Effects of bonny light crude oil on anti-oxidative enzymes and total proteins in Wistar rats

Crude oil (CO) is a substance trado-medically used within some rural population as an antidote to poisoning and a cure for various gastro-intestinal disturbances among others. The ingestion of crude oil either orally or through polluted marine species represents a pathway for the delivery of potential toxicants to the human system. The study, therefore, analysed the effects of bonny light crude oil on the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST)] and the concentration of total proteins (TP). The results show that SOD activity was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the control rats (0.97±0.01) compared to the rats administered 6 ml of crude oil/kg body weight (b.w) (1.31 ± 0.17), and 9 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (1.27 ± 0.03). There was however, no significant difference (p>0.05) between the SOD activity of the rats treated with 3 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (1.25 ± 0.27) and that of the control rats. CAT specific activity in the rats of the control group (5.5 ± 3.2x10-3) was lower than that of the rats administered 3 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (6.2±3.4 x 10-3), 6 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (7.5±4.8 x 10-3) and 9 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (12.5 ± 8.3 x 10-3); although the mean differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). GST specific activity was higher in the rats of the crude oil-untreated group (88.6 ± 136.3 x 10-3) compared to the rats of the group treated with 3 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (82.7 ± 32.3 x 10-3), 6 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (26.0 ± 19.5 x 10-3) and 9 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (25.4 ± 21.2 x 10-3). Nevertheless, the mean differences were still not statistically significant (p>0.05). Total proteins concentration was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the rats given 9 ml of crude oil/kg b.w (0.33±0.08) compared to that of the control rats (0.05±0.02). In connection with the above results, the crude oil at high dose was found to have oxidative stress-inducing potential and hence, warrants that its use be discouraged or replaced with other less or non-toxic agents with similar therapeutic values as it.Key words: Crude oil, trado-medically, bonny light, anti-oxidative enzymes and total proteins

Evaluation of Saponin Extract from Vitex doniana and Pentaclethra macrophylla for Antibacterial Activity

Saponins are pharmacologically active compounds that have been shown to ameliorate abnormal physiological processes and be aptly applied in folklore for the treatment of maladies occasioned by infectious agents. Consequently, saponins from Vitex doniana and Pentaclethra macrophylla were evaluated for antibacterial properties, as these herbs are used in folk medicine. Dried pulverized plant materials were defatted, and solvents with varying polarity were applied at varying ratios for the extraction of saponins. Phyto-chemistry was in accordance with standard methods, while an antibacterial assay was made through the agar well diffusion and micro broth dilution techniques. Phytochemical quantitation showed high concentrations of tannins, 231 ± 0.6 CE/g, and saponins, 58% from V. doniana. Similarly, P. macrophylla stem bark extract also showed high concentrations of tannins, 309 ± 2.42 CE/g, alkaloids, 71% ± 0.5%, and saponins, 87% ± 3.4%. The ethanol extracts of V. doniana inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 11775) and a clinical strain with inhibition zone ranges of 15.5 ± 2.12 to 7.0 ± 0.0 (mm) against leaf extracts and 20.0 ± 1.41 to 7.0 ± 0.0 (mm) against stem bark extracts. Conversely, saponin extract from V. doniana showed a broad spectrum of activity, as it inhibited both Gram-negative and -positive test strains, E. coli clinical strain (20.0 ± 1.41 mm), P. aeruginosa clinical strain (18.5 ± 0.71 mm), E. coli ATCC 11775 (17.0 ± 0 mm), and S. aureus clinical strain (13.0 ± 1.41 mm). However, a broad spectrum was similarly achieved with P. macrophylla extracts, as all test bacteria genus was susceptible. Saponin fractions showed a high potency and broad spectrum antibacterial activity and thus a validation of the folklore applications and the potential for use as a drug or drug scaffold