Isolation, characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of compounds from the Vernonia amygdalina.

The need to explore the abundance of natural products cannot be overemphasized particularly in the management of various disease conditions. In traditional medical practice, Vernonia amygdalina has been widely adopted in the management of various inflammatory disorders. The objective of this investigation was to isolate the bioactive principles from the stem-bark and root of V. amygdalina and assess the anti-inflammatory (in vitro) activity of both the crude extracts and the isolated compounds. Following extraction with the methanol, the extract was subjected to gravity column chromatography and the resultant fractions was further purified to obtained pure compounds. The structural elucidation of the compounds were based on data obtained from 1H to 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies as well as fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Using diclofenac as a control drug, the albumin denaturation assay was used to determine the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and isolates. Three distinct compounds characterized are vernoamyoside D, luteolin-7-α-o-glucuronide, and vernotolaside, a new glycoside. When compared to diclofenac, which has an IC50 of 167.8 µg/mL, luteolin-7-α-o-glucuronide, vernoamyoside D, and vernotolaside all showed significant inhibitions with respective IC50 values 549.8, 379.5, and 201.7 µg/mL. Vernotolaside is reported for the first time from the root. The assertion that the plant is used in traditional medicine for the management of inflammatory disorder is somewhat validated by the confirmation of the existence of the compounds with the biochemical actions. Further validation of the isolated compounds would be required in animal studies.

Application of natural and modified additives in yogurt formulation: types, production, and rheological and nutraceutical benefits.

Yogurt, a popular fermented dairy product, is of different types and known for its nutritional and nutraceutical benefits. However, incorporating additives into yogurt has been adopted to improve its functionality and nutraceutical properties. Additives incorporated in yogurt may be natural or modified. The incorporation of diverse natural additives in yogurt formulation, such as moringa, date palm, grape seeds and argel leaf extracts, cornelian cherry paste, mulberry fruit and leaf powder, lentil flour, different types of fibers, lemongrass and spearmint essential oils, and honey, has been reported. Similarly, modified additives, such as ß-glucan, pectin, inulin, sodium alginate, and gelatin, are also added to enhance the physicochemical, textural, sensory, and rheological properties of yogurt. Although additives are traditionally added for their technological impact on the yogurt, studies have shown that they influence the nutritional and nutraceutical properties of yogurt, when added. Hence, yogurts enriched with functional additives, especially natural additives, have been reported to possess an improved nutritional quality and impart several health benefits to consumers. These benefits include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia. This current review highlights the common types of yogurt, the production process, and the rheological and nutraceutical benefits of incorporating natural and modified additives into yogurt.

Bioprospection of Selected Plant Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of the Proteolytic Activity of Plasmodium falciparum Plasmepsin V.

Malaria is a devastating disease, and its management is only achieved through chemotherapy. However, resistance to available medication is still a challenge; therefore, there is an urgent need for the discovery and development of therapeutics with a novel mechanism of action to counter the resistance scourge consistent with the currently available antimalarials. Recently, plasmepsin V was validated as a therapeutic target for the treatment of malaria. The pepsin-like aspartic protease anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for the trafficking of parasite-derived proteins to the erythrocytic surface of the host cells. In this study, a small library of compounds was preliminarily screened in vitro to identify novel modulators of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V (PfPMV). The results obtained revealed kaempferol, quercetin, and shikonin as possible PfPMV inhibitors, and these compounds were subsequently probed for their inhibitory potentials using in vitro and in silico methods. Kaempferol and shikonin noncompetitively and competitively inhibited the specific activity of PfPMV in vitro with IC50 values of 22.4 and 43.34 µM, respectively, relative to 62.6 µM obtained for pepstatin, a known aspartic protease inhibitor. Further insight into the structure-activity relationship of the compounds through a 100 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation showed that all the test compounds had a significant affinity for PfPMV, with quercetin (-36.56 kcal/mol) being the most prominent metabolite displaying comparable activity to pepstatin (-35.72 kcal/mol). This observation was further supported by the compactness and flexibility of the resulting complexes where the compounds do not compromise the structural integrity of PfPMV but rather stabilized and interacted with the active site amino acid residues critical to PfPMV modulation. Considering the findings in this study, quercetin, kaempferol, and shikonin could be proposed as novel aspartic protease inhibitors worthy of further investigation in the treatment of malaria.

Antioxidant, enzymes inhibitory, physicochemical and sensory properties of instant bio-yoghurts containing multi-purpose natural additives.

