ABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Abscess incision and drainage [I and D] operation represents the bulk of surgical procedures in the emergency department [ED]. Nevertheless, epidemiological, clinical, and bacteriology data are lacking or non-existent on patients with abscesses. Information is also lacking on the magnitude of the problem of community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [CA-MRSA], and their susceptibility to the most commonly used antibiotics. To identify and document epidemiological and clinical variables of patients with superficial abscesses, and isolate the causative organism [s] in the pus and determine their antibiotic susceptibility. Also, to determine the prevalence of CA-MRSA and their antibiotic susceptibility and ao audit our practice of I and D of abscess. A prospective observational study, involving a convenience sample of patients who presented with community acquired skin and soft tissue [superficial] abscesses to a single unit at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital [KNTH] emergency department [ED], was done during the period 2009-2010.A pro-forma was designed to record the personal, epidemiological, and clinical data of each patient. The I and D of the abscesses was performed as a day case. Swabs of pus drained from the abscess were sent to the laboratory for culture. Micro-organisms isolates underwent susceptibility testing against a group of the most commonly used antibiotics. A total of 248 patients were included in the study. The majority [84%] were below the age of 40 years. Males [69%] were twice as many as females [31%]. The majority of patients did not have a known predisposing factor, but 13% had a previous history of an abscess. A history of trauma was found in 27% of the patients, whereas diabetes mellitus history was obtained in only 6%. The most common site of the abscess was the upper limb [46%] followed by the lower limb [20%]. The study showed that 85% of the abscesses were drained under local anaesthesia. Susceptibility tests were performed on 151 pus specimens using a group of commonly used antibiotics. 123 [81.5%] specimens grew micro-organisms. Of those, Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism grown [90%], followed by Klebsiella spp [6.5%]. The proportion of CAMRSA was 24%. High proportions of S. aureus were resistant to other antibiotics too. Lists of antibiotics and their efficacy in the treatment of S. aureus and Klebsiella were constructed. This study documents some epidemiological and bacteriological data on one of the most common surgical problems. The study showed the presence of a significant proportion of CAMRSA. This reflects the abuse of antibiotics in the community and stresses the importance of health education. Standardized surgical and anaesthetic guidelines on I and D of abscess should be followed to avoid recurrences. Further studies are urgently needed