ABSTRACT
The present study aims to evaluate the protective effect of methanolic leaf extract and flavonoid-rich leaf extract ofSynsepalum dulcificum on lead-acetate-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Forty-five animals were distributed intonine groups with five animals apiece. Group 1 served as the control and was given only distilled water throughoutthe course of the study. Group 2 served as the lead-induced group and was administered 50 mg/kg lead-acetate.Groups 3–8 were co-administered 50 mg/kg lead-acetate and various doses of the extracts. Group 9 was administered40 mg/kg vitamin C in addition to 50 mg/kg lead-acetate. The study lasted for 14 days. Standard procedures were usedto evaluate the hematological indices, serum total protein, urea, creatinine, as well as marker enzymes in liver andkidney of the animals. Malondialdehyde levels, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione-s-transferase activities werealso estimated in the tissues. The results showed that the extracts, especially the high doses, significantly (p < 0.05)ameliorated the harmful effects of lead administration in the liver and kidney as well as in the hematological indices.The extract could, therefore, be considered as having protective effect on lead-induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats
ABSTRACT
Liver damage is a growing concern of today’s modern society. The increasing incidence of exposure to toxic agents has contributed to liver diseases. There is therefore need for hepatoprotective agents. This study was aimed at investigating the protective effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Solanum macrocarpon against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. Six groups of four animals each were used for the investigation. Group 1 served as control, groups 2, 3 and 4 animals were pre-treated with leaf extract of Solanum macrocarpon at 250mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 750mg/kg body weight respectively for 14 days prior to a single intraperitoneal administration of CCl4. Animals in groups 5 and 6 received only the extract at a dose of 750mg/kg body weight and CCl4 respectively. All animals were sacrificed 24 h after the administration of CCl4. The liver functions tests were performed in addition to their histopathological evaluation. Results obtained showed significant adverse changes in the levels of all measured parameters in CCl4 treated rats. However, pre-treatment with aqueous extract of S. macrocarpon prevented the adverse changes. Our findings suggest that S. macrocarpon protects the liver against CCl4-induced damage. This could be attributed to the presence of phytochemical compounds in the plant.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Proteomic quantitative UV absorption spectrum analysis was used to study the effect of heat stress on protein extract from cowpea seeds (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp). Study Design: Protein extracts were obtained from 9 cowpea accessions obtained from GeneBank of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in January 2014. Each protein extract was divided into four batches out of which three batches were subjected to different temperature treatments and incubation at 37°C, 60°C and 100°C for 1 hour and the remaining one batch served as control. Protein content in each control protein extract and 37°C, 60°C and 100°C treated protein extracts from each of the 9 cowpea samples were determined at 280 nm using bovine serum albumin standard curve. Place and Duration of Study: Biochemistry Unit, Department of Chemical Sciences, Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, Nigeria between January 2014 and June 2014. Methodology: A200-A960 UV wavelengths absorption spectrum analysis was carried out on control protein extract and 37°C, 60°C and 100°C treated protein extracts respectively from each of the 9 cowpea samples. In order to establish the relationship between protein extracts (control) and protein extracts heat treated (37°C, 60°C, and 100°C), cluster analysis of optical density (OD) data was carried out using numerical taxonomy and multivariate analysis system. Results: The protein content (control) in Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp was between 8.4 and 10.8 mg/ml (10.5-13.5%) in seed, while protein content (heat treated) in Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp was between 8.9 and 9.5 mg/ml (11.2-11.9%), 8.7-9.5 mg/ml (10.9-11.9%), 9.0 and 11.8 mg/ml (11.3- 14.7 %) in heat treatments of 37°C, 60°C, and 100°C respectively. The protein UV absorption spectra of control protein extract and 37°C, 60°C and 100°C treated protein extracts from each cowpea accession were generally different due to differential UV wavelength protein absorption. Cluster analysis of absorbance spectra optical density values revealed five clusters (cluster 1, cluster 2, cluster 3, cluster 4, and cluster 5) among control protein extracts and protein extracts heated at 37°C, 60°C, and 100°C. Cluster1 was made up of protein extracts heated at 37°C and 60°C, while cluster2 and cluster3 constituted closely related protein extracts heated at 37°C and 100°C respectively. Cluster4 was typical of control protein extracts, while cluster5 was made up of distinct protein extracts heated at 100°C. Conclusion: Heating protein extracts at 37°C, 60°C, and 100ºC has altered proteomic diversity in different cowpea accessions and this could make protein extraction more difficult with implications on protein properties.