Synergistic Antimicrobial Activities Of Phytoestrogens In Crude Extracts Of Two Sesame Species Against Some Common Pathogenic Microorganisms

Intensive studies on extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from medicinal plants have doubled in the last decade worldwide. However, as a result of paucity of knowledge and folkloric claim on the effectiveness of sesame leaves in infectious disease treatments, we aimed to determine the synergistic antimicrobial activity of essential oils and lignans present in the crude leaves extracts of Sesame radiatum and Sesame indicum. Ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of both leaves were studied for their in-vitro synergistic antimicrobial activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative micro-organisms, and Yeast using Agar diffusion method. The GC-MS phytochemical screening of methanolic extract showed that the major compounds in essential oils are of carboxylic acids and phenolic groups especially, the most potent antioxidants known to man like sesamol, sesamolin and sesamin among others. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts have broad spectrum antimicrobial effect against all the tested pathogenic micro-organisms except Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus respectively, while the aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The result confirmed the folkloric claims of the antimicrobial effectiveness of locally consumed sesame leaves extracts especially against bacterial and common skin infection in many areas of Nigeria . Keywords: Pathogenic micro-organisms, Gram-positive, Gram-negative,Yeast, Anti-microbial, Sesame leaves, GC-MS, MICAfrican Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Vol. 4 (4) 2007: pp. 427-43

Weight reduction with improvement of serum lipid profile and ratios of Sesamum radiatum leaves diet in a non-obese Sprague Dawley rats

Development of novel natural dietary adjunct/agent with significant therapeutic effects on metabolic disease conditions such as obesity and heart disease raises concern in recent times. We studiedchronic toxicity of the combined active ingredients present in the sesame leaves and their interaction on the fasting serum lipid profiles with their ratios in thirty adult male non-obese Sprague Dawley (SD)rats. Such that, both treated groups received 14.0 and 28.0 mg/kg body weight doses of aqueous leaves extract of Sesamum radiatum respectively on a daily basis via gastric gavage, while, the controlreceived equal volume of normal saline daily for six weeks. Significant (P < 0.05) weight loss observed in the treated groups was associated with significant (P < 0.05) reductions in both serum cholesteroland triglycerides (TG). The effect on the serum lipoprotein cholesterol components and ratios were significant in a dose related manner, such that increase in HDL accompanied a corresponding decreasein both LDL and LDL/HDL ratio. In addition, to increased in TG/HDL ratio. However, no significant differences in the relative reduction level of VLDL and triglycerides in the treated groups were found compared to control. Thus, LDL/HDL ratio is significantly a better indicator than the TG/HDL ratio in assessing the impact of sesame treatment with evidence of weight loss and hypolipidaemia especially in hypertensive heart diseases

Effects of Ascorbic Acid on Reproductive Functions of Male Wistar Rats Exposed to Nicotine

Nicotine is a pharmacologically active and addictive alkaloid component of the cigarette smoke, and its effects on male reproductive system and fertility are well documented. Influence of ascorbic acid on reproductive functions of male wistar rats exposed to nicotine was examined in this study. Thirty-two adult male rats of 180 ± 15 g weight were used and grouped into control, nicotine, ascorbic and nicotine with ascorbic acid. The drugs were orally administered for thirty-five days. Plasma levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were significantly reduced in nicotine exposed rats when compared with the control (p&lt;0.05), both FSH and LH plasma levels were significantly increased in rats exposed to ascorbic acid (p&lt;0.05) relative to the control, while ascorbic acid also increased the level of these hormone in nicotine treated group (p&lt;0.05). The cytoarchitecture of the seminiferous tubule shows high level of degeneration in the nicotine only treated group and this was reversed in the ascorbic acid treated group. There was a significant decreased in sperm motility, counts, percentage viability and morphology (p&lt;0.05) in nicotine treated group relative to the control, while there was a significant improvement in these sperm parameters in co-administered ascorbic acid with nicotine when compared with the rats treated with nicotine only. In conclusion, ascorbic acid supplement may suppress nicotine toxic effects on reproductive functions in male rats.Keywords: Nicotine, ascorbic acid, FSH, LH, Testosterone, Sperm parameter

Protective Effect of Vitamin E on Nicotine Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats

The current study assessed the protective role of vitamin E in alleviating the detrimental effect of nicotine on reproductive functions in male rats. Twenty four male albino rats were divided into four groups of six rats. Control group was treated orally with 1.1 ml/kg body weight normal saline, nicotine treated group received 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine, vitamin E treated group received 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin E while nicotine plus vitamin E treated group received 1.0 mg/kg body weight of nicotine plus 100 mg/kg body weight of vitamin E. The administration of nicotine and vitamin E were done orally for 40 days. Nicotine caused a  significant reduction (p&lt;0.05) in sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and normal sperm cells. It also caused a significant reduction (p&lt;0.05) in serum  testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. There was impairment in testicular histology of rats treated with nicotine. Vitamin E  improved the reduction in sperm characteristics, hormone levels and testicular alterations observed in nicotine treated rats. The study shows that nicotine exerts significant deleterious effects on male reproductive system and the concurrent administration of vitamin E ameliorated these detrimental effects.Keywords: Nicotine, Vitamin E, Sperm toxicity, FSH, LH, Testosteron

