DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which often leads to complications such as increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and imbalances in serum phosphate concentrations. Picralima nitida, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, has shown potential antidiabetic and biochemical regulatory effects. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of P. nitida on glycated hemoglobin and serum phosphate concentrations in male Wistar rats after a controlled feeding period. A total of [40] male Wistar rats were divided into experimental groups, including a control group and treatment groups receiving varying doses of P. nitida extract. Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention to assess HbA1c levels and serum phosphate concentrations. The results revealed a significant reduction in HbA1c levels in treated groups compared to the control, indicating improved glycemic control. Additionally, P. nitida administration didn’t influenced serum phosphate concentrations. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Picralima nitida in diabetes management and its possible impact on phosphate metabolism. Further studies are recommended to explore the underlying mechanisms and confirm its clinical applicability.

The disruption of cardiovascular and renal function by environmental toxicants remains a major concern in toxicological research, particularly when such agents interfere with biochemical markers essential for assessing organ integrity. Among these toxic agents, exposure to sodium
arsenite poses a serious threat due to its ability to induce acute myocardial injury and impair renal filtration processes. This study evaluated the potential of vitamin E to counteract these toxic effects in male Wistar rats, focusing exclusively on validated clinical biomarkers of cardiac
and renal injury. Rats exposed to sodium arsenite (Group C) showed a pronounced rise in cardiac troponin (59.24 ± 3.8 pg/mL) and CK-MB (62.30 ± 2.1 U/L), indicating significant myocardial cell damage relative to the control group. The nephrotoxic impact was equally evident, as reflected by elevated serum urea (24.49 ± 1.8 mg/dL) and creatinine (1.98 ± 0.1 mg/dL), demonstrating impaired glomerular filtration and reduced renal functional capacity. Administration of vitamin E showed a clear dose-dependent protective effect. Rats receiving 25 mg/kg (Group D) and 50 mg/kg (Group E) of vitamin E along with sodium arsenite experienced significant reductions in cardiac troponin (48.65 ± 2.2 and 40.04 ± 2.9 pg/mL) and CK-MB
(41.17 ± 2.9 and 31.02 ± 1.2 U/L), indicating decreased myocardial damage. Renal biomarkers also improved, with urea decreasing to 16.08 ± 1.6 and 10.20 ± 1.7 mg/dL, and creatinine dropping to 1.08 ± 0.1 and 0.88 ± 0.1 mg/dL in Groups D and E, respectively. These results highlight vitamin E’s ability to protect both cardiac and renal functions despite ongoing toxic exposure. Overall, this study shows that vitamin E provides significant cardioprotective and
nephroprotective effects, mainly by normalizing key biomarkers of myocardial and renal dysfunction in rats exposed to sodium arsenite.

Sphenocentrum jollyanum is a highly valued West African medicinal plant traditionally used for fever, inflammation, and as a stimulant. While previous research focused on its alkaloids, this study aimed to characterize the lipophilic fraction, specifically fatty acids and their esters, in
the ethanolic stem extract using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis identified nineteen fatty acids and ester constituents, confirming that this fraction
accounts for approximately 75% of the total measured semi-volatile content. The major components were derivatives of C18 fatty acids, occurring as native glycerides and alkyl esters. Key
compounds identified included the triglyceride 9-Octadecenoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester
(triolein, 13.46%), the diglyceride Octadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediyl bis(ester)
(distearin, 11.92%), and (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (9.93%). The presence of numerous
ethyl esters was attributed to transesterification catalyzed by the ethanol solvent during extraction. The profile is notably rich in monounsaturated oleic acid derivatives. This high concentration of anti inflammatory lipids provides a strong biochemical justification for the plant's traditional use in managing inflammatory conditions. The findings significantly expand the phytochemicalknowledge of S. jollyanum and establish a foundational chemical profile essential for
the quality control and standardization of its herbal preparations.

