Asian Journal of Biochemistry - Current Issue

Liver Protective Activity of the Methanol Extract of Crinum jagus Bulb against Acetaminophen-induced Hepatic Damage in Wistar Rats

23 May, 2013

Hepatotoxins constitute a serious health concern in both rural and urban population globally. Despite advances in medical research, the discovery of an ideal hepatoprotective agent remains a challenge. The present research sought to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the crude methanol extract of Crinum jagus bulb as a step towards further detailed study to isolate the bioactive principles. Wistar rats were pre-challenged individually with a high dose of acetaminophen (paracetamol, 2000 mg kg^-1) per os to induce hepatic damage prior to treatment. The control group was given distilled water (10 mL kg^-1, p.o.) while one out of the other experimental rat groups was either treated with silymarin (50 mg kg^-1, p.o.) or with a dose of C. jagus bulb extract (75, 150 and 300 mg kg^-1). Pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time, the mean relative liver weight of individual rats, biochemical assay and histopathological lesions in the liver of the separate rat groups were assessed and compared to determine the extent of hepatic damage. The prolonged paracetamol-induced pentobarbitone sleeping time in untreated, control rats (145.2±1.4 min) was most remarkably reduced to 122.5±2.1 and 109.5±0.4 min in rats which were treated orally with 150 and 300 mg kg^-1 of the extract respectively. The acetaminophen-mediated decrease in the mean relative liver weight of intoxicated rats was relatively reversed with 150 and 300 mg kg^-1 of the extract. C. jagus bulb extract also demonstrated significant (p<0.05) potency at 150 and 300 mg kg^-1 in reducing acetaminophen-induced increase in the rat serum transaminases (AST, ALT and ALP) and total bilirubin but with elevation in total serum protein values. Histopathology revealed that 2000 mg kg^-1 of paracetamol induced severe necrosis of hepatocytes in untreated control rats. Treatment of the acetaminophen-challenged rats with silymarin (50 mg kg^-1, p.o.) and C. jagus bulb extract (150 and 300 mg kg^-1, p.o.) gave a better protection with regeneration of hepatocytes relative to the untreated control. Crinum jagus bulb extract seemed to have multiplicity of effects in regenerating parenchymal cells, hepatic microsomal enzymes with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The bulb of C. jagus could be a potential source of potent hepatoprotective agents.

Study of Bioconversion of Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLNA) of Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Seed in Male Rats into Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Using UV-Vis Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography

23 May, 2013

The present study evaluates the efficiency of conversion of CLNA (conjugated linolenic acids; α-eleostearic acid) of Ricinodendron heudelotii to CLA (conjugated linoleic acids; rumenic acid) in the liver, small bowel and serum of male rats using ultraviolet spectrometry (UV) and Gas Chromatography (GC) techniques. One milliliter of oil was orally administrated to 30 rats during 24 h. The spectra of R. heudelotii oil, linoleic acid, rumenic acid and α-eleostearic acid (α-ESA) were determined. The concentrations of α-ESA and CLA were determined after 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h of oral administration of oil in liver, small bowel and serum. Linoleic acid has a peak at 215 nm and rumenic acid at 232 nm. Spectra of standard α-eleostearic acid and R. heudelotii oil were bunk with a characteristic peak at 270 nm. In the serum, we did not find any trace of fatty acid with either UV or GC. UV and GC methods showed that α-ESA was gradually converted in rumenic acid in the liver and small bowel. The liver had a faster and higher enzyme activity than the small bowel. These results showed that the conversion of CLNA to CLA in rats using UV spectrometry is the most method to use.

Antiangiogenic Activities of Cinnamon, Black and Green Tea Extracts on Experimentally Induced Breast Cancer in Rats

23 May, 2013

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy in women and its metastatic state represent the second most common cause of mortality. Inhibition of angiogenesis is considered to be an important strategy for cancer therapy. The currently available antiangiogenic agents that are used for treatment of breast cancer have serious side effects limiting their chronic use. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate and compare the antiangiogenic effects of natural food sources; cinnamon, green and black tea on experimentally induced breast cancer in rats using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Animals were randomly divided into eight groups of seven animals each: four healthy groups and four breast cancer groups induced by a single dose of (20 mg kg^-1) of DMBA dissolved in 1.0 mL corn oil. Both healthy and breast cancer groups were treated aqueous extract of cinnamon, black and green tea (100 mg kg^-1 b.wt. in 1.0 mL distilled water), given for 45 successive days intragastrically. Serum levels of some angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors were estimated using ELISA assays. The results showed significant increases in the serum levels of VEGF, sVEGFR-1 and bFGF in untreated breast cancer group when compared with untreated healthy rats. Also, there was a significant decrease in the serum levels of VEGF, sVEGFR-1 and bFGF in the treated groups with plants extracts when compared with breast cancer control group. The results of the present study suggested that extracts of these plants have antiangiogenic protective activities and supports the hypothesis that these plants help in the prevention of breast cancer.

