Biosynthesis of Natural Products

Natural products are in the form of primary and secondary metabolites and are isolated chemical compounds or substances from living organisms. Terpenes, Phenolic compounds, and Nitrogen-containing compounds are secondary metabolites. The biosyntheses of secondary metabolites are derived from primary metabolism pathways, which consist of a tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP), mevalonic and shikimic acid pathway. This chapter provides an overview of the diversity of secondary metabolites in plants, their multiple biological functions, and multi-faceted cultural history

PHARMACOKINETICS, HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF CIPROFLOXACIN HYDROCHLORIDE-SODIUM CHOLATE COMPLEX

Objective: Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum antibiotic widely used in the treatment of infections, but its toxicological effects remains a great challenge. This research emphasized on analyzing the effect of a hydrophobic ion pair complex, involving ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and sodium cholate and also pegylated ciprofloxacin hydrochloride-sodium cholate complex.Methods: The effects of ciprofloxacin-cholate complex and pegylated ciprofloxacin-cholate complex were evaluated. LD50 was determined. The test drugs were orally to twenty-four albino mice, in six groups of four mice, at different doses of 7.14 mg/kg, 14.2 mg/kg and 21.4 mg/kg; and PEG complex, 7.14 and 14.2 mg/kg. Each was administered twice daily for fourteen days. The animal blood samples were subjected to hematological, biochemical tests; and the liver organs were collected. Histopathological examination was carried out on the harvested organs. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the non-compartmental method.Results: The LD50 of the complex was above 5000 mg/kg. The non-significant decrease in PCV and WBC showed the parent drug and its complex are neither anemia inducing nor immunosuppressing; the significant decrease in the average RBCs count in post–treatment of 21.47 mg/kg of the complex could be from physiological changes; the bio-liver makers showed hepatocellular damage. Photomicrograph of the liver sections of mice showed mild areas of hepatocyte degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltrates.Conclusion: The biochemical, hematological and histology results showed complexation did not increase adverse effects of ciprofloxacin. The PEGYlated complex showed higher AUC and Cmax peak than the uncomplexed drug, hence more therapeutic benefits

A six year review of hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri

Background: Hysterectomy is one of the commonest major gynaecological surgeries performed for both benign and malignant conditions. Hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions is usually done to improve the quality of life of women who suffer from these disorders. Aim of current study was to analyze hysterectomies performed in the centre for benign gynaecological conditions during the period of the study.Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of all cases of hysterectomy (for benign gynaecological disorders over a 6 year period (January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2011) at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, indication for surgery, type of hysterectomy, operative findings, and postoperative complications during admission were retrieved and analyzed.Results: Hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions accounted for 14.1% of all major gynecological surgeries. The leading indications for hysterectomy were uterovaginal prolapse (47.3%), uterine fibroid (33.6%), and dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) (9.1%). Abdominal hysterectomy accounted for 55.0% while vaginal hysterectomy accounted for 45.0% of hysterectomies performed for benign gynecological conditions. A post-operative morbidity rate of 23.7% was found. Post-operative fever, requiring investigation and treatment, was the leading complication. No mortality associated with hysterectomy was recorded.Conclusions: Hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions is relatively common and safe in our centre, but there is need for improvement on the high post-operative morbidity rate

Antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluation of the methanol leaf extract and fractions of dacryodes klaineana pierre (burseraceae)

ABSTRACT. Dacryodes klaineana is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of painful menstruation; tachycardia and cough. The study aims to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the plant. The extract and fractions of D. klaineana were screened for their antioxidant effects using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and the total phenolic contents (TPC) assay methods. The antimicrobial activity of the plant was evaluated using the agar diffusion method against four different bacterialstrains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungi strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). The crude methanol extract (MLE), hexane fraction (MLHF), ethyl acetate fraction (MLEF) and butanol fraction (MLBF) produced dose-dependent antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. The antioxidant activity of MLEF was comparable to the standard drug, ascorbic acid. MLEF also gave the highest content of total phenol content with a percent gallic acid equivalent of 100.68 ± 1.17 mg GAE/g. The extract and fractions were active against the bacteria species, but inactive against the fungi species. The study demonstrated that the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of D. klaineana may offer a promising source of new antioxidants and antimicrobials in the ethnomedicinal management of diseases.                 KEY WORDS: Medicinal plant, FRAP, TPC, DPPH, Antioxidant, Dacryodes klaineana   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 85-94.                                                                   DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.8                                                       &nbsp

Serum adiponectin and metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome in relation to body mass index

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common endocrine disorder which affects approximately 5-10% of women in reproductive age. It is both a reproductive endocrinopathy and a metabolic disorder.Methods: 160 women aged 18 to 40 years attending obstetrics and gynaecology clinic at Federal medical centre, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria were recruited and divided into 2 groups (women diagnosed with PCOS using Rotterdam criteria and control) of 80 participants each. Anthropometric data were collected, and participants categorized into 3 based on BMI. Fasting blood samples was collected for biochemical analyses. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS version 23.0, and level of significance set at p<0.05.Results: The mean serum levels of adiponectin and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were significantly lower while fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and triglyceride were significantly higher in women with PCOS when compared with the control (p<0.05) as well as in obese when compared with normal weight women with PCOS (p<0.05). BMI negatively correlated with serum adiponectin and HDL-C, but positively correlated with FPG, insulin, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-C and VLDL-C in women with PCOS (p<0.05).Conclusions: This study highlights the prevalent biochemical and metabolic derangements in PCOS patients and was more evident in the obese and overweight patients. Early detection with subsequent application of preemptive measures including lifestyle modifications are therefore essential in the management of PCOS patients

