Hypolipidaemic Potentials of Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter Leaf) in male albino rats fed high-sucrose diet

Background: Increasing prevalence of obesity, overweight and metabolic syndrome secondary to excessive consumption of a high-sucrose and high-fat diet is a major global health problem. Objective: This study was meant to determine the hypolipidaemic potentials of phytochemicals present inVernonia amygdalina(Bitter leaf) in obese rats. Method: Thirty-two (6 weeks old, weighing 150-160g) male Wistar rats, were randomly selected and grouped into four: with eight rats in each group. The rats in the control group were fed normal rat chow and water while the three experimental groups were fed the various compounded diets and water ad libitum. At the end of 12th week, the animals fasted overnight, and Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was performed in some while others were anaesthetized using diethyl ether. Fasting plasma, liver tissue lipid and lipoprotein levels were determined, and LDL-C was calculated. Result: Rapid weight gain (89.9%) was recorded in rats fed High Sucrose Diet [HSD] when compared with the control group (55.3%) without significant differences in the liver weight. The mean plasma glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were significantly higher (p = 0.000, p = 0.010, p = 0.000 and p = 0.002 respectively) while mean plasma HDL-C was significantly lower (p = 0.043) in rats fed HSD when compared with rats fed normal rat chow. A significantly lower plasma lipid and higher liver tissue HDL-C (p = 0.03) were observed in the Vernonia amygdalina-treated rats. Conclusion: HSD induces hepatic steatosis and the related biochemical changes while dietary Vernonia amygdalina ameliorates the biochemical changes in hepatic steatosis in rats

Bacteriological evaluation of instant noodles stored under sub-optimal conditions from selected markets in Sagamu- Ibafo axis of Ogun State, Nigeria

This study evaluated 8 brands of 5 packets each of instant noodles for bacterial load, clinical status, and resistance of the isolates to conventional antibiotics, in addition to pH. These brands were cultured on plate count agar for bacterial enumeration while isolates were challenged on selective media for bacteria of clinical status. The antibiogram was determined using standard methods. The pH varied from acidic (4.92) as shown in GPJ 3 to closely neutral (6.94) as recorded in HWJ 2. TTJ1 had the lowest average bacteria count of 1.6 x 103 while BFJ5 with 6.3 x 105 counts was the highest. Prevalence of isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa varied in the ratio 40:30:30. Of the 40 samples, 8 of the 16 Escherichia coli were resistant to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and Augmentin, 7 of the 12 Staphylococcus aureus elicited resistance to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole while 8 of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to meropenem, cotrimoxazole, Augmentin, and cephalexin. Presence of bacteria of clinical status, in counts that exceeded recommended safe limits for ready-to-eat noodles and higher numbers of resistant isolates to the antibiotics appropriated, could be attributed to product storage under sub-optimal conditions which portend a public health risk