Centromeric banding pattern of mitotic chromosomes in Vigna vexillata (TVnu 73)

Vigna vexillata chromosome characterization was carried out using the Leishman C- banding technique. The results showed that the chromosomes mostly exhibited bands at both the centromeric and telomeric regions. These bands will serve, as a valuable marker for the identification of the chromosomes. Chromosomes 2 were the most variable and differed from the other chromosomes by the presence of satellite on the short arm. Diploid chromosome numbers of 22 consisting of 11 pairs of homologues were observed for V. vexillata. The homologues chromosomes were arranged in the descending order. The idiogram representing the chromosomes was also constructed.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (5), pp. 400-402, 200

Fluoxetine selectively induces p53-independent apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells

Fluoxetine has been shown to induce anti-tumour activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fluoxetine on HCT116+/+ and p53 gene-depleted HCT116-/- human colorectal cancer cells and the mechanisms, including potential p53-dependence, of its action. Fluoxetine-induced apoptosis was investigated by mitochondrial membrane potential assay, Annexin V assay, two-step cell cycle analysis using NC-3000™ system and pharmacological inhibition assays. Fluoxetine induced very selectively concentration-dependent apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells by altering mitochondrial membrane potential and inducing translocation of phosphatidylserine to the outer membrane layer. Further evidence of the preponderance of apoptosis in fluoxetine-induced cell death is provided by the finding that the cell death was not blocked by inhibitors of parthanatos, a form of cell death that results from overactivation of the enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) but is different from apoptosis. Data obtained indicate fluoxetine caused cell cycle event at Sub-G1 and G0/G1 phases in both cell lines. In terms of apoptosis, there is no significant difference between the responses of the two cell lines to fluoxetine. In conclusion, fluoxetine's cytotoxicity induces mainly apoptosis and causes DNA fragmentation in human colorectal cancer cells, which seemed to be independent of the p53 protein, as no significant difference in death profiles in response to fluoxetine treatment was observed in both the p53-intact and the p53-deleted cell lines. Fluoxetine, therefore, has potential for being repurposed as a drug for the treatment of colon cancer and thus deserves further investigations in this context

Gaining notoriety through translocation: a case of the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1-dependent neuronal death

The enormous global burden of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases compels a frantic search for novel neurotherapeutics that will address the underlying pathologies, unlike most of the current pharmacological interventions that predominantly merely relieve symptoms of disease. A major challenge, however, is that the central nervous system (CNS), in contrast to most other well-studied systems, exhibits significant complexity that perhaps makes it one of the, if not the, least tractable to date, at least on the drug discovery landscape. Nevertheless, in the last few years, giant strides in CNS research have yielded significantly-improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the various pathological conditions of the brain, not least those associated with the death of neurones, including Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s diseases. Accordingly, one pathway now known to be majorly involved in the induction of neuronal death is associated with the nuclear enzyme, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), whose excessive activation generates a large amount of its polymer, poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR), which, in turn, causes an otherwise beneficial protein, normally resident in the mitochondria, the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), to exit its natural domain and enter the nucleus, where it causes large-scale DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation, ultimately resulting in neuronal death. This review briefly explores the pathological cascade and suggests why targeting it in drug discovery - especially at the level of nuclear AIF translocation - is a rational and promising approach that may eventually deliver novel drugs for clinical use. In addition, the work illustrates how a clear knowledge of the spatio-temporal dynamics of molecular events is highly critical and, in fact, indispensable to a successful drug discovery and development campaign from the bench to the bedside, while at the same time highlighting the multi-disciplinary nature of the drug discovery enterprise

In Silico Identification of Protein Targets for Drug-like Compounds from Epicarp Extract of Cola rostrata K. Shum

Fruit epicarp has been found to contain several bioactive compounds which are useful for herbal treatment of several ailments and diseases. The phytochemicals present in C. rostrata epicarp as well as their potential to bind to human proteins and modify their function have not been investigated. This study, therefore, identified the top protein targets of drug-like components of C. rostrata epicarp extract in humans as well as the disease conditions associated with the targets. The identities of constituents of methanol and n-hexane fractions of absolute ethanol extract of C. rostrata epicarp were determined via GCMS analysis. Druglikeness (adherence to Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge filters) and the protein targets of drug-like constituents were determined using SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction web tools. GCMS analyses revealed the presence of 49 compounds in the n-hexane and methanol fractions. Corynan-16-carboxylic acid, 16,17-didehydro-9,17-dimethoxy-, methyl ester, (16E)-, a yohimbine derivative, was abundant (13.33%) in the methanol fraction. The n-hexane fraction was rich in odd-chain fatty acids and phytosterols. Four drug-like compounds were identified in the fractions: (1) Azelaic acid, monoethyl ester; (2) 3-(2-Methoxymethoxyethylidene)-2,2 dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; (3) Cyclododecanol, 1-aminomethyl-, and (4) Corynan-16-carboxylic acid, 16,17-didehydro-9,17-dimethoxy-, methyl ester, (16E)-. The predicted top protein targets of the drug-like compounds include carbonic anhydrase II, protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B, sphingosine kinase 1, maltase-glucoamylase, adenosine A2b receptor, P2X purinoceptor 7, MAP kinase p38 alpha, δ-opioid receptor, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Findings show that C. rostrata epicarp contains drug-like phytochemicals with potential against cancer, diabetes, pain and inflammatory diseases, and the extract could have aphrodisiac potential

Investigation of Adsorbent Characteristics of Carbonized Low-Density Woods in the Treatment of Textile Effluent

