Musa Oyewole Salawu

Antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities of aqueous leaf extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels leaves are used in the management of diabetics in Nigeria. Thus, the antidiabetic activity of aqueous D. cumminsii leaf extract and its capability to halt oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. METHODOLOGY Antidiabetic was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetes rats. Diabetic rats were treated with 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight of the extract. RESULT The aqueous extract of D. cumminsii leaves significantly reduced blood glucose level in a dose dependent manner with highest dose producing 72% reduction after 21 days administration, which was compared significantly (P<0.05) with the control group and glibenclamide treated groups. Similarly, aqueous extract of D. cumminsii significantly reversed reduction in insulin in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Alloxan-induced diabetic mediated alterations in liver and serum cholesterol, triacylglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc) were significantly (P<0.05) restored by the extract. Aqueous extract of D. cumminsii leaves significantly attenuated the decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the liver and pancreas of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Elevation in the concentration of malondialdehyde was significantly (P<0.05) lowered by D. cumminsii leaves extract. The diabetic-mediated alteration in the architecture of liver was alleviated by the extract. CONCLUSION Overall, aqueous extract of D. cumminsii leaves at all doses investigated reduced blood glucose level and prevented oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Antioxidant Activity of African Medicinal Plants

An antioxidant is any substance which, when present at low concentrations compared with those of an oxidizable substrate, significantly delays or prevents oxidation of substrate. At low or moderate concentrations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert beneficial effects on cellular responses and immune function. At high levels, however, free radicals and oxidants generate oxidative stress, a deleterious process that can damage cell structures, including lipids, proteins, and DNA. Cellular damage or oxidative injury arising from ROS now appears to be the fundamental mechanism underlying a number of human pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, inflammation, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and digestive system disorders. Scientific evidence suggests that ROS can be neutralized through chemoprevention using medicinal plants and foods. Based on the historical success of natural products, a number of medicinal plants have been evaluated for their antioxidant potential. Thus, this chapter is an attempt to review African medicinal plants that have been validated as having antioxidant properties.

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male albino rats

OBJECTIVE Carica papaya is an important fruit with its seeds used in the treatment of ulcer in Nigeria. This study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed against indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male rats. METHODS Thirty male rats were separated into 6 groups (A-F) of five rats each. For 14 d before ulcer induction with indomethacin, groups received once daily oral doses of vehicle (distilled water), cimetidine 200 mg/kg body weight (BW), or aqueous extract of C. papaya seed at doses of 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg BW (groups A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, groups B, C, D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/kg BW of indomethacin to induce ulcer formation. RESULTS Carica papaya seed extract significantly (P< 0.05) increased gastric pH and percentage of ulcer inhibition relative to indomethacin-induced ulcer rats. The extract significantly (P< 0.05) decreased gastric acidity, gastric acid output, gastric pepsin secretion, ulcer index and gastric secretion volume relative to group B. These results were similar to that achieved by pretreatment with cimetidine. Specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the extract-treated groups (D, E and F) were increased significantly over the group B (P< 0.05). Pretreatment with the seed extract protected rats from the indomethacin-mediated decrease in enzyme function experienced by the group B. Similarly, indomethacin-mediated decrease in reduced glutathione level and indomethacin-mediated increase in malondialdehyde were reversed by Carica papaya extract. CONCLUSION In this study, pretreatment with aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed exhibited anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant effects, which may be due to the enhanced antioxidant enzymes.

Endotoxin-induced coagulation reactions and phenoloxidase activity modulation in Sudanonautes africanus hemolymph fractions

Sudanonautes africanus is a freshwater crab local to Nigeria and West Africa that has no documentation of its innate immunity reactions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) on coagulation and on phenoloxidase (PO) activity in the hemolymph fractions of S. africanus. The hemolymph from each of 10 live crabs was obtained by carapace puncture and then fractionated into plasma and hemocytes. The hemocytes were then processed and then fractionated into hemocyte lysate (HL), hemocyte lysate supernatant (HLS), and hemocyte lysate debris (HLD). In one study, each fraction was then incubated with a fixed level of LPS in the presence or absence of exogenous calcium (Ca2+) ion. In another study, the LPS concentration was varied in order to study its effect on protein coagulation when an optimal ratio mixture of plasma:HLS was present as well as on PO activity in the plasma and HLS fractions. The results of the first set of studies demonstrated that a presence of Ca2+ in the LPS-induced clotting reactions was essential. The next set of studies showed that a 7:1 plasma:HLS mixture yielded a higher level of coagulation than any other ratio tested in the presence of 1 EU LPS/ml. When this same plasma:HLS mixture ratio was used to ascertain the effect of varying LPS level on coagulation, the response trended higher up to a dose of 3.0 EU/ml., and decreased thereafter until 7 EU/ml. As expected based on the effect of LPS on PO activation, an increasing presence of LPS led to a general trend increase in activity of the enzyme in the plasma fraction; however, the effect was moreover inhibitory in the HLS fraction. From the results here, we conclude that protein coagulation is an important response, along with increased PO activity, that could manifest in Sudanonautes africanus after exposure to ‘free’ LPS or select LPS-bearing organisms in their environment.

Effect of Escherichia coli endotoxin on Archachatina marginata hemolymph coagulation system.

