Effect of Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension on Osmotic Fragility and Hemorheological Factors in Male Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is a common risk factor for erythrocyte osmotic stress. This study was aimed at exploring the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus and salt-induced hypertension on osmotic fragility and hemorheological variables in male Wistar rats. Thirty male rats were grouped into five groups of six animals each as follows: negative control (zero salt in diet); positive control (normal salt diet - 0.3% salt); high salt diet (8% salt) (HSD only); STZ induced diabetes and normal salt diet (STZ only); STZ induced diabetes and high salt diet (STZ + HSD). At the end of a 4 weeks period, hematological variables, osmotic fragility, rheology and cardiovascular responses were assessed. There was an increase (p<0.05) in the mean arterial pressure and heart rate of HSD, STZ and HSD + STZ groups indicating a salt induced hypertension. There was a decrease in the body weight of STZ and HSD +STZ groups. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in the haematocrit, platelets estimates and fibrinogen concentrations in the experimental groups when compared with the controls. The STZ and STZ + HSD groups showed a reduced clotting time which corresponded to the increased platelet estimates and fibrinogen concentration. The increase in haematocrit, platelet and plasma protein resulted in the increased blood viscosity and a decreased flow rate. The osmotic fragility test was also observed to be increased (p<0.05) in HSD, STZ only and STZ + HSD groups. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension increase the rate of hemolysis of erythrocyte, as well as increase blood viscosity

Preventive Epigenetic Mechanisms of Functional Foods for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global health problem that requires new and effective prevention and management strategies. Recent research has highlighted the role of epigenetic changes in the development and progression of T2D, and the potential of functional foods as a complementary therapy for the disease. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the preventive epigenetic mechanisms of functional foods in T2D. We provide background information on T2D and its current treatment approaches, an explanation of the concept of epigenetics, and an overview of the different functional foods with demonstrated preventive epigenetic effects in T2D. We also discuss the epigenetic mechanisms by which these functional foods prevent or manage T2D, and the studies that have investigated their preventive epigenetic effects. In addition, we revisit works on the beneficial influence of functional foods against the programming and complications of parentally-triggered offspring diabetes. We also suggest, albeit based on scarce data, that epigenetic inheritance mechanistically mediates the impacts of functional nutrition against the metabolic risk of diabetes in offspring. Finally, our review highlights the importance of considering the preventive epigenetic mechanisms of functional foods as a potential avenue for the development of new prevention and management strategies for T2D

Anti-oxidative Effects of Butanol Seed Extract of Parkinsonia aculeata on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage on Wistar Rats

Medicinal plants have protective effect because of the presence of several compounds which have different mechanism of action. This study sought to assess the anti-oxidative effects of butanol seed extract of Parkinsonia aculeata on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage on Wistar rats. The Wistar rats were put into five groups, each with six rats: Group A received a daily dosage of liquid paraffin (1ml/kg); Group B received 1ml/kg body weight of CCl4 (30% in liquid paraffin intraperitoneal); Group C, D, and E received the seed extracts at 100, 120, and 160 mg/kg every day for two weeks. Induction of CCl4 was three times a week for two weeks simultaneously with the extract to the last day. After sacrificed, the liver was harvested and homogenized, and used for further analyses. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in all extract treated groups compared to positive control, except the catalase levels of group treated with 160mg/kg. Similar results was observed in vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione in rats treated with 100 and 120mg/kg of the extract. The results of this study revealed that butanol seed extract from P. aculeata has antioxidant properties and can protect Wistar rats' livers from the damaging effects of CCl4

Intergenerational Impact of Parental Zinc Deficiency on Metabolic and Redox Outcomes in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

Zinc deficiency is a common nutritional disorder with detrimental health consequences. Whether parental zinc deficiency induces intergenerational effects remains largely unknown. We investigated the effects of a combined maternal and paternal zinc deficiency on offspring’s metabolic outcomes and gene expression changes in Drosophila melanogaster. The parent flies were raised on zinc-deficient diets throughout development, and their progeny were assessed. Offspring from zinc-deprived parents exhibited a significant (p p dZIP1 and dZnT1 for female and male offspring, respectively. Both sexes exhibited reduced dZnT35C mRNA levels and significant (p DILP2 and proinflammatory markers, Eiger and UPD2. Overall, female offspring showed higher sensitivity to parental zinc deficiency. Our findings underscore zinc’s crucial role in maintaining health and the gender-specific responses to zinc deficiency. There is the need for further exploration of the underlying mechanisms behind these intergenerational effects