Formation of Highly Antioxidative Liposomes from Crude Acetone Extracts of Canna indica, Cucumis melo and Prunus armeniaca

23 May, 2013

Liposomes are often used as a carrier to improve the therapeutic activity and safety of drugs. The lipid composition of liposomes plays an important role in determining the behavior of liposomes in phases. In this study, the phospholipid and alkylresorcinol content in crude acetone extracts of seeds of Canna indica L., Cucumis melo L. and Prunus armeniaca L. was analyzed in order to assess the applicability in liposome delivery vesicles. The crude extracts were used to form liposomes and their stability and resistance to oxidative degradation was evaluated by spectroscopy. The liposomes formed from these extracts were stable compared to control Phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes and had a lower percentage of aggregation as a function of time, as measured by the Optical Density (OD) at 400 nm (6.1-26.6% for extract liposomes and 43% for PC liposomes). Lipid peroxidation measured by the Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) method after 28 days incubation at room temperature was much lower for extract liposomes compared to PC liposomes. Interactions of the extract liposomes with human white blood cells resulted in a reduction of the free radical (O₂^-) formation by 38-65% compared to PC liposomes.

Neuroendocrinological, Metabolic and Toxicological Effects of Chronic Cannabis Use among Male in Lagos

23 May, 2013

Controversies surround the use of cannabis and there have been discrepancies in the results of various studies on cannabis carried out on animals and on human beings. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicological, metabolic, reproductive and neurochemical effects of chronic cannabis use among some male users in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty male chronic cannabis smokers with ages between 20-35 years and average duration of cannabis use of 5 years were recruited along with ten male age matched controls that were not using cannabis. Blood samples were collected from all the subjects for the analyses of plasma dopamine, norepinephrine, Prolactin (PRL), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and testosterone levels. Random blood sugar, plasma cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, total plasma protein, serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) were also estimated. The results showed that smokers had significantly higher levels of dopamine, norepinephrine and testosterone. There was also significantly higher levels of serum ALT and AST in the smokers’ group. However, the other reproductive hormones and the metabolic parameters checked were all not significantly different between the two groups. We concluded that chronic cannabis use is associated with increased catecholamine neurotransmitters and increased testosterone and liver toxicity while there are no effects on PRL and gonadotropins as well as metabolism.

Changes in Body Weight and Serum Biochemical Measures of German Shepherd Dogs following Alloxan Induced Diabetes Mellitus

23 May, 2013

The body weight losses and serum biochemical indices are considered as major signs of diabetes mellitus. The aim of present research was to investigate possible changes in serum biochemical indices and live body weight in German shepherd dogs, as a laboratory model for diabetes studies. In this research, ten German shepherd dogs has been used for analysis; 5 of which was considered as experimental groups and 5 was considered as control group. The examinations were conducted to guarantee their health and absence of diabetes with Intra-venous Glucose Tolerance Test (IVGTT) has been approved. Alloxan monohydrate with 100 mg kg^-1 in was injected intravenously for experimental group. After weighting, the blood samples were taken from control and diabetic dogs following diabetes induction. Next, biochemical measures of serum measures include glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, total protein concentrations, Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity were determined. Based on statistical analysis, regardless to dramatic increases in glucose level, ALT and AST activities are increased in diabetic groups (p<0.05) and observed increase in serum ALP activity was very significant (p<0.01). The body weight of control group had almost constant trend during experiment, but diabetic dogs had considerable weigh losses especially after second IVGGT and following diabetes induction. It can be concluded that the weight losing of diabetic individual may be largely Independent from serum total cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations and is related to protein metabolism, because of lack of glucose source for energy obtaining. Further studies with completive biochemical profile of plasma are needed to clarifying discussed correlations.