Anti-diarrhoeal effects of Garcinia kola (Heckel-Holl) seed methanolic extract and its fractions in animal models

This study investigated the In vitro spasmolytic and In vivo anti-diarrhoeal effects of Garcinia kola seed extract/fractions. Extraction was done by maceration in 70% methanol, serially partitioned in ethyl acetate and n-hexane. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out on the crude extract/fractions. The In vitro spasmolytic effect of the extract and fractions at different concentrations (0.5×103, 0.2×103,0.1×103, 0.6×102 mg/ml) were investigated against spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum as well as histamine-induced contractions using isolated guinea pig ileum. The In vivo anti-diarrhoeal effect of the extract was evaluated using three diarrhoeal models: castor oil-induced diarrhoea, charcoal meal gastrointestinal transit time and castor oil-induced enteropooling. In each model, 25 mice were randomly divided into five groups of 5 mice each. Group I served as the untreated control, while group II was a positive control. Groups III-V were administered 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg of the crude methanol extract, respectively. The crude extract, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions at 0.5×103 mg/ml respectively exhibited 14.4%, 12.9% and 12.2% spasmolytic activities against acetylcholine-induced rabbit jejunum contractions. Histamine-induced guinea pig ileum contractions were inhibited by crude extract (6.2%), ethyl acetate (6.2%), aqueous fraction (7.2%) at 0.6×102 mg/ml. For castor oil-induced diarrhoea, the crude extract at 500 mg/kg produced a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the diarrhoeal index and faecal weight with a percentage inhibition of 70.4% compared with controls. Similarly, the crude extract (500 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the charcoal meal gastrointestinal transit time with a percentage inhibition of 33.9% and elicited significant (p < 0.05) intraluminal fluid reduction (9.1%) in castor oil-induced enter pooling test when compared with the untreated group. In conclusion, the anti-motility and anti-secretory activities of the crude extract were attributed to the phytochemical constituents present

Assessment of the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR-γ2 gene among type 2 diabetes patients in a Nigerian population

The association between the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ2 gene, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and obesity in certain ethnic populations has been reported. However, this relationship has not yet been described among diabetes patients in Nigeria. This study investigated the relationship between the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPARγ2 gene, obesity, and lipid abnormalities characterizing T2D among patients in Nigeria. This case-control study recruited 73 T2D and 75 non-diabetic (ND) patients. Demographic and clinical data were collected and blood glucose levels together with serum lipid profile for patients were measured. Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPARγ2 gene was genotyped by restriction fragment length-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR). The PPAR-γ2 gene (amplicon size = 270 base pair) was successfully amplified for all samples. Following restriction enzyme digestion and analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis, amplicons from samples showed a band of size 270 bp and were of the wild homozygous Pro/Pro genotype. Ala12 variant was totally absent from the study population. Obesity, estimated using Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), was significantly higher (p 200 mg/dL), hypertriglyceridaemia (TG > 150 mg/dL), high HDL (>100 mg/dL), and low HDL (<50 mg/dL) was significantly greater (p < 0.001) in T2D patients compared to non-diabetic patients. Results obtained further indicated lack of significant association between PPAR-γ2 gene polymorphism, T2D, and obesity. However, obesity and dyslipidaemia were strongly associated in T2D patients

The pathology observed in experimental Fasciola gigantica infected Yankasa sheep in Zaria Nigeria.

