Total Colony Counts of Some Microorganisms in Soil Samples Exposed to Electromagnetic Radiations from Mobile Phones.

Effect of electromagnetic radiations (EMR) from mobile phones on some soil bacterial (Bacillus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Enterococcus) and fungi (Saccharomyces, Penicillium and Geotrichum) strains were studied. At the study periods of 0, 30, 60, and 90 days, the total colony counts (CFU/g) and viability ratios of Bacteria and fungi strains were determined on both the EMR unexposed and exposed soil samples. At the exposure periods of 30, 60, and 90 days, the mean total colony counts of all the organisms in the EMR exposed samples were statistically (p<0.05) lower than those of the EMR unexposed samples. The percentage changes in total colony counts of the EMR unexposed and exposed soil samples between 0 to 90 days for Bacillus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus, Saccharomyces, Penicillium and Geotrichum were 2.54% and -70.51%, 33.18% and -75.80%, 11.79% and -63.93%, 20.12% and -91.96%, 30.00% and -98.94%, 62.36% and -61.06%, 42.40% and -100%, and 50.46% and -78.48% respectively. These show that Staphylococcus and Saccharomyces strains being the most resistant, while Enterococcus and Penicillium were the most susceptible strains. The results generally indicate that EMR has negative impacts on both Bacteria and fungi total colony counts.

In vitro and in vivo Antitrypanosomal Effects of Methanol and Aqueous Extracts of Picralima nitida.

The methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves, fruits, seeds, stem bark and roots of Picralima nitida were studied in vitro and in vivo for activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei in Swiss albino mice. Phytochemicals studies were also conducted for all the plant extracts. The methanol extracts showed appreciably high in vitro and in vivo antitrypanosomal activities compared to the aqueous extracts of the plant. The methanol extract of the root exhibited the highest in vitro antitrypanosomal activity followed by the methanol extract of seed of Picralima nitida. Motility of Trypanosoma brucei brucei was stopped by the methanol extract of the root after 10 min, while the methanol extract of the seed of Picralima nitida stopped the motility of Trypanosoma brucei brucei at 15 min. The methanol extract of the root of Picralima nitida showed the highest in vivo antitrypanosomal activity at 100 mg/kg body weight. The extract cleared the parasite completely from the T. brucei brucei infected Swiss albino mice after day 3 of treatment. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) when the level of parasitemia of the animals treated with the methanol extract of the root of Picralima nitida were compared with the other treatment groups and the untreated control. The phytochemicals detected in these extracts are tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and cyanide glycosides. The in vitro and in vivo antitrypanosomal activity exhibited by these extracts might be attributed to these phytochemicals.

Changes in Erythrocytic Membrane Free Energy of Albino Rabbits Administered Ethanol Leaf Extract of Spondias mombin Linn.

Aims: To determine the effect of ethanol extract of Spondias mombin Linn on membrane potential energy, the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in an easily accessible model cell, erythrocyte, was studied. The effect on the first approximation estimates of erythrocytic free energy changes (ΔG) was calculated. Study Design: Randomized study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria between January 2010 and February 2011). Methodology: Twenty-five female albino rabbits (1.47 ± 0.17 kg) of the same age set were divided into 5 groups of 5 animals. The first group served as the baseline control, the groups II and III animals were intraperitoneally administered 1ml of 750 mg/kg body weight of S. mombin extract daily for 7 and 14 days respectively, while groups IV and V animals were intraperitoneally administered 1ml of 0.14 IU/kg body weight of oxytocin drug ((Pitocin®, USA) daily for 7 and 14 days respectively. Plasma and lyzed red blood cells obtained were analyzed for extracellular and intracellular erythrocyte concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium using standard methods. Results: The study showed that both the extract and oxytocin administrations significantly (p<0.05) reduced intracellular [Mg2+] and extracellular [K+] and [Ca2+], with a concomitant increase in intracellular [Ca2+]. Both treatment with the extract and oxytocin, did not significantly (p>0.05) alter [Na+] and extracellular [Mg2+]. On the other hand, while the extract did not affect intracellular [K+], oxytocin significantly (p<0.05) reduced it. The results also indicated that while the extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the [K+]-based estimated ΔG, oxytocin treatment reduced it. On the other hand, both the extract and oxytocin caused a non-significant (p>0.05) drop in the Ca2+ based ΔG, with no significant (p>0.05) alteration of the [Na+] and [Mg2+] based estimated ΔG. The pole reversa observed with the study of the Ca2+-based ΔG indicates depressive effect of both the extract and oxytocin on Ca2+ ATPase pump. Conclusion: The observations above indicate that, while the use of the extract might enhance energy generation and conservation, the use of oxytocin might elicit exhaustive utilization of energy.

