Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDLcholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control

Effects of combinations of ethanolic extracts of Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica on progesterone, estradiol and lipid profile levels in pregnant rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extracts of Xylopia aethiopica fruits and Blighia sapida roots, used by some rural dwellers in western part of Nigeria for arbortifacient purposes, were investigated using pregnant rabbits. A combination of X. aethiopica and B. sapida in a ratio 1:1 at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ kg body weight (group B) and 50.0 mg/ kg body weight (group C), and X. aethiopica alone at 50.0 mg/kg of body weight (group D) were administered by gastric intubations for a period of 14 days from the 12th to 25th day of gestation after which they were fasted for 18 h. Serum levels of reproductive hormones (progesterone and estradiol) and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL- cholesterol) were determined at the end of the treatment. Results showed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in progesterone and estradiol levels, significant elevations of triglycerides (p < 0.05) and no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the levels of total cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control (group A). There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in Group B, a significant increase in group C and no significant reduction in group D compared with the control (group A). The levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups did not differ significantly (p < 0.05) from the control (group A). The results suggest that ethanolic extracts of X. aethiopica alone or in combination with B. sapida may actually lead to termination of pregnancy due to reduction of progesterone and estradiol. The results also suggest that there is increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia in the users of these plants but this may not predispose them to arteriosclerosis because of the insignificant differences in the levels of LDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups compared with the control

Geo-electrical investigation of Leachate Impact on Groundwater: A Case Study of Ile- Epo Dumpsite, Lagos, Nigeria

In the past few decades, disposal sites have been filled with household refuse and different kinds of potentially dangerous industrial waste in an uncontrolled manner which poses an enormous risk for the environment, and are the main sources for groundwater contamination. With the aim of assessing impact of leachate on the underlying aquifers by determining and delineating possible leachate infiltration into the aquifer matrix ,Constant Spacing Traversing (CST) was carried out using Wenner array and spacing between 10-60 m along four 160 m \u2013 180 m profiles. The results revealed the aquifer is characterized by low resistivity response generally below 4.5 ohm-m depicting possible contamination of the underlying aquifer from Oke-Odo landfill. The surface of the waste landfill is characterized by differential decomposition of waste as zones of advanced decomposition and fresh waste are reflected as low and high resistivity respectively. The absence of leachate in the aquifer 100 m from the studied area suggests that the leachate has not spread to this area, therefore, safe for groundwater exploitation. This study demonstrated the expeditiousness and effectiveness of the resistivity technique as a tool for geo-environmental mapping of leachate

Abstract B048: Androgen metabolism and incidence of prostate cancer in Nigeria

The risk of prostate cancer among blacks, especially of Nigerian descent, is higher than other races. This could be attributed to biologic and genetic variability. The role of androgen metabolism in prognosis of prostate cancer has been delineated and reported. One of the enzymes involved in androgen metabolism is CYP3A4, which has not been studied in Nigerian men afflicted with prostate cancer. Racial differences in this functional gene may contribute to variations in incidence of prostate cancer across ethnic divides. Therefore, identifying a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker such as CYP3A4 polymorphism for prostate cancer in black men will improve the treatment and management of the disease. In this study, we investigated the genotypes of CYP3A4 of prostate cancer patients from Nigeria for possible correlation to the high incidence of the disease in Nigerian men. The results obtained showed a preponderance of the GG genotypes, which indicates a possible correlation between this genotype of CYP3A4 and higher risk of prostate cancer among Nigerian men

Heavy metal tolerance of fungal and bacterial isolates, and their functional groups following biosorption

Heavy metal contamination still prevails due to improper discharge of effluents from industries, mining activities, agricultural and domestic sources. Hence, the objectives of this study were to isolate bacteria and fungi with high potentials for biosorption of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Ni(II) and to explore their functional groups. Bacteria and fungi able to grow in the presence of 0.1% of selected heavy metals were isolated and enumerated using nutrient agar and potato dextrose agar, respectively. The isolates were then screened for their abilities to withstand high concentrations of heavy metals. After the screening, the isolates with high potential were identified and used for percentage biosorption study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to compare the spectra and functional groups elaborated by the control and the metal stressed isolates. Bacterial counts were higher than the fungal counts across the soil samples. Screening revealed that the isolates tolerated Pb(II) and Cr(III) better than Ni(II) and Cd(II). The isolates with high biosorption potentials were identified as Ochobactrum intermedium, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and Cunninghamella bertholletiae. The functional groups common to the infrared spectra of the control flasks of C. bertholletiae, A. niger and O. intermedium were primary alcohol, aliphatic primary amine, aromatic amine, imine/ oxime, thiol, sulfone and phenol while aliphatic ether, alkyl aryl ether, conjugated ketone, cyclic alkene, α, β-unsaturated ketone, sulfoxide, aromatic ester, isothiocyanate, secondary alcohol, tertiary alcohol, sulfonamide, sulfonate, allene, amine, conjugated acid and conjugated aldehyde were among the functional groups produced in the presence of heavy metals. The findings conclude that the isolates demonstrated a reasonable binding affinity for heavy metals and can be used in developing biosorbent at a commercial level for Cd(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Ni(II)

