Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Properties of Methanol Extract of Stem Bark of Adansonia digitata Linn. in Breast Cancer Cells

Synthetic anticancer drugs are expensive and toxic; therefore, there has been much interest in developing anticancer agents from natural resources and especially plants. The stem bark of Adansonia digitata (SBAD) has many traditional medicinal uses, including the treatment of cancer, but there is currently little scientific evidence to support this. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the cytotoxic and long term antiproliferative effects of a methanol extract of SBAD (MESBAD) in breast cancer cells. Cold extraction was done on SBAD using 70% methanol for 72 hrs. The extract was filtered, concentrated and lyophilized. MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured using an established procedure and were treated with MESBAD or DMSO as control. Cytotoxicity and long-term survival were measured using MTT and clonogenic assays respectively. Western blotting was performed with antibodies against p53 and p21. MESBAD induced short-term and long-term (13 to 15 days) cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells in a dose dependent manner and exhibited an IC50 of 100μM. Western blotting indicated that MESBAD activated the p53 tumour suppressor and its target, p21. MESBAD induces cytotoxicity and inhibits long-term survival of MCF-7 breast cancers cells through a mechanism involving the up-regulation of the cell cycle and cell death regulators p53 and p21

SSR markers reveal genetic variation between improved cassava cultivars and landraces within a collection of Nigerian cassava germplasm

Open Access JournalThirty-one improved cultivars and five Nigerian landraces of cassava were assessed at genomic DNA level with 16 SSR primers for genetic diversity study. The minimum number of SSR primers that could readily be used for identification of the 36 cassava genotypes was also determined. For the genetic diversity study, the similarity coefficients generated between improved cultivars and Nigerian landraces ranged from 0.42 to 0.84, and 12 distinct DNA cluster groups were identified at 0.70 coefficients using Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System software package. For the genotype identification study, the 16 SSR primers were screened by their polymorphic information content (PIC) values. Five SSR primers that have PIC values between 0.50 and 0.67 were selected and further assessed using simple arithmetic progression combination method. The results obtained revealed a combination of these 5 primers from SSR primers collection at IITA that could readily distinguish the 36 cassava genotypes at 0.93 similarity coefficient. These five primers clustered the 36 cassavas into 16 groups at 0.70 similarity coefficient. Application of this few SSR primers would ultimately reduce the cost and time of research for genetic diversity and genotype identification studies for the genetic improvement program of cassava

Antioxidant Capacities and Phytoconstituents of Fractions of Ethanol Extract of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf: Inhibition of Iron II (Fe2+) - Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Colon Homogenate

Oxidative stress is associated with the generation of excess free radicals and reduction in the levels of antioxidant enzymes. It is also implicated in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer. Cymbopogon citratus, commonly called ‘lemon grass,’ is widely distributed in the tropics and it is known for its therapeutic applications. In this study, the antioxidant activities of the crude ethanol extract of Cymbopogon citratus and its fractions were determined using total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 2-2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, Fe3+ reducing ability, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The phytocomponents were determined through Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry and lipid peroxidation was induced in rat colon homogenate. TFC and TPC were highest in the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) > crude extract (CE) > ethanol fraction (EF) > chloroform fraction (CF). Both DPPH scavenging activity and Fe3+ reducing ability exhibited similar trend; EAF > EF > CF > CE. In addition, the ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in rat colon is as follows; EAF> CF > CE > EF. The EAF and CF of the ethanol extract of C. citratus contain most of the compounds that could be responsible for its activity against reactive oxygen species

Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) protect against sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats

We evaluated the effects of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) on sodium arsenite-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. We observed that treatment of the animals with the extracts before or just after sodium arsenite administration significantly (p < 0.05) reduced mean liver and serum γ-Glutamyl transferase (γGT), and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities when compared with the group administered the toxin alone. In addition, treatments of the animals with aqueous or ethanolic extract of O. basilicum before the administration of sodium arsenite resulted in the attenuation of the sodium arsenite-induced aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities: ALT (from 282.6 % to 167.7 % and 157.8 %), AST (from 325.1 % to 173.5 % and 164.2 %) for the group administered sodium arsenite alone, the aqueous extracts plus sodium arsenite, and ethanolic extracts plus sodium arsenite respectively, expressed as percentage of the negative control. These findings support the presence of hepatoprotective activity in the O.basilicum extracts

