ABSTRACT
Aim: The present study tends to examine the effect of consumption of Sphenostylis stenocarpa-formulated diet on oxidative stress biomarkers of dexamethasone-treated pregnant rats. Methodology: Sphenostylis stenocarpa was obtained locally from a market in Ado Ekiti. They were ground into powder and used to make feed for laboratory animals. Fifteen pregnant female rats were divided into three groups of five. Animals in group A were only fed standard animal feed. This served as the control group. Those in group B were exposed to Sphenostylis stenocarpa-formulated diet + 0.3 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone, while those in group C were exposed to Sphenostylis stenocarpa-formulated diet. At the end of the eight days treatment, animals were sacrificed and blood sample, liver and kidney were collected. Results: The results revealed that treatment of animals with dexamethasone significantly increased (P<0.05) the activities of SOD and CAT and the concentration of MDA but decreased the concentration of GSH in plasma, liver homogenate and kidney homogenate respectively when compared with those in animals in the control group as well as those fed with S. stenocarpa-formulated diet only. The result further showed that feeding of animals with S. stenocarpa-formulated diet only had no significant effect on oxidative stress biomarkers investigated when compared with those in the control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that exposure of animals to dexamethasone induced oxidative stress in animals while S. stenocarpa-formulated diet possesses the potential to alleviate the effect of oxidative stress generation.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out after a five day germination period on TZEE*TZEEW* DEMARSCUS*TZEE-W one of the most recommended high amylolytic Nigerian maize cultivar. Purification steps comprising of fractional precipitation by ammonium sulphate, gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography, was used respectively to purify β amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) from the malt. The sensitivity of the beta amylase indicated that it has serine at its active site. An apparent 60KDa monomeric protein was detected by one dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Identity assigned to the purified protein by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time –of- flight mass spectrometry ( MALDI-ToF) reference to electronic protein data base is a 58542Da high putative beta amylase – Q9AV88-ORSA from Oryza sativa. Complete primary structure thereafter deduced with the aid of MS/MS MALDI- ToF showed a signature of a highly conserved ubiquitous not yet reported beta amylase. This study paved an insight to the gene encoding the β amylase in TZEE*TZEEW* DEMARSCUS*TZEE-W and better understanding of the activity of the enzyme at molecular level.
ABSTRACT
Lectin is a glycoprotein substance, usually of plant origin, of non-immunoglobulin nature and capable of binding to carbohydrate moieties of complex glycoconjugates. This underlies its clinical significance. Hence, purification steps comprising of centrifugation, salting-out, ultra filtration, dialysis and anion exchange affinity chromatography were used to purify the protein from the seed of Cissus populnea. The purified lectin agglutinated non-specifically red blood cells of human type A, B and O. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin towards human erythrocytes was inhibited by Dfructose, D-glucose and CuSO4. However the lectin activity was enhanced by Dgalactose and MgCl2. Stability studies showed the purified protein to be stable at a spectrum of 20-40°C and at pH range of 6-8 and 10-11. The kinetic study on the purified protein indicated 26271HU and 278.2 L for Vmax and Km, respectively. However, result from paper chromatography on the carbohydrate isolate during purification indicated presence of a ketone sugar having same appearance with fructose standard, a sugar clinically established as the major source of energy during spermatogenesis. It was observed that heamagglutinating activity of the lectin from Cissus populnea towards human erythrocytes was non-selective to type of blood groups. It could be stated that Cissus populnea consumption may pose no threat to patient with challenge in metabolising glucose, since its main carbohydrate content is fructose.