Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anti anaemic properties of Scoparia dulcis in Trypanosoma brucei infected rabbits

Orhue N. E. J^*. and Nwanze E. A. C.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin, P. M. B 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 April, 2017

Abstract

A major feature of infection with trypanosomes is the development of anaemia. In this study, the effect of Scoparia dulcis ( Atiotiousha in Akoko-Edo) on Trypanosoma brucei induced anaemia was investigated in fifteen rabbits divided into three groups of n = 5 over a period of twenty eight days. Changes in Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Red blood cell count (RBC), Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), Mean cell haemoglobin concentration, (MCHC) and Mean cell volume (MCV) were monitored over the period. The results obtained indicate that infection with T. brucei results in a significant decrease (p<0.05) in PCV, Hb concentration and RBC. No significant (p>0.05) changes were observed in MCH, MCHC and MCV. However the severity of observed anaemia was significantly less pronounced (p<0.05) in the infected rabbits that were treated with S. dulcis when compared with their infected but untreated counterparts. It is concluded that S. dulcis therapy may prove useful in the management of T. brucei anaemia, and possibly other forms of anaemia, although the precise mechanism by which the preparation enhances the haematological indices investigated remains to be fully understood.

Key words: Scoparia dulcis, Trypanosoma brucei, Rabbits, PCV, Haemoglobin.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of experimental Schistosomiasis mansoni infection on serum levels of iron, zinc and copper in the olive baboon (Papio anubis)

Mungatana N. W. K.^1,2, Ngure R. M.², Shitandi A. A.²*, Mungatana C. K.² and Yole D. S.¹

¹Institute of Primate Research, P. O. Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya.

²Department of Biochemistry, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536, Njoro, Kenya.

Accepted 20 February, 2017

Abstract

Schistosoma mansoniasis is a disease of grave concern due to its high morbidity and mortality in parts of the world. This study aimed at providing insight into the pathogenesis of S. mansoniasis as an aid in the development of effective control methods. Iron, zinc and copper concentrations were spectro-photometrically measured in sequential serum specimens obtained from baboons throughout the course of acute S. mansoni infection, following curative treatment with praziquantel and following post-treatment challenge with a second cercarial infection. The initial infection resulted in a two-fold increase in copper concentrations by Day 102 post-infection. Iron concentrations fell to almost half of pre-infection concentrations by Day 123 post-infection, while those of zinc fell to a third of pre-infection concentrations by Day 81 post-infection. These changes were seen to recover several weeks following treatment, though pre-infection concentrations were never achieved. Haptoglobin, a sensitive bio-marker in the acute phase response of S. mansoni, was also measured at all sampling points. Haptoglobin changes were in concordance with those of the cations. The findings demonstrate that iron, zinc and copper are reactants in the acute phase response of S. mansoni in the nonhuman primate model, Papio anubis. Furthermore, these reactants are modulated in challenge infections and may be important in the immunopathology of the disease.

Key words: Acute phase response, Schistosomiasis mansoni, serum iron, serum zinc, serum copper.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Direct ex vivo effects of herbal extracts on serum bilirubin in neonatal blood samples

Seyed Hessamedin Nabavizadeh¹, Ozair-bin Majid² and Amir Anushiravani²*

¹Department of Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

²Department of Pediatrics, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Accepted 18 May, 2017

Abstract

Herbal drug therapy is a common practice adopted in traditional and alternative medicine and has been used in the treatment of neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia from ancient times. This is done with the help of different herbal extracts and using different treatment methods. The knowledge of new possibilities and the fact that herbal drugs have been used in some communities for a long time, clarifies the importance of studying herbal drugs. Herbal drug therapies are used commonly which amplifies the need to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of commonly used herbal drugs in neonatal jaundice, through in vitro techniques. In this study 0.5 cc (50 µg/ml) of different herbal extracts such as Chi corium intybus, Fumaria parviflora, Zizyphus jujuba and Alhagi pseudoalhgi, Purgative manna which were obtained through hydrochloric instillation and were added to 1 cc of neonatal serum with hyperbilirubinemia. Then the level of bilirubin was checked by diazo blank method. Among all of the herbal extracts, only Chi corium intybus demonstrated a lowering effect on indirect serum bilirubin. Although Chi corium intybus showed lower levels than the control group, but statistically there was no significant difference in direct bilirubin levels between these groups. Herbal drugs can decrease the bilirubin level through different mechanisms, such as increasing the activity of liver enzymes and decreasing the enterohepatic circulation. But the extract of the herb Chi corium intybus imposes its affect directly on bilirubin. Therefore further investigation is needed in order to separate the active agent in chi corium intybus.