Sodium arsenite-induced reproductive toxicities in male Wistar rats: role of Tridax procumbens leaf extract

The cytotoxic potentials of arsenicals are well documented. Efforts at the mitigation of such effects are ongoing. In the present study, the effects of ethanol leaf extract of Tridax procumbens (ELETP); a notable medicinal plant, on the reproductive toxicities of sodium arsenite were investigated. Thirty-two male wistar rats (80-100g) allotted equally into four groups (A-D) were used. Rats in Group A (control) were treated with diluted olive oil {1:1(v/v)} at 1 ml/kg body weight (bwt.); Group B: sodium arsenite (SA); 2.5 mg/kg (positive control); Group C: 100mg/kg ELETP; and Group D: 100mg/kg ELETP and 2.5 mg/kg SA. ELETP was administered daily for 14 days while SA only was given on days 7 and 14 respectively. Spermatozoa characterization, epididymal morphometry, testicular morphometry, and histology of the testes were assessed. There was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the mean values of volume of spermatozoa and spermatozoa viability in Groups B to D as compared to Group A. On the other hand, the mean values of spermatozoa motility and concentration in Groups B to D as compared to Group A was significantly reduced (p&lt;0.05). The percentage mean values of spermatozoa morphological characteristics observed in all the groups were found to be within the range of 10% to 20%. Furthermore, there was no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the mean values of both testicular and epididymal morphometry in Groups B to D as compared to Group A. Sodium arsenite caused pathological effects on the testicular interstitial and germinal cells in Group B. However, these toxic effects were reversed in Group D. The ELETP seem toxic to the sperm cells rather than epididymal and testicular morphology, caution should therefore be exercised on the therapeutic application of Tridax procumbens in man and as feed for animals.Keywords:  Tridax procumbens, arsenite, sperm characteristics, morphology, histolog

Analysis of Bgenome derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in Musa spp.

A study was conducted to investigate the genetic variability between 40 Musa genotypes maintained at the Musa germplasm collection of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan using nine B-genome derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The nine primers produced reproducible and discrete fragments and generated a total of 23 alleles with an average of 2.1. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed clusters of diploid cultivars separate from triploid ones (with the exception of TMB149 (BB) and TMB131 (AB)). Average gene diversity was He = 0.412, and differentiation, given by the fixation index (FST) was low at 0.131

Variation in nutrient and antinutrient contents of tubers from yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis) genotypes grown at two locations

Eight genotypes of yellow yam (Dioscorea cayenensis) were planted at locations in two major yam-growing agroecologies of Nigeria (Onne in the humid forest zone and Ibadan in the forest/savannah transition zone) for assessment of the contents of minerals and antinutrients. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed among the genotypes in tuber contents of Fe, Zn, Ca, Mn, P, Cu and tannin. The levels of Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, K, P and phytate (Phy) were higher (P<0.05) in tubers grown at Ibadan than at Onne. Values for Cu and tannin were similar at the two locations for all genotypes. Significant (P<0.05) genotype x environment interactions were detected for tuber contents of only Zn, Mn and Phy. The ranges of molar ratios Phy:Zn (2.2 - 4.1), Ca:Phy (8.3 - 15.0), and [Ca][Phy]/[Zn] (0.01 - 0.02) suggest that phytate could inhibit bioavailability of calcium but not zinc in foods prepared from yellow yam. The tannin content was not high enough to influence the bioavailability of iron in yam-based foods. The levels of minerals and antinutrients in their tubers, the location and genotype x environment effects, and the potential influences on bioavailability of minerals in yam-based foods would be of interest to yam improvement and public health intervention programmes