The Therapeutic Potential of Cola nitida in Health and Disease: A Review

Cola nitida, also known as Kola nut, is a tropical plant native to West Africa and has a rich history of traditional medicinal use. In this narrative review, we aim to provide an overview of the protective effects of Cola nitida in various health and disease states. Cola nitida has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties, and its bioactive compounds include caffeine, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolics. These compounds contribute to its potential therapeutic effects. Here, we examine the potential benefits of Cola nitida in several areas of health, discussing its role in cognitive function, cardiovascular health, immune system function, gastrointestinal health, and metabolic and endocrine health. Relevant original articles available from PubMed, African Journals Online (AJOL), SCOPUS, and Google Scholar were retrieved using the keywords “cola” AND “nitida” without date restriction until July 17, 2023. Evidence suggests that Cola nitida may have positive effects on health, with indications of adverse effects only from its chronic usage. However, more research is needed to establish its efficacy and safety. Cola nitida holds promise as a natural remedy for various health conditions. Understanding the benefits and limitations of Cola nitida will contribute to its effective utilization in health and disease management

Alzheimer’s disease: an update and insights into pathophysiology

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible brain disorder associated with slow, progressive loss of brain functions mostly in older people. The disease processes start years before the symptoms are manifested at which point most therapies may not be as effective. In the hippocampus, the key proteins involved in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, such as p-JAK2-Tyr1007 and p-STAT3-Tyr705 were found to be elevated in various models of AD. In addition to neurons, glial cells such as astrocytes also play a crucial role in the progression of AD. Without having a significant effect on tau and amyloid pathologies, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in reactive astrocytes exhibits a behavioral impact in the experimental models of AD. Cholinergic atrophy in AD has been traced to a trophic failure in the NGF metabolic pathway, which is essential for the survival and maintenance of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN). In AD, there is an alteration in the conversion of the proNGF to mature NGF (mNGF), in addition to an increase in degradation of the biologically active mNGF. Thus, the application of exogenous mNGF in experimental studies was shown to improve the recovery of atrophic BFCN. Furthermore, it is now coming to light that the FGF7/FGFR2/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway mediated by microRNA-107 is also involved in AD pathogenesis. Vascular dysfunction has long been associated with cognitive decline and increased risk of AD. Vascular risk factors are associated with higher tau and cerebral beta-amyloid (Aβ) burden, while synergistically acting with Aβ to induce cognitive decline. The apolipoprotein E4 polymorphism is not just one of the vascular risk factors, but also the most prevalent genetic risk factor of AD. More recently, the research focus on AD shifted toward metabolisms of various neurotransmitters, major and minor nutrients, thus giving rise to metabolomics, the most important “omics” tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases based on an individual’s metabolome. This review will therefore proffer a better understanding of novel signaling pathways associated with neural and glial mechanisms involved in AD, elaborate potential links between vascular dysfunction and AD, and recent developments in “omics”-based biomarkers in AD

Nutrigenomic Effects of White Rice and Brown Rice on the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Disorders in a Fruit Fly Model

Consumption of white rice (WR) has been shown to predispose individuals to metabolic disorders. However, brown rice (BR), which is relatively richer in bioactive compounds, possesses anti-glycaemic and antioxidant effects. In this study, fifteen cultivars of paddy rice that are predominantly consumed in North West Nigeria were analysed for their nutritional composition, bioactive contents and effects on metabolic outcomes in a fruit fly model. Gene expression analyses were conducted on the whole fly, targeting dPEPCK, dIRS, and dACC. The protein, carbohydrate, and fibre contents and bioactives of all BR cultivars were significantly different (p p p dACC and dPEPCK was upregulated, while that of dIRS was downregulated in the WR groups compared to the BR groups. Sex differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the WR groups in relation to the nutrigenomic effects. Our findings confirm metabolic perturbations in fruit flies following consumption of WR via distortion of insulin signalling and activation of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. BR prevented these metabolic changes possibly due to its richer nutritional composition