Effect of Oral Administration of Honey on Arginase Activity of Rats Exposed to Smoke

In this paper, we report the effect of oral administration of 125 mg/kg honey on the liver and kidney arginase activity of rats exposed to smoke from hydrocarbon-fueled lantern. Eighteen Wistar albino rats (weighing 150-200 g) were randomly assigned into three groups of 6 rats each. Group one served as the control (CTR) that was not exposed to smoke while Group two and three were exposed to smoke alone (SMW) and smoke with honey (SMH) respectively for 12 weeks. Results showed that the inhalation of smoke by the rats for 12 weeks significantly (p<0.05) reduced the total weight gain of experimental rats. The integrity of the liver and kidney were compromised in the SMW group as compared to the control and the SMH rats. There was a significant increase in arginase activity of SMW rats as compared to the control rats; Liver (0.71 ± 0.04 μmol/ml/min), Kidney (0.50 ± 1.07 μmol/ml/min). In addition, there was a significant reduction of arginase activity in the SMH rats as compared to the SMW rat; Liver (0.50 ± 0.06 μmol/ml/min), kidney (0.38 ± 0.60 μmol/ml/min). Our findings suggest that honey has a protective effect on liver and kidney in animals exposed to smoke.Keywords: Smoke, inhalation, honey, arginase, liver, kidne

Sesamum indicum diet prevents hyperlipidemia in experimental rats

Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic complications caused by hyperlipidemia are the leading cause of death globally. In this study, the hypolipidemic potency of Sesamum indicum (SI) seeds was investigated. Of the thirty-five (35) male rats used in the study, five (5) were randomly selected for baseline measurements and thirty (30) were fed high fat diet (HFD) for four (4) weeks before random assignment into three (3) groups. The experimental group was treated with 50% SI seed, the positive control group was given a hypolipidemic drug, atorvastatin (5 mg/kg/day) while the untreated group served as the negative control. With SI administration, the dyslipidemia induced by the HFD consumption in the plasma and the investigated body organs was reversed to a comparable degree with that of atorvastatin treatment. Taken together, this study demonstrates the hypolipidemic potency of SI in ameliorating hyperlipidemia and its associated complications, facilitated by the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity

Characterization of a thermostable Bacillus subtilis f-amylase isolated from decomposing peels of Cassava ( Manihot esculenta )

f-Amylase (\u3b1-1, 4 glucan maltohydrolase; E.C:3.2.1.2) is used in the food processing, brewing and distilling industries due to its capacity to produce maltose syrup from starch. Here, we report the purification and characterization of f-amylase from Bacillus subtilis isolated from cassava peel waste obtained from a milling factory in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. The enzyme was extracted, fractionated at 90% (NH4)2SO4 and further purified using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 34.67 Kd. The specific activity of the partially purified enzyme was approximately 1.35 units per mg of protein (Umg-1), Kinetic analysis of its starch hydrolysis activity gave a Km value of 2.496 \ub1 0.025% and a Vmax of 1.136 \ub1 0.055 units min-1. The optimum pH and temperature were determined to be 5.5 and 70 0C respectively, and the thermal stability curve gave a maximum activity of 9.75 U at 70oC for 60 min of incubation. Bacillus subtilis f-amylase is valuable for maltose production, which can be hydrolyzed further by other groups of amylase for the production of high cassava glucose syrup used as sweeteners in the food industry

Characterization of Thiosulphate: Cyanide sulphur transferase from the gut and body segments of Earthworm Hyperiodrilus africanus

Cyanide compounds that are by products of industrial activities are known to pose serious environmental pollution. The use of these cyanide compounds by the mining industry, along with limitations in the analysis and monitoring of these compounds, raises serious concerns regarding environmental protection and public safety. Hyperiodrilus africanus (earthworm) is directly employed within bioremediation strategies to promote biodegradation of organic contaminants and thus could be employed to rejuvenate cyanide contaminated soils. Cyanides detoxification could also prevent the risk of cyanide poisoning in poultry animals by converting cyanides in forages to a less toxic compound. This work is designed to extract and characterize rhodanese (thiosulphate: cyanide sulphur transferase, (EC 2.8.1.1) from the gut and body segments of H. africanus collected from the swampy area along Uren bank river in Ikenne community of Ogun State, Nigeria. Our results show total rhodanese activities of 1434.50 RU and 2274.28 RU and specific activities of 108.01 RUmg-1 and 83.1901 RUmg-1 in the gut and body segments of H. africanus respectively. The optimum temperature of 25 \u2daC and optimum pH of 10.5 were obtained for both the gut and body segments enzymes. The enzyme obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the kinetic constants, Km and Vmax in the gut segment were 33.33 mM and 62.50 RU/ml for KCN substrate and 22.22 mM and 41.67 RU/ml for Na2S2O3 substrates. In the body segment, the Km and Vmax were 33.33 mM and 83.33 RU/ml; 15.38 mM and 4.00 RU/ml for the KCN and Na2S2O3 substrates respectively. Hence, we conclude that the enzyme is more specific for Na2S2O3 than KCN as substrates, though maximum activity was observed in the body segment for KCN substrate. Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, K+, Na+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ metal ion salts activated the body segment rhodanese at 1 mM and 5 mM concentrations while they have no effect on the gut segment rhodanese from earthworm. On the basis of these findings we conclude that earthworm could detoxify cyanide-containing wastes/forages and therefore promote biodegradation

Characterization of a thermostable Bacillus subtilis ß-amylase isolated from decomposing peels of Cassava ( Manihot esculenta )

ß-Amylase (α-1, 4 glucan maltohydrolase; E.C:3.2.1.2) is used in the food processing, brewing and distilling industries due to its capacity to produce maltose syrup from starch. Here, we report the purification and characterization of ß-amylase from Bacillus subtilis isolated from cassava peel waste obtained from a milling factory in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. The enzyme was extracted, fractionated at 90% (NH4)2SO4 and further purified using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 34.67 Kd. The specific activity of the partially purified enzyme was approximately 1.35 units per mg of protein (Umg-1), Kinetic analysis of its starch hydrolysis activity gave a Km value of 2.496 ± 0.025% and a Vmax of 1.136 ± 0.055 units min-1. The optimum pH and temperature were determined to be 5.5 and 70 0C respectively, and the thermal stability curve gave a maximum activity of 9.75 U at 70oC for 60 min of incubation. Bacillus subtilis ß-amylase is valuable for maltose production, which can be hydrolyzed further by other groups of amylase for the production of high cassava glucose syrup used as sweeteners in the food industry