Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition Affect Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in the Blood of STZ Induced Diabetic Rats.

Background: Carbonic anhydrase is found in the blood of all vertebrate and thus playing a fundamental role in the maintenance of acid-base homeostasis. Erythrocytes are intrinsically prone to oxidative stress because of their exposure to high oxygen tension. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the changes of erythrocytes anti-oxidative enzymes in STZ induced diabetic rats and to determine the antioxidant potential of Cadaba farinosa leaves. Results: The result of the present study showed that inhibition of carbonic anhydrase result in significant decrease in both erythrocyte and plasma catalase activity, whereas erythrocyte and plasma superoxide dismutase activity increased. Conclusion: Carbonic anhydrase inhibition may alter the activity of anti-oxidative enzymes in vivo.

Purification, Characterization and Vaccine Potential of Trypanosoma brucei brucei Glycosyl Phosphatidyl Inositol Specific Phospholipase C.

Aims: To investigate possible use of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (GPIPLC) as a target protein for the development of vaccine against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection was investigated. Study Design: GPI-PLC from T. brucei brucei was purified, characterized and the protein was used as antigen in raising antibody against the parasite Place and Duration: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria-Nigeria, between September 2011 and October 2012 Methodology: GPI-PLC was isolated from T. brucei brucei and purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE). The GPI-PLC was further used to raise antisera in rabbits, which was subsequently used to immunize rats for 14 and 21 days pre-infection to investigate the possible use of T. b. brucei GPI-PLC as target protein in vaccine production against T. b. brucei infection. Results: An overall yield of 48.76% and purification fold of 10.86 were recorded after gel filtration. The result from SDS-PAGE showed the enzyme to be a 39.585 kDa protein with optimum temperature, optimum pH and activation energy to be 35°C, 8.1 and 19.494 kJ/ mol respectively. The Vmax and Km values were 6.67 × 10-3 μmol/hr and 2.67 × 10-3 μM respectively when 212.5 μg of enzyme was used in the reaction mixture. Immunization with anti GPI-PLC for 14 and 21 days pre-infection significantly lowered the Packed Cell Volume (PCV). Result for the time course of parasitemia following infection with 7.9 x 105 Cells/ml showed a decrease in parasitemia level, thus leading to lowering of mortality rates in Groups immunized with GPI-PLC for 14 and 21 days pre-infection by 20% and 40% respectively relative to Group infected but not treated. Conclusion: These results suggest that GPI-PLC as a target protein significantly reduced the progression of the T. b. brucei infection.

Acute Toxicity of Chloroform Extract of Artemisia macivera Linn in Swiss Albino Mice.

The acute toxicity of chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae Linn was studied in Swiss albino mice. The mice were randomly distributed into four groups of three animals each. The groups were respectively administered both intraperitoneally and orally chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae at 0, 10, 100 and 1000mg/kg in a single dose and monitored frequently for 24h and daily for 13 days in the first phase of the experiment. In the second phase of the experiment, the animals were administered single doses of the extract at 0, 200, 400 and 800mg/kg both intraperitoneally and orally and monitored frequently for 24h and 13 days respectively. The number of deaths in a group was recorded. The results of the second phase experiment were used to calculate the LD50 of the plant extract. All surviving animals were sacrificed after 14 days. Selected organs of the animals i.e. heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, stomach and intestine of both the dead and sacrificed animals were removed and stored in 10% formal saline ready for histopathological analysis. Tissue specimens of the organs were examined histopathologically after processing and staining with haematoxylin and eosin. Lesions were observed in the liver, kidney and intestine of mice administered 800 and 1000mg/kg of chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae. From this result, the LD50 of the chloroform extract of Artemisia maciverae was calculated to be 566 mg/kg. The results indicate that the extract may be toxic at a high dose and short term exposure.

In vitro and In vivo Antitrypanosomal Effects of Petroleum Ether, Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Artemisia maritima Linn.

Petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of the whole plant of Artemisia maritima Linn were studied in vitro and in vivo for antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in Swiss albino mice. The extracts were also screened for phytochemicals/secondary metabolites. All the extracts showed trypanocidal activity against T. brucei brucei in vitro with the petroleum ether extract showing the highest activity. The in vivo study revealed that only the chloroform extract A. maritima exhibited antitrypanosomal activity. This extract at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.05) reduced the parasitemia in T. brucei brucei infected mice when compared with the other treatment groups. The chloroform extract of A. maritima at this dose reduced the level of parasitemia to 26%. This reduction in the level of parasitemia is statistically significant (p<0.05) compared to the other treatment groups and the untreated control group. The result of the phytochemical analysis revealed that the extracts contain secondary metabolites like flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinones and alkaloids. The presence of these secondary metabolites in this plant might be responsible for the antitrypanosomal activity exhibited by its extracts.

Economic and Health Perspectives of Mycotoxins: A Review

Due to their potent toxicity; mycotoxins have attracted worldwide attention over the years and recently; there has been an increasing disquietness on the part of governments; producers; processors; marketers and consumers over the health and economic significance. The diversity in occurrence; structure and chemistry of mycotoxins make their impact more complex to diagnose. Owing to their usual environmental conditions of production in countries with warm and humid climates as well as poor conditions of storage and handling; agricultural commodities are susceptible to fungal colonization and development which can lead to the accumulation of mycotoxins. As part of drying process; agricultural produce are exposed to contamination by ubiquitous mycoflora that grow; develop and produce some toxic metabolites that are harmful to the consumers. Food is already a limited commodity; especially in developing countries of the world and consumers therefore; either as a matter of choice or for the relative cheapness and affordability during periods of scarcity; opt for the over-fresh produce; sometimes not aware of the adverse health implications such foods pose. In the quest to ensure regular and continuous availability of certain perishable farm produce; especially in developing nations; local farmers and traders resort to unscientific and faulty storage conditions to preserve commodities; thereby pre-disposing produce to fungal colonization and mycotoxin production. Thus; commodities such as groundnuts; maize; sorghum; rice; yam; cassava; tiger nut; soyabeans; cotton seeds; fruits; vegetables spices can be contaminated with toxins of fungal origin such as aflatoxins; ochratoxins; fumonisins; patulin; sterigmatocystin; deoxynivalenol; zearalenone and other mycotoxins which pose serious economic and health risks. This review presents some mycotoxins commonly found on agricultural commodities both in temperate and tropic regions of the world. The acute and chronic toxic effects of these toxins in humans and animals are highlighted. Control measures include education of the populace on the risks of exposure to mycotoxins through skin contact; inhalation and ingestion; early harvesting; rapid appropriate drying; sequestration of diseased seeds from sound seeds; sanitation; use of good agronomic practices; insect control; the use of botanicals and synthetics as storage protectants; biological control and detoxification of mycotoxin-contaminated commodities. Probable related health implications are also discussed with a view to creating better public awareness and providing scientific basis for appreciating the challenges; while proactively promoting the development and implementation of policies at mitigating risk factors. Some mycotoxins; their producer fungi and toxic effects are further presented