A study was conducted to determine the pathogenic effects of Fasciola gigantica infection on Yankasa sheep for a period of four months (April-July ,2010). Pathological lesions were observed in four Fasciola gigantica infected Yankasa sheep that died at the 10th, 11th and 12th week post-infection in an experimental infection at the Reproduction unit of the National Animal production Research institute, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria. The experiment involved twelve Yankasa sheep that were divided into two groups of infected and controls. The six animals in the infected group were each orally inoculated with 1200 Fasciola gigantica metacercariae and monitored for a period of 16 weeks. The pathogenic effects of the Fasciola gigantica infection began to manifest through death of four sheep among the infected group; with one death observed on the 10th week, two on the 11th and one on the 12th week post-infections respectively. The gross pathological lesions observed were hepatomegally, appearance of migratory tracts on the liver surface, appearance of puncture wounds through which protruded the anterior ends of the flukes to the liver surface as well as a fluid filled cavity with each having a fluid content of not less than 2.5 litres within the abdominal cavity. Other features observed grossly were marked distension of the gall bladder in which numerous flukes were present. The histopathological lesions were presented inform of intense hemorrhage both in the parenchyma and in the parasite tracts. There was fibrosis and distortion of the normal architecture of the hepatic cells. Observed clinical signs were inappetance, progressive anaemia and emaciation. There was a marked reduction in albumin and total plasma protein levels in the blood of the infected sheep compared to their controls. The findings of this study revealed that Fasciola gigantica is highly pathogenic to Yankasa sheep, therefore strategic control of the parasite and its intermediate host in the study area is recommended for improved sheep production.Keywords: Yankasa sheep, Liver, lesio

Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica coexistence in domestic ruminants in Nigeria: application of a PCR-based tool

5 páginas, 2 figuras.The distinction between Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica has been traditionally based on morphological criteria, although accurate recognition of the two flukes is usually difficult because of substantial variations in morphological features. The main aim of this study was to develop a PCR-based assay for discrimination between both species collected in sheep and cattle from Nigeria. A total of 47 animals, 33 cattle and 14 sheep, were sampled, and a single adult fluke was collected from each animal. DNA was extracted from flukes, and primers were designed based on mitochondrial DNA sequences to amplify a 304 bp fragment for the identification of F. hepatica and 752 bp for F. gigantica. PCR products from 12 flukes were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. A total of 29 out of 47 flukes were identified as F. hepatica and 18 as F. gigantica. Within each host, the percentage of each fluke species was as follows: In cattle, 18/33 (54.5%) and 15/33 (45.5%) were F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively. In sheep, 11/14 (78.6%) were F. hepatica and 3/14 F. gigantica (21.4%). The phylogenetic analysis confirmed these results. Although the number of flukes collected in sheep was limited, it seems that F. hepatica is more prevalent in sheep than F. gigantica, whereas the percentage of each species was similar in cattle. This study confirms the presence of F. hepatica in Nigeria.This study was supported by the Spanish “Ramon y Cajal” Programme, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad). VCG was funded by “Junta de Castilla y León” (LE082-18); JG was funded by Ramon Areces Foundation; EVG and MMV were funded by FPU16/03536 and the Spanish “Ramon y Cajal” Programme, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad) (MMV, RYC-2015-18368), respectively

New tool for the discrimination between Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica flukes collected from domestic ruminants

Trabajo presentado al: JOINT COMBAR - ACSRPC meeting: Anthelmintic Resistance in Ruminants: Who cares? Abstract Book, Poster Presentations, pp. 41. Gante (Bélgica). 27-29 agosto 2019.Fascioliosis is a food­borne trematode infection caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. This disease is considered a zoonosis, mainly infecting wild and domestic ruminants, causing a considerable socio­economic impact in endemic countries. Traditionally, the distinction between these two species has been based on morphological criterial, although accurate recognition of the two flukes is usually difficult because of substantial variations in the morphological features. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop a PCR­based assay for discrimination between F. hepatica and F. gigantica flukes collected in sheep and cattle from Nigeria. A total of 47 animals, 33 cattle and 14 sheep, were sampled and a single adult fluke was collected from each anima.l DNA was extracted from flukes and primers were designed based on mitochondrial DNA sequnces to amplify a 304 bp fragment for the identification of F. hepatica and 752 bp for F. gigantica. Moreover, PCR products from 12 flukes were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Out of 47 flukes, 39 were identified as F. hepatica and 18 as F. gigantica. Within each host the percentage of each fluke species was as follows: in cattle 18/33 (54.5%) and 15/33 (45.5%) were F. hepatica and F. gigantica, respectively, and in sheep 11/14 (78.6%) and 3/14 (21.4%). The phylogenetic analysis confirmed these results. Although the number of flukes collected in sheep was limited, it seems that F. hepatica is more prevalent in sheep than F. gigantica; whereas the percentage of each species was similar in cattle. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which confirms the presence of F. hepatica in Nigeria