Ameliorative Potentials of Camellia sinensis on Petrol Fumes- induced Oxidative Stress in Rats

Volatile organic compounds found in petrol include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). Extract of Camellia sinensis (tea plant) leaf contains some secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids saponins, anthraquinones, and tannins. Polyphenols in Camellia sinensis possess anti-atherosclerosis and cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-hypertensive, and hepato-protective effects. The study aimed to investigate the potential of Camellia sinensis in ameliorating lung damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation caused by petrol fumes. Forty-eight Wistar albino rats weighing between 140g-230g  were randomized into 8 groups of 6 rats each consisting of control, petrol fumes only group, three aqueous drink groups of different doses, and three methanol extract groups of different doses respectively. The oxido-inflammatory responses and histopathological alterations in rat lungs following 6 hours of daily exposure for 30 and 60 days were recorded. Oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT)) and inflammatory biomarkers namely: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) were evaluated. The biochemical analyses showed that petrol fumes exposure resulted in significant (P<.05) increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, pro-inflammation cytokines, and reduced GSH levels in rats as well histopathological alteration in lungs. The treated groups showed anti-oxidant properties by the elevation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD) and non-enzymatic antioxidant (gluthathione) and reduction of MDA levels as well as reversal of alterations in the lungs after histopathological analysis. This study showed that Camellia sinensis leaf aqueous and methanol extract have the potential to attenuate petrol fumes-induced oxidative stress due to its natural bioactive constituents

Phytochemical Composition and Nutritive Value of Unripe and Ripe Dennettia tripetala (DT) Fruits

Phytochemical composition and nutritive value of unripe and ripe pepper fruits (Dennettia tripetala-DT) were investigated. Phytochemical, proximate, minerals and vitamin composition were carried out using standard methods. The unripe fruit of DT had significant (P&lt;0.05) higher concentrations of terpenes, phytosterol, steroid, oxalate, saponin, alkaloid and phytate when compared to the ripe fruit; while tannins, phenol, flavonoid, coumarin, cardiac and cyanogenic glycosides were higher in the ripe fruit compared to the unripe fruit. The ash and lipid content of DT fruits were significantly (p&lt; 0.05) higher in the ripe DT fruit than unripe DT fruit; while the carbohydrate and the crude fibre content were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the unripe than the ripe DT fruit. The energy value (kcal/100 g sample) calculated from Atwater factors of 4, 9, 4 for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins was 347.2 for unripe and 331.4 for ripe DT fruits. Potassium composition of DT fruits were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in the ripe fruit than the unripe fruit, while zinc was higher in the unripe fruit than the ripe fruit. The concentration of Na, Se, Pb, Ca, Fe and Cu did not differ significantly (p&lt;0.05) between the two fruits. DT fruits possessed a significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher concentrations of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B7, B9, B12 and C than the ripe fruit; while the unripe fruits showed a significantly higher concentrations of Vitamin B6 and K than the ripe fruit. Therefore, unripe and ripe DT fruits may be consumed as potential sources of nutrients and phytochemicals which may be significant as dietary supplements