This study aimed to assess the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, physicochemical and sensory properties of instant bio-yoghurts containing multi-purpose natural additives. Multi-purpose natural additives were formulated with three natural additives (sweet detar seed, ginger rhizome, and hibiscus calyx flours, as a thickener, flavourant and colourant, respectively) blends at proportions derived from the Design Expert. The additives' synthetic counterparts were formulated with sodium carboxymethylcellulose, vanilla flavor, and red colourant at the same proportions. After that, yoghurt was produced and the additives blends were incorporated into it either in aqueous extract or flour form, yielding bio-yoghurts designated multi-purpose natural additive extract-containing yoghurt (MNAE-yoghurt), multi-purpose natural additive flour-added yoghurt (MNAF-yoghurt), and their multi-purpose synthetic additives-containing counterparts (MSAE-yoghurt and MSAF-yoghurt). A commercially-available bio-yoghurt served as a control. All the yoghurts were lyophilized to obtain instant bio-yoghurts. Subsequently, bioactive components (total phenolics, tannins, total flavonoids and saponins), antioxidants and enzymes [alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, and angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE)] inhibitory activities, as well as proximate, physicochemical and sensory qualities of the bio-yoghurts were determined. The MNAE-yoghurt and MNAF-yoghurt had higher bioactive constituents, total titratable acid levels, and more potent antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties, but a lower pH than their synthetic counterparts and the control. The total phenolics, tannins, total flavonoids and saponins levels of MNAE-yoghurt and MNAF-yoghurt were 14.40 ± 0.24 and 16.54 ± 0.62 mg/g, 1.65 ± 0.04 and 1.74 ± 0.08 mg/g, 4.25 ± 0.03 and 4.40 ± 0.02 mg/g, 0.64 ± 0.01 and 0.66 ± 0.02 mg/g, respectively. Among the natural multi-purpose additives-containing bio-yoghurts, MNAF-yoghurt had higher bioactive constituents and stronger antioxidant and enzymes inhibitory properties. Its α-amylase, α-glucosidase, ACE, and pancreatic lipase IC50 values were 72.47 ± 0.47, 74.07 ± 0.02, 25.58 ± 2.58, and 33.56 ± 29.66 µg/mL, respectively. In contrast, MNAE-yoghurt had the highest protein (13.70 ± 0.85%) and the lowest fat (2.63 ± 0.71%) contents. The sensory attributes of all the bio-yoghurts fell within an acceptable likeness range. Overall, the inclusion of multi-purpose natural additives blends enhanced the instant bio-yoghurts' nutritional, health-promoting, and sensory qualities.

Influence of traditional processing and genotypes on the antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic activities of yellow-fleshed cassava.

Yellow-fleshed cassava root (YFCR) is processed into traditional products that may influence its bioactivities. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-hyperglycaemic activities of three traditional products (lafun, fufu and gari) from five genotypes (IITA-TMS-IBA070337, 182961, 182962, 182986, 183044) of YFCR were evaluated. The YFCR genotypes were grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research field, Ibadan. The bioactive constituents (total carotenoids, total phenolics, tannins and total flavonoids), antioxidant [2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS•+) and 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) scavenging capacities, and reducing power], and starch-digesting enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activities of the products were determined using standard laboratory methods. The glucose response of the products was assessed in human subjects. The concentrations of the bioactive constituents of the products from different genotypes varied significantly (p < 0.05). The ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging capacities and the reducing power of the products also differed significantly (p < 0.05), such that the lafun from IITA-TMS-IBA182962, IITA-TMS-IBA070337 and IITA-TMS-IBA070337 had the strongest ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging capacities, and reducing power, respectively. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the three products differed significantly (p < 0.05), with the lafun from IITA-TMS-IBA070337 and IITA-TMS-IBA07033 having the strongest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, respectively. Also, the lafun from IITA-TMS-182986 had the least glucose response, while the fufu from IITA-TMS-IBA070337 had the highest glucose response. Overall, the lafun from different genotypes of YFCR had the most potent antioxidant and starch-digesting enzymes inhibitory activities and the least glucose responses. Hence, lafun may be a promising dietary intervention targeting oxidative stress, hyperglycaemia, and their resultant type 2 diabetes.

Antioxidant and Starch-Hydrolyzing Enzymes Inhibitory Properties of Striga-Resistant Yellow-Orange Maize Hybrids.

