Hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic, hepatoprotective and antilipid peroxidation activities of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Purpose: To investigate the hypoglycemic, antidyslipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation effects of hydromethanol leaf extract of Helianthus annuus (HLEHA) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Methods: The extract was administered once daily at 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Glibenclamide (GLB) 2 mg/kg was used as a reference drug (positive control) and 5 % Tween-20 solution in water was used as negative control. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weights were measured on days 7, 14 and 21 while glycosylated haemoglobin concentration (HbA1c), serum markers of liver function, lipid profile, antioxidant status, histopathological changes in pancreas and liver were determined 24 h after the last dosing on day 21.Results: The GLB and HLEHA caused significant (p < 0.05) time-dependent weight gains in the treated rats when compared with 5 % Tween-20 treated rats. The HLEHA and GLB caused significant (p < 0.05) decreases in FBG, HbA1c, malondialdehyde, and lipid profile levels in the treated rats when compared with rats in 5% tween-20 treated group. Alloxan-induced pancreatic and hepatic degeneration were reversed in GLB- and HLEHA-treated rats.Conclusion:  Helianthus annuus demonstrates potent antidiabetic, antioxidant and antidyslipidemic activities in rats.Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antidyslipidemic, Helianthus annuus, Medicinal plant, Traditional medicin

Potential antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of a heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Helianthus annuus L. Leaves

Heliangolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone and its derivatives are biologically active compounds present in most medicinal plants. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of a heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Helianthus annuus L. leaves. The heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone was isolated through combination of solvent-solvent partitioning, column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and high performance-liquid chromatography techniques. The antioxidant activity of the compound was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays while the antidiabetic effects were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The heliangolide derivative at 954.2 µmol L–1 showed 23.7 % DPPH and 26 % nitric oxide radical inhibitions compared with 96.6 and 50.9 %, resp., displayed by the controls (2,271.2 µmol L–1). It also reduced the fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in a time-dependent manner. The highest activity was recorded within 6 h post-treatment at 0.2 mmol kg–1 bm. The heliangolide derivative exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant and antidiabetic properties and provides basis for further development of constituents of Helianthus annuus leaves for the management of such diseases

Biologically Active Solid Deposits in Biocide treated Oil and Gas pipelines from a Nigerian Onshore Oil Production Facility

Pipelines transporting crude oil, produced water and gas from an onshore oil producing facility in Nigeria are subject to frequent corrosion failures despite treatment programs with chlorine (0.5mg L-1) and sodium azide (0.2 mg L-1). Solid deposit samples from 6 corroded pipelines were analyzed chemically and biologically to determine whether the corrosion episodes were as a result of microbial activity. Microbiological analysis showed relatively high concentrations of microorganisms associated with corrosion such as SRBs (103-105 cell g-1) and APBs (103-107 cells g-1) while chemical analysis showed evidence of corrosion products such as iron II, calcium, sulfide, carbonate and bicarbonate. Chemical analysis also revealed that environmental conditions such as availability of nutrients, pH, moisture and redox potential were favorable for the growth and proliferation of these microorganisms. All the pipeline samples that were investigated recorded remarkable corrosion rates that ranged from 0.065-0.30 mm yr-1 but the rates were higher in chloride treated pipelines. Our investigation revealed that the solid deposit samples were biologically active and pipeline corrosion was as a result of microbial activity. Thus the prevalence of bio-corrosion is likely to be higher in cases where routine pipeline cleaning and checks are not strictly adhered to despite regular biocide treatment program

Extrasolar Planets in the Classroom

The field of extrasolar planets is still, in comparison with other astrophysical topics, in its infancy. There have been about 300 or so extrasolar planets detected and their detection has been accomplished by various different techniques. Here we present a simple laboratory experiment to show how planets are detected using the transit technique. Following the simple analysis procedure describe we are able to determine the planetary radius to be 1.27 +/- 0.20 R_{J} which, within errors agrees with the establish value of 1.32 +/- 0.25 R_{J}.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, published in Physics Educatio

Government Policy Approach to Environmental Conflicts among the Niger Delta Communities: Implication to 2015 and Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals

The present study is focused on the public perception of government approach to the environmental challenges in the region of Niger Delta and its implication to environmentally-related conflict resolution and inclusive society. Four states were randomly selected while eight local government areas, 24 communities and 500 respondents (18+) were randomly selected for data collection. Our evaluation and analysis were focused on the public perception of the government policy approach in resolving the environmentally-related conflict in the region, support to this approach and the likelihood of youth involvement in violent agitation in the region. From our data, we pinpointed and demonstrated the weaknesses and unpopular nature of the dominant policy approach in the region as well as the latent energy of environmental conflict in the region. For policy relevance of the study, we ran a statistical cross examination on prevailing sociological issues in the region relevant to sustainable environmental and conflict resolution policy in the region. Our study established some factors relevant to inclusive society policy in achieving sustainable peace in the region such as public perception of government approach to their environmental challenges, socially-inclusive mode of consultation, age etc. in view of the strength of our data, the findings and suggestion of the study will help the Nigerian government to the threshold of people oriented and sustainable policies in dealing with the ceaseless conflict agitations in the region. The study aims to contribute in the current social scientific literature, the point of individual involvement in environmental conflict in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Challenges of Hirschsprung’s disease presenting in an adult: a case report

Hirschprung’s disease is rare in adults; it is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. We present a 34 year old man illustrating the clinical characteristic of the pathology, the diagnostic clues and assessing the therapeutic approach. Definitive diagnosis is established on histology specimen from the rectum and the disease was confined to the rectosigmoid .Treatment involved sigmoid colostomy, anterior resection with colorectal anastomosis with a posterior myotomy

The bio-corrosive nature of injection water sources used in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The bio-corrosive nature of injection water used in the Nigerian oil and gas industry from different sources such as seawater, produced water, brackish water, fresh and underground water were investigated with special emphasis on some of their components which enhance corrosion such as microbial activity, dissolved oxygen and presence of dissolved substances such as chlorides, sulfates and ammonia. Our investigation reveals that seawater, produced water and brackish water had higher salinity, conductivity, concentrations of dissolved oxygen, TDS, sulfate, organic nutrients, sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB), acid producing bacteria (APB) and higher corrosion rates (0.24-0.56 mm yr-1) than fresh and underground water whose corrosion rates ranged between 0.06-0.08 mm yr-1. Our study also established high correlation between corrosion rates and the concentrations of Fe2+, SRB, APB, TDS, DO and conductivity in all injection water samples examined in the study. The role of microorganisms in enhancing corrosion was also clearly established in some samples

Feasible Environmental Kuznets and Institutional Quality in North and Southern African Sub-regions

One of the goals of Africa as a developing continent is to grow and also reduce environmental pollution. Most studies investigate the presence of inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) using pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), the use of point pollutants such as suspended particulate matter (SPM) is not so popular in literature. Similarly, most studies that assess the role of institutions in the income-pollution nexus do not investigate their capability in achieving feasible turning on the EKC. Focusing on three pollutants, namely: CO2, nitrogen oxide (N2O) and SPM, this study employs system generalised method of moments to assess the role of institutions in two sub-regions (North and Southern Africa) in attaining EKC turning points. Results, among others, indicate that the both sub-regions did not attain a level of average income capable of turning EKC round for CO2 and N2O but do for SPM. It is also revealed that Southern Africa attained EKC faster than North Africa. It is therefore recommended that for the purpose of achieving the goal of green growth, the institutional quality should be strengthened in the two Africa sub-regions, particularly in Southern Africa

Composition of uroliths in a tertiary hospital in South East Nigeria

Background: Urolithiasis affects primarily the urinary tract and complications as debilitating as renal failure may develop. Determining the chemical composition of uroliths can aid management and prevention of recurrence in patients.Objective: To determine the chemical composition and anatomical distribution of uroliths in Nigeria.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2014 and February 2016, in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. We reviewed the outcomes of uroliths of adult patients sent to our laboratory for chemical analyses. Samples were analyzed using simple qualitative tests.Results: 52 adult patients were included with a mean age (SD) of 46.6 (12.6) years. Males (76.9%) were more affected than females (23.1%). For both sexes, highest occurrence of stones was in bladder (85.7%). Calcium-containing stones had the highest occurrence (85.2%) and predominated in the renal, ureter and urethra, followed by struvite stones (59.5%). In the bladder, struvite stones were predominant (85.8%), with calcium-containing stones accounting for 71.4%.Conclusion: This study showed that struvite and calcium phosphate-containing stones constitute majority of uroliths in our setting with low occurrence of calcium oxalate stones. This indicates that urinary tract infection most likely plays a substantial role in the formation of uroliths in Nigerians. Modern methods of stone analysis is advocated to further define management options.Keywords: Uroliths, calcium oxalate, chemical composition, struvite, stone, calculi