Comparison of serum levels of calcium and magnesium among preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria

Background:Despite numerous studies, the exact aetiology of pre-eclampsia remains unknown. Some studies have shown that supplementation of calcium and magnesium could ameliorate the effects of pre-eclampsia. The objective of this study was to compare the calcium and magnesium levels in the serum of Nigerian women with or without pre-eclampsia.Methods:In this study, serum calcium and magnesium levels were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry in 54 patients and 48 healthy normotensive pregnant women. The mean, standard deviation, Student’s‘t’ test and Pearson correlation were employed.Results:Serum calcium was significantly lower in patients than controls (9.17 ± 0.6 vs. 7.22 ± 0.5 mg/dl. P <0.001) (t test). Plasma Magnesium was significantly lower in patients than controls 13.19 ± 1.1 vs. 9.81 ± 0.7 mg/dl. P <0.001). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed significant inverse correlation with both calcium and magnesium (P<0.01).Conclusion:There was significant reduction in the levels of calcium and magnesium in patients with pre-eclampsia. Dietary supplementation of these trace elements may help to prevent pre-eclampsia

Effect of moderate - vigorous intensity physical exercise on female sex hormones in premenopausal university students in Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Sedentary lifestyle and diseases associated with it is on the increase in our communities, state and country as a whole. The objective was to determine the effect of exercise on ovarian reserve status of the participants using day 3 FSH, LH and estrogen values and the ovulatory status of the participants using day 21 progesterone values. Methods: The study was a prospective comparative study. A total of 30 participants were recruited for this work. They were divided into 2 groups: 15 subjects that did exercise for 1 month and 15 controls that didn’t do any form of exercise. Baseline blood samples were collected from the two groups on day 3 and day 21 of the menstrual cycle. The subjects started exercise on day 1 of the next menstrual cycle. Blood samples were collected from the subjects and control on day 3 and day 21 of the next menstrual cycle. Results:There was significant reduction in weight and therefore BMI of the study group compared to control group and study group baseline after one month of exercise (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the baseline levels of Estrogen, FSH, LH and progesterone between the subjects and control groups before the exercise, but after 1 month of exercise, there were significant differences in the levels of estrogen, FSH, LH and progesterone in these groups (P<0.01). Among the study group there were significant differences in the baseline and final levels of Estrogen, FSH, LH and Progesterone (P<0.01). Conclusions: The hormonal pattern shows that moderate-vigorous exercise may increase the responsiveness and sensitivity of the follicles to FSH and LH with attendant increase in ovulatory status of young females.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaf Extracts of Luffa cylindrica

Introduction: Luffa cylindrica have been used traditionally in the treatment and management of several disease conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of leaf extracts of the plant, and identifying some of its phytoconstituents. Methods: The crude ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and paw-fluid displacement methods, respectively. The extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity using the agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods. The ethyl acetate leaf extract of the plant was further subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis for the identification of the bioactive compounds. Results: The ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of L. cylindrica showed average antioxidant properties at 100 µg/mL, with inhibitions of 53.31% and 54.73% respectively. The ethanol extract displayed significant anti-inflammatory activity at 50 mg/Kg with an inhibition of 31.1% compared to 39.7% recorded for the control (diclofenac). The ethyl acetate extract produced an inhibition of 15%. In the antimicrobial evaluation, the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. Typhi and B. subtilis. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity against the test isolates compared to the ethanol extract. HPLC-DAD analysis of the ethyl acetate extract suggested the presence of two flavonoid compounds - luteolin and apigenin as key components of the leaf extract of L. cylindrica. These compounds are known to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the leaf extracts of L. cylindrica possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties

Knowledge, perception and willingness to receive the current COVID-19 vaccine among residents of Awka metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Vaccines can effectively reduce most morbidities and mortalities caused by infectious agents. The emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine may be accompanied with huge success in containing the pandemic. The aim of the study was to assesses knowledge, perception and willingness to receive the current COVID-19 vaccine among residents in Awka metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria.Methods: Using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, this study was conducted in Awka metropolis Anambra State, Nigeria among 393 respondents (aged 18 years and above), and analyzed to assess their knowledge, perception and willingness to receive the current COVID-19 vaccine. Statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS) version 23.0 was used, descriptive statistics were reported in frequencies and percentages, Chi-square test was used to assess the association between socio-demographic characteristics and willingness to receive the vaccine, and level of significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The results showed that all respondents (100%) have good knowledge of the vaccine availability. Only 25.7% were willing to receive the vaccine, although 57.3% were willing to receive any other vaccine apart from the COVID-19 vaccine. Very few respondents (18.3%) thinks the vaccine is accessible to all. Most of the respondents (72%) did not support mandatory implementation of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Among the socio-demographic characteristics, only occupation was significantly associated with willingness to receive the vaccine (p=0.010, χ2=20.214).  Conclusions: This study highlighted the need to effectively educate the masses through appropriate public health literacy programs and enlightenment campaigns on the role of the vaccine in curbing this pandemic