MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

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Hepatoprotective role of Garcinia kola (Heckel) nut extract on methamphetamine: Induced neurotoxicity in mice

Gabriel Oze*, Iheanyi Okoro, Austin Obi and Polycarp Nwoha

Abstract: The hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola (AEGK) was studied in 60 mice of mixed sexes. The animals were divided into 6 groups of 10 mice each. Group I received normal saline, groups and III got 100 and 200 mg/kg AEGK (orally), respectively. Group IV received 10 mg/kg methamphetamine (MAM) (s.c.) only. Groups V and VI got 100 and 200 mg/kg of AEGK respectively, before 10 mg/kg methamphetamine which was used to induce neurotoxicity. The serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and its conjugated metabolite were used to assess liver damage. Fifty percent of the animals in group IV died. 30% died in group V and none in group VI after 10 - 30 min interval of MAM administration. The serum levels of some of the marker enzymes and bilirubin were decreased significantly in groups VI at 200 mg/kg of AEGK (P < 0.05). The Blood glucose level increased transiently in the MAM treated groups. There was a slight rise in serum WBC after an initial fall at 100 mg/kg AEGK. The results suggest a possible hepatoprotective potential of AEGK. This may justify their local use in the management of some hepatic dysfunction and stress-related conditions.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Garcinia kola extract, methamphetamine, neuroprotection, mice.

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Optimization of culture parameters to enhance production of amylase and protease from Aspergillus awamori in a single fermentation

Sangeeta Negi* and Rintu Banerjee

Abstract: Concomitant production of amylase and protease by Aspergillus awamori nakazawa MTCC 6652 was enhanced in a single fermentation by media engineering and optimization of other important parameters. Wheat bran was considered as a suitable substrate for production of amylase and protease by A. awamori in a single fermentation as none of the additional substrate such as powder of peanut, corn, soybean seeds and sunflower seeds was effective in enhancing the concurrent production of enzymes further. Optimum amylase yield of 4528.4 ± 121U/gds and protease yield of 250.4 ± 10 U/gds was achieved with wheat bran to Czapek-dox ratio of 1:1.5 (w/v), 96 h incubation, 35˚C temperature, pH 5.5 and 85% relative humidity. Media engineered with 1% casein and 1% starch solution increased yield of amylase and protease by 2.07 fold (9386.5 ± 101 U/gds) and 3.73 fold (934.8 ± 67 U/gds), respectively, therefore, considered as the most suitable media for concomitant production of amylase and protease by A. awamori in a single fermentation.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Amylase, protease, solid state fermentation, optimization.

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Production of cuticle - degrading proteases by Beauveria bassiana and their induction in different media

Priyanka Dhar and Gurvinder Kaur*

Abstract: The concern for the development of hyphomycete fungi as suitable biocontrol agents of insect pests leads to the isolation of various insect pathogenic fungi. Amongst them, one of the most studied entomopathogenic fungus is Beauveria bassiana. The conidia of mitosporic fungi adhere to the host cuticle and germinate to produce an infectious propagule, and produce a sequential release of extra cellular enzymes to breach the insect cuticle. Protease is one of the most important and earliest enzymes involved in the host invasion. Extracellular protease production by seventeen B. bassiana isolates was investigated in the present study. High protease activity was observed during four to six days of culture incubation. Induction mechanism of subtillisin type Pr1 and trypsin type Pr2 activity were investigated utilizing different media. Minimal medium supplemented with casein (1%) showed high protease production and minimal medium supplemented with colloidal chitin (2%) was also able to induce Pr1 activity. The pH, ammonia and oxalic acid production in in vitro conditions was also investigated and the alteration in pH for protease production was not significant irrespective of the medium used. The protease activity gel was also studied and a common 66 kDa protease was observed in all the seven isolates studied.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Ammonia, Beauveria bassiana, oxalic acid, subtillisin type Pr1, trypsin type Pr2, protease, pH.

