Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

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

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of administration of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Enantia chlorantha stem bark on brewer’s yeast-induced pyresis in rats

Adesokan, A. A.¹*, Yakubu, M. T.¹, Owoyele, B. V.², Akanji, M. A.¹, Soladoye, A. O.² and Lawal, O. K.²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

²Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

Accepted 15 May, 2008

Abstract

The phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark of Enantia chlorantha Oliv as well as the antipyretic effect of the solvent extracts at 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight was investigated in albino rats. Phytochemical analysis of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. chlorantha stem bark revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides and saponins. The concentrations of these phytochemicals in the ethanolic extracts were slightly higher than in the aqueous extracts. The 50 - 200 mg/kg body weight of the solvent extracts produced significant reduction (P<0.05) in rectal temperature of the hyperpyretic rats. The antipyretic activities of the solvent extract at these doses also compared favourably (P>0.05) with the indomethacin dosed groups. This study showed that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. chlorantha stem bark at 50 - 200 mg/kg body weight possess antipyretic activity and thus supports the folklore use of the plant in the management of fever.

Key words: Enantia chlorantha, brewer’s yeast, antipyretic, rectal temperature.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

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

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of lipids and (n-3) highly unsaturated fatty acids compositions of three artificial foods on survival, growth and body composition of common dentex’s fingerlings (Dentex dentex, L)

Ali Ait Ali¹, Nadia Rharbi², Azeddine Abrehouche¹ and Hassan Nhhala³

¹Centre spécialisé en aquaculture, BP 31 INRH. M’diq, Morocco.

²Univesité Hassan II. Faculté des sciences Ain Chock. Casablanca, Morocco.

³Centre régional des ressources halieutiques, Tanger, Morocco.

Accepted 14 January, 2008

Abstract

Dentex juveniles of initial live weight 5 - 6 g and 108 days old after hatching, were fed three different diets for ten weeks (moist pellet (MP), imported dry pellet (IDP) and locally dry pellet (LDP)) containing three different lipid levels (26, 21 and 10% respectively) and crude protein levels (46, 45 and 47% respectively). Fatty acid composition showed that, DHA and EPA contents of moist pellet are higher than those of imported and locally dry pellets. DHA/EPA ratios of muscle were of 1.04 ± 0.00 (MP), 1.48 ± 0.57 (IDP) and 0.72 ± 0.05 (LDP). They increased in fact during feeding period for both the three tested diets while muscle’s EPA content decreased compared with its initial state when beginning this experiment. Obtained specific growth rate (SGR) by weight were 1.7, 2.4 and 2.7% and food conversion rate (FCR) were 1.8, 1.3 and 1.5 respectively for MP, IDP and LDP. While survival did not show significant difference (P>0.05), the best growth performance was observed using IDP and LDP as fish fed diets containing 47/10 and 45/21 protein/lipid ratios.

Key words: Dentex dentex, fingerlings, lipids, (n-3) HUFA, survival, growth.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

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

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biochemical assessment of the effects of crude oil contaminated catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hepatocytes and performance of rat

T. O. Sunmonu* and O. B. Oloyede

Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 April, 2007

Abstract

Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess the effect of consumption of crude oil contami-nated catfish on the hepatocytes and performance of rat. Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (n = 120) were grouped into 6 of 20 catfish each and held for 30 h in 5 different mixtures of crude oil polluted water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% v/v). Catfish in the control group were held in borehole water. At the expira-tion of 30 h, the catfish were harvested and used to formulate diet. Albino rats (n = 60) were grouped into 6 of 10 rats each and fed on the formulated diet for a period of 30 days. Compared with the control, the result showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the average daily feed intake in all the groups of rats. However, a significant reduction (p<0.05) was observed in the overall body weight, the liver-to-body weight ratio as well as the serum concentrations of albumin and globulin of rat as the amount of crude oil in the diet increased. A significant increase (p<0.05) was also observed in the serum bilirubin concentration of rats fed on diet formulated with crude oil contaminated catfish when compared with the control. Histological analysis also revealed that the architectural arrangement of the liver was alte-red following the consumption of diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water. Overall, the data obtained indicate a possible adverse effect on the performance and impaired liver function in the rats fed on diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water.

