Ethno-religious voting in Nigeria: interrogating voting patterns in the 2019 presidential election

This article analyses voting patterns in Nigeria’s 2019 presidential election. Its main objective is to gauge continuity or change in ethnic, regional and religious voting in Nigeria’s elections. The paper takes a historical approach in examining voting patterns in the past elections as a background to the examination of the 2019 presidential election. It was discovered that ethnic, regional and religious sentiments were still major factors that shaped voting choice in the election

Antioxidant, hypolipidemic and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effects of alkaloid fraction of Hyphaene thebaica(Doum palm) on high fat-fed obese wistar rats

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Heavy Metals Health Risk Index (HRI) in Human Consumption of Whole Fish and Water from Some Selected Dams in Katsina State Nigeria

oai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/1This study was conducted in the year 2016 to determine the heavy metal concentrations in whole fish (Clarias gariepinus) samples and water obtained from some selected Dams (Ajiwa, Zobe and Dannakola) in Katsina state Nigeria. The objectives were mainly to detect the presence of heavy metals in whole fish and water from some selected Dams in the study area, compare the concentration of heavy metals in samples from the selected Dams concerning the permissible limits specified by WHO/FAO and USEPA Standards. Eight (8) water samples were collected at 8 random points within approximately 1000 meters on each extremity and median parts of the selected dams. Fish (Clarias gariepinus) was sampled using standard methods (AOAC, 1990). The fish and water samples were collected from Ajiwa, Zobe and Dannakola Dams of Katsina state Nigeria. Nine adult fish samples, three each from Ajiwa Dam, and Dannakola were procured from fishermen. Analysis of the concentration of these heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn was conducted by the use of AAS (by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) method. The results showed wide mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the selected dams water; iron recorded the highest level (range 0.4596 μg / g - 2.9510 μg / g) and lead (range 0.0031 μg / g -0.0323 μg / g) recorded the lowest level, for the fish samples the mean concentrations of the same heavy metals showed iron recording the highest level (range 1.8847 μg / g -10.0474 μg / g) and cadmium (0.0130 μg / g -0.0138 μg / g) recording the lowest level. Results from this study indicate that with the exception of the heavy metals Cd, Fe and Pb (from Zobe dam sample) values of  Mn, Pb (Ajiwa and Dannakola dams samples) and Zn in the water samples were generally lower than the USEPA, WHO/FAO maximum permissive limits while Ni was below the detection level (BDL) in all the samples. the results of this study showed that apart from Mn (PI range = 0.02-0.09), Zn (PI range = 0.01-0.03) and Pb for sampled water from Dannakola dam (PI= 0.77) which have no effect on the water quality, all the other heavy metals have pollution indices which suggest slightly, to moderate and strong effect on the selected dams water quality consideration for human and aquatic health. The metal indices also showed that all the heavy metals are at the threshold level (MI > 1) except for the heavy metals Mn and Zn in sampled waters from all the selected dams, Pb for water samples from Ajiwa and Dannakola dams and Cr for Zobe dam water sample. With the exception of the heavy metals Pb, Ni and Cr that were BDL in the fish samples the levels of the heavy metals all fall below the USEPA, WHO/FAO permissible limit for fish. The results from the present study suggests that the selected dams water quality is threatened by heavy metals pollution and may have adverse implication for drinking and aquatic health, in the fish samples the concentration levels of the heavy metals all fall below the USEPA, WHO/FAO permissible limit for fish.  However, the fish’s bio-accumulation factors of the metals suggest that they have high potentials to bio-accumulate some of the heavy metals to high levels and this may have adverse implication for human consumption

Neuronal cell membrane protective effects of Combretum micranthum methanol leaf extract on lead-induced brain damage in Swiss albino mice

Combretum micranthum is used traditionally for many therapeutic purposes such as fatigue, liver ailments, headache, convalescence, blood disease, weight loss among others. Studies suggested that free radical production may be one main reason behind stress induces neurochemical changes that include neurotransmitter imbalance and histopathological alterations in the brain cell. Thus this study examined the relationship between brain histopathological alterations and neurotransmitter imbalance (gamma aminobutyric acid - GABA) in lead exposure, and possible neuroprotective role of Combretum micranthum  methanol leaf extract in mice. Thirty six (36) Swiss Albino mice (19 - 22g body weight) were used for the study, randomized equally into six groups and treated for the period 14days:  a) Normal Control (Distilled water), b) Negative control (40 mg/kg lead acetate), c) lead acetate + 100 mg/kg b.w. extract, d) lead acetate + 50 mg/kg b.w. extract,  e) lead acetate + 25 mg/kg b.w. extract and f) positive control (lead acetate + diazepam 0.5 mg/kg b.w). The study assayed for protective potential of Combretum micranthum on neuronal cell membrane through determination of the brain cells malondialdyhyde (MDA) levels, morphology and GABA levels. Result of the study showed a significantly increase level of GABA in the brain of mice administered doses of the extract with a decreased level of MDA, as compared to those mice treated with 40 mg/kg lead acetate alone, which showed decreased level in GABA (310.83pg/ml), but an increased level of MDA (30.03μmolTBARS/mg). Also the mice administered doses of the extract showed normal neurons while intensive neuronal necrosis was observed on those mice treated with 40mg/kg lead acetate alone. However, mice administered with the doses of the extract shows no any significant difference with those in the normal control and positive control treatment groups.  Also the Combretum micranthum  methanol leaf extract was found, using GC-MS, to contain propargylamine, a compound known to possess anti-apoptosis functions, and also those with GABAergic functions 3,4-dichlorophenylhydrazine, guanidine and aminooxyacetic acid. Findings of the present study has proven Combretum micranthum to be a potential plant in managing and preventing brain structural damage induced by lead administration. Keywords: Lead, Combretum micranthum, GABA, malondialdyhyde (MDA) and histopatholog

Preclinical efficacy of African medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming: a systematic review protocol

Background: Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a high-priority, neglected, tropical disease that affects millions of people in developing countries annually. The only available standard drug used for the treatment of SBE is antisnake venom (ASV) which consists of immunoglobulins that have been purified from the plasma of animals hyper-immunized against snake venoms. The use of plants as alternatives for treatment of poisonous bites particularly snakebites is important in remote areas where there might be limited, or no access to hospitals and storage facilities for antivenom. The pharmacological activity of some of the medicinal plants used traditionally in the treatment of SBE have also been scientifically validated. Method: A systematic review will be conducted according to the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies checklist for study quality in animal/in vivo studies. The tool will be modified and validated to assess in vitro models and studies that combine in vivo and in vitro studies. The systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. English published articles on African medicinal plants used in the treatment of snakebite envenoming will be searched in Medline, Embase, and Scopus from 2000 to 2021. Dissemination: The findings of the study will be communicated through publication in peer-reviewed journal and presentation at scientific conferences. Medicinal plants have been important sources for the development of many effective drugs currently available in orthodox medicine. Botanically derived medicines have played a major role in human societies throughout history. Plants components used in traditional medicine gained much attention by many toxinologists as a tool for designing potent antidotes against snake envenoming. Our systematic review will provide a synthesis of the literature on the efficacy of these medicinal plants. We will also appraise the prospects of African medicinal plants with pharmacologically demonstrated activity against snakebite and envenoming