UHPLC/GC-TOF-MS metabolomics, MTT assay, and molecular docking studies reveal physostigmine as a new anticancer agent from the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. fruit extracts

Staff PublicationKigelia africana plant is widely used as a herbal remedy in preventing the onset and the treatment of cancer-related infections. With the increase in the research interest of the plant, the specific chemical compound or metabolite that confers its anticancer properties has not been adequately investigated. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the fruit extracts were evaluated by 2-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 3,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay against four different cell lines, with the ethyl acetate fraction having inhibition concentration values of 0.53 and 0.42 μM against Hep G2 and HeLa cells, respectively. More than 235 phytoconstituents were profiled using UHPLC-TOF-MS, while more than 15 chemical compounds were identified using GC–MS from the fractions. Molecular docking studies revealed that physostigmine, fluazifop, dexamethasone, sulfisomidine, and desmethylmirtazapine could favorably bind at higher binding energies of –8.3, –8.6, –8.2, and –8.1 kcal/mol, respectively, better than camptothecin with a binding energy of –7.9 kcal/mol. The results of this study showed that physostigmine interacted well with topoisomerase IIα and had a high score of pharmacokinetic prediction using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity profiles, thereby suggesting that drug design using physostigmine as a base structure could serve as an alternative against the toxic side effects of doxorubicin and camptothecin

Modelling and prediction of hydrolysis index of gluten-free cookies from cardaba banana starch vis-?-vis response surface methodology and support vector machine

The increase in the onset of celiac disease among the world populace had increased the demand for gluten-free products. Therefore, this study aimed at modelling and predicting the hydrolysis index of gluten-free cookies using response surface methodology (RSM) and support vector machine (SVM). The baking temperature (150 -180 ?) and baking time (15-25 min) were varied using a central composite design. The obtained result revealed that both modelling approaches (RSM and SVM) accurately predict the hydrolysis index of the gluten-free cookies owing to their higher coefficient of determinant (R2 > 0.9). The predictive capability assessment of response surface methodology and support vector machine revealed the superiority of support vector machine (0.9658, 0.9329, 0.059) in predicting the hydrolysis index of the gluten-free cookies over response surface model (0.9613, 0.9241, 0.063) owing to its high correlation coefficient (R), Coefficient of determinant (R2) and lower mean square of error as well as root mean square of error (RMSE)

Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Captured Free-Living, Free-Range and Intensively Reared Birds in Southwest Nigeria

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute infectious viral disease causing severe economic losses in poultry production. In Nigeria, there has only been monitoring of the disease in chickens with little attention given to other bird species. For this study, blood samples were collected from 184 apparently healthy, unvaccinated birds which comprised of 61 captured free-living pigeons, 60 free range indigenous chickens and 63 intensively reared Japanese quails. Sera from these birds were screened for IB virus antibodies (IBV) using a commercial ELISA kit. The birds were from Oyo and Osun States, in southwest Nigeria. Overall, 63 (34.2 %) sera were positive for IBV with 3.3 % (2/61), 95.0 % (57/60) and 6.3 % (4/63) from pigeons, indigenous chickens and Japanese quails, respectively. These findings suggest that they were subclinically infected with either field or vaccine virus and could thus serve as possible reservoirs of this virus to domestic poultry. Thus, there is need for continuous surveillance of the disease in different bird species and their possible role in the spread of IBV in Nigeria

Situated literacy practices amongst artisans in the South West of Nigeria: developmental and pedagogical implication

This paper reports an aspect of a larger study on literacy practices, needs and perceptions of artisans in a part of the South West region of Nigeria. Using an ethnographic approach to research, it identified a variety of literacy practices, events and mediums, thus confirming the notion of literacy as social practice. The study employed a modified form of ethnographic research which was specifically designed for this study, a density of literacy practices approach to ethnographic research, data was collected through a mixture of observation, participation and a series of interviews and dialogues. The data were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis which enabled a range of themes and distributional patterns to emerge. It concludes by highlighting implications for governance and pedagogy

Short communication - HAEMATOLOGY OF THE WEST AFRICAN DWARF SHEEP UNDER TWO DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN NIGERIA

The haematological parameters of the West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep under intensive and extensive management systems in Nigeria were determined. The intensively reared animals showed higher (P<0.001) Packed Cell Volume haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular volume (P<0.01) than those under extensive management. Both groups of animals however had similar mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concenration; Red blood cell, Total white blood cell, Iymphocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and monocyte counts

Multivariate analyses of selected trace elements from Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. plant by ICP-OES: A chemometrics approach

Aim: The entire world population is increasingly shifting to the use of plant-based medicines either as supplementation or medication. These medicinal plants absorb trace elements and metals available in the soil solutions in ionic, complexed, or chelated forms and can either be deficient or toxic for human and animal consumption. Therefore, screening these medicinal plants for trace elements or metals is important according to the recommendation of WHO and European legislation (1881/2006/EC). Methodology: In this study, the concentrations of 12 trace elements and metals (Al, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Ga, K, Li, Mg, Se, Te, and Tl) were determined from Kigelia africana leaf and fruit extracts using 700 series Agilent inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) coupled with ultrasonic CETAC U-6000AT+ Nebulizer after microwave-assisted acid digestion of the plant samples with MDS-6G closed microwave digester. Results: The study revealed that K. africana extracts have significant trace elements with the fruit extracts having high concentrations of required trace elements (3.2 mgkg−1 Mg, 67.18 mgkg−1 K, 0.04 mgkg−1 Se, and 0.16 mgkg−1 Al). Interestingly, the fruit and leaf extracts also have the required amount of Boron (B), Bismuth (Bi), Gallium (Ga), and Lithium (Li) which are essential in human brain function, nervous system, and glucose metabolism among other therapeutic functions. Barium (Ba), Beryllium (Be), Tellurium (Te), and Thallium (Tl) are known toxic metals when accumulated in the human body and are found in low concentrations in this study. Conclusion: This study revealed that trace elements are positively correlated when analyzed with principal component (PCA) and hierarchical cluster (HCA) analyzes. This shows that K. africana plant extract can be considered one of the most important medicinal plants with several therapeutic benefits. The concentrations of several trace elements according to recommended dietary allowance (RDA) as well as the correlation between these metals and metalloids are reported for the first time using PCA and HCA

Short communication - SEROLOGICAL SURVEY OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS ANTIBODIES IN CATTLE EGRETS, PIGEONS AND NIGERIAN LAUGHING DOVES

A total of 15 sera samples from cattle egrets (Ardeola ibis ), 30 from pigeons (Columba livia ) and 30 from Nigerian laughing doves (Streptopelia senegalensis ) were screened for antibodies to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Three (20%) samples from cattle egrets were positive for antibodies to IBDV while 11(36.7%) samples were positive for pigeons. There was no positive sample for antibody to IBDV in Nigerian laughing doves. These observations indicate that cattle egrets and pigeons could be carriers or reservoir of IBDV

Short communication - SURVEY FOR ANTIBODIES TO NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS IN CATTLE EGRETS, PIGEONS AND NIGERIAN LAUGHING DOVES

Antibodies to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were detected in 20% of 15 serum samples of cattle egrets (Ardeola ibis ), 16.7% 30 sera samples of Nigeran laughing doves (Streptopelia senegalensis ) and none from sera of 30 pigeons (Columba livia ) screened for antibodies to NDV using haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test