Faculty of Biological Sciences

Antimalarial Potentials of Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Dracaena Arborea Leaves on Plasmodium Berghei-Parasitized Mice

2020-02-01T00:00:00Z

Antimalarial Potentials of Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Dracaena Arborea Leaves on Plasmodium Berghei-Parasitized Mice Ejibeofor Ejibeofor, D.C. (2020) Antimalarial Potentials of Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Dracaena Arborea Leaves on Plasmodium Berghei-Parasitized Mice. : A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Science (M.Sc) Degree in Medical Biochemistry

Biochemical profile of albino rats with experimentally induced metabolic syndrome fed diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera leaves

2021-02-14T00:00:00Z

Biochemical profile of albino rats with experimentally induced metabolic syndrome fed diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera leaves Ezeanyika, Lawrence Uchenna Sunday; Uchendu, Nene Orizu Metabolic syndrome (MS) has become a globally prevalent disease state, leading to mortality. Plants are a reservoir of compounds that have therapeutic potential and have been proven to be effective in management of a wide range of human and animal diseases. This study therefore, evaluated the effect of diet formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf (CAL), Gongronema latifolium leaf (GLL), and Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) on some biochemical parameters of experimentally-induced MS in male albino rats. Forty-eight (48) adult male rats of 180-210 g body weight, were separated randomly into eight groups (1 – 8) comprising six rats each. Group 1 was maintained on normal diet. MS was induced in Groups 2 – 8 rats for eight weeks by high fat high carbohydrate (HFHC) diet. Afterwards, group 2 was fed normal rat diet (untreated), while groups 3 to 8 received diets formulated with GLL, CAL, MOL (100g per kg of diet) for eight weeks. Obesity indices, serum lipid profile, liver marker enzymes and antioxidant status were evaluated using standard methods. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in body weight gain, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols of the treated rats were observed, while high density lipoprotein significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the untreated group. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the treatment groups. Treatment with the herbs showed mild Kupffer cell activation reversing periportal hepatitis induced by the HFHC diet. Results from the study indicate that CAL, GLL and MOL have therapeutic potentials that could be useful in managing components of MS.

Influence of Age, Sex and Body Mass Index on the Levels of Glycosylated Haemoglobin among NonDiabetic Nigerian Population

2019-02-21T00:00:00Z

Influence of Age, Sex and Body Mass Index on the Levels of Glycosylated Haemoglobin among NonDiabetic Nigerian Population Ezeanyika, L.U.S The influence of age and sex on the levels of glycosylated haemoglobin among non-diabetic Nigerian population were investigated in this study. Seventy-nine non-diabetic individuals volunteered for the study and were grouped into male and female and then into four groups according to age: ≤ 20 years, 21 - 40 years, 41 - 60 years and ≥ 61 years. Fasting blood glucose, 2-hour post-load glucose, packed cell volume and genotype analyses of subjects were initially determined to ensure that subjects were non-diabetic and had no glucose metabolic impairment. Subsequently, glycosylated haemoglobin and body mass index were measured. Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare the data which were presented as a mean ± standard deviation. Statistical significance was accepted at p ˂ 0.05. Theresults obtained showed that: (1) glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) significantly increased with age, (2) there is no correlation between HbA1c with sex and (3) there was a positive association between Hba1c and body mass index in normal glucose tolerant subjects. Based on the result of this study, the contributions of age and BMI to HbA1c levels should be taking into account when making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions with regard to diabetes care using HbA1c. The hba1c range of (4.0 - 5.2) % could be considered as the normal range for individuals below sixty-one years while the HbA1c level of ≤ 5.27% is suggested for individuals above sixty years. However, further studies are required especially to investigate the non-glycaemic factors affecting HbA1c levels in normal glucose tolerant populations so as to really understand the actual role glycosylated haemoglobin values play in diabetes management and diagnosis.

Detection and diagnosis of prions, the causative agent for the neurodegenerative transmissible Spongiform Encephalopaties (TSEs) in sheep, cattle and humans - a review

2013-05-25T00:00:00Z

Detection and diagnosis of prions, the causative agent for the neurodegenerative transmissible Spongiform Encephalopaties (TSEs) in sheep, cattle and humans - a review Onwubiko, Henry Amaechi The technique to detect and diagnose infectious prions, the causative agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopaties (TSEs) at very early stages of infection where the disease can be controlled and even eliminated has been developed. The technique now in the field is being applied worldwide for the screening of cattle, sheep, rodents, humans and other animals. It has not only saved lives but also billions of dollars in agriculture by preventing the spread of infection in livestock. In the United Kingdom, over 2 million cattle have been destroyed due to prion infection. Prion has also been identified in the United States, and more recently in South Korea. While in Nigeria, many of our cattle and sheep have not been screened and no awareness exist for TSEs. Preliminary work is already underway. Also screening studies are just commencing at a very slow pace in Jos. Given the globalized nature of the present world, where infections move across continents at a rapid pace, it is very disturbing that the nation has no policy and is ill-prepared to respond to it should an epidemic of TSEs break out among its livestock or population. It is necessary to apply this ultrasensitive technique for detection and diagnosis of infectious prions to the screening of livestock, and the protection of Nigerian citizens from TSEs. The technique is also a sensitive tool for studying and uncovering the mechanism of potential drugs that can inhibit or slow down the spread of TSE infection. It will advance the frontiers on the study of the mode of infection and conversion of prions and has significantly already contributed to the new paradigm that has changed our knowledge on infections.