Cytotoxic flavonoids from Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause

Background: Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause (family: Anacardiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant in Nigeria whose various parts have been shown to elicit several biological activities. This study specifically explored the leaf of L. egregia for potential cytotoxic compounds. Methods: n-Hexane, dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the leaf were prepared using the Soxhlet apparatus and concentrated using the rotary evaporator. Compounds were isolated by reversed-phase preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and the structures were determined by spectroscopic means. The methanolic extract and the isolated compounds were screened for cytotoxicity against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, using the MTT assay. Results: Three flavonoids, myricetin (1), myricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (2) and quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (3), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaf of L. egregia. The methanolic extract and compound 3 showed the most potent inhibition profiles against the cells, with IC50 values (Mean ± SEM) of 45.3 ± 1.5 µg/mL and 57.5 ± 0.4 µg/mL for the methanolic extract, and 36.5 ± 2.0 µM and 57.9 ± 10.1 µM for compound 3, against HeLa and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Conclusion: This work shows that L. egregia leaf is moderately cytotoxic, and rich in flavonoids, and the cytotoxicity of the extract is, at least partially, due to the presence of cytotoxic flavonoids. This is the first report on characterized isolated compounds from the leaf of L. egregia and the occurrence of flavonols in the leaf

Skinfold Parameter as Predictor of Body Density for Undergraduate Female Students in a Nigeria University Community

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if some selected skinfold parameters are visible in predicting body density (BD) of undergraduate female students of Obafemi Awolowo University, lie Ife. Methods: Seventy five non- athletic female students, age ranged from 18 to 30 years old from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) lie Ife, Nigeria participated in the study. Underwater weight was measured using Hydrostatic Weighing (HSW) equipment and skinfold was measured with Lange skinfold calipers using standard protocol at chest, biceps, triceps, forearm, mid axillar, subscapular, abdomen, supra illiac, thigh and lateral calf. Body density (BD) was calculated with underwater weight and skinfold measurement using some established equations. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Moment Correlation coefficient was used to analyze the data collected. Results: The result showed that BD by HSW had significant negative correlation with skinfold at chest (r = - .505, p < .001), biceps (r = -. 302, p < .05), midaxillar, (r = - .328, p < .05), thigh (r = -.353, p < .05), abdomen (r =- .290, p < .05) and suprailliac (r = -, 371, p< .001). Conclusion: The study concluded that the equation derived from the study is appropriate to determine the BD of Nigerian women. KeyWords: Body density; Skinfold thickness; Hydrostatic and underwater weighing; predictive equations; Nigeri