Burn injuries significantly challenge patient recovery, often requiring specialized nutritional support to address complications and aid healing. This study analyzed the phytochemical and proximate composition of a fully compounded indigenous supplementary feed flour for burn patients. Maize, unripe plantain, soybean, groundnut, and crayfish were procured, washed, and dried. These ingredients were mixed in specific ratios to produce a compounded flour blend, which was then evaluated for its nutrient composition and phytochemical content. The proximate composition analysis revealed: moisture content (6.56%), dry matter (93.44%), ash (1.73%), fat (4.45%), fiber (0.56%), protein (3.5%), and carbohydrates (16.24%). Phytochemical screening showed sapiens and tannins levels at 1805.47 mg/kg and 5157.530 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicate that the feed flour adequately meets the metabolic needs of burn patients, providing essential nutrients along with significant amounts of sapiens and tannins, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties beneficial for recovery.

This study investigates the in vitro antioxidant activity of ethanol extracts derived from Foeniculum vulgare seeds, commonly exploited for its medicinal purposes. Foeniculum vulgare is rich in bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including antioxidant properties. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis was employed to identify and quantify the bioactive constituents present in the extracts. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using various in vitro assays, including 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging Activity, and Nitric Oxide Scavenging Ability. The results revealed significant a significant difference when compared with the standard ascorbic acid, ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare, presence of antioxidant activity with DPPH, FRAP and TAC assays. HPLC profiling provided valuable insights into the chemical composition of the extracts, elucidating the presence of specific antioxidant compounds. This study underscores the potential of Foeniculum vulgare seeds as a natural source of antioxidants and highlights the importance of HPLC analysis in characterizing their bioactive constituents. Further research may explore the therapeutic implications of these findings in the context of oxidative stress-related disorder.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia–induced oxidative stress and electrolyte disturbances that exacerbate tissue injury and long-term complications. Traditional use of Tetracera alnifolia in Nigerian ethnomedicine suggests it may possess antidiabetic and antioxidant properties worthy of scientific evaluation. Adult Wistar rats were rendered diabetic via a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and, after confirmation of hyperglycemia, randomly assigned to six groups (n=6): three groups received daily oral doses of T. alnifolia ethanol extract (200, 500, or 800 mg/kg) for 35 days; one group received glibenclamide (5 mg/kg); one remained untreated diabetic control; and one served as healthy control. Fasting blood glucose was measured on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. At study end, livers and pancreases were harvested for assessment of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, respectively, and serum was analyzed for potassium levels. T. alnifolia extract induced a dose–dependent decline in fasting blood glucose, with the 800 mg/kg dose achieving values comparable to glibenclamide by day 35. Hepatic GPx activity, suppressed by diabetes (2.86 ± 0.38 U/g), was restored to 34.26 ± 0.62 U/g at 800 mg/kg (Table 4.1), exceeding the glibenclamide response (20.65 ± 0.01 U/g). Pancreatic GR activity rose from 2.42 ± 0.22 U/g in diabetic controls to 8.41 ± 0.26 U/g and 10.28 ± 1.28 U/g in the 800 mg/kg and glibenclamide groups, respectively (Table 4.2). Serum potassium, diminished by diabetes, was normalized across all extract doses. The ethanol extract of T. alnifolia exerts potent hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and electrolyte‐ stabilizing effects in STZ‐induced diabetic rats, validating its traditional antidiabetic use. These findings support further molecular and histopathological studies to clarify its mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Aspartame, an artificial non-saccharide sweetener is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. Aspartame has been reported to negatively influence spermatogenesis; a process in which Transforming Growth Factor Beta-Induced Factor 2 Like, X-Linked (TGIF2LX) gene is required for normal cellular proliferation levels and for differentiation processes. The aim
of this study was to investigate the effect of aspartame on Transforming Growth Factor BetaInduced Factor 2 Like, X-Linked (TGIF2LX) in male Sprague Dawley rats, for this study, 31 pre-pubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into 5. Group 1 received 0.5ml distilled water, while aspartame was administered orally via gastric gavage at 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg, 160
mg/kg, and 320 mg/kg body weight to group 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively for 75 days. The results showed a dose dependent decrease was observed in the relative expression of the TGIF2LX gene amongst the groups administered aspartame, starting from 40 mg/kg aspartame to 160 mg/kg aspartame. In conclusion, the decreased expression might be an indication that aspartame can suppress normal cellular proliferation levels and for differentiation processes rather than stimulate them.

