Pasting characteristics of plantain (Balbisiana Hybrids) and banana (Musa acuminata) starches

The starch powdered samples were analyzed for their pasting characteristics using Rapid visco analyser (RVA). From the graph of viscosity versus time, the final viscosity of plantain starch (298.67Rvu) was higher than that of Banana starch (165.67Rvu). The higher viscosity recorded in plantain starch showed that there was re-association between the starch molecules which led to formation of gel and caused by not only simple kinetic effect of cooling but re-association of amylose. The hold period of plantain starch (141.75minutes) was higher than that of Banana starch (112.33minutes). The hold period is accomplished by a breakdown in viscosity. The breakdown of banana starch (29.42Rvu)was higher than that of protein (24.25Rvu). The high breakdown in viscosity of Banana starch will be of great usefulness industrially. The peak viscosity of plantain (116.00Rvu) was higher than that of Banana starch (141.75Rvu). The high peak viscosity in plantain showed that the starch formed a paste on cooling at pasting temperature of 94.50C

Effect of rana galamensis-based diet on the activities of some enzymes and histopathology of selected tissues of albino rats

The effect of Rana galamensis-based diet on the activities of some enzymes and histopathology of selected tissues of albino rats was investigated for eight weeks. A total of sixteen albino rats weighing between 29.15 and 26.01g (21 days old) were divided into two groups. The first group contains animals fed on casein-based diet (control); the second group was fed on Rana galamensis-based diet. The animals were fed with their appropriate diet on daily basis and on the eight weeks of the experiment the animals were sacrificed using diethyl ether as anesthesia, blood was collected by cardiac puncture and organs of interest were harvested. Thereafter, organ to body weight ratio, some biochemical parameters and histopathology examination were carried out. There was no significant difference (p >0.05) in the organ to body weight ratio of the animals fed on control and Rana galamensis-based diets. Also, there was no significant different (p >0.05) in the activities of all the enzymes (ALP [alkaline phosphatase], AST [asparate transaminase], ALT [alanine transaminase], and γGT [gamma glutamyl transferase]) investigated in the selected tissues and serum of rats fed on Rana galamensis- based diet when compared with the control. In addition, histological examinations of hepatocyte's rats fed on Rana galamensis- based diet show normal architecture structure when compared with the control. The insignificant different in the activities of all the enzymes studies (ALP, AST, ALT and γGT) indicated no organ damage, supported by the normal histology studies. The obtained results may imply that Rana galamensis is safe for consumption.&nbsp

CHARACTERIZATION OF COCOA (THEOBROMA COCOA) POD

Cocoa pod is a waste product of cocoa seeds and have been found very useful industrially for making black soaps which are highly medicinal for treating various ailment. The oil of the pod was investigated to reveal the various compounds present in the oil, Essential fatty acids and other organic compounds were revealed by the use of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotomete

Prophylactic Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Alstonia boonei Stem Bark Against DDVP-induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

The prophylactic effect of ethanolic extract of Alstonia boonei(AB) stem bark on(2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate)DDVP-induced oxidative damage in male albino rats’ liver was investigated. Male Wistar rats were divided into control, DDVP and treatment groups. In the prophylactic experiment, AB, (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was administered by oral gavage for 21th days before exposure to DDVP. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were then determined in the liver and heart alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were monitored and histological examination was carried out. Results indicate that DDVP-induced rats had significantly increased relative weight of liver and heart when compared to controls. Treatment with AB at 200 and 400mg/kg caused a significant reduction in relative weight of the organs. In DDVP-induced rats, serum ALT and AST activities and levels of LPO were increased whereas hepatic and cardiac SOD, CAT and GPx were significantly decreased. Furthermore, histological alteration in the liver and aorta were observed in DDVP untreated rats and were ameliorated in DDVP-induced treated rats with AB. In conclusion, the extract possesses antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties that eliminate the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites of DDVP

Biology of glucose metabolization in cancer cells

Cancer is a disease at the cellular level involving heritable disorders in cellular control mechanism. Cancer cells also need to adapt their metabolism to survive and multiply under the metabolically compromised conditions provided by the tumor microenvironment. Tumor cells alter their metabolism to maintain unregulated cellular proliferation and survival, but this transformation leaves them reliant on constant supply of nutrients and energy. They alter their metabolism to support their rapid prolif- eration and expansion across the body. After the discovery of based on the altered cancer cell metabolism in 1930, loads of studies have shed light on several aspects of cancer metabolism with a common goal to fi nd new ways for effectively eliminating tumor cells by targeting their energy metabolism. Research has directed most of its resources to elucidate the causes, prevention and possible cure for cancer, yet the process has been elusive claiming human lives more than ever. This disease is a manifestation of etio- logical and pathological disturbances of mechanisms that control cell division, differentiation and metabolism. 50% of all human tumors carry genetic alterations that lead to the inactivation of some tumor suppressor proteins. Cancer cells are shown to experience characteristic changes in their meta- bolic programs, including increased uptake of glucose, enhanced rates of glutaminolysis and fatty acids synthesis, suggesting that metabolic shifts supports tumor cells growth and survival. In this review, we summarized the major concepts of glucose metabolization and explore the molecular basis of aerobic glycolysis of cancer cell

Inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts of raw and roasted Sesamum indicum L. seeds on key enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and Alzheimer’s disease (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase)