Key words: Crude oil, hepatocytes, catfish, albumin, globulin, bilirubin.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

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

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Altered plasma hexose sugar metabolism in sickle cell anaemia

Chidi G. Osuagwu¹ and Chika U. Mbeyi²

¹School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

²School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 July, 2007

Abstract

Theoretical suggestion that the metabolism and plasma levels of some hexoses (glucose and fructose) in sickle cell anaemia could be altered was investigated. The levels were determined for 35 normal (HbAA) and for the three sickle cell states (32 HbAS; 35 HbSS, and 33 HbSS-in-crisis, HbSSc). The enzymatic glucose-oxidase method was employed in glucose estimation. The reaction of fructose with indole-3-acetic acid to yield a coloured product was exploited in the estimation of fructose. Mean plasma glucose was found to be highest in the HbSSc state (84.80 ± 4.10 mg/dl), followed by HbSS (78.59 ± 4.20 mg/dl), HbAS (74.80 ± 6.20 mg/dl) and lowest in HbAA (70.10 ± 0.05 mg/dl). The differences between the normal and all the disease states are significant (between HbAS and HbAA, for example: t =2.2717; df = 65; p < 0.05). The reverse order was observed with respect to fructose concentrations: lowest in HbSSc (0.99 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbSS (1.09 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbAS (1.25 ± 0.05 mg/dl), and highest in HbAA (1.32 ± 0.08 mg/dl). Regression of glucose on fructose showed positive correlation in the HbAA group (r = 0.7900; df = 33; p < 0.001), no correlation in the HbAS group (r = - 0.0193; df = 30; p > 0.20), and negative correlation in the HbSS group (r = - 0.3191; df = 65; p < 0.001). The differences between the ‘Glucose-to-Fructose Ratio’ for the different states are very significant (p<0.001) and could serve as biomarker of sickle cell anaemia intensity.

Key words: Hexose, anergy, glucose, fructose, spermatozoa, energy metabolism, metabolic control, sickle cell anaemia, glucose-to-fructose ratio.

African Journal of Biochemistry Research Vol.1 (6), pp. 124-126, November 2007 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBR ISSN 1996-0778 © 2007 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Garcinia kola extract reduced cisplatin-induced kidney dysfunction in rats

Okoko Tebekeme¹ and Awhin Ejiro Prosper²

¹Biochemistry Division, Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University. P. M. B. 71, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Accepted 22 October, 2007

Abstract

The effect of Garcinia kola extract on cisplatin-induced renal insufficiency in rats was studied. A total of fifteen rats were used for the study and were split into three groups of five rats per group. Rats in group I were normal controls. Renal insufficiency was induced in rats of groups II and III by a single intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.). After three days, rats in group III received a daily dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. of the extract orally for another seven days. Renal insufficiency was later assessed by serum urea, serum creatinine and urine protein levels. The results showed that the levels of the measured parameters which were elevated as a result of the cisplatin administration were brought to near normal levels by the G. kola seed extract. This indicates that G. kola possessed significant potentials of ameliorating mild kidney insufficiency induced by the anticancer drug, cisplatin.

Key words: Garcinia kola, cisplatin, renal insufficiency, urea, creatinine.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

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

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of carbon sources on cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) production by Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

Nwodo-Chinedu, S.¹*, Okochi, V. I.², Smith, H. A.², Okafor, U. A.², Onyegeme-Okerenta, B. M. and Omidiji, O. ³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University,    KM 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, PMB 1023 Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003 Idiaraba, Nigeria.

³Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 May, 2007

Abstract

The effects of glucose, crystalline cellulose and sawdust of Mitragyna cilata on the growth and cellulase production, inferred from cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity, of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 was determined. Glucose-containing media gave the highest mycelia weight of 1.78 mg mL^-1 in 120 h of incubation. This is about 3.5 – 4.5 times the maximum weights of 0.51 and 0.40 mg mL^-1 respectively obtained from the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. The cultures containing crystalline cellulose and sawdust produced extracellular protein with cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity whereas glucose-containing cultures yielded very low protein and no significant cellulase activity. Maximum protein content of 0.02, 0.13 and 0.46 mg mL^-1 respectively were obtained from the cultures containing glucose, cellulose and sawdust. Peak cellulase activity values of 100.0 and 92.2 Units L^-1 respectively were obtained for the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. There is a correlation between the protein released and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. P. chrysogenum PCL501 produces extracellular proteins with significant cellulase activity in media containing cellulose and sawdust but not in glucose- containing medium. Sawdust is indicated as a good inducer of cellulase activity in the organism. The waste cellulosic material can be used as low-cost carbon source for commercial cellulase production.

Key words: P. chrysogenum PCL501, growth, cellulase activity, glucose, cellulosic materials.