ABSTRACT
The extracts of Anacardium occidentale have been used in the management of different cardiovascular disorders in Nigeria. These have necessitated the assessment of the toxicity of this plant extract in sub-chronic administration. The inner stem bark of Anacardium occidentale was extracted with 80 % methanol and quantitatively analysed for antinutrients and some heavy metals. The phytochemical compositions and acute toxicity of the extract were determined also. Toxicity profiles of the extract on some liver function parameters were evaluated following a sub-chronic oral administration at doses of 1.44 and 2.87 g/kg. The phytochemical screening of extract revealed the presence of high amount of tannins, moderate saponins and trace of free reducing sugars. The antinutrient levels were 5.75 % (tannins), 2.50 % (oxalates), 2.00 % (saponins), 0.25 % (phytate) and 0.03 % (cyanide). The quantity of iron detected from dried crude was 8.92 mg/100 g, while lead and cadmium were non-detectable. The extract had LD(50)of 2.154g/kg p.o. in mice. Sub-chronic administration of the extract significantly increased the serum levels of alanine aminotransaminase and aspartate aminotransaminase, which are indicative of liver damage. The serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and total protein of the treated animals were not significantly increased. The effects of sub-chronically administered extract on hepatocytes were minimal as the serum alkaline phosphatase; total bilirubin and total protein levels in treated animals were not significant (p< 0.05). Thus, sub-chronic administrations of Anacardium occidentale inner stem bark extract did not significantly (p< 0.05) depress the function of hepatocytes in Wistar rats.
ABSTRACT
To determine the relative frequencies of gastrointestinal diseases (GI) in patients admitted to Samtah General Hospital, Gizan, the records of 2,442 adults admitted to the medical and surgical services for gastrointestinal diseases during the period 1413 to 1416 were analyzed retrospectively. 1,028 patients had acute appendicitis. The remaining 1,414 patients were admitted for various other GI diseases. In these 1,414 patients the commonest diseases were gastrointestinal infections (36.4%), peptic ulcer disease (19%), gall bladder disease (18.5%), viral hepatitis and its sequelae (20.7%). Despite the high prevalence of cholelithiasis, acute pancreatitis was uncommon (0.1 %). Inflammatory bowel disease was rare. There was no gender - related difference in the prevalence of gastrointestinal infections, peptic ulcer disease and carcinoma of the stomach. Males were significantly more afflicted than females with viral hepatitis (p< 0.0001), cirrhosis of the liver (p< 0.0001), hepatocellular carcinoma (p< 0.0005), variceal bleeding (p< 0.0005), and peptic ulcer bleeding (p< 0.005). As a large proportion of our patients had preventable diseases, it is expected that immunization and other public health measures will reduce the frequency of these diseases in the future.
ABSTRACT
Intermediate moisture smoked beef was prepared by cook-soak/equilibration in a solution containing sodium chloride, sodium nitrite and potassium sorbate. Two further solutions contained glycerol and glycerol + 'onion' in addition to the above ingredients. Half the samples in each treatment group were smoked for 18 h (heavy smoking) and the others for 4 h (light smoking) at 50°C. All samples developed the pink-red colour of nitrite cured meat but those treated with glycerol were darker, presumably due to decreased moisture contents. Glycerol increased the apparent moisture, fat and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) soluble protein contents and also improved the conversion of haemoproteins to the cooked cured form but decreased the percent soluble hydroxyproline. Smoking caused a marked decrease in moisture, SDS-soluble protein and soluble hydroxyproline contents and slightly decreased the available lysine and percent conversion of the haemoproteins to the cured nitrose forms. Smoking also caused increased darkening and hardness of the samples. Total viable aerobes, coliforms and fungi were below the levels of detection while TBA values were low and all samples possessed no detectable rancidity. Electrophoretograms of the samples indicated that cooking/equilibration had no significant effects on the proteins present but smoking led to a slight loss of some of the protein components.
ABSTRACT
Intermediate moisture smoked beef was prepared by cook/soak equilibration in solution, with or without glycerol followed by smoking for 4 h or 18 h at 50°C. During storage for 12 weeks at 30 and 38°C all reactions except the change in pH were significatlyy slower at 30°C. This suggests that certain reactions; namely, hydroxyproline solubilization and protein crosslinking, have different temperature dependencies and opposing effects on pH. Heavy smoking and glycerol both reduce the rate of protein crosslinking, as measured by solubility in 3% sodium dodecyl sulphate + 1% ß-mercaptoethanol. Glycerol accelerates hydroxyproline breakdown but helps retain moisture, available lysine and tenderness. Heavy (18 h) smoking had a reverse effect on these reactions. Browning occurs in these products, as well as rapid pigment loss.
