Effect Of Aspartame And Sucrose On Some Biochemical And Haematological Parameters In Wistar Albino Rats

Effect of aspartame and sucrose on some biochemical and haematological parameters in wistar albino rats was studied. Sixteen rats were randomly assigned into four study groups. The rats in group 1, received a placebo of 5.0ml distilled water via gastric intubation. The animals in groups 2 through 4 were treated with 100mg aspartame/kg, 100mg sucrose/kg, or a combination of 100mg aspartame/kg + 100mg sucrose/kg, respectively, in a total volume of 5.0ml vehicle. The experiment lasted for 30days. One day after the final exposure, the animals were euthanized by inhalation of overdose of chloroform. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture into EDTA sterilized sample bottles. Protein free blood was prepared and used for the analysis of glucose while whole blood was used for hemoglobin andhematocrit analysis; serum was prepared by centrifugation and used for serum total protein levels. The brain of each rat was also harvested and processed into whole homogenate and used for the analysis of brain tryptophan and phenylalanine levels. The results showed that consumption of aspartame and sucrose inhibited protein and leukocytes synthesis, resulting in anemia, and bone marrow hypoplasia, and DNA dysfunction. The results also showed that aspartame and sucrose consumption inhibited hexokinase, resulting in inhibition of glucose uptake by hepatic tissues, leading to hypoglycemia, which has been linked with aggressive and violent behaviours, diverse personality, and psychiatric disorders such as neuroses, panic attacks, agoraphobia and schizophrenic episodes as well as neuronal disorders. The alterations had led to changes in behaviours including aggressive and violent behaviours .those foods seemed greatly to increase their restless and destructive behaviour of susceptible individuals

Antibacterial activity and medicinal properties of ginger (Zingiber officinale)

The antibacterial activity and medicinal properties of ginger extracts were studied. Ginger extracts were obtained using solvents, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic soxhlet and water. The extracts were assayed for antibacterial activity and bacterial growth inhibition activity. The results showed that all the extracts except the water extract have antibacterial activity and that the inhibition of bacterial growth was dose dependent. The results alsoshowed that ginger extracts possesses antibacterial properties and could be used for the treatment of bacterial infections

Effect of methods of extraction on phytochemical constituents and antibacterial properties of Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds

Effect of methods of extraction on phytochemical constituents and antibacterial properties of the extracts of the seeds of tetracarpidium conophorum was studied. Different solvents extraction methods yielded varying amounts of the phytochemical constituents and the antibacterial screening showed that all the extracts except the water extracts have antibacterial activity. The inhibition of bacterial growth showed that the extracts were dose dependent since no inhibition occurred at lower concentration. The study therefore showed that the extracts of the seeds oftetracarpidium conopharum are dependent upon the solvent and methods of extraction, and that the extract possesses antibacterial properties, which could be useful in treatment of bacterial infections and or other related diseases

Effect Of Leptin Status On Neuroendocrine- Reproductive Regulation And Maternal-Fetal Nutrient Transfer In Wistar Albino Rats

Effect of leptin status on neuroendocrine-reproductive regulation in wistar rats was studied. Ten wistar rats weighing between 170-280g were randomly assigned into two study groups. The animals in Group 1 (the control) received a placebo of 5.0ml distilled water while those in Group two were treated with 100mg insulin/kg body weight of rat via gastric intubation. The experiment lasted for 21 days. One day after the final exposure, the animals were euthanized by inhalation of over dose of chloroform. The brain of each rat was harvested and processed into whole homogenate, and was used for some biochemicals assays (i.e isolation and purification of RNA, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and leptin assay). The results showed that insulin increased the secretion of leptin, which in turn, reduced feed intake, and energy balance, leading to increased MRNA expression, suggesting that leptin may beinvolved in the control of appetite and maturation of luteneizing hormone secretory axis, which may be associated with development of the neuroendocrine axis (i.e neuroendocrine signal transduction). The study may suggest that leptin may serve as effectors that link mechanism that regulate reproduction and energy balance, thus playing an importantrole in reproduction and energy balance; modulating maternal nutrient partitioning inorder to optimize the provision of nutrients for fetal growth

