Serological versus molecular diagnosis

(African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(7): 169-170

Publisher's Retraction

Retraction: Reproducibility testing of RAPD and SSR markers in TomatoRajput S.G., Wable K.J., Sharma K.M. , Kubde P.D. and Mulay S.A

Searching the online biomedical literature from developing countries

This commentary highlights popular research literature databases and the use of the internet to obtain valuable research information. These literature retrieval methods include the use of the popular PubMed as well as internet search engines. Specific websites catering to developing countries' information and journals' websites are also highlighted.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (8), pp. 758-762, 200

Fostering biotechnology entrepreneurship in developing countries

The climate for commercial biotechnology in several developing countries is improving. As a result of the growing science base, biotechnology companies can successfully be located and thrive in these countries. The rewards which can flow from the successful exploitation of research should encourage investment in biotechnological activities. Key words: Entrepreneur, biotechnology, investment. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(6) 2004: 299-30

Research communications in the 21st century

Scientific inquiry thrives only in a society that fosters the free flow of ideas and information. The power of online (internet) publication in democratizing science and incorporating scientists from developing countries into the scientific community is profound. The desired and obvious properties of scientific publishing such as accessibility, economy, quality, innovation, and retrieval can be more readily achieved with electronic methods. Online publication is much cheaper and faster, and that is major reason Africa should embrace the open access model for research communication. An open access African journal (the African Journal of Biotechnology) is evaluated. Key Words: Open access, African Journal of Biotechnology, research communications. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(2) 2004: 123-12

Reporting the toxicological profile of methanolic leaf extract of Anthocleista vogelii Planch on Wistar rats

The study was aimed at explaining the toxicological profile of crude methanolic leaf extract of Anthocleista vogelii on animal models. In a time-dependent study, the oral acute and subacute toxicity of 70 % methanolic leaf extract of the plant in Wistar rats was investigated through examination of mortality rate, body and organ weight changes, and biomarkers of hepatic and renal functions in all treatment groups. No significant change (p > 0.05) was observed for body and organ weights in both studies. The acute toxicity studies demonstrated no death of animals and the LD50 was considered higher than 3200 mg/kg (p.o). In the subacute toxicity studies, the plant extract indicated no significant effect (p > 0.05) on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, but with marked significant increase (p < 0.05) on hepatic and renal AST, ALT and ALP activities among treatment groups relative to control. There was no marked significant effect (p > 0.05) on serum total protein (TP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin (ALB) and creatinine (CREA) levels for all treatment groups except for group I rats, where the oral administration of 800 mg/kg leaf extract caused a marked significant increase (p < 0.05) in BUN levels relative to control. Therefore, it was inferred from the study that A. vogelii leaves exhibited protective and hyper-stimulating properties as well as being innocuous and safe for therapeutic applications.Keywords: Acute toxicity, Anthocleista vogelii, subacute toxicity, LD5

Antigenotoxicity and antioxidant activities of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) accessions from different parts of Nigeria

Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) plant is a tree species that is highly cultivated in Nigeria for its nutritive and therapeutic values. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant and antigenotoxicity effects (in vitro) of 52 accessions of V. amygdalina collected from six geopolitical zones of Nigeria (North East, North West, North Central, South South, East and West) by evaluating the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO-) scavenging antioxidant activities, flavonoid and phenolic contents as well as ethidium bromide-induced DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) damage of bitter leaf. The results showed that accessions MN628016 (Oshimili South, Delta State) and MN628010 (Akoko Edo, Edo State), respectively had higher amounts of flavonoid (287.19 mg/g/FW) and phenolic (307.90 mg/g/FW) contents. The accessions MN627984 (Ikpoba Okha, Edo State) and MN627975 (Owerri, Imo State) had the highest nitric oxide (85.73%) and DPPH radical scavenging inhibitory effect (98.92%). The highest percentage fragmented DNA (45.05%), was observed in Allium cepa roots homogenised and mixed with ethidium bromide followed by the A. cepa roots homogenised and mixed with the leaf extract of V. amygdalina accession MN627977 (36.12%). However, V. amygdalina accessions MN628008 (457.62%, Warri North, Delta State) had the highest percentage increase of fragmented DNA followed by MN628024 (395.04%, Oshimili North, Delta State), MN628015 (345.54%; Aniocha North, Delta State) and MN627984 (342.04%; Ikpoba Okha, Edo State) while accession MN628010 (7.32%; Akoko Edo, Edo State) had the lowest. Accession MN628010 which possessed the highest amount of phenolic content had the lowest percentage increase of fragmented DNA and accession MN627984 which possessed the highest nitric oxide radical scavenging inhibitory effect was among the accessions with the highest percentage increase of fragmented DNA. The findings of this study suggest that the observed lowest percentage of fragmented DNA of A. cepa roots growth induced with the solution of ethidium bromide and treated with V. amygdalina accessions MN628010 extracts (antigenotoxic) could be as a result of the high antioxidant activities in the V. amygdalina accessions. In summary, the findings of this study showed that the 52 V. amygdalina accessions obtained from different locations of Nigeria will help to combat ethidium bromide induced genoxicities and any other genotoxicant that may lead to different complications in plant (A. cepa roots), as all the accessions possessed antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties, as such, possessed comparable amount of natural antioxidant activities and antigenotoxicity

BIOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - Cassava and the future of starch

The nutritive reserves of cassava is made up of starch, which is one of the most important products synthesized by plants that is consumed as food and used in industrial processes. The currently increasing cassava production will lead to higher amount of starch available making it cheaper for industrial processes, and opening up new markets. There is also abundant capacity in many tropical countries such as Nigeria to increase cassava production

Effects of Hibiscus Sabdarrifa L. anthocyanins on cadmium-induced oxidative stress in Wistar rats

The search for potential ameliorative substances of Cadmium (Cd) toxicity is ongoing. Thus, this study was aimed at investigating the effects of Hibiscus Sabdarrifa L. anthocyanins (HSA) on Cd-induced oxidative stress in wistar rats. Anthocyanins were extracted from H. sabdariffa calyces using standard protocols and were identified with a Agilent HPLC system (model-LC 1100 series).Thirty wistar rats (185±5.2g) divided into Five (5) groups and were treated for fifteen days: Group 1: control, Group 2: Cd alone, 3mg/kg b wt, Group 3: HSA alone, 3mg/kg b wt, Group 4: HSA Pre-Cd - HSA (3g/ kg b wt for ten consecutive days) and Cd (3mg/ kg b wt) for the remaining five days, Group 5: HSA Post-Cd - Cd (3mg/kg b wt) for the first five consecutive days then HSA (3g/ kg b wt) for the remaining ten days. Comparison of HPLC chromatogram of anthocyanin extract of H. sabdariffa calyces with published data revealed the presence of malvidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-monoglucoside, cyanidin-3-monoglucoside and petunidin-3-monoglucoside. Exposure to Cd significantly reduced (p<0.05) GSH levels and glutathione-s-transferase activity but significantly (P<0.05) increased lipid peroxidation in the plasma and tissues of rats. Cd-exposure also caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in tissue SOD and CAT, but pre-treatment and post-treatment with HSA improved tissue SOD, CAT and GST activitieswith concomitant increase in GSH levels and reduction in tissue lipid peroxidation. This confirms the antioxidant capacity of H. sabdariffa anthocyanins in ameliorating Cd-induced oxidative stress when administered pre and post Cd exposure.Keywords: Lipid Peroxidation, Catalase, Glutathione, antioxidant

Incorporating Bioinformatics Into The Biochemistry Curriculum

Bioinformatics is fast becoming an integral part of the biological sciences, and it is enhancing the use of genome data and the associated computational resources in basic and applied research in biotechnology and biomedical sciences. Efforts to increase the ability of African scientists to process and analyse genomic and post-genomic data ought to begin with the introduction of bioinformatics into the curriculum. Most web-based genomic databases and sequence analysis sites are essentially free, and these can be utilized for teaching as well as research. This presentation highlights some introductory bioinformatics tools that are freely available and can be quickly understood by higher level undergraduate as well as postgraduate students