HEPATOPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF PERSEA AMERICANA, MILL (LAURACEAE) ‘AVOCADO’ AGAINST CCL4-INDUCED DAMAGE IN RATS

Background: Natural products from plants have received considerable attention in recent years due to their diverse pharmacological properties, including antioxidants and hepatoprotective activities. The protective effects of aqueous extract of Persea americana (AEPA) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in male albino rats was investigated. Materials and Methods: Liver damage was induced in rats by administering a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil [3 ml/kg, subcutaneously (sc)] after pre-treatment for 7 days with AEPA. Hepatoprotective effects of AEPA was evaluated by estimating the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and levels of total bilirubin (TBL). The effects of AEPA on biomarkers of oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation) and antioxidant enzymes namely, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in liver post mitochondrial fraction. Results: AEPA and Reducdyn® showed significant (

Lamivudine-Induced Liver Injury

BACKGROUND: Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue antiretroviral drug, known for its low toxicity at clinically prescribed dose. However, the toxicity or mechanism of toxicity and target tissue effects during prolonged administration of higher doses were hardly given sufficient laboratory attention. AIM: The present work was designed to investigate the biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver of rat administered with prolonged doses of lamivudine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Lamivudine in multiple doses of five ranging from 4 mg/kg to 2500 mg/kg were administered, in vitro, by injection into the air-sac of 10–day old fertile embryonated eggs of Gallus domesticus. Also, female rats of the Wistar strain received oral doses, up to 500 mg/kg singly or repeatedly for 15 or 45 days, respectively. Spectrophotometric techniques were employed to monitor activities of the aminotransferases (ALT and AST), γ–glutamyltransferase (GGT) and total protein concentration in serum while activities of glutathione S–transferase (GST), GGT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein were determined in liver. Histopathological studies were carried out on liver. Data were analysed using ANOVA and were considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: The LD50 for the drug calculated from the incubation experiment was 427 mg/kg. Total serum protein concentration significantly reduced while enzymes activities significantly increased at 500 mg/kg only among the repeat-dosed rats. Hepatic GGT, GST and SOD activities as well as MDA concentration were significantly elevated at 20 mg/kg. Histopathological studies showed multifocal lymphoid cell population in the liver sinusoid of the chicken and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes were recorded among rats repeatedly exposed to the drug respectively at doses ≥ 100 mg/kg

Large scale food fortification in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges: A position of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria

Food fortification is widely identified as a cost-effective strategy for ddressing micronutrient malnutrition&nbsp; at scale. In Nigeria, food fortification with a focus on vitamin A, iron, zinc, iodine, and other micronutrient remains a major thrust of the effort to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition. Though the step is laudable, the persisting high burden of micronutrient malnutrition suggests the need to re-think the design and implementation of the fortification programmes. This re-thinking and revision of strategy are premised on various conditions including irregular food consumption data and changing dietary patterns, poor awareness of the benefits of fortified foods, poor compliance to fortification standards, and lack of functional information system on food fortification, among others. Based on the current understanding of the nutrition and food fortification landscape in Nigeria, the Nutrition Society of Nigeria affirms that large-scale food fortification remains a cost-effective strategy to promote a healthy diet and adequate micronutrient intakes and commends the efforts of the various stakeholders especially the development partners and the government's promotion of enabling environment. However, re-thinking the implementation strategy and overhauling the fortification programme to ensure quality, transparency, and possibly digital transformation that can meet real-time data needs to guide decision-making is essential. Thus, it is necessary to ascertain the commonly consumed foods, the usually consumed portion sizes, and the current coverage of the various national micronutrient deficiencies interventions; strengthen social marketing programmes on proper handling and use of fortified foods; improve enforcement of compliance to fortifications standards; strengthen National Nutrition Information Management System to include food fortification information; explore strategies to increase the affordability of the premixes, and develop and implement a Monitoring and Evaluation framework of food fortification programmes