Textile industries wastewater contains pollutants which vary greatly and depend on the chemicals and treatment processes used. Toxic heavy metals in wastewater are discharged into the environment, which adversely affect human, aquatic life, and natural water bodies. This study was therefore designed to investigate adsorption of heavy metal ions (Cadmium, Zinc, Manganese, Chromium and iron) in raw textile wastewater using activated carbon from Cordia millenii and Gmelina arborea wood species. Carbon structural pattern was examined using SEM equipment. Batch sorption tests were conducted in wastewater treatment by varying absorbent contact time with the sorbate from 30 to 120minutes (at 30minutes intervals) to facilitate attainment of equilibrium condition. The pore space diameter mean values were 9.28±1.22 and 4.45±1.57μm for Cordia millenii Carbon (CMC) and Gmelina arborea Carbon (GAC) respectively. It was observed that over 80% Manganese removal was achieved at 120minutes contact time for both carbons studied. Highest removal efficiencies were observed at all contact times in GAC for iron while in CMC for Chromium, Cadmium, Zinc and Manganese between 30-90minutes contact time. After 120 minutes contact time, there was insignificant difference in removal efficiency for Chromium and Manganese. However, at 30minutes contact time, percentage removal of over 60% was obtained for Manganese, implying that Manganese has high mobility towards the adsorbents surface. The activated carbons obtained from these two wood species are therefore viable options for heavy metal removal from textile effluents

Cowpea in evolving livestock systems

Demand for livestock products has been increasing through much of the semi-arid tropics and will likely continue to increase along with the use of purchased feedstuffs. As smallholder livestock systems evolve and become more market oriented, the type of diets fed to livestock may change and the importance of feed marketing may increase. Mixed crop–livestock systems are key to meeting this increasing livestock product demand and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) fodder (haulms) is an important component of these systems in semi-arid regions of the tropics where its high nutritional quality allows it to be used as a supplement to livestock diets based on cereal stovers and other low-quality forages. Improving the nutritional quality of cowpea fodder for use by livestock is important to improving the productivity and profitability of these mixed farming systems. Legume fodders will remain an important part of changing livestock diets and the development of cowpea varieties that better feed both people and their farm animals will give farmers new and better choices for improving levels and efficiency of livestock production. Cowpea breeding programs have worked toward producing dual-purpose varieties that emphasize the production of grain and fodder since the late 1980s and have produced several that have become well accepted when tested on-farm. Systematic screening of cowpea genetic resources is important for advancing development of dual-purpose varieties. Involvement of cultivar release agencies and seed production programs are also important to advance the use of improved dual-purpose crop varieties

OLAX SUBSCORPIOIDEA OLIV. (OLACACEAE): AN ETHNOMEDICINAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW

Background Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. (Olacaceae) is a woody shrub that is widely distributed in Africa. It has trado-medicinal importance and is used in the treatment of asthma, cancer, convulsion, diabetes, intestinal worm infections, jaundice, mental illnesses, neurodegenerative disorders, sexually transmitted infections, swellings and rheumatism, and yellow fever. Aims To review available literature on the phytochemistry, ethnobotany, pharmacology and toxicity of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. Methods Published findings were searched in online databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, Google Scholar and other relevant sources, and the data were sorted by relevance.  Combinations of keywords used in the search include Olax subscorpioidea, Olacaceae, Olax, Ewe Ifon, and African medicinal plants. Results The presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, proanthocyanidins, saponins, tannins and triterpenes has been reported from O. subscorpioidea. Cytotoxic santalbic acid was isolated from the methanol extract of the seed of this plant, while GC-MS and HPLC analyses of the n-butanol and n-hexane extracts of the leaf revealed the presence of caffeic acid, quercetin, morin, rutin, n-hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid), 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid and methyl ester, hentriacontane, 9,17-octadecadienal (Z)-, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, squalene, nonacosane, octadecanoic acid. Bioactivity studies on this plant demonstrated its medicinal potential mainly as an analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-arthritic, antidepressant, antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimalarial and antimicrobial agent. Oral acute toxicity of the leaf extracts in rats appeared to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight. Conclusion Published literature available to date on O. subscorpioidea provides some preliminary scientific basis for the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant. However, some ethnomedicinal uses have not been scientifically validated yet, and similarly, only a limited amount of information is available on properly isolated and identified phytochemicals from this plant that link to its bioactivitie

A genome-wide scan divulges key Loci involved in resistance to aphids (Aphis craccivora) in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Open Access Journal; Published online: 01 Nov 2022Cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) double as a direct damaging pest and a virus vector to cowpea, threatening the economic yield of the crop. Given the multiple ecotypes, different alleles have been implicated in aphid resistance, necessitating the identification of key genes involved. The present study implemented a genome-wide scan using 365 cowpea mini-core accessions to decipher loci involved in resistance to aphid ecotype from Kano, Nigeria. Accessions were artificially inoculated with A. craccivora in insect-proof cages and damage severity assessed at 21 days after infestation. Significant phenotypic differences based on aphid damage severity were registered among the accessions. Skewed phenotypic distributions were depicted in the population, suggesting the involvement of major genes in the control of resistance. A genome-wide scan identified three major regions on chromosomes Vu10, Vu08 and Vu02, and two minor ones on chromosomes Vu01 and Vu06, that were significantly associated with aphid resistance. These regions harbored several genes, out of which, five viz Vigun01g233100.1, Vigun02g088900.1, Vigun06g224900.1, Vigun08g030200.1 and Vigun10g031100.1 were the most proximal to the peak single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) positions. These genes are expressed under stress signaling, mechanical wounding and insect feeding. The uncovered loci contribute towards establishing a marker-assisted breeding platform and building durable resistance against aphids in cowpea