Most of the health benefits derived from cereals are attributed to their bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the levels of the bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory properties of six pipeline Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (coded AS1828-1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11) in vitro. The maize hybrids were grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria. The bioactive compounds (total phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, and phytate) levels, antioxidant (DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging capacity and reducing power) and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activities of the maize hybrids were determined by spectrophotometry. At the same time, carotenoids were quantified using a reverse-phase HPLC system. The ranges of the bioactive compounds were: 11.25-14.14 mg GAE/g (total phenolics), 3.62-4.67 mg QE/g (total flavonoids), 3.63-6.29 mg/g (tannins), 3.66-4.31% (phytate), 8.92-12.11 µg/g (total xanthophylls), 2.42-2.89 µg/g (total ß-carotene), and 3.17-3.77 µg/g (total provitamin A carotenoids). Extracts of the maize hybrids scavenged DPPH• (SC50: 9.07-26.35 mg/mL) and ABTS•+ (2.65-7.68 TEAC mmol/g), reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+ (0.25 ± 0.64-0.43 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g), and inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 ranges of 26.28-52.55 mg/mL and 47.72-63.98 mg/mL, respectively. Among the six clones of the maize hybrids, AS1828-9 had the highest (p < 0.05) levels of tannins and phytate and the strongest antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory activities. Significant correlations were observed between total phenolics and the following: ABTS•+ (p < 0.01, r = 0.757), DPPH• SC50 (p < 0.01, r = -0.867), reducing power (p < 0.05, r = 0.633), α-amylase IC50 (p < 0.01, r = -0.836) and α-glucosidase IC50 (p < 0.05, r = -0.582). Hence, the Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (especially AS1828-9) may be beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress and postprandial hyperglycemia.

Antidiabetic Potential of Stem Bark Extract of Enantia chlorantha and Lack of Modulation of Its Therapeutic Efficacy in Diabetic Rats Co-Administered with Lisinopril.

This study validates the antidiabetic efficacy of Enantia chlorantha stem bark and the possible therapeutic implications of the co-administration of lisinopril and E. chlorantha in type 2 diabetic rats. E. chlorantha stem bark was extracted by cold maceration. The inhibitory effect of the plant on carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes and its antioxidative potentials were assessed in vitro. The extract exhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and also showed antioxidative properties in vitro. Administration of the extract normalized fasting hyperglycemia in vivo by showing 47.24 % reduction in blood glucose levels relative to untreated diabetic rats. Co-administration of E. chlorantha and lisinopril restored serum glucose and serum lipid profile levels. E. chlorantha stem bark displayed antidiabetic potentials as compared with a standard antidiabetic drug (metformin). The study also showed that the plant contained some bioactive compounds which we hypothesize might be responsible for the observed activities. Co-administration of the plant with lisinopril conferred no significant therapeutic advantage on the serum glucose level and lipid profile.

Characterization of Blighia sapida synthesized-copper nanoparticle and its application in periodic pharmaceutical effluent treatment.

With the rapid increase in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment for diverse applications and to contribute to the understanding of suitability of nanoparticles (NPs) in pharmaceutical effluent treatment, this study was conceptualized. Here, we profiled the concentration of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu and Ni) in pharmaceutical effluent samples over three sampling periods using atomic absorption spectroscopy and evaluated the effectiveness of B. sapida synthesized copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) in pharmaceutical effluent treatment. The results showed that there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the heavy metals concentration of the pharmaceutical effluents across the three sampling periods. This observation could be attributed to the low environmental concentration of the metals that prevented significant leaching into the company's water source through rainfall or the highly effective water treatment pathways that successfully reduced the metals concentration. Despite the observed increase in Cu ions in the treated samples due to the synthesized NPs, its concentration still conforms to the internationally accepted admissible limit in drinkable water. Studies seeking to understand the suitability and toxicological implications of use of the NP-treated effluents are highly encouraged and efforts are underway in this direction.

Growth, physiological, antioxidants, and immune response of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (B.), to dietary clove basil, Ocimum gratissimum, leaf extract and its susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Clove basil, Ocimum gratissimum, is a native plant to Africa and grows virtually in tropical and subtropical regions. It has good aroma and its leaves have become used as a spicy and in traditional medicine. The use of plant leaves in fish diets may deteriorate their growth because it may content anti-nutritional factors. Thus, it is better to use plants leaves extract. In the current study, clove basil leaves extract (CBLE) was administrated to African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (B.) to evaluate its effect on growth performance, physiological, antioxidants, and innate immunity variables. Fish (10.7 ±â€¯0.5 g) were fed on diets enriched with 0.0, 5, 10, or 15 g CBLE/kg diet for 12 weeks. After the feeding trial, fish were further exposed to pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes) for 14 days. Fish performance and feed intake were significantly enhanced with increasing CBLE levels and its optimum level is found to be 12 g/kg diet. It is noticed that the dietary CBLE in African catfish diets increased significantly the intestinal villi length, villi width, and absorption area in a dose-dependent manner and fish weight was highly correlated with villi length, villi width, and absorption area (R2 = 0.91, 0.91, and 0.92, respectively). On the other side, Dietary CBLE has significant modulatory effect on hemato- and physiological variables of African catfish in a dose-dependent manner. In this regard, blood glucose and cholesterol levels decreased significantly; mean while total protein, albumin, and globulin increased significantly in fish fed high CBLE levels (10-15 g/kg diet). Furthermore, activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, and creatinine levels were significantly elevated with increasing dietary CBLE levels and their maximum values were detected in fish fed 15 g CBLE/kg diet. Antioxidants and immunity variables were significantly enhanced by CBLE supplementation. Additionally, fish mortality after bacterial challenge was highest in fish fed the control diet (85%) than those fed CBLE-enriched diets. The lowest fish mortality was observed in fish fed 15 g CBLE/kg diet (13.5%). This study evoked that CBLE administration enhanced the performance, feed utilization, antioxidant, and innate immunity properties of African catfish with optimum level of 12 g/kg diet. Also, its supplementation enhanced fish challenge against L. monocytogenes.

