Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant Potentials of Nymphaea lotus and Nymphaea pubescens Seed Oils

Aim: The study is aimed at assessing the antioxidant potentials of Nymphaea lotusand Nymphaea pubescensseed oils. Study Design:It was designed to extract oil from the seeds and investigate their antioxidant properties to indicate their capabilities to improve oxidative stability. Place and Duration of Study:The research was conducted between August 2016 and January 2017 atDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano State-Nigeria. Methodology: 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and reducing power assays were used to determine free radical scavenging activities and reducing power potential of Nymphaea lotusand Nymphaea pubescensseed oils. Results:From the DPPH radical scavenging assay, It shows that the IC50value of the ascorbic acid (reference standard) was found to be higher (13.23± 0.16?g/ml) compared to Nymphaea lotusseed oil (8.82 ± 0.82?g/ml). The IC50 value of Nymphaea pubescensseed oil was also compared with the standard and was found to be (41.76 ± 0.98?g/ml) higher than ascorbic acid (13.23± 0.16?g/ml). The lower the IC50 value the higher the antioxidant activity of the oil. The order of the effectiveness of reducing capabilities of the oils was found to be N. lotusseed oil > ascorbic acid> N. pubescensseedoil.Gas chromatographic coupled mass spectroscopy analysis of the N. lotusseed oil showed that Dihydrocarveol (0.87%), Eicosane (1.10%), Lupeol (14.75%), Tetracosane (2.14%) and Viridiflorol (13.72%) were the major antioxidants compounds identified whereas Palmitic acid (23.57), Eicosane (7.65%), Oleic acid (37.85%), Tetracosane (3.10%) and Squalene (1.58%) were the major antioxidants detected in N. pubescensseed oil. Compared with standard (ascorbic acid), the results show that N. lotusseed oil possessed highest antioxidant potential. The higher antioxidant potential displayed by Nymphaea lotusseed oil could be attributed to the presence of these compounds that could act synergistically.Conclusion:Therefore, Nymphaea lotus seed oil and Nymphaea pubescensseed oil contains natural antioxidants that can improveoxidative stability.

Obesity, overweight and under weight in suburban northern Nigeria

Weight has long been known to be a determinant of health and disease. Both overweight and underweight are associated with health consequences. We report the results of a community survey of underweight, obesity and overweight in two suburban communities in northern Nigeria. We studied an adult population sample in suburban northern Nigeria. Obesity was defined as BMI >/= 30KgM[-2] while overweight was defined as BMI >/= 25.0 but

Relationship between random blood sugar and body mass index in an African population

Obesity is the most important modifiable risk factor in the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes reported in most cross-sectional studies. However, racial factors seem to be important in the relationship between body mass index [BMI] and glucose intolerance. Three-hundred and seventeen subjects participated in the study. Mean age of subjects was 35.0 +/- 9.8 years [33.0 +/- 9.6 among females and 36.2 +/- 9.6 among males p= 0.1007]. Female subjects had significantly higher BMI than their male counterparts, [26.6 +/- 7.2 kg/m2 versus 24.0 +/- 5.4 kg/m2 p=0.0341]. Random blood sugar levels were, however, similar between males and females [85.2 +/- 27.0 mg/dl versus 85.9 +/- 14.7 mg/dl, p=0.8868]. There was a positive but non significant correlation between casual blood sugar and BMI among female subjects [r= +/- 0.1520, p>0.05]. In the males however, there was no correlation between these variables [r= -0.0395, p>0.5]. BMI is higher among females in this community and correlates with random blood glucose levels. Concerted efforts need to be made to address the issue of weight in this community within the framework of what is culturally acceptable