Background: Bambara nut is a common household food in Nigeria especially among the Igbos ofthe South Eastern part of the country.Aim: This study is aimed at investigating the effect of Bambara nut on renal indices of Wistar rats.Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced in Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powder using a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the so...
Aim: This study sought to investigate the effect of Bambara nut on hepatic biomarkers of Wistar rats.Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced in Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powderusing a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. Twentyfour adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized for seven days during which they were fed ad libitum with standard fe...
Aim: This study sought to investigate the effect of Bambara nut consumption on blood glucose level and lipid profile of Wistar rats.Methodology: The Songkhla 1 variety (red seed coat) of Bambara nuts were locally sourced from Obinze area of Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The seeds were peeled and ground to a fine powder using a coffee grinder and extracted using soxhlet apparatus and methanol as the solvent. Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized for seven days during which the...
Aim: The aim of this study is to qualitatively determine the phytochemical compositions of ethanolic extract of Xylopia aethiopica fruit.Methodology: The fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were obtained from new market in Aba, Abia State and were identified and authenticated by Prof. (Mrs) Margaret Bassey of the Department of Botany and Ecological Studies, University of Uyo with the voucher number UU/PH/4e. The plant was deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Medi...
Background: Xylopia aethiopica fruit has been reported to possess high medicinal value. Thus, people use it without any regard for its toxicity.Aim: This study is therefore aimed at investigating its toxicity on the liver of Wistar rats.Methodology: The fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were obtained from new market in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria and were authenticated. They were air-dried and extracted using Soxhlet apparatus and ethanol as solvent. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was d...
Most of biochemical reactions in the body generates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are involved in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress-related disorders like diabetes, nephrotoxicity, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, inflammation and neurological disorders when they attack biochemical molecules like proteins, lipids and nucleic acid. Antioxidants are used to protect the cells or tissues against potential attack by ROS. Natural based antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione, superoxi...
Hypoglycaemia in neonates is defined as blood glucose concentration below 1.1mmol/l for term neonates. A common abnormality in neonates, it is associated, with neurological damage and death when it occurs in the first few days of life. This is more pronounced in rural set-ups without the knowledge, detection and management facilities. When promptly diagnosed and managed, its effects can be prevented or minimized. Studies at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) show that 59.8% of all neonates ...
ABSTRACT Inflammation is a reaction to irritants that causes an injury to the body. Pain is a physical discomfort caused by injury or illness while pyrexia is an increase in body temperature above the normal range (36.5°C–37.5°C). Commonly used conventional drugs against inflammation, pain and pyrexia are effective but due to long term use, these drugs tend to be costly and are associated with adverse side effects. Traditional medicine has been used as an alternative and complementary d...
Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and accounts for up to 28,000 deaths annually in Kenya. Globally, approximately 13% of all deaths annually are attributed to cancer. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the current treatment techniques for cancer; however, these methods are expensive, have high failure rates and have been associated with detrimental side effects. Plants derived products could be good candidates in alleviating challenges being exp...
ABSTRACT Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication occurring five years from onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus, leading to renal failure and death. It is characterized by albuminuria and a reduced glomerular filtration rate. Although much emphasis has been placed on screening for albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to predict or diagnose DN, less attention has been focused on the role of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in risk asses...
ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders sharing a common underlying feature of hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. The disease may present with characteristic symptoms such as polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, blurring of vision, and weight loss and in its most severe forms, ketoacidosis or a non-ketotic hyperosmolar state may develop and lead to stupor, coma and, in absence of effective treatment, death. Hyperglycemia may be as ...
ABSTRACT Rapid urbanization has resulted into substantial increase in quantities of sewage, which is traditionally discharged into the ocean, causing a number of environmental problems including threats to oceanic lives as well as ground water contamination. So far, there is limited data in Kenya regarding the toxic effects of sewage on benthic organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the biogeochemical effects of sewage pollution on the mollusc Nerita polita by determining its im...
ABSTRACT Tsetse flies (Glossina sp) are the vector of African trypanosomes, the causative agents of sleeping sickness in man and Nagana in cattle. The insect is strictly hematophagous, taking in significantly high quantities of water during bloodmeals that present a considerable osmotic challenge. This necessitates machinery for eliminating excess water. One potential candidate is a group of membrane channel proteins called aquaporins (AQPs) that are responsible for the movement of water acr...
ABSTRACT Antioxidants are chemical substances that inhibit oxidation (oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals, leading to a chain reaction that may damage cells or other molecules) Free radicals are reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species generated by our bodies naturally during normal metabolic functions. If free radicals overwhelm the body ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Oxidative stress leads to the destruction o...
ABSTRACT Solanum incanum, Craterostigma pumilum and Euclea divinorum have been used for generations as folklore medicine for various ailments associated with pain and inflammation in humans in Kenya. However, there is scarcity of data on scientific studies done on their effectiveness, modes of action, toxicity and their phytochemical composition. The aims of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potential of these plants crude extracts, to determine...