Context: Archachatina marginata Swainson (Achatinidae) is found in Nigeria, West Africa. Its hemolymph is applied as a disinfectant to blades and fresh cuts of circumcision in Yorubaland. The hemolymph is also used in traditional medicine practice. Investigation into its anti-endotoxin response is being studied for the first time. Objective: This study determined whether endotoxin causes measurable and concentration-dependent protein coagulation in the separate hemolymph fractions and in hemocyte lysate (HL)/plasma mixtures. Materials and methods: Endotoxin was prepared by inoculating 5% w/v dextrose with locally isolated Escherichia coli cells and incubated for 48 h before sterilization. Pyrogenicity was determined by rabbit test method and use the of LAL kit. Hemolymph fractions were exposed to endotoxin while controls were exposed to endotoxin-free water (0.025 EU/ml). HL/plasma (1:1 v/v) was exposed to varied endotoxin concentrations. Results: Data indicated significantly higher protein coagulates induced by endotoxin in all the hemolymph fractions (P < 0.05). Maximum protein coagulation in mixture of HL/plasma 1:1 was recorded. Exposure of HL/plasma at optimal ratio to varied endotoxin caused linear protein coagulation up to 1.0 EU/ml, beyond which it dropped significantly and unresponsive to further increase in endotoxin doses. Discussion and conclusion: There was endotoxin-induced protein coagulation, which is endotoxin concentration-dependent. The optimal coagulation observed for 1:1 HL/plasma mixture suggests stronger interaction between the hemocytes and the plasma in response to endotoxin. There are LPS-binding proteins in the plasma and hemocytes of A. marginata. This finding may be employed in detection and quantification of endotoxin in future.

Antidiabetic Activity of Triticum aestivum Seed–Based Diet on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract The antidiabetic activity of Triticum aestivum seed–based diet on alloxan-induced diabetic rats was investigated. Forty-eight male and female albino rats of four groups were used for this study. Rats were sacrificed on day 28 and organs of interest were excised. Triticum aestivum seed–based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the levels of fasting blood glucose, albumin, globulin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, Na+, and K+. In addition, diabetic rats fed Triticum aestivum seed–based diet had significantly (p < .05) increased insulin and glycogen concentrations, activities of hexokinase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase and the levels of hematological parameters studied. Diabetic rats fed on Triticum aestivum seed had significantly (p < .05) reduced activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-diphosphatase and concentration of MDA and reversed activities of AST and GGT; ALP and regeneration of liver, kidney, and pancreas tissues compared favorably with the control group from histological examination results. Consumption of this diet may be useful for diabetes mellitus patients in ameliorating diabetes mellitus and its complications

Antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of Musa paradisiaca-based diet in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Abstract This study was aimed at investigating the antihyperglycemic and antidyslipidemic activity of Musa paradisiaca‐based diets in alloxan‐induced diabetic mellitus rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg b.w) in 48 randomly selected rats. The rats were randomly grouped into four as follows: normal rats fed Dioscorea rotundata‐based diet, diabetic control rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet, diabetic rats fed D. rotundata‐based diet and administered metformin (14.2 mg/kg body weight) orally per day, and diabetic rats fed M. paradisiaca‐based diet. Body weight and fasting blood glucose level were monitored, on 28th days the rats were sacrificed, liver was excised. Thereafter, the hyperglycemic and dyslipidemic statii of the induced diabetic animals were determined. The M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the levels of fasting blood glucose, with significant (p < .05) increase in insulin and glycogen concentrations. The diet also increased the activity of hexokinase with significant reduction (p < .05) in glucose‐6‐phosphatase and fructose‐1‐6‐diphosphatase activities. M. paradisiaca‐based diet demonstrated significant reduction (p < .05) in cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), very low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and significant increase (p < .05) in high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) compared with those of diabetic control group. Also, M. paradisiaca‐based diet significantly (p < .05) reversed the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase when compared with diabetic control animals. The consumption of this diet may be useful in ameliorating hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus patients.

Hemolymph coagulation and phenoloxidase activity in Uca tangeri induced by Escherichia coli endotoxin

Abstract Uca tangeri is a marine fiddler crab found commonly in the West African coast and is often exposed to Gram-negative pathogens upon injury. The aim of this study was to document the patterns of endotoxin-induced protein coagulation and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in hemolymph fractions of Uca tangeri. Hemolymph from live crabs was obtained by carapace puncture, pooled. and then separated into plasma, hemocyte Lysate (HL), hemocyte lysate supernatant (HLS) and hemocyte lysate debris (HLD). The effect of Escherichia coli (O1111:B4) endotoxin and calcium ion (Ca2+) on protein coagulation in the presence/absence of endotoxin and the endotoxin dose-dependence of coagulation and PO activity were each studied in the plasma, HL, HLS and HLD. The results showed Ca2+ was required to induce coagulation, and was endotoxin concentration-dependent in the plasma. PO activity was highest in the HLS but PO specific activity was highest in HLD. PO activity remained relatively constant with increased LPS concentration in the range studied 0–10 EU/ml. From the data we conclude that endotoxin-induced protein coagulation occurs in the plasma alone and might be mediated by trans-glutaminases, while PO activity is localized inside hemocytes and cell membranes in Uca tangeri.

Quality Assessment of Solid Pharmaceuticals and Intravenous Fluid Manufacturing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Adedibu C. Tella1, Musa O. Salawu2, Iyabo M. Phillips3, Ojeyemi M. Olabemiwo4 and George O. Adediran5 1Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, 2Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, 3Department of Climate Change, School Advocacy Unit, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, 4Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology 5Department of Chemical Sciences, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria