Phytochemical Screening and in Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Parkia biglobosa Extract

Parkia biglobosa leaves have popular folkloric ethnomedicinal use in the treatment of many diseases especially among the South-Western people of Nigeria. The present study was undertaken to find the antioxidant value of aqeous-methanolic extract of Parkia biglobosa leaf by investigating its phytochemicals and invitro antioxidant potentials. Antioxidant activity of extract was screened for by measuring its total flavonoid and total phenol content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing property. Phytochemical screening was carried out on extract by standard method. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. The total phenol and flavonoid contents are 144.18 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 256.858mg Quercetin equivalent/g extract respectively. The extract showed considerably high and dose-dependent DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing property comparable with the respective standards, Quercetin and Ascorbic acid. The results of this study reveal that Parkia biglobosa leaf extract possess significant antioxidant properties and could be exploited as source of antioxidant additives. Keywords: Parkia biglobosa, phytochemicals, Antioxidant activit

Betrayal Responses and Personality Pathology: The Development of the Betrayal Scale

Aims The aim of the study was to develop a psychometric scale to reliably assess for psychosocial impairment following an experience of betrayal trauma. Method 434 participants from a community sample completed a series of self-report psychometric measures online of psychosocial impairment, betrayal trauma experiences and personality trait pathology. Results The Betrayal Response Scale (BRS) consisted of 20 items and two subscales related to internalised negative emotions and negative interpersonal responses. Higher BRS scores were associated with personality pathology, interpersonal impairment and poor social functioning. Conclusion The BRS is a reliable measure of psychosocial impairment following betrayal trauma. People with personality pathology report greater levels of psychosocial impairment following betrayal trauma. Potential uses of the BRS as a clinical and research instrument are discussed

Ophthalmic manifestations in patients with intracranial tumours

Introduction L’étude a pour but d’apprécier les manifestations ophtalmologiques des patients présentant des tumeurs cérébrales au Nigéria dans un hôpital tertiaire. Méthode Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective avec une revue des tumeurs cérébrales dans le Neurosurgical Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile- Ife de janvier 2003 à décembre 2007. L’analyse des données, diagnostique, acuité visuelle, et prise en charge, ont été analysées selon la fréquence en utilisant avec la version 1 11 SPCS . L’acuité visuelle a été classifiée selon celle de l’OMS. Résultat Sur un total de 94 patients, 88 patients ont été revus. Il s’agissait de 53 patients de sexe masculin et 35 de sexe féminin. La moyenne d’âge était de 36.2 plus ou moins 20 ans. 14 patients ont été pris en charge par les ophtalmologistes. La répartition des tumeurs était la suivante: méningiomes, 36,4 %, craniopharyngiomes, 13,6 % et gliomes, 9,1 %. 67,9 % des patients se plaignaient de troubles visuels à l’admission dont 46,6 % avec une baisse importante et 12,5 % une vision double. Il a été objectivé une artrophie optique dans 23,9 % . 46 malades (52 %) étaient aveugles et 14 (16 %) avaient un trouble visuelimportant. Conclusion Les troubles visuels sont des manifestations cliniques fréquentes de présentation des tumeurs cérébrales. Une information médicale précoce est requise

Anti hyperglycemic activities of Annona muricata (Linn)

This study was designed to determine the effects of methanolic extracts of Annona muricata (Linn) on the blood glucose level of streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B and C) of ten rats each. Group A was the control, Group B was untreated hyperglycemic group and group C was A. muricata-treated group. Hyperglycemia was induced in groups B and C by a single intraperitoneal injection of 80mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equivalent volume of citrate buffer and all the animals were monitored for four weeks. Daily intra peritoneal injection of 100mg/kg A. muricata was administered to group C rats for two weeks and the animals were monitored for another two weeks. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result showed a mean body weight of 206 + 7.74g, 173.29+5.13g and 197 + 5.62g respectively for the control, untreated diabetic and A. muricata-treated diabetic group, and a mean blood glucose concentration of 3.78 + 0.190 mmol/L, 21.64 + 2.229mmol/L and 4.22 + 0.151mmol/L for the control, untreated diabetic and treated diabetic groups respectively. A significant difference exists between the blood glucose concentrations of treated and untreated hyperglycemic groups of rats. The result of this study demonstrated that A. muricata possesses anti-hyperglycemic activities.Key words: Annona muricata, Diabetes mellitus, Streptozotocin, Blood glucose level, hyperglycemi

Effects of Moringa oleifera on the developing cerebrum of young wistar rats

The study evaluated the effects of moringa oleifeira on the histoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex, the body weight and brain weight of young wistar rats. Fifteen (15) young wistar rats of both sexes weighing 20-30g were used for this study. They were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B and C) of five rats each. Group A served as control and received distilled water, group B and C received 100 mg/kg and 200mg/kg of moringa oleifera respectively. Treatment lasted for a period of 6 weeks (orally). Rats were weighed and sacrificed under ketamine (30 mg/kg) anaesthesia. The cerebrum was harvested and fixed immediately in 10% formolcalcium, for further histological processing. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze data, followed by Newan-Keuls (SNK) for multiple comparisons. The results showed that there was significant increase in the feed intake of animals in groups B and C starting from the 4th week of administration. There was no significant difference in the relative brain weight and the mean weight of the rats in group B and C when compared with group A. Histological findings revealed that there was slight distortion in group B and more distortion in group C when compared with the normal histoarchitecture in control group A. The results obtained from this study showed that high doses of Moringa oleifera caused damage of some parts of histoarchitecture of the frontal cortex of developing wistarKey words: MORINGA OLEIFERA; Cerebrum; Frontal Corte

Small Ruminant Farmers' Perception of Climate Change in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the small ruminant farmers’ perception of climate change in Moro Local Government Area (LGA) of Kwara State, Nigeria. About 120 small ruminant farmers were selected for the study. Analyticall tools such as descriptive (frequency count, percentage, mean score) and inferential [Pearson product moment correlation (PPMC)] statistics were used to analyse the data. The result revealed that about 57.5% of the respondents were male, average age of 38.3years, income of N56633.33, and household size of about 5 persons. The average number of goat and sheep was 10 and 5 respectively. About 52% of the respondents utilized extensive system of rearing and 60.8% had access to extension services. About 77.5% of the respondents indicated Ministry of Agriculture as their main source of information on small ruminant production. The result revealed that planting of trees/erecting cover to serve as shades to reduce heat stress (90.8%) was the most frequently used adaptation strategies to climate change. About 59.2% of the respondents have high level/status of use of adaptation strategies. The highest ranked perception statement was increase in temperature (4.48), while disease outbreak and high mortality (2.78) ranked highest as factor affecting small ruminant production. It is therefore recommended that there should be provision of information on the adaptation strategies as climate change is now a reality that is not going away and provision of veterinary services to reduce disease outbreak

A novel design of multi-epitope based vaccine against Escherichia coli

Background: Multi-valent based vaccines have advantage over conventional vaccines because of its multi-faceted action targeted at antigen; thereby raising hope of a more sustained actions against allergens. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. An increasing number of outbreaks are associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables (including sprouts, spinach, lettuce, coleslaw, and salad) thereby contamination may be due to contact with faeces from domestic or wild animals at some stages during cultivation or handling. Due to the reported increase in resistance to antibiotics used for Escherichia coli control; an effective vaccine is a would-be alternative of proven interest. Hence, a need for a rational, strategic, and efficient vaccine candidate against E.coli is of paramount necessity by the use of the most current bioinformatics tools to achieve this task. Method: In this study, immunoinformatics tools mined from diverse molecular databases were used  for a novel putative epitope based oral vaccine against E.coli. The prospective vaccine proteins were carefully screened and validated to achieve a high thorough-put three-dimensional protein structure. The eventual propsective vaccine candidate proteins was evaluated for its non-allergenicity, antigenicity, solubility, appropriate molecular weight testing and isoelectric point evaluation. Conclusion: The resultant vaccine candidate could serve as a promising anti-E.coli vaccine candidate. Immunoinformatics is a new field over pharmaco-therapeutics; this newest technology should continue to be a rescue from age-long traditional approach in vaccine developments

Effect of Xylopia aethiopica, Fiscus mucuso and Anthocleista vogelli extracts on some Biochemical Parameters following ethanol-Induced Toxicity.

A total of forty rats were divided into eight groups (n= 5). Group A were control rats; Group B 27 were administered with absolute ethanol; Group C were ethanol administered rats treated with 28 Xylopia aethiopica; Groups D were ethanol administered rats treated with Fiscus mucuso, Group 29 E were ethanol administered rats treated with Anthocleista vogelli; Group F were normal rats 30 administered orally with Xylopia aethiopica; Group G were normal rats administered orally with 31 Fiscus mucuso; Group H were normal rats administered orally with Anthocleista vogelli. At the 32 end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and serum was obtained for total 33 protein, uric acid, creatinin, urea, Aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase 34 (ALT) analysis using respective research kits. 35 The result showed that Xylopia aethiopica had protective effect on the kidney as compared with 36 Fiscus mucuso and Anthocleista vogelli treated rats. Also, The AST and ALT was lowered with 37 the start of Xylopia aethiopia treatment. The total protein, creatinin and urea were slightly 38 (p> 0.05) affected with ethanol, an effect which was normalized with the start of extract 39 treatment. 4

Narrative exposure therapy for survivors of human trafficking: feasibility randomised controlled trial

Background Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation and a major public health concern. Survivors present with high rates of mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies of effective treatments for PTSD in survivors of human trafficking are lacking. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an effective PTSD treatment for multiple, prolonged and complex trauma, but its efficacy has not been rigorously tested in survivors of human trafficking. Aims To test the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) offering NET as a treatment for PTSD in trafficking survivors with a history of multiple traumatic events, as well as providing preliminary evidence regarding its efficacy (trial registration: ISRCTN95136302). Method A single-blind RCT compared NET with a wait-list control in survivors of trafficking with PTSD (n = 25). In the NET arm of the study, participants attended a mean of 17 sessions. Results NET was well tolerated by participants. There were significant reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms post-treatment in the NET group but no significant change in the wait-list group. Conclusions The results indicate that NET is a promising and acceptable treatment for trafficking survivors. Psychological therapy in an RCT design can be safely delivered to this vulnerable group, although modifications are required to ensure their holistic needs are properly addressed

Narrative exposure therapy for survivors of human trafficking: feasibility randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation and a major public health concern. Survivors present with high rates of mental health problems including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies of effective treatments for PTSD in survivors of human trafficking are lacking. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an effective PTSD treatment for multiple, prolonged and complex trauma, but its efficacy has not been rigorously tested in survivors of human trafficking. AIMS: To test the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) offering NET as a treatment for PTSD in trafficking survivors with a history of multiple traumatic events, as well as providing preliminary evidence regarding its efficacy (trial registration: ISRCTN95136302). METHOD: A single-blind RCT compared NET with a wait-list control in survivors of trafficking with PTSD (n = 25). In the NET arm of the study, participants attended a mean of 17 sessions. RESULTS: NET was well tolerated by participants. There were significant reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms post-treatment in the NET group but no significant change in the wait-list group. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that NET is a promising and acceptable treatment for trafficking survivors. Psychological therapy in an RCT design can be safely delivered to this vulnerable group, although modifications are required to ensure their holistic needs are properly addressed