ABSTRACT
Associated gas flaring has several consequences on the environment. This study was aimed at assessing the impact of gas flaring on soil enzymes and plant antioxidant activities from gas flare-bearing communities in Nigeria. Soil and plant samples were obtained from farmlands in Ukwa West and Izombe gas flaring sites, as well as unpolluted site from Olokoro (used as control). The level of activities of soil urease, dehydrogenase, phosphatases, plant antioxidant enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of selected plants (Gnetum africanum [GA], Piper guineense [PG], Gongronema latifolium [GL], Pterocarpus mildbraedii [PM]) were evaluated using standard methods. The results showed that the activities of urease were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in soil from Ukwa site than Izombe and the control soil. Dehydrogenase (DHA) and phosphatases recorded higher activities (P < 0.05) for Izombe soil than in Ukwa compared with the control. For plants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) recorded a significant (P < 0.05) higher activities in all the plants assayed from Ukwa site than Izombe and the control site. The activities of GPx from GA and PG plants at Izombe site were not significant (P > 0.05) when compared with the control, except for PM and GL which recorded a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in GPX and SOD activities, respectively. The activities of catalase enzyme also decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in all plants grown at Ukwa, while an increase was seen for GA and PM grown at Izombe compared with control. The overall variability in enzymes activities is an indication that soil ecosystem and plants are altered significantly by the stress load from the gas flaring pollutants which could serve as bio-indicators for assessing ecological risks and bioremediation.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index is a surrogate marker of insulin resistance. This study compared the performance of TyG index and the Finnish diabetes risk score (FINDRISC) in diabetes risk prediction. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 122 young adults (aged 15-35 years) in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analysis were done following standard protocols. Diabetes risk scoring was done using the FINDRISC questionnaire. TyG index was calculated logarithmically. Discrimination between TyG index and FINDRISC was done by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: High risk participants had significantly (p < 0.001) higher mean values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) relative to the lower risk categories. Participants in TyG index Quartile 4 had significantly higher mean values of triglyceride (p < 0.001) and fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.05). BMI and triglyceride had the most significant (p < 0.001) positive correlation with FINDRISC and TyG index, respectively. A moderately elevated to high risk (FINDRISC ≥ 12) of developing diabetes was found in 14.8% of the participants; with a female preponderance (20.6%) relative to males (7.4%). More than half of the participants (52.5%) had slightly elevated risk and differences in diabetes risk susceptibility were significant (p < 0.001) across gender. FINDRISC had an AUC value of 0.826 while TyG index had an AUC value of 0.628 for diabetes risk prediction. Conclusion: FINDRISC had a better performance than TyG index in the prediction of diabetes risk in this population. The use of other TyG-related parameters rather than TyG index is recommended in future studies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01252-y.
ABSTRACT
ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Corchorus olitorius is reportedly used in ethno-medicine to arrest threatened miscarriage and other conditions associated with excessive uterine contractions. The plant is also used as a purgative, demulscent and an anti-inflammatory agent. AIM OF THE STUDY: Against the background of ethno-medicinal use, this current work was designed to evaluate the gastrointestinal and uterine smooth muscles relaxant and anti-inflammatory effects of Corchorus olitorius leaf extract (COLE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pieces of uterine and gastrointestinal tissues were suspended separately in organ baths containing ideal physiological salt solutions bubbled with air and were tested for responses to standard drugs and COLE, then repeated in the presence of antagonists. Anti-inflammatory study was carried out via the egg albumin-induced paw edema model in rats. RESULTS: The application of COLE to pieces of uterine tissue significantly decreased the amplitudes of contractions in a dose dependent manner such that the highest dose applied (666.67⯵g/ml) achieved a 100% inhibitory effect. Oxytocin induced contractions were also significantly inhibited by both salbutamol and COLE. On the isolated rabbit jejunum, the effect of COLE was also inhibitory and like atropine, significantly inhibited acetylcholine induced contractions. In the in vivo study, the extract inhibited charcoal meal movement in test rats when compared with control. Anti-inflammatory effect of COLE was significant and compared favourably with that of aspirin following in vivo trials. CONCLUSIONS: COLE therefore, may be a good tocolytic, anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory agent and offers hope of new drug discovery for such uses.