Sesame (Sesamum indicum&nbsp;L.) seeds are nutritional food, but researches have limited knowledge about the antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticholinesterase activities of the seed. This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibitory potential (&alpha;-amylase and &alpha;-glucosidase) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory property of aqueous extracts of raw and roasted sesame seeds. Antioxidant activities were analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging property, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging ability, iron chelating ability and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Anti-Alzheimer's potential was determined using acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition assay. The results showed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in the roasted S. indicum sample with the values of 19.81mg/100g and 17.19 mg/100g respectively. The raw S. indicum sample showed higher antioxidant activity in DPPH, and iron chelation assays; while roasted S. indicum sample showed higher in the reducing power and ABTS scavenging activity. However, anticholinesterase activity was higher in the roasted S. indicum sample than in the raw S. indicum sample. The extracts inhibited &alpha;-amylase activity in a concentration-dependent manner (20 - 100 &micro;g.mL-1). The raw sample (16.55 &plusmn;0.89%) had higher inhibitory &alpha;-amylase activity compared to the roasted sample (15.78 &plusmn;0.48%) at 100 &micro;g.mL-1. Inhibition of &alpha;-glucosidase was higher in the roasted sample at 100 &micro;g.mL-1 (19.40 &plusmn;0.26%) compared to the raw sample at the same concentration (3.65 &plusmn;0.52%). These findings suggest that S. indicum L. is not only nutritious but also showed potential pharmacological properties.</p

Helianthus annuus Leaf Ameliorates Postprandial Hyperglycaemia by Inhibiting Carbohydrate Hydrolyzing Enzymes Associated with Type-2 Diabetes

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease. Decreasing postprandial hyperglycemia by retarding glucose absorption through inhibiting carbohydrates digesting enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) is one of many approaches used for the management of this disease. This study was aimed at evaluating the normoglycaemic potential of Helianthus annuus leaf. Methods: The effect of the in vitro inhibitory of different extracts (acetone, ethyl acetate and hexane) of the plant was assessed on the activities of diabetes-related enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase). Results: The hexane extract of H. annuus leaf displayed the best inhibitory activity against α- amylase and α-glucosidase as indicated by the IC50 values (3.92 ± 0.02 mg mL-1) and (3.29 ± 0.12 mg mL-1), respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plot of inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by this extract showed that it was competitive and non-competitive mode, respectively. Conclusion: H. annuus leaf possesses hypoglycaemic potential which may be due to the inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase

Protective effect of Irvingia gabonensis stem bark extract on cadmiuminduced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Cadmium has been considered a risk factor for humans as it accumulates in body tissues, such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, bones, and reproductive organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Irvingia gabonensis (IG) against cadmium (Cd)-induced nephrotoxicity. The study was performed on twenty (20) male rats divided into four groups: control group, cadmium group (4 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), cadmium + extract (200 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) and cadmium + extract (400 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage). Changes in the kidney biochemical markers, namely glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), urea, and creatinine were determined in serum. Histological examinations were monitored. Exposure to Cd lowered the activities of kidney antioxidants, while it increased LPO levels. Levels of all disrupted parameters were alleviated by co-administration of IG extract. The malondialdehyde concentration of the rats treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared with the untreated cadmium rats. Yet the creatinine concentration decreased significantly (p<0.05) when the cadmium animals treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract were compared with the cadmium control. Furthermore, histological alterations in the kidney were observed in cadmium untreated rats and these were ameliorated in cadmium treated rats by co-administration of IG extract. IG showed apparent protective and curative effect on Cd-induced nephrotoxicity

Mitochondrial defects in pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases: Pathogenesis and therapeutic applications

Financiaciado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGMitochondria malfunction is linked to the development of β-cell failure and a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Pancreatic β-cells are normally configured to detect glucose and other food secretagogues in order to adjust insulin exocytosis and maintain glucose homeostasis. As a result of the increased glucose level, mitochondria metabolites and nucleotides are produced, which operate in concert with cytosolic Ca2+ to stimulate insulin secretion. Furthermore, mitochondria are the primary generators of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis regulation. Mitochondria are concentrated in synapses, and any substantial changes in synaptic mitochondria location, shape, quantity, or function might cause oxidative stress, resulting in faulty synaptic transmission, a symptom of various degenerative disorders at an early stage. However, a greater understanding of the role of mitochondria in the etiology of β-cell dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorder should pave the way for a more effective approach to addressing these health issues. This review looks at the widespread occurrence of mitochondria depletion in humans, and its significance to mitochondria biogenesis in signaling and mitophagy. Proper understanding of the processes might be extremely beneficial in ameliorating the rising worries about mitochondria biogenesis and triggering mitophagy to remove depleted mitochondria, therefore reducing disease pathogenesi

ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITIES AND HEMATOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF BLIGHIA SAPIDA KOENIG BARK IN ALLOXANINDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Blighia sapida(BS) has been shown to be rich sources of antioxidant, thus, we evaluated effects of B. sapida Koenig stem bark ethanol extract (BSE) on lipid metabolism and hematological indices in diabetes rats. Th irty male rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Diabetes was elicited by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (65 mg/kg body weight) once and orally administered with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), B. sapidaextract (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight (bw) once daily for 21 days. Serum lipid profi le, markers of hepato-renal toxicity and hematological indices were examined using automated analyzer. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically different. Diabetic untreated animals showed considerably elevated total cholesterol p < 0.05, also, significant increase in AST, ALT, ALP, urea and creatinine compared to control. Triglycerides, LDL-c, VLDL-c, AI and CRI decreased with extract administration and HDL-c increased considerable compared to untreated diabetic rats. Furthermore, significant lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBCs) levels, white blood cells (WBCs) compared to normal animals was recorded in the untreated group. Th ese changes were returned to normal after the administration of extract 50, 100 and 150 mg/ kg body weight. Hence, these effects were most prominent in the animals treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of B. sapidabark. Th is indicates that B. sapida stem bark possess anti-hyperlipidemic activity and improved the biochemical parameters within the hematological profile of diabetic rats. Keyword: Blighia sapida, antihyperlipidemic, hematological profile, diabete