Review of prostate cancer research in Nigeria

Prostate cancer (CaP) disparities in the black man calls for concerted research efforts. This review explores the trend and focus of CaP research activities in Nigeria, one of the ancestral nations for black men. It seeks to locate the place of the Nigerian research environment in the global progress on CaP disparities. Literature was reviewed mainly through a Pubmed search with the terms “prostate cancer”and “Nigeria”, as well as from internet and hard copies of journal pages

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and characterization of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) continues to be a problem for clinicians worldwide. However, few data on the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. aureus isolates in South Africa have been reported and the prevalence of MRSA in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province is unknown. In addition, information on the characterization of S. aureus in this province is unavailable. This study investigated the susceptibility pattern of 227 S. aureus isolates from the KZN province, South Africa. In addition, characterization of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA are reported in this survey. METHODS: The in-vitro activities of 20 antibiotics against 227 consecutive non-duplicate S. aureus isolates from clinical samples in KZN province, South Africa were determined by the disk-diffusion technique. Isolates resistant to oxacillin and mupirocin were confirmed by PCR detection of the mecA and mup genes respectively. PCR-RFLP of the coagulase gene was employed in the characterization of MSSA and MRSA. RESULTS: All the isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin and fusidic acid, and 26.9% of isolates studied were confirmed as MRSA. More than 80% of MRSA were resistant to at least four classes of antibiotics and isolates grouped in antibiotype 8 appears to be widespread in the province. The MSSA were also susceptible to streptomycin, neomycin and minocycline, while less than 1% was resistant to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and mupirocin. The inducible MLS(B )phenotype was detected in 10.8% of MSSA and 82% of MRSA respectively, and one MSSA and one MRSA exhibited high-level resistance to mupirocin. There was good correlation between antibiotyping and PCR-RFLP of the coagulase gene in the characterization of MRSA in antibiotypes 1, 5 and 12. CONCLUSION: In view of the high resistance rates of MRSA to gentamicin, erythromycin, clindamycin, rifampicin and trimethoprim, treatment of MRSA infections in this province with these antibacterial agents would be unreliable. There is an emerging trend of mupirocin resistance among S. aureus isolates in the province. PCR-RFLP of the coagulase gene was able to distinguish MSSA from MRSA and offers an attractive option to be considered in the rapid epidemiological analysis of S. aureus in South Africa. Continuous surveillance on resistance patterns and characterization of S. aureus in understanding new and emerging trends in South Africa is of utmost importance

Effect of Pre-Drying and Hydrocolloid Type on Colour and Textural Properties of Coated Fried Yam Chips

The effect of pre-drying and coating on colour and texture of yam chips were investigated. The colour parameters studied were lightness index (L*), hue angle (h) and browning index (BI). Peak force (PF) of  penetration was observed for texture. Coating pick-up (amount of coating adhering to the samples) prior to frying was determined and moisture content of fried samples was also determined. The type of hydrocolloids used in the coating formulation had significant (p &lt; 0.05) effect on coating pick-up, initial moisture content and texture of the chips; while samples that were not pre-dried had higher pick-ups and moisture contents. Pre-dried samples were darker brown in colour and harder in texture than samples that were not pre-dried as evidenced by their higher browning index and peak force values, respectively, thus enhancing the colour and texture of the chips.Keywords: Hydrocolloids, pre-fry drying, frying, colour, texture

Effect of Natural Fermentation on the Chemical and Nutritional Composition of Fermented Soymilk Nono

Changes in the chemical and nutritional composition of naturally fermented soy nono were studied at ambient temperature (27 ± 2oC) for 72 h. The differently fermented soy nono samples were collected at 6 h intervals and analysed for chemical, proximate and mineral composition using standard laboratory procedures. Biochemical changes in the fermenting soy nono showed a drop in pH from 6.90 to 4.09 while titratable acidity (lactic acid equivalent) increased from 0.42 to 1.82% after 72 h of natural fermentation. The moisture, carbohydrate and fat contents decreased from 93.45 to 92.70, 1.52 to 0.60 and 2.18 to 0.87 % respectively while total solids, ash and protein contents increased from6.55 to 7.30, 0.23 to 0.74 and 2.62 to 5.09 % respectively. Results reveal that the calcium, iron and magnesium contents in fermenting soymilk increased from 52.86 to 71.43, 28.00 to 40.00 and 7.66 to 8.87 mg/l respectively within time intervals of 0 to 54 h and then decreased to 65.00, 28.00 and 7.83 mg/l respectively till the end of fermentation periodwhile the zinc content increased from 4.42 to 6.75 mg/l throughout the fermentation period. It was evident that there was increase in protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron contents during natural fermentation of soymilk.Keywords: Fermentation, nono, soymilk, soybean

Dry milling characteristics of dried cassava chips as related to moisture content

No Abstract. Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology Vol. 2(1) 2002: 13-1