SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

SPARC 2017 retrospect & prospects : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2017 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the 50th anniversary of Salford as a University, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 130 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to exploit this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas to your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

HYPOGLYCEMIC EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF DANDELION (TARAXACUM OFFICINALE F.H. WIGG.) LEAVES AND ROOTS ON STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED ALBINO RATS

ABSTRACT The effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. leaves and roots on fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar albino rats (Rattus rattus) were studied. Exactly 75 Wistar albino rats weighing between 100-225 g were used for the study, and a total of four groups were created. Two groups were divided into six sub-groups of five rats each for the leaf and root extracts respectively, with the remaining two groups being the normal control rats (NCR) and diabetic control rats (DCR). The two sub-groups were thus; sub I, comprising of sub-groups 1-4 which were for diabetic test rats (DTR) on 6% and 10% of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves respectively, while sub-group 5 and 6 were normal test rats (NTR) on 10% of both extracts of leaves respectively. Same was applicable for sub II which represents the roots extracts. After STZ-induction, the course of hyperglycemia was monitored by estimation of FBG. Then administration of T. officinale leaf and root extracts (Aq. and Et.) commenced and lasted for 21 days. Changes in FBG concentration between the NCR and DCR against NTR and DTR treated with two doses (300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg bodyweight twice a day) of the extracts were evaluated using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). When compared, the FBG levels of the DCR and DTR varied significantly (P < 0.05). Whereas the mean conc. of FBG levels of NCR was (4.4 ± 0.12 mmol/l) that of DCR was (27.1 ± 1.59 mmol/l). On administration of 6% and 10% concentration of the extracts to the DTR and NTR, statistically significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in glucose concentration was observed. The FBG level of DTR on 6% leaf extract dropped from 17.1 ± 0.18-9.3 ± 1.86 mmol/l, those on 10% dropped from 18.3 ± 2.58-9.9 ± 1.00 mmol/l. The NTR on 10% leaf extract dropped from 9.9 ± 0.76-7.9 ± 1.00 mmol/l. For the root extract, FBG levels of DTR on 6% and 10% extracts dropped from 15.8 ± 0.18-9.6 ± 2.10 mmol/l and 16.0 ± 0.71-7.5 ± 1.46 mmol/l respectively. The NTR on 10% roots extracts fell from 7.55 ± 1.61-3.4 ± 1.23 mmol/l. The results of this study strongly suggest that although T. officinale leaves and roots possess hypoglycemic properties, the roots of ethanolic extraction are relatively more potent and may be beneficial in the management of diabetes