari-based meals at least once a day were determined. The most widely eaten cassava product in the area of research is gari. The mean blood cyanide obtained for healthy normal volunteers was 0.294 ± 0.09 μmol/L while the value for sicklers was 0.398±0.008 μmol/L, indicating the possibility of reduced rate of metabolism and excretion of cyanide by sicklers as compared to non-sicklers.Investigation of post-absorption distribution indicated that whole blood cyanide increased by 0.014 μmol/L, 3–4 hours after a gari-based meal in normal volunteers. A decrease of 0.012 μmol/L occurred after a whole-rice meal. The increase in plasma cyanide 2–3 hours after a gari-based meal was about 25% more than the increase in erythrocyte cyanide suggesting a significant contribution of plasma cyanide to whole blood cyanide levels. 0.013–0.015 mg cyanide per kg of gari was determined for samples of this staple food in the locality of research.

Effects of the extract of Cajanus - cajan seeds on HbSS erythrgcyte Glutathione-S-transferase activity

Abstract Red cell Glutathione — S. transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) of volunteer sicklers, fed regularly with controlled doses of the antisickling extracts of Cajanus cajan seeds was found to decrease progressively with time (78.92 ± 8.94% drop on the 3rd month). The in-vivo effact of the extract also included a progressive increase in whole blood haemoglobin (38.43 ± 8.62% rise on 3rd month). Phenylalanine, an antisickling amino acid, also exhibited a progressive in-vitro inhibition of the activity of this erythrocyte enzyme (assayed at 37°C, pH 6.5) in a concentration — dependent manner (59.0 ± 5.58% at 0.5mM). Similar, but more pronounced, in-vitro inhibitory effect was also exhibited by cajanus extract (84.0 ± 4.01% at 0.5mM equivalent). These findings suggest an influence of the antisickling nutrient/extract on the redox status of HbSS arythrocytes.

Chemical composition of essential oil from the fiddleheads of Pteridium aquilinum L. Kuhn found in Ogoni.

The present study was designed to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil from the fiddleheads of Pteridium aquilinum L. Kuhn, so as to enable more effective utilization of such bioactive ingredients. Gas chromatography analysis of the essential oil distillate revealed the presence of 40 compounds that consisted mainly of alkanes (86.60%), monoterpenes (3.20%) and sesquiterpenes (2.40%). The most representative alkanes were tetratriacontane (12.40%), hexatriacontane (8.10%) and heptacosane (8.10%). Predominant monoterpenes were γ-terpinene (0.44%) and 1, 8-cineole (0.40%), and sesquiterpenes were sesquisabinene (0.39%) and β-panasinsene (0.36%). This study when compared with the works of other authors suggested that the essential oil from the fiddleheads of P. aquilinum could play a significant role in perfumery, cosmetic, medicinal, pharmaceutical, and biodiesel industries. Key words: Essential oil, gas chromatography (GC) analysis, medicinal, Pteridium aquilinum.

Anti-proliferative and Pro-apoptotic Effects of Caesalpinia bonduc Extract and its Fractions in Estrogen-Sensitive Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

A study was conducted to determine proximate analysis, apoptotic, and anti-proliferative effect of Caesalpinia bonduc against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) in an in vitro model. The MCF-7 cells were treated with plant extract at 10 μg.mL−1 for 48 h and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) serving as control. The percentage of cells in the various phases was determined by flow cytometry. Results obtained from the flow cytometric analysis showed that chloroform fraction was the most active fraction against MCF-7 cells with 32.86 % decrease in proliferative phase. The apoptotic cells were calculated based on the appearance of the cells in sub-G1 phase. The result showed no significant pro-apoptotic effects in treated groups and control group. The finding suggested that the mechanism of cell death is probably through a mechanism other than the direct induction of apoptosis in tumor cell. The finding showed that C. bonduc extract at 10 μg.mL−1 induced anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells by arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase to prevent cell transition from G2 to M phase, thereby contributing less to cell division rather than DNA synthesis.

In vitro Investigation of the Anti-sickling and Erythrocyte Membrane Stabilizing Potentials of Elaesis guineensis Jacq Flower

Anti-sickling activity of Elaeis guineensis jacq flowers was investigated to determine the capability of the plant to inhibit the polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin, maintain membrane osmotic fragility and recover the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio. Spectrophotometric technique was employed to determine the rate of sodium metabisulphite provoked HbSS erythrocytes polymerization. The profile for HbSS erythrocytes polymerization of test and control specimens demonstrated growing level of polymerization at three investigational concentrations (20mg/ml, 40mg/ml and 60mg/ml) while (80mg/ml, 100mg/ml, 120mg/ml) concentrations of the extracts showed pronounced anti-sickling activity through inhibition of HbSS gelation. The estimation of mean corpuscular fragility (MCF), which is the concentration of saline causing 50% hemolysis of the erythrocytes, revealed that the plant extract decreased the MCF values of the HbSS erythrocytes at all concentrations in comparison to the control. The Fe2+/Fe3+ investigation revealed an increase in the test groups when compared to the control. The aqueous extracts of Elaeis guineensis jacq flowers demonstrated towering potency in altering the polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin at increased concentration, enhancement in Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and maintaining erythrocyte membrane integrity.

Antimalarial Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Root Bark of Salacia nitida L. Benth in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of Salacia nitida in mice infected with Plasmodium bergei. Methods: Prophylactic and curative antimalarial activity of ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida was studied using sixty-six healthy mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei. 430 mg/kg body weight/day of the extract was given orally infected mice in the prophylactic test for 11 days, while 280 – 580 mg/kg body weight/day of extract was orally administered to the malaria infected mice in the curative test for 5 days, against 4 mg/kg body weight/day of artesunate drug. The antimalarial effect of the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida on the parasites was determined. Results: The ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida at a dose of 430 mg/kg body weight/day caused 89.77% inhibition in the levels of parasitaemia in the prophylactic test and 33.78% 88.45% inhibitions of parasitaemia levels in the curative tests. Original Research Article Nwiloh et al.; JOCAMR, 3(3): 1-9, 2017; Article no.JOCAMR.32655 2 Conclusion: The results showed that the ethanolic extract of root bark of S. nitida possessed significant (p < 0.05) antimalarial activity, thus supporting its traditional use in the treatment of malaria.