Phytochemical Screening, Polyphenolic Content and Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Potential of Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne. (Asclepiadaceae) is widely used as vegetable and traditionally in the management of diabetes mellitus and in the treatment of wounds and stomach ache. In this study, phytochemical screening, total phenolic contents and alpha-glucosidase activity of L. hastata leaf extracts were evaluated with the view to validating its antidiabetic potentials. Acetone, methanol and water extracts were screened for the polyphenolic contents while methanol and water extract were used for the evaluation of alpha-glucosidase activity. Phytochemical screening of L. hastata leaf indicated the presence of phenolic glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, alkaloids and saponins. The total phenolics, total flavonoids and proanthocyanidins contents were in the ranges of 17-38, 10-16 and 4-10 mg/g respectively depending on the extraction solvent. The methanol and water extracts had 69.81 and 37.02 % inhibitory effect on alpha-glucosidase activity respectively. The results indicated that L. hastata leaf is rich in polyphenols and possess significant alpha-glucosidase inhibition potential and may therefore be a source of lead compounds in the management of diabetes mellitus and/or other diseases that may be caused by oxidative stress.Keywords: Leptadenia hastata, phytochemicals, polyphenols, alpha-glucosidase, effect, inhibitionNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19 (2): 181-18

Cephalometric Assessment of the Fourth Ventricles Using Computerized Tomography: A Five Year Study in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria

The fourth ventricle is usually affected in posterior cranial fossa tumours and other intracranial and ventricular disorders. Therefore, accurate measurement of the fourth ventricle will go a long way in evaluating braindisorders and decision making prior to neurosurgical procedures. This, therefore, places high premium on the accuracy in the technique and equipment used in obtaining a good Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan of the brain. To provide baseline data for measurements of normal fourth ventricle using computed tomographic Scan. Measurement was made with Dragon V3.1.1. A total of 652 scan examinations of subjects were analyzed in this study. 434 (65.79%) of the subjects were males while 217 (34.21%) were females. (M: F ratio = 2:1).The mean length of the fourth ventricles was 9.55mm and mean width was 12.86mm. Maximum length was 13.95mm and minimum length was 5.1mm. Least width was 2.65mm and greatest width was 17.28mm. Thus, the difference between the lengths of the fourth ventricles was not statistically significant (p.0.05), so also there was no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) between the width of the fourth ventricles in males and females. In conclusion, this study has provided reference ranges for the normal values of the length and width of the fourth ventricle in male and female Nigerians.Keywords: Cephalometry, assessment, fourth ventricles, CT, Nigeria

Effect of Copper, Manganese and Zinc With Antioxidant Vitamins on Pulse Rate and Lipid Profile of Salt-Loaded Albino Rats

Hypertension and dyslipidemia are associated with oxidative stress and are major causes of cardiovascular diseases amounting to 30% of global death rate. The effect of antioxidants supplementation on pulse rate and lipid profile in salt-loaded albino rats were investigated using a randomized control study with 30 albino rats divided into 5 experimental groups of 6 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 were normal untreated and salt-induced untreated respectively. Groups 3-5 were treated with Vitamins (A, C and E) with Cu, Mn and Zn respectively. Hypertension and dyslipidemia were induced using Salt-loading method (8% NaCl) for a period of five (5) weeks where Group 1 received normal rat feed and Groups 2-5 received salt-loaded diet. The heart rate of the rats was measured before and after the salt loading and dyslipidaemia was assessed at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that salt loading induced significant increase (

Population structure and evolutionary history of the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) from the Guinean Forests of West Africa

Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is a large-body old world rodent found in sub-Saharan Africa. The body size and the unique taste of the meat of this major crop pest have made it a target of intense hunting and a potential consideration as a micro-livestock. However, there is insufficient knowledge on the genetic diversity of its populations across African Guinean forests. Herein, we investigated the genetic diversity, population structures and evolutionary history of seven Nigerian wild grasscutter populations together with individuals from Cameroon, Republic of Benin, and Ghana, using five mitochondrial fragments, including D-loop and cytochrome b (CYTB). D-loop haplotype diversity ranged from 0.571 (± 0.149) in Republic of Benin to 0.921 (± 0.013) in Ghana. Within Nigeria, the haplotype diversity ranged from 0.659 (± 0.059) in Cross River to 0.837 (± 0.075) in Ondo subpopulation. The fixation index (FST), haplotype frequency distribution and analysis of molecular variance revealed varying levels of population structures across populations. No significant signature of population contraction was detected in the grasscutter populations. Evolutionary analyses of CYTB suggests that South African population might have diverged from other populations about 6.1 (2.6–10.18, 95% CI) MYA. Taken together, this study reveals the population status and evolutionary history of grasscutter populations in the region