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Comparative osmotic fragility of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) of male participants administered with five antimalarial drugs

P. C. Chikezie*, A. A. Uwakwe and C. C. Monago

Abstract: IN VIVO study was carried out to ascertain the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) index and corresponding stability of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) before (control; t = 0 h) and after (tests; that is, at t = 3, 6 and 18 h) five (5) antimalarial drugs (FansidarTM, HalfanTM, Quinine, CoartemTM, and Chloroquine phosphate) were administered to male participants. Clinically confirmed healthy non-malarious and malarious male participants enrolled for this study. Erythrocytes obtained from these individuals were suspended in two separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations in the following order: 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2 g / 100 ml. Spectrophotometric method was used to determine the level of erythrocyte osmotic fragility. The mean (±S.D) MCF values of the three genotypes were in the order: HbAAP > 0.05) between the MCF values of HbAA and HbAS erythrocytes. Comparatively, parasitized erythrocytes exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) increased MCF values. The five antimalarial drugs were agents of erythrocyte destabilization in both categories of participants. However, the overall capacities of the drugs to disturb erythrocyte stability diminished as the experimental time progressed.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Antimalarials, erythrocytes, mean corpuscular fragility, genotypes, osmotic fragility.

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Fermentation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) pulp juice improves nutritive value of cassava peel

Naa Ayikailey Adamafio*, Maxwell Sakyiamah and Josephyne Tettey

Abstract: A major challenge in using cassava peel as feed for animals is the presence of cyanogenic glycosides and the low concentration of protein. The present study investigated the possibility of upgrading cassava peels using fermented cassava pulp juice. Cassava pulp juice was squeezed out of grated cassava pulp and fermented for 3 days at ambient temperature. The microorganisms in the fermented pulp juice were identified as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Lactobacillus spp. Non-sterile cassava peels were sun-dried, milled and inoculated with fermented cassava pulp juice over a 7-day period. Controls were treated with either sterile distilled water, autoclaved inoculum or phosphate buffer (pH 5) over the same period. After 7 days, the cyanogenic glycoside content of the peels, determined by the silver nitrate titration method, had decreased to 12.3% (p < 0.05) of the value for untreated peels while the cyanogenic glycoside content of the controls was 38.8 - 42.9%. Proximate analysis of 7-day inoculum-treated and untreated cassava peels showed that the protein content of the treated peels had increased 10-fold and significant decreases in starch and fat content were recorded. The fibre content remained unchanged. The present findings show that microorganisms present in fermented cassava pulp juice are capable of enhancing the nutritional value of cassava peels by increasing the protein content and reducing the cyanogenic glycoside content to levels safe for consumption by livestock.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Cassava peel, pulp juice, cyanogenic glycosides, microorganisms.

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Assessing the role of RecA protein in the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis

Haïtham Sghaier*, Katsuya Satoh, Hirofumi Ohba, and Issay Narumi,

Abstract: The moderately thermophilic bacterium Deinococcus geothermalis exhibits extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation. RecA protein is considered to be one of the most important participants in radioresistance. To assess the role of the RecA protein in D. geothermalis, the recA gene was isolated from D. geothermalis and over expressed in Escherichia coli. After the D. geothermalis RecA protein (GeoRecA) was purified, the recombination activity was investigated in vitro. GeoRecA efficiently promoted the strand exchange reaction between homologous linear double-stranded DNA and circular single-stranded DNA substrates at 50°C. Like Deinococcus radiodurans RecA protein (DraRecA), GeoRecA could promote DNA strand exchange reaction through normal and inverse pathways. Furthermore, GeoRecA complemented the RecA deficiency of D. radiodurans. These results indicate that GeoRecA is a functional homologue of DraRecA and plays an important role in radioresistance. However, unlike DraRecA, GeoRecA could not complement the RecA deficiency of E. coli, suggesting that GeoRecA require more strict intracellular conditions than DraRecA does to fulfill its function. This study provides new insights into the role of deinococcal RecA protein in radioresistance.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Deinococcus geothermalis, DNA repair, DNA strand exchange, radio resistance, RecA.

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Synergistic effects of glucan and resveratrol

Vaclav Vetvicka* and Zuzana Vancikova

Abstract: Recent data showing that glucan stimulates defense reactions in plants through synthesis of resveratrol, led us to study the possible synergetic effects of a glucan-resveratrol complex on immune reactions in mice. We measured phagocytic activity, expression of CD4 marker on spleen cells, IL-2 secretion and antibody response. In all cases we confirmed the stimulatory effects of glucan. Resveratrol alone had either limit or has no effect. However, a combined preparation showed very strong synergetic effects. Our data support further studies of these two natural immunomodulators.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Glucan, resveratrol, phagocytosis, IL-2, immune reactions, macrophage, antibody.