Antidiabetic and Antidyslipidemic Activities of the Aqueous Extract of Cochlospermum planchonii Leaves in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the 5 principal causes of death in the world and is recognized as a global public health issue because of its multifactorial facets affecting essential biochemical processes in the body. This study investigated the antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic activities of the aqueous extract of Cochlospermum planchonii (C. planchonii) leaves in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty adult female rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing 153±3.41g were randomized into 6 groups of 5 animals each. STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administered 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, once a day, and their blood glucose levels as well as variations of diabetes-associated biomarkers including alpha amylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and lipid profile by the extract were monitored for 21 days. The results were expressed as means±SEMs and compared with repeated measures using SPSS, Data Editor, version 16.0. RESULTS: The aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose level in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest dose producing a 74.52% reduction after 21 days of administration, which compared significantly (P<0.01) with the control and metformin-treated groups. Similarly, STZ-induced diabetic mediated alterations in the serum lipids were significantly (P<0.01) restored by the extract. In addition, the aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves significantly attenuated the decrease in the activity of G6PDH and the increase in the activity of α-AMY in the liver of the STZ-induced diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the aqueous extract of C. planchonii leaves could be used to manage diabetes and other related complications.

Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae) enhances detoxification of hepatic and macromolecular oxidants in acetaminophen-intoxicated rats.

Oxidative stress is a common pathological condition associated with drug-induced hepatotoxicity. This study investigated Spondias mombin L. aqueous leaf extract on reactive oxygen species and acetaminophen-mediated oxidative onslaught in rats' hepatocytes. Hepatotoxic rats were orally administered with the extract and vitamin C for 4 weeks. The extract dose-dependently scavenged DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, with IC50 values of 0.13, 0.66, and 0.64 mg/mL, and corresponding % inhibitions of 89, 80, and 90%, respectively at 1.0 mg/mL. Ferric ion was also significantly reduced. The marked (p<0.05) increases in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced following treatment with the extract. The extract also significantly (p<0.05) induced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. These inductions reversed the acetaminophen-enhanced reduction in the specific activities of these enzymes as well as attenuated the observed elevated concentrations of autooxidized products and rived DNA in the acetaminophen-intoxicated animals. The observed effects competed with those of vitamin C and are suggestive of hepatoprotective and antioxidative attributes of the extract. Overall, the data from the present findings suggest that S. Mombin aqueous leaf extract is capable of ameliorating acetaminophen-mediated oxidative hepatic damage via enhancement of antioxidant defense systems.

KINETICS OF MODULATORY ROLE OF Cyperus esculentus L. ON THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITY OF KEY CARBOHYDRATE METABOLIZING ENZYMES.

BACKGROUND: The continuous search for new lead compounds as viable inhibitors of specific enzymes linked to carbohydrate metabolism has intensified. Cyperus esculentus L. is one of the therapeutically implicated botanicals against several degenerative diseases including diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated the antioxidant and mechanism(s) of inhibitory potential of aqueous extract of C. esculentus on α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. The extract was investigated for its radical scavenging and hypoglycaemic potentials using standard experimental procedures. Lineweaver-Burke plot was used to predict the manner in which the enzymes were inhibited. RESULTS: The data obtained revealed that the extract moderately and potently inhibited the specific activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. The inhibition was concentration-related with respective IC50 values of 5.19 and 0.78 mg/mL relative to that of the control (3.72 and 3.55 mg/mL). The extract also significantly scavenged free radicals and the effects elicited could be ascribed to its phytoconstituents. CONCLUSION: The respective competitive and non-competitive mode of action of the extract is due to its inhibitory potentials on the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Going forward, in addition to completely characterize the exact compound(s) responsible for the elicited activity in this study, pertinent attention will be given to the in vivo evaluation of the identified constituents.

