ABSTRACT
The use of gold nanoparticle in drug delivery has emerged as a promising avenue to reduced toxicity and frequency of dosage while maintaining therapeutic effects and biocompatibility. Therefore, the possibility of developing eco-friendly metallic gold nanoparticles is evaluated. To achieve this, aqueous leave extracts of Calotropis procera was used to synthesis gold nanoparticles and its cytotoxic effect was investigated. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) produced were characterized using Ultra Violet–Visible spectroscopy, Zeta-sizer nano, High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDAX) spectroscopy and Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The cytotoxic ability of the synthesized gold nanoparticles was evaluated on MCF-7 cell using MTT assay. The result of Ultra Violet–Visible spectroscopy showed development of gold nanoparticle reaction at 550 nm of Surface Plasmon Resonance and average particle size of 45 nm was confirmed using nano Zeta-sizer. EDAX profile result suggested the presence of gold at 2.30ke while FTIR result confirms the presence of biomolecules serving as reducing and capping agents on the synthesized gold nanoparticle with a strong signal at 3426 cm of the hydroxyl group of alcohol or phenol. The cytotoxic effect of the synthesis gold nanoparticles shows cell viability decreased as the concentration of AuNPs increased from 0.156 mg to 5 mg with an IC50 of 0.312 mg/l. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the bioreductive capability of aqueous leaf extract of Calotropis procera to produced gold nanoparticle and its cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7cell line.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Based on traditional claims and practice, the antiplasmodial activity of bee stings and its effect on haematological indices was investigated in P. berghei infected mice. Methodology: Sixteen albino mice were intraperitoneally infected with chloroquine sensitive P. berghei strain and divided into four groups each consisted of four animals. Group I was set up as negative control of 0.2 ml normal Saline/kg body weight, group II as 5 mg chloroquine/kg body weight, group III had suppressive treatment and group IV was administered curative treatment. The thin blood smear was used to determine the parasiteamia counts and the haematological parameters were estimated on day 7. Results: The result of percentage chemosuppression shows that bee stings suppress the parasitaemia to 56.6%. Also, the suppressive and curative groups show longer mean survival period of 15.0 and 20.0 respectively. The haematological studies show that the level of packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration (HB) of infected untreated group was significantly (p<0.05) lower when compare with all other experimental groups, where as chloroquine treated group shows significant increase compared to the bee treated groups. The Red blood cell (R.B.C.) counts was significantly (p<0.05) lowered in infected untreated group when compare with suppressive and chloroquine treated groups. However the white blood cell (WBC) counts was significantly (p<0.05) higher in infected bee sting treated when compare to the infected untreated and infected chloroquine treated groups. Conclusion: Based on the result obtained, this study confirms the antiplasmodial activity of bee stings and suggests its potential as drug agent or lead against malaria.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Based on the traditional and scientific claims of intra-dermal antiplasmodial activity of bee stings, its effect on liver and serum enzymes in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice were investigated. Methodology: Twenty albino mice were intra-peritoneally infected with P. berghei and divided into four animals per group. Group I was set up as negative control (parasitized untreated), group II as parasitized treated with 5 mg chloroquine/kg body weight, group III as suppressive treated, group IV as curative treated and group five as not parasitized not treated. Results: The results of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) of the infected treated with chloroquine shows significant increase when compared to other experimental groups (p˂ 0.05). Whereas, there was increase in liver AST in group II, group III and group IV when compared to not parasitized not treated (p˂ 0.05). Also, there was significant decrease in liver ALT activity in all the experimental groups. The serum and liver gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in the curative and suppressive groups when compared to the standard drug (chloroquine). Whereas, parasitized not treated group shows significant increase (p<0.05) in the liver GGT and ALP when compared with other experimental groups. Therefore, these increases in specific activity of the parasitized untreated group might be due to infection. Conclusion: It can be concluded that bee sting have ameliorative effect against changes caused by P. berghei.