Assessment of Toxicological Effects of Selected Popular Antidiabetic Drugs in Type II Diabetes Mellitus within Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Aim: The complications associated with diabetes and the new trend of using combination therapy in the management of the disease gave birth to this work, aimed at assessing the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of selected popularly used antidiabetic medications in type 2 diabetic patients within Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Study Design: The participants, diabetic (n=195) and non-diabetic (n=30) were divided into the following groups based on their medications: 1 (Non Diabetic control), 2 (Metformin), 3 (Glimepiride), 4 (Glibenclamide), 5 (Metformin and Glimepiride), 6 (Meformin and Glibenclamide), 7 (Metformin, Glimepiride and Glibenclamide) and 8 (Diabetic Dietary control). Methodology: Serum protein expression profiling, liver and kidney function parameters were assessed in participant’s blood using Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and standard laboratory methods respectively. Results: Glyceamic control within the diabetic groups was 29.23%. Urea concentration was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in groups 5 and 7 compared with groups 1 and 8 while the serum creatinine levels in the different groups showed no significant difference. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase increased significantly (p < 0.05) in group 5 compared with groups 1 and 8. A low molecular weight protein likely to be Leptin (molecular weight 18 kDa) was over-expressed in all the diabetic groups. Conclusion: This study shows that use of multiple rather than single drugs caused significant functional changes in the liver and kidney. The control of diabetes may best be carried out with dietary control and lifestyle modification as well as good therapeutic drug monitoring for safe assessment of baseline organ function

Abstract 1223: Significance of GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism to breast cancer susceptibility in Nigerian women

Human glutathione-S-transferases play a key role in the metabolism of drugs and environmental chemicals. There have been conflicting reports on the association of breast cancer susceptibility with null genotypes of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) classes of mu and theta (GSTM1 and GSTT1). However, this is the first report of the association of null genotypes of GSTs with breast cancer patients from Nigerian population. By multiplex PCR, we examined the null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in relation to breast cancer risk in Nigerian women. The case-control study included 56 clinically diagnosed breast cancer patients and age-matched control participants. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (Cl) from conditional logistic regression model were used to estimate the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 subtypes and breast cancer risk. The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in breast cancer (BC) patients differed from healthy controls (HC) (61% in BC vs. 39% in HC and 66% in BC vs. 34% in HC for GSTM1 and GSTT1 respectively). GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and their combinations were associated with increased breast cancer risk [OR = 3.06 (95% Cl 0.98-9.48)], [OR = 14.06 (95% Cl 3.02-70.6)] and [OR = 6.98 (95% Cl = 0.11-16.5)] respectively. The study showed an increased breast cancer risk in patients with GSTT1 homozygous gene deletions with relative risk (RR) value of 5.6 than those with GSTM1 (RR = 1.77). In conclusion, the data from our work provide evidence of increased risk of breast cancer associated with GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygous gene deletions in women from Nigeria

Phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant assessment of Yoyo bitters

In this paper, herbal bitters are widely used due to their numerous acclaimed health benefits in many Nigerian homes; however, many have not been subjected to scientific scrutiny. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of a non-alcoholic polyherbal formulation, Yoyo bitters, towards validating its broad pharmacological claims. The phytochemical components of Yoyo bitters were ascertained by phytochemical screening assays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity was investigated in vitro using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of Yoyo bitters showed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and anthocyanins. The total phenols, flavonoids, flavanols, tannins and carotenoids content were 14.741 ±0.64 mg GAE/ml, 0.152 ±0.01 mg RE/ml, 0.437 ±0.02 mg RE/ml, 0.368 ±0.04 mg TAE/ml and 0.016 ±0.00 mg CAE/ml respectively. GC-MS chromatogram revealed the presence of forty-three (43) phytochemical compounds with D-allose (41.81%), 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucofuranose (24.15%), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (8.02%) and Z-6-pentadecen-1-ol acetate (3.50%) as the most abundant constituents. Yoyo bitters demonstrated effective antioxidant activity against DPPH and H2O2 with IC50 values of 0.492 mg/ml and 0.629 mg/ml respectively compared to ascorbic acid of 0.161 mg/ml and 0.130 mg/ml respectively. Total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power of Yoyo bitters were 0.432 mg AAE/ml and 2.236 mg AAE/ml respectively. This study validates the antioxidant capacity of Yoyo bitters and provides chemical basis for its acclaimed pharmacological actions

Hypoglycemic and antioxidative activities of ethanol seed extract of Hunteria umbellate (Hallier F.) on streptozotocininduced diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes, a global cause of mortality in developing countries is a chronic disorder affecting the metabolism of macromolecules and has been attributed to the defective production and action of insulin characterized by persistent hyperglycemic properties. This global disorder harms organs of the body such as the liver, kidney and spleen. Medicinal plants such as Hunteria umbellate have been shown to possess hypoglycemic, antioxidative and anti-diabetic properties owing to the high concentration of active phytochemical constituents like flavonoids and alkaloids. The present study seeks to evaluate the hypoglycemic activities of ethanolic seed extract of Hunteria umbellate on streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Methods: Thirty (30) female experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups with six rats per group and were administered streptozotocin (STZ) and Hunteria umbellate as follows. Group 1 served as control and was given only distilled water, group 2 rats were administered 60 mg/kg STZ; Group 3 was administered 60 mg/kg STZ and 100 mg/kg metformin; group 4 rats were administered 60 mg/kg STZ and 800 mg/kg Hunteria umbellate, group 5 rats 60 mg/kg STZ and 400 mg/kg Hunteria umbellate. The fasting blood glucose level of each rat was measured before sacrifice. Rats were then sacrificed 24 h after the last dose of treatment. Results: The results showed that Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZ-induced increase in fasting blood glucose and increase in body and organs weight of rats. Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZ-induced decrease in antioxidant enzyme in liver, kidney and spleen of rats. Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZinduced increase in oxidative stress markers in liver, kidney and spleen of rats

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder