BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES

Traditional medicine has long played a crucial role in healthcare, particularly in Africa, where medicinal plants are widely used to treat various ailments. Picralima nitida, also known as the African bitter bean, is one such plant valued for its therapeutic properties, including its use in treating malaria, fever, and inflammatory conditions. Yet, regardless of its broad use in traditional medicine, scientific research on its biochemical effects is insufficient, particularly concerning its influence on mineral metabolism and metabolic health. In this study, forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental groups received standard doses of aqueous Picralima nitida extract daily for a specific period, while the control group received no treatment. At the end of the study, serum calcium and uric acid concentrations were analyzed to determine potential alterations in mineral homeostasis. As calcium is essential for bone health, erve function, and enzymatic processes, and uric acid is a key metabolite linked to conditions such as gout and kidney disease, understanding how Picralima nitida affects these parameters is crucial. The findings of this study will contribute to the scientific validation of Picralima nitida in traditional medicine, therefore determining whether its continued use is safe and beneficial for metabolic and mineral homeostasis. Additionally, it could open pathways for further research into its pharmacological applications, potentially leading to the development of standardized herbal treatments based on traditional knowledge.

The Kell blood group system is one of the most clinically significant after ABO and Rhesus. Antibodies to Kell antigens are highly immunogenic and can cause haemolytic transfusion reactions and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). Despite its clinical importance, data on the distribution of Kell antigen among Nigerian pregnant women remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of the Kell blood group among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 pregnant women aged 18–43 years attending antenatal clinic at Central Hospital, Benin City. Blood samples were collected and tested for Kell antigen using the conventional tube method with commercially prepared anti-Kell reagents. Socio-demographic and obstetric data were obtained through structured questionnaires.The gestational age of the women in their first trimester were fourty-two(42), second trimester, fifty (50) and third trimester, eight(8) Of the 100 women studied, 2 (2.0%) were positive for the Kell antigen who were in their first and second trimester respectively. While 98 (98.0%) were negative.The Kell-positive phenotype was observed across both primigravidae and multigravidae with no statistically significant difference. The overall prevalence of Kell antigen in this cohort was consistent with reports from other populations in Nigeria and across Africa but considerably lower than values reported among Caucasians. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a low prevalence (2.0%) of Kell antigen among pregnant women in Central Hospital. Given the clinical significance of Kell antibodies in HDFN and transfusion reactions, routine screening of pregnant women for Kell antigen and the provision of Kell-negative blood for women of childbearing potential is strongly recommended to enhance safe obstetric and transfusion practices.

Cadmium (Cd), a pervasive environmental toxicant, has been widely implicated in male reproductive dysfunction due to its ability to induce oxidative stress, disrupt endocrine signaling, and impair testicular architecture. In recent years, herbal medicine have thrived in therapeutic usage, ginseng has been known to be a potent Korean herb. The protective role of ginseng is attributed to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which counteract cadmium-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological and functional effects of ginseng on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Animal model was used for this study, twenty male rats were used and randomly divided into four groups: Group A (control), Group B (Cd-exposed), Group C (Cd + 200 mg/kg ginseng), and Group D (Cd + 400 mg/kg ginseng). Cadmium chloride was administered imtraperitoneally at 1 mg/kg, while ginseng was administered orally, all administration was for three weeks after 14 days acclimatization. Parameters assessed included body and testicular weight, sperm characteristics (count, motility, morphology), and histopathological changes in testicular tissue. Results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in testicular weight, sperm count, and progressive motility in cadmium-exposed rats compared to controls (p < 0.05). Histological examination revealed degeneration and shrickening of seminiferous tubules, germ cell loss in Cd-treated groups. Co-administration of ginseng, particularly at 400 mg/kg, significantly ameliorated these effects, as evidenced by improved sperm parameters, restoration of testicular architecture. Putting together all data from this study, this study provides evidence that ginseng exerts a dose-dependent protective effect against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. These findings highlight its therapeutic
potential as a natural adjunct in mitigating heavy metal-associated reproductive dysfunction. Further study into optimal dosage for therapeutic usage is of great importance.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by impaired insulin secretion, insulin
action, or both, leading to chronic hyperglycaemia and associated complications. The search for plant-based alternatives with antidiabetic potential has gained attention due to the limitations and side effects of conventional therapies. This study investigated the effects of aqueous extract of Picralima nitida fruit on serum insulin levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin, and animals were allocated into five groups: normal control, diabetic control, glibenclamide-treated, low-dose extract, and high-dose extract groups. Serum insulin concentration was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that induction of diabetes led to alterations in insulin secretion, with the diabetic control group exhibiting elevated insulin levels compared to the normal control group, suggesting partial β-cell dysfunction with compensatory responses. Glibenclamide treatment produced decreased insulin levels relative to the diabetic control, likely due to the extent of β-cell destruction. The low-dose extract produced insulin levels comparable to glibenclamide, indicating mild insulin-modulating activity. Notably, the high-dose extract produced the highest insulin concentration among all groups, suggesting a dose-dependent stimulatory effect of P. nitida on pancreatic function. Obseved from the results, the extract, particularly at higher doses,may enhance insulin secretion or protect surviving β-cells. In conclusion, the aqueous fruit extract of Picralima nitida demonstrates potential insulin- modulating activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. These findings support the possible use of P. nitida as a complementary therapeutic agent for diabetes management. Further studies with larger sample sizes and pancreatic histological evaluations are recommended to better elucidate its mechanism of action.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels. Inhibiting enzymes like alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase is a key strategy to control hyperglycemia. Lonchocarpus cyanescens is a medicinal plant with potential antidiabetic properties that warrants scientific evaluation. The major aim of this research is to ascertain and provide scientific information on the antidiabetic properties of Lonchocarpus cyanescens utilizing alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory assay All materials used were of high quality which includes alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase, distilled water, ethanol, acetone, hexane. Methodology involves detrmining the antidiabetic properties of the plant extract utilizing alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory assay. The potential for Lonchocarpus cyanescens extract to reduce hyperglycemia and perform antidiabetic functions was determined. Alpha-amylase inhibition activity of each fraction was determined by the method of Worthington 1993. An aliquot of 500 microliter of the extract (0.1–0.4 mg/ml) and 500 microliters (0.02M) of sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.9 with 0.006M NaCl) containing 0.5 mg/ml of alpha-amylase will be mixed together and incubated for 10 min at room temperature.Afterwards, 500 microliters of 1% starch solution prepared with 0.02M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.9 with 0.006M NaCl) will be added and incubated in a water bath at 25°C for 10 minutes.The reaction mixture will be stopped by adding 1.0 ml (96 mM) of Dinitro salicylic acid.The mixtures in the test tubes will be incubated in boiling water in a water bath for 5 minutes and then cooled for alpha amylase. Then for alpha glucosidase Alpha-glucosidase activity of each fraction will be determined by the method of Apostolidis et al., 2007.The substrate solution, p-nitrophenyl- glucopyranoside (pNPG), was prepared in 0.02M phosphate buffer, pH 6.9. 1000 microliter of alpha-glucosidase was incubated with 500 microliters of different concentrations of the extract for 10 minutes at 25°C. An aliquot (500 microliter) of freshly prepared phosphate-buffered p- nitrophenyl-glucopyranoside (5 mM) solution will be added. The reaction mixture will be incubated at 25°C for 5 minutes and stopped by adding 2 ml of 0.1 Na₂CO₃. The alpha- glucosidase activity was determined by measuring the absorbance at 405 nm using a spectrophotometer. Absorbance reading assay was carried out and statistical analysis was also carried out to checkn for satistical significance. A p-value for alph amylase was found out to be [ p=0.0321] and for alpha glucosidase the p –value was recorded to be [p=0.0002] in this assay. In conclusion, Lonchocarpus cyanscens possess antidiabetic properties and can serve for several medical purposes.

Persistent hyperglycemia is a hallmark of diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic condition that increases the risk of major vascular problems such neuropathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease. Inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, especially α-glucosidase, has become an effective therapeutic method for controlling postprandial blood glucose. Despite the availability of synthetic α-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose, their usage is frequently restricted due to gastrointestinal side effects, which has sparked interest in safer, plant-based substitutes. Although the leaves and seeds of the traditional West African medicinal plant Picralima nitida have been shown to have antidiabetic qualities, nothing is known about how its fruit extract affects α- glucosidase. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of aqueous Picralima nitida fruit extract on α-glucosidase activity in male Wistar rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. Rats were given graded doses of the fruit extract after being acclimated to controlled laboratory conditions and grouped based on body weight. A colorimetric assay based on the hydrolysis of p- nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside was used to test serum α-glucosidase activity. The enzyme activity was determined spectrophotometrically at 405 nm. Tukey's post hoc test and one-way ANOVA were used to examine the data, which were presented as mean ± SEM. The study's findings are still awaiting. It is anticipated that the study would shed light on whether Picralima nitida fruit extract inhibits α-glucosidase to produce antihyperglycemic effects. It may also help develop safer plant-based medicines for the treatment of diabetes.

Hippocampal dysfunction is a key feature of several neurocognitive disorders and may arise from factors such as congenital defects, neurodegeneration, or exposure to neurotoxicants. Lead (Pb), a potent heavy metal, crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in the hippocampus, where it disrupts calcium signaling and induces oxidative stress, thus contributing to neuronal damage and cognitive deficits. Evidence suggests that dietary antioxidants may help mitigate Pb-induced oxidative damage and preserve hippocampal function. Accordingly, this study investigated the protective activity of aqueous Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract (R. officinalis) against lead acetate (PbA) induced hippocampal toxicity. Forty-eight (48) adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups (A-F). Group A served as control; Group B received 100 mg/kg body weight [bw] of PbA only; Group C received 100 mg/kg bw of R. officinalis extract and PbA; Group D received 200 mg/kg bw of R. officinalis extract and PbA; Group E received 100 mg/kg bw of R. officinalis extract only and Group F received 200 mg/kg bw of R. officinalis extract only. All administrations, via an orogastric tube, lasted for twenty-eight (28) days. Thereafter, neurobehavioral activities were evaluated using the Novel object recognition, Y-maze and Elevated plus maze tests. Following the sacrifice of the experimental rats, the hippocampi were collected for Pb concentration, antioxidant enzymes activity, lipid peroxidation, acetylcholinesterase activity, nitric oxide levels, and histological assessments as well as apoptosis. The findings showed that PbAexposed rats exhibited significant (p<0.05) weight loss, cognitive and memory impairments, dysregulated antioxidant enzymes activity, and increased lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, Pb and AChE levels, along with atrophy and vacuolation of pyramidal cells and astrocytes in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Also, there was an upregulation of Caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus of experimental rats exposed to PbA, indicating apoptosis as a possible mechanism of action. However, pretreatment with R. officinalis significantly (p<0.05) mitigated the adverse effects induced by PbA in the hippocampus of experimental rats suggesting strong metal-chelating, anti-cholinesterase, and NO-scavenging effects. Similarly, the downregulation of caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus of PbA-exposed rats following pretreatment with R. officinalis supports its anti-apoptotic potential. Overall, these findings suggest that R. officinalis exhibits potent antioxidant, metal-chelating, nitric oxide-scavenging, anti-cholinesterase and anti-apoptotic properties, thus providing novel evidence supporting R. officinalis as a promising neuroprotective agent with potential for drug development against hippocampal dysfunction.

This study evaluated the subacute toxic effects of Cell Life IQ on liver function and lipid profile following 28-day repeated oral administration. Cell Life IQ is a widely used dietary supplement, but its safety profile during prolonged intake remains unclear. To assess potential toxicity, experimental animals were randomly assigned into four groups: a control group receiving distilled water and three treatment groups administered 20mg/kg( low dose) , 80mg/kg (medium doses) and 600mg/kg (high doses )of Cell Life IQ. At the end of the exposure period, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of liver function parameters including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and albumin. Lipid profile markers such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also measured. The results showed at high dose there was a significant increase in total and direct bilirubin when compared to other groups. Also there was also increase in AST at the higher dose while ALP and ALT was not significantly unchanged at all groups. There was no significant change in the lipid profile parameters ( triglycerides, HDL, LDL etc) in all the treatment groups when compared to the control groups.

The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) highlights the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill kinetics of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces against multidrug resistant UPEC isolates before and after plasmid curing. Antibacterial activity was determined using agar well diffusion, MIC and MBC by broth dilution, and time-kill assays by plate count method. The ethanol extract consistently showed stronger antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract, with lower MIC and MBC values and faster bacterial elimination in time-kill assays. Plasmid curing enhanced the susceptibility of UPEC to both extracts. Conclusively, Hibiscus sabdariffa, particularly the ethanol extract, demonstrated promising antibacterial potential against MDR UPEC, warranting further studies on dosage, and safety.

In the course of improving sexual performance, some men have chosen to use aphrodisiac substances as a source of intervention. The study aimed to determine the impact of aphrodisiac (sildenafil: Viagra) use on the testes and heart tissues of Adult Albino rats. Eighteen (18) male albino rats (weighing 200g-220g) were acquired from the animal house of Edo State University. The animals were randomly divided into 3 equal groups A, B and C (n=6/group). Group A served as control administered with feed and water only. Group B, included 6 rats that were orally given Viagra in a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight dissolved in saline daily for 4 successive weeks. Group C, included 6 rats that were orally given Viagra in a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight for 4
successive weeks and then were kept without treatment for 4 weeks. Body weight of experimental animals was checked at week 0 before Viagra administration and last day of drug administration before sacrifice. All experimental rats and control rats were anesthetized using formalin and sacrificed at the end of experimental period. Hematological analysis was done using auto-hematological analyzer while Serial slices were cut using a microtome and stained with hematoxylin and eosin at a thickness of 5 um. Selected tissue sections were photographed and presented as plates. Body weight analysis of the albino rats after four weeks indicated a slight weight difference between the control group and the Viagra administered albino rats. Sildenafil at doses 10mg/kg BW. Hematological parameters reveal there was high significant (p<0.001) decrease in HCT, Twbcs and Granulocytes in the experimental group (41.0 ± 1.66, 2.3 ± 0.55 and 32.8 ± 3.27) when compared with control group (45.6 ± 1.50, 7.4 ± 1.92 and 40.4 ± 1.82) respectively. While monocytes value was highly significant (p<0.001) increase in the experimental group (17.2 ± 2.38 vs 7.4 ± 1.14) when compared with control group. Histological examination showed a general decrease in response to sildenafil administration. While tissue sections of testes collected from rats administrated with 10mg/kg Sildenafil citrate had mild necrosis of both cardiac fibers, seminiferous tubules and the interstitial tissue, congested blood vessels, hypertrophy of the interstitial Leydig cells and degeneration of the spermatogonial cells. Understanding the molecular downstream events involved in long-term PDE5 inhibitor exposure through basic and clinical research can be useful in supervising the application of aphrodisiac substances so as to improve on corrective measures through a short-term administration of aphrodisiac substances at low doses.