Biological activities of phthalocyanines : effects of human serum components on the in vitro uptake and photodynamic activity of zinc phthalocyanine

Nous avons étudié l'effet des composantes du sérum humain sur l'activité photodynamique de la phtalocyanine de zinc (ZnPc) sur des fibroblastes de hamster chinois (lignée V-79). Nous avons d'abord montré que les activités photodynamiques sont correlées à l'accumulation cellulaire de ZnPc marquée au 65Zn, ce qui nous a permis d'estimer la quantité de sensibilisateur présent dans les cellules au moment de l'irradiation et d'exprimer les efficacités photodynamiques sur la base de la concentration intracellulaire du pigment. Toutes les composantes sériques, à l'exception des HDL (lipoprotéines de haute densité), inhibent la pénétration de ZnPc dans les cellules V-79 en comparaison avec l'accumulation dans les même cellules de ZnPc délivrées dans du milieu sans sérum. Les HDL ont pour effet d'augmenter de 23 % l'accumulation de ZnPc, sans affecter cependant l'efficacité photodynamique calculée à partir de la concentration cellulaire. Les VLDL (lipoprotéines de très faible densité) et les globulines ont diminué l'accumulation cellulaire également sans affecter l'efficacité photodynamique du produit. En revanche, les lipoprotéines de faible densité (LDL) et l'albumine, tout en inhibitant l'accumulation cellulaire de ZnPc, ont augmenté l'efficacité photodynamique cellulaire de ZnPc, ce qui suggère que ces protéines facilitent la localisation du produit vers des cibles subcellulaires vitales sensibles aux dommages photodynamiques. A partir de ces résultats, nous concluons que l'association de ZnPc avec les composantes sériques peut entraîner des effets importants et largement variés sur le degré de pénétration et la distribution cellulaire du photosensibilisateur. || Abstract: The effect of human serum components on the photodynamic activity of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) towards Chinese hamster fibroblasts (line V-79) was studied. Photodynamic activities were correlated with cellular uptake of radiolabeled [65Zn] ZnPc which allowed corrections to be made for the amount of sensitizer present in the cells at the time of irradiation and to express photodynamic efficiencies on a cellular dye concentration basis. All serum components, with the exception of high density lipoproteins (HDL), inhibit uptake of ZnPc by V-79 cells, when compared to incubation of ZnPc with the same cells in serum free medium. HDL increased ZnPc uptake by 23%, but the photodynamic efficiency corrected for the cellular ZnPc concentration was unaffected. Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and globulins decreased ZnPc cell uptake, but likewise did not affect the cellular photodynamic efficiency of the dye. In contrast low density lipoprotein (LDL) and albumin, while inhibiting ZnPc cell uptake, increased the cellular photodynamic efficiency of ZnPc, suggesting that these proteins facilitate localization of the dye at cellular targets sensitive to photodynamic damage and vital to cell survival. We conclude from these results that association of ZnPc with serum components can have important, and widely differing, effects on both degree of uptake and cellular distribution of the photosensitizer

