Sensory evaluation and microbial status of meat floss from West African Dwarf Goats fed graded levels of broiler litter

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion levels of Broiler Litter (BL) on meat quality of West Africa Dwarf (WAD) goats. Five complete diets were formulated using BL to replace 40 % composition of Cottonseed Cake (CSC) as dietary protein source at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % levels, thus each level of replacement served as a treatment. Thirty WAD bucks with average weight of 10.57±0.42 kg were randomly allotted to five treatments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). After feeding trials and digestibility studies, the bucks were humanly slaughtered and two kilograms of meat from uniform parts (hind leg and loin) of each buck were processed to Meat Floss (Dambun nama) and evaluated for proximate, sensory qualities and microbial status during storage for 60 days at room temperature. Twenty semi-trained panellists were used to evaluate the processed meat, using a five-point hedonic scale, Total Aerobic Plate Counts (TAPC) and Total Coliform Counts (TCC) was also determined. The result revealed that proximate nutrients composition of fresh Chevon was not significantly (p>0.05) different in all the treatments. The results of sensory parameters revealed that aroma, taste, colour, tenderness, juiciness and acceptability were significantly (p<0.05) affected by levels of BL inclusions. Similarly, there was also interaction (p<0.05) between levels of CSC replacement with broiler litter and time of storage of Dambun nama on sensory parameters. It was concluded that replacing up to 50 % of CSC with BL improved meat sensory qualities

In-silico comparative study of three (3) bioactive compounds from methanol extracts of Combretum micranthum leaf, and diazepam with Gabaa receptor molecule

Stress affects monoamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system such as GABA (a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain). GABAA receptor is hetero-oligomeric Cl-channel that is elective blocked by the alkaloid, bicuculline and modulated by steroids, barbiturates and benzodiazepines. The anticonvulsant activity of Diazepam may be mediated by enhancement of inhibition involving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Combretum micranthum is one of the maximum effective medicinal plants of therapeutic importance. Thus this study is to examine the effect of Combretum micranthum methanol leaf extract on GABAA Receptor via In-Silico analysis. Combretum micranthum methanol leaf extract was found using GC-MS to contain bioactive compounds (3,5-dichlorophenylhydrazine, guanidine and aminooxyacetic acid) with GABAergic functions. And the popular docking programs PatchDock and AutoDockVina were then used to predict computationally binding modes of these compounds with GABAA receptor. The molecular docking analyses indicated highly and effectively interactions (binding energy in kcal/mol) between GABAA receptor and the Combretum micranthum compounds (ligands): 3,5-dichlorophenylhydrazine (-193.85 and-5.6), guanidine (-87.63 and -3.3) and aminooxyacetic acid (-85.3 and -3.2) for both PatchDock and AutoDock Vina respectively. Results shows that 3,5-dichlorophenylhydrazine has a close binding energy in kcal/mol to that of Diazepam (-200.68 and -6.1 respectively). Findings of the study shows that the interaction between Combretum micranthum compounds (3,5-dichlorophenylhydrazine, guanidine and aminooxyacetic acid) with GABAA receptor can be explore for the development of new therapeutics to manage mental disorders.   Keywords: Gamma-aminobutyric acid, Combretum micranthum , AutoDockVina, PatchDoc

Neuronal cell membrane protective effects of Combretum micranthum methanol leaf extract on lead-induced brain damage in Swiss albino mice

Combretum micranthum is used traditionally for many therapeutic purposes such as fatigue, liver ailments, headache, convalescence, blood disease, weight loss among others. Studies suggested that free radical production may be one main reason behind stress induces neurochemical changes that include neurotransmitter imbalance and histopathological alterations in the brain cell. Thus this study examined the relationship between brain histopathological alterations and neurotransmitter imbalance (gamma aminobutyric acid - GABA) in lead exposure, and possible neuroprotective role of Combretum micranthum  methanol leaf extract in mice. Thirty six (36) Swiss Albino mice (19 - 22g body weight) were used for the study, randomized equally into six groups and treated for the period 14days:  a) Normal Control (Distilled water), b) Negative control (40 mg/kg lead acetate), c) lead acetate + 100 mg/kg b.w. extract, d) lead acetate + 50 mg/kg b.w. extract,  e) lead acetate + 25 mg/kg b.w. extract and f) positive control (lead acetate + diazepam 0.5 mg/kg b.w). The study assayed for protective potential of Combretum micranthum on neuronal cell membrane through determination of the brain cells malondialdyhyde (MDA) levels, morphology and GABA levels. Result of the study showed a significantly increase level of GABA in the brain of mice administered doses of the extract with a decreased level of MDA, as compared to those mice treated with 40 mg/kg lead acetate alone, which showed decreased level in GABA (310.83pg/ml), but an increased level of MDA (30.03μmolTBARS/mg). Also the mice administered doses of the extract showed normal neurons while intensive neuronal necrosis was observed on those mice treated with 40mg/kg lead acetate alone. However, mice administered with the doses of the extract shows no any significant difference with those in the normal control and positive control treatment groups.  Also the Combretum micranthum  methanol leaf extract was found, using GC-MS, to contain propargylamine, a compound known to possess anti-apoptosis functions, and also those with GABAergic functions 3,4-dichlorophenylhydrazine, guanidine and aminooxyacetic acid. Findings of the present study has proven Combretum micranthum to be a potential plant in managing and preventing brain structural damage induced by lead administration. Keywords: Lead, Combretum micranthum, GABA, malondialdyhyde (MDA) and histopatholog