DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Justicia carnea is a medicinal plant with varied pharmacological effects. The present study evaluated the antioxidant properties of methanol extract of the leaves of Justicia carnea in Wistar rats. Mature Wistar albino rats (n = 36) were assigned to six groups of 6 rats each: group 1 (normal control), group 2 (diabetic control), group 3 (diabetic rats treated with standard anti-diabetic drug,
metformin), group 4 (diabetic rats + 100mg/kg bwt of methanol extract of Justicia carnea), group 5 (diabetic rats + 200mg/kg bwt extract) and group 6 (diabetic rats + 500mg/kg extract). The plant leaves were extracted with absolute methanol. Diabetes mellitus was induced in the rats via intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg body weight STZ. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), body
weight, acute toxicity and oxidative stress markers were measured. Acute toxicity study showed that at the highest dose of 5000 mg/kg bwt, methanol extract of J. carnea did not produce any mortality in the rats. Graded doses of methanol extract of J. carnea leaves significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (p < 0.05). The greatest
weight increase was observed in the control group when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). The plant extract significantly increased the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), but it reduced the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly when compared with the diabetic control group (p < 0.05). This study has provided
evidence to support the claim that methanol extract of J. carnea is effective in ameliorating oxidative stress induced by STZ in diabetic Wistar rats.

The presence of petroleum-derived compounds in the soil constitutes a significant threat to soil health and agricultural productivity. In the search for the environmentally friendly approach in the bioremediation strategies for restoration of soil health, cassava mill effluent (CME) provides an accessible, available and affordable nutrient-rich organic biowaste of cassava processing for the application of organic amendment and a sustainable biostimulant for restoration of soil health. This study investigated the efficiency of CME as a source of organic nutrients in the biorestoration of hydrocarbon degraded soil for a sustainable bioremediation strategy. This was achieved by polluting clean soil, collected and weighed into containers, with spent lubricating oil (SLO) as the source of petroleum hydrocarbon at 10% (w/w), amended with CME at 2.5% (v/w) at different frequency of daily, weekly, monthly and once for a period of six months but the control soil was not treated. The percentage changes in the quality of the amended soil were monitored at 3 and 6 months periods. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) were grown on the amended soils at the end of the treatment to evaluate recovery of soil quality and function. Baseline data were collected at the start of the study, and others at 3 and 6 months. For physicochemical changes in the soil, the following parameters were analysed: Soil texture, pH, cation exchange capacity (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Al3+), electrical conductivity (EC), total petroleum hydrocarbon (THC), and metals (Fe, Zn, Pb). Nitrogen (N2) and Phosphorus (P) contents, total organic carbon (TOC) and organic matter (OM) were also analysed. The biological activities assessed include the activities of soil enzymes (urease, phosphatase, dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolase and glucosidase), and microbial load

This study investigated the alterations in the activities of antioxidative enzymes on the leaves of maize (zea mays) planted in crude oil contaminated soil. Maize was grown on soil contaminated with 5ml, 10ml and 15ml of crude oil. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Data obtained were analysed using ANOVA and least significant difference (LSD) at p<0.05. The number of leaves, leaf area and leaf weight were determined at the start of every assay, the percentage germination was evaluated at the end of every week. Results showed that the mean leaf area and percentage germination of maize plant (zea mays) decreased with increasing level of contamination with crude oil. Antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, malonyldialdehyde (MDA), glutathioneperoxidase (GPx) in zea mays differed significantly (P<0.05) at 5ml levels from those planted in 10ml and 15ml levels of the crude oil contaminated soils. The reductions in these growth characteristics measured were crude oil concentration dependent and elevated activity of antioxidative enzymes can assist as important components of antioxidative defense mechanism against oxidative damage. The results of this study could be beneficial in the understanding of the role of defense system beside these parameters, also significant reduction in lipase activity of the plant was recorded and yellowish leaf coloration due t reduction in chlorophyll content were observed among the plants grown in the crude oil contaminated soils. This study thus revealed that crude oil had pronounced effects on the germination and growth of maize plant. This means that maize plant should not be grown near or on soil contaminated with crude oil.

Kigelia africana, commonly known as the sausage tree, is a plant widely recognized for its medicinal properties in various traditional medicine systems across Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of total flavonoid Rich Extract (FRE) on membrane stabilization and the hematological property of the rat. The study was carried out in Wister rats exposed to Carrageenan for 24 hours. The membrane stabilizing effect of the Flavonoid Rich Extract was evaluated using the Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilizing method. The Flavonoids Rich Extract fraction in heated induced hemolysis and hypotonic solution of HRBC as against the standard (aspirin) in wastar rats. The total Flavonoids Rich Extract has shown protection against hemolysis of human red blood cells either through heatinduced or hypertonicity, that is it can be used for the management of in-vitro inflammation. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the total flavonoids extract from the plant Kigelia africana was assessed using the in vivo hypoglycemic (anticancer) and antineoplastic (antitumor) activities of the extracts. The results showed a significant decrease (p > 0.05) in the White Blood Cells (WBC) of carrageenans only treated rat, carrageeenans and sodium diclofenac treated rats, and a significantly increase in it WBC of rats treated with Carrageenenan and Quercetin, Carrageenans and Flavonoids Rich Extract (100 mg/kg body wt.), and Carrageenans and Flavonoids Rich Extract (200 mg/kg body wt.), when compared to the control group

Colon cancer is the second most common cancer for women and the third most common for men. Its morbidity and mortality are increasing as it is the second largest cause of death related to cancer in the developing countries. In this study, the effects of Arachis hypogaea seeds on 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis was examined. Four (4) groups of wistar albino mice were used. While the other groups were induced with DMH, group one (1) acted as the positive control group and was fed a normal diet. Group two (2) was induced with DMH only, across a 12 week period. Over the course of a 12-week period, group three (3) was induced with DMH and fed Arachis hypogaea diet. Group four (4) underwent a six-weeks DMH induction procedure before being administered Arachis
hypogaea diet following the induction. The outcome revealed that twelve weeks of subcutaneous induction of DMH in group 2 significantly increased the total protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration levels in colon, liver and kidney when compared to the control (Group 1). However, the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the colon, liver and kidney was significantly reduced following the induction of DMH for twelve weeks when compared to the control. Conversely, the antioxidant parameters showed a significant increase in group 3 and and group 4 that were fed Arachis hypogaea diet when compared to group 2. Histological studies revealed normal colon architecture in group 1 but presence of many neoplastic crypts and glands irregular in shape in group 2. In group 3 and group 4 that received Arachis hypogaea diet, histology revealed pronounced inhibition of crypts and hyperchromasia. Overall, the Arachis hypogaea diet was able to reduce the negative effects of DMH on the colon, liver and kidney

Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) has been reported to possess different biological effects which is why it is perceived as a wonder herb by locals. 1, 2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH), a potent carcinogen is renowned for its toxicity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) on DMH-induced toxicity in rats. Forty (40) male Wistar albino rats weighing 150 – 200 g were randomly assigned to eight (8) groups (5 rats per group): control, DMH, silymarin, VA only, pretreatment [200 mg/kg body weight (bwt)], pretreatment (400 mg/kg bwt), post-treatment (200 mg/kg bwt), and post-treatment (400mg/kg bwt) groups. With the exception of control and VA only groups, the rats were exposed to DMH before or after treatment with VA via intraperitoneal route at a single dose of 40 mg/kg bwt. Rats in the silymarin group were treated with the standard hepato-/cardio-protective drug, silymarin (100 mg/kg bwt). The treatment lasted for 21 days. At the end of the treatment period the rats were euthanized and blood/tissue samples collected for biochemical analyses. Oxidative stress markers were measured in rat organs (liver, kidney, heart, pancreas and colon). Portions of excised organs were subjected to histopathological examination.
The results showed that exposure of adult male Wistar albino rats to DMH resulted in significant increases (p<0.05) in the relative organ weights, total protein (TP), activities/levels of liver, kidney and cardiac function parameters, lipid peroxidation index [malondialdehyde (MDA)], lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), very-low density lipoprotein cholesterol VLDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], and cardiovascular disease risk factors [atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC) and cardiac risk ratio (CRR)], but it reduced the activities/levels of antioxidant enzymes/molecules (p<0.05). However, treatment of the rats with ethanol extract of V. amygdalina leaves significantly reduced the activities/levels of the indices of liver, kidney and cardiac function, MDA, TP, TC, TG, VLDL-C, LDL-C and cardiovascular disease risk factors, while enhancing the activities/levels of antioxidant enzymes/molecules (p<0.05). The plant extract also significantly ameliorated the structural alterations/distortions caused by DMH to rat organs (p < 0.05).
These results indicate that ethanol extract of the medicinal plant leaves can effectively ameliorate DMH-induced systemic toxicity in Wistar rats

Enantia chlorantha and Nauclea latifolia are plants utilized as traditional medicine in Nigeriaforthe treatment of malaria. Enantia chlorantha is able to confer antiplasmodial activity in vitrodueto the fact that it possesses protoberberine alkaloids and flavonoids. In this experimental research, a hydroethanol extract was obtained from the barks of Enantia chlorantha and Nauclea latifolia. For the antimalarial study, twenty-five male Swiss albino mice weighing an average of 22g, were randomly distributed into 5 groups labelled; group 1; Negative control (NC) which receivednormal saline after infection, group 2; positive control (PC) which had infected micethat received 25 mg/kg chloroquine after infection, group 3 which received 50 mg/kg body weight ofBHE batch 4_A after infection, Group 4 which received 100 mg/kg body weight of BHEbatch4_B after infection and group 5 which received 250 mg/kg body weight of BHE batch 4_Cafterinfection. Treatment was done 3 hours after infection and 3 days thereafter. Smears were madefrom the lateral vein of each mice for determination of percentage parasitemia. Infectionwaswith 2 x 10 4 Plasmodium berghei. Mice administered 250 mg/kg body weight of BHEbatch4showed a significant decrease in percentage parasitemia as compared to the negative control group and this suggest that the bi-herbal combo has an impressive antimalarial activity

In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Solarium nigrum (Sn) leaf on the concentrationofmalondialdehyde (MDA) after histamine challenge in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs wasinvestigated. Three weeks old, male guinea pigs (25 of them) were divided into five groupsconsisting of five pigs each were used. All animals were allowed access to standard animal feedand water. In addition animals were pre-sensitized with ovalbumin, and then exposedto2%histamine aerosol after an overnight fast. The pre convulsion time was recorded. Animalsingroups 2, 3, 4, were administered ethanol extract of Solanum nigrum leaf at the respective dosesof 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight while animals in group 5. received 25mg/kgbwof thereference drug aminophylline. Animals were again subjected to histamine aerosol after drugadministration and the pre-convulsion was again recorded. All animals were sacrificed threedaysafter the last challenge and their lungs were excised. Result obtained indicates that sensitizationwith ovalbumin and exposure to histamine aerosol caused the increase in the lipid peroxidationin bronchial alveolar tissue, lung and plasma cells respectively. Treatment with ethanol extract ofSolanum nigrum (Sn) leaf showed a decrease in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA)when compared to that of the control.

Micronutrients vitamins and trace minerals are indispensable for human health, supportinggrowth, metabolic functions, immune responses, and overall wellbeing (WorldHealthOrganization, 2020). Deficiencies in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calciumand vitaminAremain major global public-health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countrieswhere dietary diversity is limited (Bailey et al., 2015). In this context, identifying and promotingunder-utilised indigenous leafy plants that are nutrient-dense is increasingly seen as a viablestrategy for improving nutrition, food security and health outcomes

In all of Africa, Dialium guineesne (Velvet tamarind, family: Fabaceae) is known for its culinary and nutritional benefits. Traditional systems of medicine are also well aware of the therapeutic benefits of D. guineesne's leaves and other plant components. Scientists and researchers have investigated the plant for its pharmacological properties and therapeutic uses, including
antibacterial, anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, analgesic, anti-hepatotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-plasmodia, anti-vibrio, anti-diarrheal properties. The equilibrium between pro- and anti-oxidants is maintained by antioxidant enzymes such superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). These antioxidants aid in the cell's defense against oxidative stress. The current study is aimed at evaluating the renal protective properties of Dialium guineesne against streptozotocin-induced renal toxicity. A single dosage of 50 mg of freshly manufactured streptozotocin (STZ), diluted in 10 ml of normal
saline was used to induce diabetes mellitus. After administering two groups with various dosages of the plant extract, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were taken. The findings of this study demonstrated that treatment of diabetic Wistar rats with methanol fraction of ethanol stem bark extract of D. guineense significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities as well as
concentrations of GSH and NO levels (p < 0.05). The observed pharmacological activity may be the result of significant bioactive chemicals found in the extract fraction.