Evaluation of the Amino Acid Profile and Haemoglobin Polymerization Inhibition Potential of Some Nigerian Legumes.

The amino acid profile and the effects of the seed extracts of Sphenostylis sternocarpa, Monodora myristica and Mucuna sloanei were studied based on their ability to inhibit haemoglobin polymerization and improve the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio of sickle cell erythrocytes. The samples were fractionated into crude aqueous extract (CAE), fat-soluble (FAS), butanol-soluble (BUS) and water-soluble (WAS) fractions. The CAEs of the samples ranked highest in amino acid content in the range of S. sternocarpa (7.12 ± 0.00 g/100g)>M. myristica (6.00 ± 0.15 g/100g)>M. sloanei (3.56 ± 0.21 g/100g). The amino acids identified in appreciable quantities in the seed samples included Phe, Leu, Val, Ile, His, Arg, Tyr, Met, among others. The extracts inhibited polymerization to varying degrees with CAE of both S. sternocarpa and M. myristica, as well as the WAS of M. myristica eliciting significantly (p<0.05) high percent inhibition of polymerization when compared with Phe standard. The extracts improved the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio of HbSS blood from 1.36% for CAE of M. sloanei to 85.04% for CAE of S. sternocarpa; and from 11.03% for WAS of S. sternocarpa to 36.08% for WAS of M. sloanei. These legumes could, therefore, have immense nutritional and therapeutic importance in the management of sickle cell disease and other related diseases.

Biochemical Studies on the Amelioration of Petroleum Product Intoxication with Indigenous Plants.

The effect of Gongronema latifolium and Ocimum gratissimum supplemented diet on diesel petroleum induced liver damage in rats was investigated. Rats were acclimatized for two weeks and divided into three groups. Oxidative stress was induced with diesel petroleum (4 ml/kg body weight) at alternate days for seven days in group II and III rats. Group II rats were fed the supplemented diet while Group I and III fed on normal rat pellet only. After one week of feeding, the fluctuations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and concentrations of glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated stress in the liver of the rats exposed to diesel. Significant increase (P<0.05) in serum concentration of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and other liver damage markers was observed in group III rats. Serum lipid profile was also studied. Feeding with the supplemented diet showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in the activities of ALT and AST and in the concentration of MDA. The activities of some antioxidant enzymes indicated nonsignificant increase (P>0.05) with treatment. The concentration of other liver marker compounds and lipid profile were positively affected by the treatment. The values obtained from treated rats showed that, while diesel can induce oxidative damage to the liver, G. latifolium and O. gratissimum in the diet, indicated protective effect against oxidative and cellular degeneration in liver tissues.

A comparative study on the susceptibility of male and female albino mice to Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Trypanosomiasis has remained a major set-back in the development of livestock farming in tropical Africa. Thus the need for ascertaining the trypanotolerant levels of domestic animal breeds and possible improvement on them cannot be over-emphasised. METHODS: Level of trypanotolerance in animals was compared between sexes using albino mice infected with a Nigerian strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei at a 50% mouse lethal dose (MLD50). RESULTS: The male mice showed unrestrained parasite growth with a prepatent period (PP) of two days and a mean survival period (MSP) of six days corresponding to a gradual decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), body weight, diet response and white blood cells (WBC) count to the time of death. Their female counterparts showed a PP of three days and MSP often days with a similar PCV gradient but a refractory WBC count. There was no significant difference in the differential leucocytes count in both sexes. However, the eosinophils count was significantly higher in the infected animals. It was found that female albino mice exercised more parasite restraint than their male counterparts. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The result suggests that the female animals may be more trypanotolerant hence may be more useful in protein production in trypanosomiasis endemic areas. However, further research using large domestic breeds like goats and sheep may be required to confirm the hypothesis.