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Effect of ferric oxide nanoparticles on microtubules organization

Ali Khaleghian, Gholam Hossein Riazi, Shahin Ahmadian, Mahmoud Ghafari, Marzieh Rezaie, Akira Takahashi, Yutaka Nakaya and Hossein Nazari, *

Abstract: Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in several manufactured products. The small size of nanoparticles facilitates their uptake into cells as well as transcytosis across epithelial cells into blood and lymph circulation to reach different sites, such as the central nervous system. Studies have shown different risks of Fe2O3NPs in the neuronal system and other organs. They are membrane-bound layer aggregates or single particles that could not enter only cells, but also in mitochondria and nuclei. Therefore, these particles can interact with cytoplasmic proteins such as microtubules (MTs). MTs are cytoskeleton proteins that are essential in eukaryotic cells for a variety of functions, such as cellular transport, cell motility and mitosis. MTs play an important role in neurons and to act as a substances transport such as neurotransmitters. Single Fe2O3NPs in cytoplasm can interact with these proteins and affect their crucial functions in different tissues. In this study, we showed the effects of Fe2O3NPs on MTs organization and structure using ultraviolet spectrophotometer and fluorometry. The fluorescent spectroscopy showed a significant tubulin conformational change in the presence of Fe2O3NPs and the ultraviolet spectroscopy results showed that Fe2O3NPs causes MTs depolymerization and decrease turbidity intensity as well as increase spectra emission. The aim of this study was to find the potential risks that Fe2O3NPs pose to human organs and cells for cancer treatment.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Ferric oxide, tubulin, microtubule, protein interaction, nanoparticle.

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Captopril interferes with some serum biochemical findings

I. A. Ibrahim, F. S. Al-Joudi *, R. Waleed Sulaiman and B. Hilal AL-Saffar

Abstract: Captopril is a widely used anti-hypertensive drug that acts by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme. This work has been carried out to investigate the effects of captopril on some common biochemical laboratory parametres in the sera of patients receiving the drug. For this study, 40 subjects were included, all within the age range of 40 to 63 years and with newly diagnosed essential hypertension. From each patient, two samples were taken, one immediately before the start of treatment and the second one taken two weeks later. The control group comprised 30 apparently healthy volunteers of comparable ages and genders. The biochemical parameters measured in the sera were glucose, total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), liver enzymes and creatine kinase (CK). Captopril exerted significant increases in the obtained readings for the concentrations of glucose, TP, urea, creatinine, TC, TG, AST and LDH. The increases in readings in the biochemical parameters may be attributable to chemical or to physical interactions. They could also be induced by physiological, enzymatic or by IN VIVO metabolic factors. By all means, these alterations that accompany captopril treatment must be taken into account by physicians and laboratory workers, to help avoid misinterpretation of laboratory data.[...] Read More.

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Application of acid-hydrolyzed cassava (Manihot esculenta) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) for the production of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Nyerhovwo J. Tonukari* and Linda I. Osumah

Abstract: Much progress has been made in the cultivation and production of cassava (Manihot esculenta) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Nigeria. In the present study, investigation was carried out on the possibility of using cassava flour as a source of glucose as well as cowpea as source of nitrogen in the production of yeast. Acid hydrolysis (using dilute H2SO4) of cassava and cowpea was undertaken to release the sugars and amino acids. The pH of the growth medium using hydrolyzed cassava as carbon source and cowpea as nitrogen source was varied from pH 2.5 - 6.5. The results obtained show that pH 6.5 gave optimum yeast biomass. The hydrolyzed cassava was also varied in the growth medium. The result obtained shows that increased concentrations of acid-hydrolyzed cassava increased yeast biomass, indicating that hydrolyzed cassava is a good carbon source of glucose for yeast production. It was also observed that yeast biomass using acid hydrolyzed cowpea extract as nitrogen source was high. This is due to the fact that cowpea contains 66.35% of carbohydrate in addition to about 25% protein and hence a good source of carbon and nitrogen in the culture medium. The residual glucose concentration of the yeast culture for each medium was also determined. The result obtained indicates that with increased yeast biomass, there was significant decrease in the residual glucose. Also, there was a significant decrease in pH of the culture media following yeast culture; the culture media tends to be acidic after yeast culture. Therefore, yeast can be produced using acid hydrolyzed cassava flour as carbon source with cowpea as nitrogen source.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Cassava, cowpea, yeast, acid hydrolysis, glucose, nitrogen source.

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