Combined administration of silymarin and vitamin C stalls acetaminophen-mediated hepatic oxidative insults in Wistar rats

Oxidative insult by free radicals has been implicated in drug-induced hepatic damage and this has resulted in frequent episodes of liver disorders. Therapeutic efficacy of antioxidants may provide a possible solution to this menace. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of combined administration of silymarin and vitamin C in rescuing acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxic rats were orally administered with silymarin and vitamin C at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. At the end of the experiment, liver function indices, antioxidant parameters and histological analysis were evaluated. We observed that the significantly increased (p < 0.05) activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and serum total bilirubin, were markedly reduced following co-administration of silymarin and vitamin C. The compounds also effectively reversed the reduced activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and total protein concentration in the hepatotoxic rats. These findings are indicative of hepatoprotective and antioxidant attributes of the two compounds which are also supported by the histological analysis. The available evidences in this study suggest that the complementary effects of silymarin and vitamin C proved to be capable of ameliorating acetaminophen-mediated hepatic oxidative damage and the probable mechanism is via antioxidative action.

Indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats: Protective roles of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata.

This study investigated the quantitative polyphenolic constituents and gastroprotective effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Ulceration was induced by a single oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight). Wistar rats were pretreated with esomeprazole (reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, S. mombin or F. exasperata at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days prior to ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. We observed that the significantly increased (p < 0.05) ulcer index, gastric volume, malondialdehyde level and pepsin activity were effectively reduced following treatment with S. mombin and F. exasperata. The extracts also markedly attenuated the reduced activity of superoxide dismutase as well as pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats. These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative potentials of the extracts which is also evident in the degree of % inhibition against ulceration. The available data in this study suggest that the extracts of S. mombin and F. exasperata proved to be capable of ameliorating indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration and the probable mechanisms are via antioxidative and proton pump inhibition.

Comparative study on the influence of fluoride on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants levels in the different brain regions of well-fed and protein undernourished rats.

Effects of fluoride on the levels of Lipid peroxidation (LP) and antioxidant enzymes in the brain regions of protein undernourished (PU) and well-fed rats (WF) rats exposed to 100 ppm fluoride in drinking water were investigated. The results indicate that the mean body weights and the total brain weights of PU rats as well as those given fluoride (both WF and PU) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than their respective controls. The weights of different brain regions were also significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in PU rats compared to WF rats except in the brain stem. Fluoride ingestion diminished the weights of WF and PU rats affecting the cerebrum only (in the case of PU rats) and the cerebellum of both WF and PU rats without an effect on the brain stem of both WF and PU. Additionally, increased LP was observed in the cerebrum and cerebellum of PU rats but after fluoride ingestion, 30% increase in LP was observed only in the cerebrum. In the brain stem however, protein undernutrition was accompanied with a significant reduction in LP but the region seems insensitive to fluoride. There were significant reductions (P < 0.05) in CAT, SOD and GSH in all the brain regions (except the GSH level in the brain stem only) of PU rats. Fluoride induced reduction in the activity of CAT in the three brain regions and on SOD activity in cerebrum only for WF rats but no effect of fluoride on all the antioxidants studied in the three brain regions for PU rats. It is concluded that WF and PU rats responded differently to fluoride toxicity. However, it seems that at the dosage used, fluoride toxicity may be a direct effect on the antioxidant enzymes.

Fruits and vegetables moderate lipid cardiovascular risk factor in hypertensive patients.

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor in etiology of cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have shown association between vegetarian diet and low total serum cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol which is a pointer to low risk of cardiovascular disease. Dietary fiber, antioxidants and other classes of nutrients have been reported to ameliorate cardiovascular risk factors. Fruits and vegetables being rich sources of fiber and antioxidants have been the focus in intervention studies. The current work reports the effect local fruits and vegetables on cardiovascular risk factors in African hypertensive subjects in an 8 week study. Though there was no significant difference in the Body Mass Index and HDL-cholesterol at the end of the eighth week, there were significant reductions (P < 0.05) in serum triglycerides (125.87 +/- 6.0 to 108.27 +/- 5.49 mgdL-1); total serum cholesterol (226.60 +/- 6.15 to 179.20 +/- 5.78) and LDL-cholesterol (135.69 +/- 5.56 to 93.07 +/- 7.18 mgdL-1). We concluded that consumption of combination of local fruits and vegetables may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors in Africans.