Key words: Hyperbilirubinemia, Fumaria parviflora, Zizyphus jujuba, Chi corium intybus, Alhagi pseudoalhagi, Purgative manna.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Direct ex vivo effects of herbal extracts on serum bilirubin in neonatal blood samples

Seyed Hessamedin Nabavizadeh¹, Ozair-bin Majid² and Amir Anushiravani²*

¹Department of Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

²Department of Pediatrics, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Accepted 18 May, 2017

Abstract

Herbal drug therapy is a common practice adopted in traditional and alternative medicine and has been used in the treatment of neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia from ancient times. This is done with the help of different herbal extracts and using different treatment methods. The knowledge of new possibilities and the fact that herbal drugs have been used in some communities for a long time, clarifies the importance of studying herbal drugs. Herbal drug therapies are used commonly which amplifies the need to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of commonly used herbal drugs in neonatal jaundice, through in vitro techniques. In this study 0.5 cc (50 µg/ml) of different herbal extracts such as Chi corium intybus, Fumaria parviflora, Zizyphus jujuba and Alhagi pseudoalhgi, Purgative manna which were obtained through hydrochloric instillation and were added to 1 cc of neonatal serum with hyperbilirubinemia. Then the level of bilirubin was checked by diazo blank method. Among all of the herbal extracts, only Chi corium intybus demonstrated a lowering effect on indirect serum bilirubin. Although Chi corium intybus showed lower levels than the control group, but statistically there was no significant difference in direct bilirubin levels between these groups. Herbal drugs can decrease the bilirubin level through different mechanisms, such as increasing the activity of liver enzymes and decreasing the enterohepatic circulation. But the extract of the herb Chi corium intybus imposes its affect directly on bilirubin. Therefore further investigation is needed in order to separate the active agent in chi corium intybus.

Key words: Hyperbilirubinemia, Fumaria parviflora, Zizyphus jujuba, Chi corium intybus, Alhagi pseudoalhagi, Purgative manna.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Modulation of di- (2- ethylhexyl) phthalate induced hepatic toxicity by Apium graveolens L. seeds extract in rats

G. C. Jain,* Hemant Pareek, B. S. Khajja, Kusum Jain, S. Jhalani, S. Agarwal and Sameer Sharma

Reproductive Physiology Section, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur - 302004, India.

Accepted 27 April, 2017

Abstract

In the present study, the hepatoprotective activity of methanolic extract of Apium graveolens L. (celery) seeds was tested against Di-(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Oral administration of DEHP (1000 mg/kg b.wt/day) for 6 weeks in rats caused a significant increase in the levels of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatases (ALP) and the levels of total bilirubin and hepatic lipid peroxidation (TBARS). The levels of serum protein, hepatic glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid were decreased, administration of A. graveolens seeds extract (300 mg/kg b.wt./day p.o.) for 6 weeks results in a significant recovery of these biochemical parameters toward normalcy compared with the DEPC treated and control rats.

Key words: Apium graveolens, hepatic toxicity, di-(2- ethylhexyl) phthalate, hepatic marker enzymes.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Cholesterol concentration in different parts of bovine meat sold in Nsukka, Nigeria: Implications for cardiovascular disease risk

Chukwunonso E. C. C. Ejike ¹* and Tufon N. Emmanuel²

¹Departments of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267 Umuahia, Nigeria

²Departments of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka – Nigeria

Accepted 10 February, 2017

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality globally. Reducing dietary fat and cholesterol intake is central to the reduction in the risk of CVD. In Nigeria and other developing countries, meat is a good source of protein and other nutrients, and its consumption is increasing. This study investigates the cholesterol concentration of ten parts of bovine meat – rib muscle, fore-limb muscle, hind-limb muscle, lungs, large intestine, small intestine, colon, liver, kidney and heart. Standard biochemical methods were used for all assays. The results show that cholesterol concentration was highest in the liver (6.5 ± 0.15 mg/g) and lowest in the large intestine (1.0 ± 0.01 mg/g). Organ meats had more cholesterol per 85 g serving than the daily recommendations of the American Heart Association. Considering that meat has some beneficial effects, we conclude that while bovine meat should not be avoided completely, its consumption (especially bovine organ meats consumption) should be minimized particularly by individuals and populations at risk of CVD and its co-morbid conditions.

Key words: Bovine meat, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol concentration.