Effects of poultry droppings and house hold waste on the yield and nutritional quality of tomato fruits (Solanum lycopersicum )

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology Minna, Gidan Kwanu Campus. The experiment was to determine the effects of poultry dropping and house hold waste on the yield and nutritional quality of tomato fruits. The experiment was 2×2 factorial in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments which were each replicated thrice consisted of poultry dropping and house hold waste at 5t/ha. There were two varieties of tomato (Roma VF and UC82B). Tomato seedlings were raised in the nursery and transplanted to the experimental site after four weeks and spaced at 50cm×50cm. Poultry droppings and house hold waste were incorporated into the soil two weeks before transplanting. Five plants were randomly selected and tagged for data collection. Data collected include plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, days to 50% flowering, number fruits, fruit girth and fruit weight. Harvested fruits were also subjected to proximate analysis. The result showed that Roma VF recorded the highest plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches, throughout the study period while UC82B recorded the lowest. There were no significant interaction effects on plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches. The result also indicated that the application of poultry dropping resulted in the highest plant height while lowest plant heights were observed where there was no soil amendment (the control). Interaction effects were also observed on number of leaves. Significant interaction effects were also observed on the number of branches at eight weeks after transplanting. The findings from this study showed that poultry dropping can be applied at 5t/ha to Roma VF for quality tomato fruit and high yield.Key words: poultry dropping, house hold waste, plant height, number of branches, number of fruit

Morphology and Morphometric Study of the Lateral Ventricles Using Computerized Tomography

Background: The aim of this work is to study the morphology and morphometry of normal lateral ventricles using CT scan.Methodology: All available brain CT scans of subjects done in the Radiology Department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, Nigeria, from 2003 - 2008 (a 5-year period) and reported as normal by the Radiologist, were recruited for the study. Measurement was made with Dragon V3.1.1 Philips and Neusoft Medical System Company Limited software. The software provides a meter rule with which measurements were done.Results: A total of one hundred and fifty-two (152) CT scan examinations of the subjects were reviewed in this study. Of this number 100 (65.79%) examinations were of males and 52(34.21%) examinations were of females. (M: F ratio = 2:1).Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in the length of the frontal and occipital horns, body, as well as the anteroposterior extent of the right and left lateral ventricles among the age groups (p? 0.05)

The Prevalence of the Absence of the Occipital (Posterior) Horns of the Lateral Ventricles among Nigerians (2003 -2008) using Computerised Tomography

ABSTRAC

Morphological variation of third ventricle using computerized tomography among different gender and age groups: A 5-year retrospective study in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, North - West Nigeria

Background: Many methods have been described for measurements of the third ventricle as a means of evaluating brain atrophy during the normal aging process and disease. Enlargement of the cerebral ventricles is one of the most frequently replicated neurobiological findings in schizophrenia. The aim of this morphological study was to examine the range in the normal size of the third ventricle of individuals living in Sokoto and to assess its association with gender and age. Materials and Methods: All available brain CT in the Radiology Department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, Nigeria, from 2007 to 2012 (a 5-year period) and reported as normal by the radiologist were recruited for the study. Films were viewed on the computer monitor. Measurements were made with Dragon V 3.1.1 Philips and Neusoft Medical System Company Limited software; the software provides a meter rule with which measurements were done. Results: A total of 252 CT scan images where used in the study. Of this number, 156 (61.9%) were CT scan images of males and 96 (38.1%) were CT scan images of females. The mean width was 8.38 mm and mean anteroposterior length was 12.16 mm. These differences were statistically significant, P = 0.0209 < (0.05). Conclusion: Our findings provide a base line data for the measurement of the third ventricles using CT scans in our environment and this may be applied in various clinical conditions involving the third ventricle