RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS HOME PARTICIPATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL’S LEARNING AND PUPIL’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

The study sought to determine the relationship between parents’ home participation in primary school pupil’s learning and pupil’s academic achievement in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study was guided by five research questions and two null hypotheses. A correlational research design was used. Disproportionate stratified sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 1,680 students from a population of 90,411 primary school pupils in Anambra State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled “Parental Participation Questionnaire (PIQ)”. It has internal consistency reliability coefficient alpha of 0.78. The instrument was used to collect data which was administrated through the direct delivery approach. Research questions 1, 2, and 3 were answered using a range of aggregate scores, research questions 4 and 5 were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient while the null hypotheses tested using a t-test for correlation. Findings from the study revealed among others that there is a very low positive relationship existing between the primary school pupils’ parental participation in learning and their academic achievements in the English Language. Also, the findings revealed that there is a very low negative relationship existing between the primary school pupils’ parental participation in learning and their academic achievements in Mathematics. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that guidance counsellors and school administrators should work together to help create fun and engaging educational programs that could engage parents in-home learning for their children as that may likely go a long way to help enhance their academic achievement. Article visualizations

Effect of cooking on glycemic index, antioxidant activities, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase inhibitory properties of two rice varieties

This study was designed to investigate the influence of cooking on the glycemic index (GI), amylose, and amylopectin contents of two rice varieties. Two rice varieties (foreign long rice and ofada) were sourced for, divided into two, one portion cooked and the other used raw. The sugar, starch, amylose, and amylopectin contents as well as glycemic indices, antioxidant properties, and the ability of the rice to inhibit carbohydrate‐hydrolyzing enzymes (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase) were determined. In addition, polyphenol content was determined. The results revealed that cooking caused a significant increase in starch content of the rice varieties. In the same vein, cooking increases the amylopectin content but has no effect on the amylose content. In addition, cooking shows no effect on polyphenol content but significantly increases radical scavenging ability of rice varieties used in this study. Furthermore, cooking lower the α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitory properties of two rice varieties except for foreign rice. However, the inhibitory effect of both cooked and raw foreign and ofada rice on α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase coupled with their low GI may explain their important role in controlling blood glucose level

Assessment of sperm quality in Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected mice treated with brimstone (Morinda lucida Benth) tree plant

Malaria fever is a common infection in Nigeria while the uncontrolled usage of synthesized anti-malarial drugs might have contributed to the ineffectiveness of the male reproductive hormones and the sperm quality in humans. Brimstone plant called “Oruwo” by Yoruba tribe in Nigeria has been used locally for the treatment of symptomatic malaria with no information of its effect on sperm quality. This study sought to evaluate the anti-plasmodial activity, reproductive hormones and sperm quality of the aqueous extracts on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Adult male mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 while infection was confirmed after 72 h.The mice were divided into 5 groups [group A control, group B infected and treated with 2.5mgkg/bwt chloroquine (standard drug), group C infected without treatment while groups D and E were given 200 and 400mg/kg btw of the extracts respectively]. The treatment was orally administered daily for 7 days and the parasitemia level was checked after which the mice were sacrificed and the semen collected for sperm characteristics [sperm count, sperm viability, sperm morphology and sperm motility] while the right testis was used for the in-vivo antioxidant assays The blood serum was used to assess reproductive hormones such as [serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)] using standardized methods. The results reveal that treatment of Morinda lucida caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum testosterone and a decrease in LH, FSH levels in a dose-dependent manner as well as an increase in sperm count, motility and viability with a significant restoration of sperm morphology as seen in the histopathology plate. This observation might be due to the properties of the plant polyphenolic compounds identified. In conclusion, this study was able to prove that Morinda lucida used in folk-lore medicine to treat symptomatic malaria also improves sperm functions better than synthetic drugs and could be further explored as a natural product in the pharma industry

Biological effect of aqueous extract of Heinsia crinita on lipid peroxidation and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme in vitro

Heinsia crinita; a common vegetable in the south-eastern part of Nigeria with the local name “Atama” have been used as a component of various herbal portions in ethnomedicine. The plant part has been previously used in the treatment of umbilical hernia and skin rashes. There is dearth of information on the scientific rationale behind the use of this plant. This study was designed to investigate the pharmacological potentials of aqueous extracts of Heinsia crinita for the management/prevention of hypertension. Fresh, matured green leaves of Heinsia crinita were harvested from a local farm in Cross River State, Nigeria. The total phenol, total flavonoids, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability and ability of the extract to chelate Fe2+ as well as inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate arginase and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme inhibitory activity were assessed. The results revealed that the extract had high total phenol and total flavonoid content. The extract also exhibited inhibitory effect on Arginase (EC50 = 3.93 mg/mL) and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) (EC50 = 0.77 mg/mL). Furthermore, the extract exhibited strong antioxidant capacity as typified by DPPH scavenging and Fe2+ chelating abilities coupled with the inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate in vitro. The bioactive constituents with beneficial medicinal properties coupled with the antioxidant activities and its inhibitory effect on key enzymes linked with hypertension may be the mechanism by which the extract manage and/or prevent hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases

In vitro neuroprotective potentials of aqueous and methanol extracts from Heinsia crinita leaves

This study was designed to determine the neuroprotective potentials of aqueous and methanol extracts from Heinsia crinita leaves in vitro. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined using colorimetric method while phenolic characterization of the leaf was analyzed via high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The effects of the extracts on Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rats’ brain homogenate, monoamine oxidase (MAO), Na+/K+-ATPase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities were also assessed. The aqueous extract had higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than the methanol extract. HPLC-DAD revealed that quercetin ellagic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the leaves. The aqueous extract had higher inhibitory effects on MAO, AChE and BChE activities while there was no significant difference between their Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects. Furthermore, both extracts stimulated Na+/K+-ATPase activity; however, methanol extract had higher stimulatory effect. The neuroprotective properties of H. crinita leaves could be associated with its inhibitory effects on Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation and modulation of MAO, Na+/K+-ATPase, AChE, and BChE activities. Therefore, H. crinita leaves could be used as a functional food and dietary intervention for the management of some neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, the aqueous extracts exhibited better neuroprotective properties

In Vitro Studies on the Antioxidant Property and Inhibition of -Amylase, -Glucosidase, and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme by Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Bean

This study sought to investigate the antidiabetic and antihypertensive mechanisms of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) bean through inhibition of -amylase, -glucosidase, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme, and oxidative stress. Methodology. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the water extractable phytochemicals from the powdered cocoa bean were determined and the effects of the extract on -amylase, -glucosidase, and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme activities were investigated in vitro. Furthermore, the radicals [1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2..-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl (OH), and nitric oxide (NO)] scavenging ability and ferric reducing antioxidant property of the extract were assessed. Results. The results revealed that the extract inhibited -amylase (1.81 ± 0.22 mg/mL), -glucosidase (1.84 ± 0.17 mg/mL), and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (0.674 ± 0.06 mg/mL [lungs], 1.006 ± 0.08 mg/mL [heart]) activities in a dose-dependent manner and also showed dose-dependent radicals [DPPH (16.94 ± 1.34 mg/mL), NO (6.98 ± 0.886 mg/mL), OH (3.72 ± 0.26 mg/mL), and ABTS (15.7 ± 1.06 mmol/TEAC⋅g] scavenging ability. Conclusion. The inhibition of -amylase, -glucosidase, and angiotensin-1 converting enzyme activities by the cocoa bean extract could be part of the possible mechanism by which the extract could manage and/or prevent type-2 diabetes and hypertension