Mitogenic Properties Of Lectin From Mucuna Sloanei Seed Extracts

Mitogenic properties of lectin from mucuna sloanei seed extracts were studied. The seeds of mucuna sloanie were shelled and ground using an electric grinder. The powder meal was then defatted with petroleum ether, and adjusted to 10 %( w/v) in potassium inorganic phosphates k-pi (A) buffer (pH 7.5). The suspension was then filtered and clarified by centrifugation. The supernatant (crude extract) was then acidified and centrifuged at 4000 Х g for 30 minutes. The supernatant generated was recovered. The materials were then extensively dialyzed, first against water and then against k-pi (A) buffer. Aliquots of the final dialysate were  serially diluted (2-fold steps) in k-pi (A) buffer and used for haemagglutination assay and immunological parameters (i.e. percentages lymphocytes eosinophils, monocytes, basophiles, and neutrophils). The results showed that the isolated lectin from mucona sloanei seedsextracts agglutinated human ABO, goat and chicken red blood cells, but did not agglutinate those of cow. It was also observed that the physicochemical properties of the lectin did not affect agglutination by variation of the pH of the medium or affected by temperature. The results of the immunological parameters showed that there were significant(p<0.05) increases in the values of the immunological parameters relative to those seen in the controls. This study, suggest that the isolated lectin from mucona sloanei seeds possesses mitogenic properties, and may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases such as blood typing disorders and obesity

Effect of caffeine -coconut products interactions on induction of microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in wistar albino rats

Effect of caffeine-coconut products interactions on induction of drug-metabolizing enzyme in wistar albino rats was studied. Twenty rats were randomly divided into four groups: The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4.0ml of distilled water). Groups 2 to 4 were treated for a 14-day period with 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50mg/kg body weight of coconut water, and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine and 50mg/kg body weight ofcoconut milk in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure, the animals were anaestheticized by inhalation of an overdose of chloroform. The blood of each rat was collected by cardiac puncture while the liver of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, ie, total protein and RNA levels, protein/RNA ratios, and activities of alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST, respectively). The results showed that while ingestion of coconut milk and coconut water increased the values of protein and protein/RNA ratios, it decreased alanine and aspartate amino transferase (ALT and AST) activities.These effects, in turn, enhanced the induction of the metabolizing enzymes and a resultant faster clearance and elimination of the caffeine from the body, there by reducing the toxic effect on the liver

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interaction on biochemical indices of neuronal gene expression in wistar albino rats.

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interactions on biochemical indices of neuronal gene expression in Wistar albino rats was studied. Thirty Wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of five (5) rats per group. The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water). Groups 2 - 6 were treated for a period of 21-days with (10% v/v) 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol, 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine, 50mg/kg body weight of alcoholand 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut, and 50mg/kg body weight of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. One day after the final exposure,the brain of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total protein, DNA, RNA and protein/RNA ratios. The status of neuronal gene expression was monitoredthrough assessment of these parameters. The results showed that alcohol-kolanut co-administration decreased brain total protein, DNA, RNA levels and protein/RNA ratios, and inhibited gene expression.These effects, in turn, inhibited DNA transcription, MRNA splicing and protein synthesis, and polypeptide expression, which are necessary for the growth, development, differentiation and cell survival

Effect of alcohol and kolanut interaction on brain sodium pump activity in wistar albino rats.

Effect of alcohol - kolanut interaction on Sodium Pump activity in wistar albino rats was studied. Thirty wistar albino rats were divided into six groups of five (5) rats per group and used for the study. The control group (1) received via oral route a placebo (4ml of distilled water). Groups 2 to 6 were treated for a period of 21 days, with (10% v/v) of alcohol (group 2), 50mg/kg body weight of kolanut (group 3), 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine (group 4), 4ml of 10% v/v of alcohol and50mg/kg body weight kolanut (group 5), 4ml of 10% v/v of alcohol and 50mg/kg body weight of caffeine in 4.0ml of the vehicle via gastric intubation respectively. A day after the final exposure, thebrain of each rat was harvested and processed to examine several biochemical parameters, i.e., total ATpase, ouabain-insensitive ATpase, ouabain sensitive ATpase (Na+ - K+ - ATpase), non-enzymatic breakdown of ATP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) released. The results showed that the essential enzyme of the brain responsible for neuronal function, Na+ - K+ - ATpase, was inhibited by alcohol-kolanut coadministration relative to control, resulting in a decrease in Na+ - K+ - ATpase activity, ATP production,ion transport and action potential, leading to loss of neuronal activities