Judith Laure Ngondi

The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

AimTo evaluate the effects of two formulations, Cissus quadrangularis-only and a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination, on weight loss in overweight and obese human subjects.MethodsThe study was a 10 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design involving 72 obese or overweight participants (45.8% male; 54.2% female; ages 21–44; mean age = 29.3). The participants were randomly divided into three equal (n = 24) groups: placebo, Cissus quadrangularis-only, and Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination. Capsules containing the placebo or active formulations were administered twice daily before meals; no major dietary changes nor exercises were suggested during the study. A total of six anthropomorphic and serological measurements (body weight, body fat, waist size; total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level) were taken at baseline and at 4, 8 and 10 weeks.ResultsCompared to the placebo group, the two active groups showed a statistically significant difference on all six variables by week 10. The magnitude of the differences was noticeable by week 4 and continued to increase over the trial period.ConclusionAlthough the Cissus quadrangularis- only group showed significant reductions on all variables compared to the placebo group, the Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination resulted in even larger reductions. This apparently synergistic formulation should prove helpful in the management of obesity and its related complications.

Larvicidal and Repellent Potential of Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn Essential Oil against Anopheles gambiae Giles (Diptera: Culicidae)

Larvicidal and repellent effect of the essential oil from the seeds and leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn were evaluated against the larvae and adults of Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes at concentrations of 0, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm. Total mortality of larvae occurred at 200ppm and 300ppm for the essential oils from seeds and leaves respectively. Alpha-terpinene (73.55% for the seeds; 40.69% for the leaves) and para-cymene (20.05% for the seeds; 45.44% for the leaves) are the principal constituents. There was a 100% repellent effect on adult mosquitoes at 200ppm, with protection time of at least four hours for both seed and leaf essential oils. The findings indicated that C. ambrosioides Linn possess mosquito larvicidal and repellent potentials that might be further exploited in combating ma- laria through anti-vector intervention.

The use of LeptiCore® in reducing fat gain and managing weight loss in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BackgroundLeptiCore® is a proprietary combination of various ingredients which have been shown to have properties which could be beneficial to weight loss in obese and overweight human subjects. This study evaluates the effect of Lepticore® on bodyweight as well as parameters associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.MethodsThe study was an 8 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design involving 92 obese (mean BMI > 30 kg/m2) participants (37 males; 55 females; ages 19-52; mean age = 30.7). The participants were randomly divided into three groups: placebo (n = 30), LeptiCore® formula A (low dose) (n = 31) and LeptiCore® formula B (high dose) (n = 31). Capsules containing the placebo or active formulations were administered twice daily before meals with 300 ml of water. None of the participants followed any specific diet nor took any weight-reducing medications for the duration of the study. A total of 12 anthropomorphic and serological measurements were taken at the beginning of the study and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of treatment.ResultsCompared to the placebo group, the two active groups showed statistically significant differences on all 12 variables by week 8. These included four anthropomorphic variables (body weight, body fat, waist and hip size) and eight measures of serological levels (plasma total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, blood glucose, serotonin, leptin, C-reactive protein). The two active groups also showed significant intra-group differences on all 12 variables between study onset and week 8.ConclusionThe LeptiCore® formulation at both the low and high dosages appears to be helpful in the management of fat gain and its related complications. The higher dosage resulted in significantly greater reductions in body weight and triglyceride, blood glucose, and C-reactive protein levels, as well as increased serotonin levels.

Antioxidant and Postprandial Glucose-lowering Potential of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Nypa fruticans Seed Mesocarp

Postprandial hyperglycemia and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. An alternative treatment should target both conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and postprandial glucose-lowering potential of a polyphenolic rich extract of Nypa fruticans nuts. Hydroethanolic extract (HEE) was prepared; polyphenol and fl avonoid content was determined. In vitro antioxidant activity was done through molybdenum (VI) reduction and ABTS and DPPH radical-scavenging capacities. The glucose-lowering potential of the extract was evaluated through in vitro glucose-binding capacity, the regulatory ability of the extract on the pancreas of normal Wistar rats (oral glucose tolerance test), and digestion of carbohydrates (starch and sucrose) by normal Wistar rats. Starch (1 g/kg of the body weight (BW) and sucrose (2 g/kg BW) solution were used as substrates for alpha amylase and invertase inhibition test, respectively. Acarbose (3 mg/kg BW) was used as the reference. Polyphenolic-rich extract (400 mg/kg BW) was administered to treated rats. Results showed that HEE of N. fruticans nuts has antioxidant activity through the scavenging of ABTS (EC50 of 1.75 mg/mL) and DPPH (2.96 mg/mL) radicals and the reduction of Mo (VI). The extract signifi cantly reduced glucose concentrations at t30 compared to glibenclamide, but glibenclamide maintained lower glycemia than the extract thereafter to the end of the study. From the administration of sucrose, the extract maintained lower plasma glucose levels compared to acarbose throughout the study. However, no inhibition was observed in glycemia following starch administration in HEE-treated group as glycemia remained higher compared to the acarbose group throughout the study. Thus, N. fruticans seed mesocarp is a rich source of dietary polyphenols with a strong antioxidant capacity. Its HEE has glucose-lowering potential and possible inhibitory action on the last phase of carbohydrate digestion.

Physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile of Baillonella toxisperma Pierre traditionally extracted edible oil from Cameroon forests

Baillonella toxisperma Pierre oil is an edible oil obtained from the seeds of wildly growing timber producing B. toxisperma tree species in Cameroon and the rest of the Congo Basin forests of West and Central Africa. This oil can be an important source of fat that can be used as a source of food to humans and/or a source of raw materials in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, to produce important commercial products. In the present study, samples of the seeds of B. toxisperma were harvested from three representative villages, each from the site in South and East of Cameroon. Seed oil was extracted using the traditional extraction method of B. toxisperma oils in rural Cameroon. Physico-chemical characteristics including colour, refractive index, viscosity, oil yield, acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, iodine value and α-tocopherols and fatty acid composition of crude oil of B. toxisperma nuts were all investigated. The oil yields from these seeds ranged from 38.2% to 45.6%. The peroxide, saponification and iodine values ranged from 2.13 to 2.69mEq/kg, 182.13 to 188.30 mg KOH/g and 54.41 to 57.98 I2g/100g, respectively. The highest acid value and α- tocopherols were 14.87 mg KOH/g and 24.3 mg/100g, respectively. The main fatty acids of Baillonella toxisperma Pierre oils were oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. Linoleic acid contents varied between 58.6% and 56.97%. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids content in these oils was 2:1. The fact that the physico-chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile are comparable to common vegetable oils shows that the B. toxisperma oil of the researched species from Cameroon is a potential source of valuable oil which might be used for edible, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and other industrial applications. This characterization is a bench mark for monitoring the quality of Baillonella toxisperma Pierre oil, from Cameroon and can be used to enhance its local and international trade. Keywords: Congo Basin, Baillonella toxisperma Pierre Oil, Fatty Acid, Physicochemical

Free radical scavenging, antioxidant activity, phenolic, alkaloids contents and inhibited properties against α-amylase and invertase enzymes of stem bark extracts Coula edulis B

T study aimed to analyze and compare the stability of two dental posts cemented with four different luting agents by examining their shear stress transfer through the FEM. 83-dimensional finite element models of a maxillary central incisor restored with glass fiber and Ni-Cr alloy caste dental posts. Each dental post was luted with zinc phosphate, panavia resin, super bond C&B resin and glass ionomer materials. Finite element models were constructed and oblique loading of 100N was applied. The distribution of shear stress was investigated at posts and cement/dentine interfaces using ABAQUS/CAE software. The peak shear stress for glass fiber post models minimized approximately three to four times of those for Ni-Cr alloy cast post models. There was negligible difference in peak of shear stress when various cements were compared irrespective of post materials. The shear stress had same trend for all cement materials. This study found that the glass fiber dental post reduced the shear stress concentration at interfacial of post and cement/dentine compared to Ni-Cr alloy cast dental post.

Metabolic effects of quail eggs in diabetes-induced rats: comparison with chicken eggs

Background Quail eggs as a food item have recently been introduced into the diet of some Cameroonians. These eggs are being sold in local markets, but with many unfounded health claims. One claim is that quail eggs can reduce blood glucose levels in diabetics. It was therefore necessary to evaluate the effect of consuming quail eggs on blood glucose levels, lipid profiles, and oxidative stress parameters in diabetes-induced rats. Methods Twenty Wistar rats weighing, on average, 250 g were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group 1 consisted of rats with normal blood glucose, and the other three groups (2, 3, and 4) consisted of diabetes-induced rats achieved by intravenous injection of streptozotocin. During 16 days, rats in groups 1 and 2 received distilled water; and rats in groups 3 and 4 received quail and chicken eggs, respectively, with gastroesophageal probe at a dose of 1 mL/200 g body weight. Fasting blood glucose levels were determined in all the groups on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 17th days after induction of diabetes. On the 17th day, the fasting rats were sacrificed, and blood and liver samples were collected for biochemical analyses. Results In 17 days, the consumption of quail and chicken eggs had no effect on blood glucose levels of diabetic rats. Total cholesterol levels were higher in groups 3 (75.59 mg/dL) and 4 (59.41 mg/dL) compared to group 2 (55.67 mg/dl), although these differences were not significant (all p>0.05). Triglyceride levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in groups 3 (106.52 mg/dL) and 4 (109.65 mg/dL) compared to group 2 (65.82 mg/dL). Quail eggs had no effect on oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides, and catalase). Conclusions The consumption of quail eggs by diabetic rats at the tested dose had no effect on blood glucose level and oxidative stress parameters and may have a negative effect on lipid profile.