Immunoregulatory properties of n-hexane extract of Osmundastrum cinnamomeum in treatment of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Malaria control is threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant parasites and there is an urgent need for the development of antimalarial agents with novel mechanisms of actions. This study evaluated the anti-plasmodial and immune-modulatory activities of N-hexane leaf extract of Osmundastrum cinnamomeum in a mice model. Chloroquineresistant Plasmodium berghei infected mice were separated into six treatment groups and treated orally with 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of extract, water and combination of dihydroartemisinin/ piperaquine (DHAP), respectively. Parasitological activities and survival rates were monitored for 30 days’ post infection. Phytochemical composition of O. cinnamomeum was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods. Levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Leaf extract of O. cinnamomeum is rich in terpenoids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. The extract showed significant (p<0.05) antiplasmodial effect in the treated groups relative to parasitemia (23.68 %) in the untreated control on day 13. Parasitaemia was significantly higher in the DHAP group (9.83 %) on day 30 compared to extract treatment of 50 mg/kg (2.09 %) and 100 mg/kg (1.83 %). Significantly low level of TNF-α (28.82 pg/ml) and conversely, high expression of IL-10 (79.04 pg/ml) were recorded in the 50 mg/kg test group. There was a significantly higher survival rate of animals in the same group (50 mg/kg). In conclusion O. cinnamomeum demonstrated potential activity to suppress parasite and also prime the immune system against malaria infection in mice. Therefore, O. cinnamomeum may be used as a potential adjunctive therapy in the treatment of malaria infection.Keywords: Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Plasmodium berghei, Immunomodulation, Inflammatory cytokine

Gene frequencies of ABO and Rh blood groups in Nigeria: A review

Background : ABO and Rhesus factor (Rh) blood type are germane in human life in genetics and clinical studies. Aim of the study : The review was undertaken with the objective to provide data on the ABO and Rh(D) blood group distribution and gene frequency across Nigeria which is vital for blood transfusion and susceptibility to disease. Materials and methods: Literature search for ABO/Rh blood distribution in Nigeria was done and allele frequencies of A, B, O, D and d were calculated from the frequency recorded from six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. We reported frequency of ABO and Rhesus blood type from 318,940 and 280,514 individuals respectively. Prevalence were reported as percentage and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested using Chi square test and p was set at 0.05 unless otherwise stated. Results : We reported ABO blood group frequencies in the order O > A > B > AB (52.93%, 22.77%, 20.64% and 3.66%) while prevalence of Rh+ was 94.90% from total population studied. Our reported frequencies did not differ from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (goodness-of-fit X 2 for ABO = 1.74 df = 3, p < 0.05). Allelic frequencies for A(p), B(q) and O(r) are 0.143, 0.130 and 0.728 respectively. Conclusion : The study provides information on the distribution/frequency of ABO/Rh(D) blood group and their corresponding allelic proportion in a large Nigeria study. It also revealed how the Nigerian populations in the North, South, West and East vary with respect to genetic traits. This vital information will be important for population genetics and anthropology studies and may be helpful in planning for future health strategy and blueprint, particularly planning with regards to disease management and blood transfusion medicine

Effects of whole Cannabis sativa ingestion on behavioural patterns and oxidative stress in mice brain tissues

The unregulated habitual use of whole Cannabis sativa remains a challenge for the potential medical usefulness of the plant. As a psychoactive substance with different physiological properties, the onset and extent of its effects are often a factor of the mode of consumption. This study evaluated the neuro-behavioural effects of daily oral ingestion of C. sativa and its modulatory changes in oxidative stress parameters in mice brain tissues. Twenty-five male Swiss albino mice were separated into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Cannabis-diet were prepared from whole dried cannabis and standard mice feed. Groups I – IV, were fed with 40, 20, 10 and 1 % cannabis-diet ad libitum for 14 days, while group V animals were fed the standard mice diet ad libitum for 14 days and served as control. Neuro-behavioural activities were assessed by observing animals rearing, grooming, ambulation, head dipping and freezing times. The brain oxidative stress parameters were assayed to determine the effect of cannabis oral consumption on activity in mice brain. The animals fed with cannabis-diet displayed significantly reduced anxiety but statistically insignificant locomotory function, exploratory tendencies and neophilia, in a quantity dependent manner relative to the controls. Cannabis demonstrated both antioxidant and oxidative stress tendencies. Ingestion of whole cannabis plants may not adversely influence neuro-behavioural patterns in animals. A trade-off between oxidative stress induction and brain tissue injury repair mechanisms may have been elicited by different constituents of Cannabis. Thus, oral ingestion of cannabis may not readily cause changes in neuro-behavioural patterns.Keywords: Cannabis sativa, Neuro-behaviour, Oral ingestion, Locomotory function, Oxidative stres

Natural antioxidants from some fruits, seeds, foods, natural products, and associated health benefits: An update

Abstract Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules and protect the body from the effects of free radicals, produced either by normal cell metabolism or as an effect of pollution and exposure to other external factors and are responsible for premature aging and play a role in cardiovascular disease. degenerative diseases such as cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. While many antioxidants are found in nature, others are obtained in synthetic form and reduce oxidative stress in organisms. This review highlights the pharmacological relevance of antioxidants in fruits, plants, and other natural sources and their beneficial effect on human health through the analysis and in‐depth discussion of studies that included phytochemistry and their pharmacological effects. The information obtained for this review was collected from several scientific databases (ScienceDirect, TRIP database, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), professional websites, and traditional medicine books. Current pharmacological studies and evidence have shown that the various natural antioxidants present in some fruits, seeds, foods, and natural products have different health‐promoting effects. Adopting functional foods with high antioxidant potential will improve the effective and affordable management of free radical diseases while avoiding the toxicities and unwanted side effects caused by conventional medication