Environmental pollution is a growing concern, with its detrimental effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Spent lubricating oil (SLO) represents a pervasive environmental pollutant, often finding its way into soil and posing a significant threat to plant life. In this comprehensive study, we delve into the intricate dynamics between SLO and soybean (Glycine max) seedlings during the early germination phase, with a specific focus on evaluating the impact on Total Antioxidant Property (TAP), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) after 14 days of germination. The investigation entailed the examination of four distinct SLO fractions: the aqueous extract, the water-insoluble fraction extract, the water-soluble fraction extract, and the whole SLO extract. The determination of TAP was executed using gallic acid as a standard, revealing that the water-insoluble fraction extract exhibited the highest TAP (40.00 mgGAE/g), outperforming both the whole SLO extract (30.00 mgGAE/g) and the water-soluble fraction extract (16.00 mgGAE/g). This discrepancy in TAP among the various SLO fractions suggests that specific components within SLO have varying effects on soybean seedlings' antioxidant defense mechanisms. Furthermore, the assessment of TPC unveiled a nuanced picture, with the water-insoluble fraction extract (28.00 mgGAE/g) displaying a notably elevated concentration of phenolic compounds in comparison to the whole SLO extract (16.00 mgGAE/g) and the water-soluble fraction extract (24.00 mgGAE/g). The disparities in TPC emphasize the selective influence of different SLO components on the production of phenolic compounds, which are crucial for plant defense mechanisms against oxidative stress. Turning our attention to TFC, using quercetin as a standard, the whole SLO extract (32.00 mgQE/g) exhibited the highest flavonoid content, surpassing both the water-insoluble fraction extract (24.00 mgQE/g) and the water-soluble fraction extract (12.00 mgQE/g). This observation suggests that certain elements within SLO might trigger the biosynthesis of flavonoids, essential compounds for plants in mitigating the harmful effects of oxidative stress. In conclusion, the findings from this meticulous investigation underscore the intricate and multifaceted nature of plant-pollutant interactions. Each fraction of SLO exerts a unique and context-dependent influence on soybean seedlings' biochemical properties, with profound implications for antioxidant defenses, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. This study highlights the critical importance of adopting a tailored and precise approach when evaluating the effects of pollutants on plant biochemistry

A multifaceted metabolic illness termed diabetes mellitus, causes the development of insulin resistance, hampered insulin signaling, malfunction of the beta cells, abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and elevated oxidative stress. Conventional drugs used for diabetes treatment are associated with drawbacks, such as rigid dosing regimens, high cost, and side effects. Therefore, screening for new anti-diabetic compounds from natural plants used in folk medicine is still attractive for their efficacy, low incidence of side effects, and low cost. Folkloric information that Tetrapleura tetraptera has anti-diabetic effect has prompted the use of the root bark of this plant for research into its anti-diabetic effect, and anti-oxidant effect. T. tetraptera roots has been shown to be rich in saponins, which led to the design of this study to investigate the effect of saponins extracted from T. tetraptera (TTS) on the enzymatic oxidative status of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats. The study investigated the effect of T. tetraptera(TTS) on: serum and tissue total protein; and superoxide dismutase (SOD); catalase; and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the serum and tissues of streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats. T. tetraptera saponins (TTS) was administered orally via gavage at different doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg body weight to streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats in group 4, 5, and 6 respectively. The standard drug metformin was administered to group 3, group 1 was the normal control, and group 2 animals were the untreated diabetic group. Treatment lasted for 12 weeks. After treatment, total protein; superoxide dismutase (SOD); catalase; and glutathione-Stransferase was assayed for in the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and testis. The result showed a significant increase in total protein concentrations in almost all the tissues especially at lesser dose of 10 mg/kg TTS, while again at 10mg/kg TTS treated group, there was a significant elevation in SOD levels of both serum and the liver. Treatment with saponins from T. tetraptera caused significant (p<0.05) increase in catalase activities in the serum and kidney. It was lastly observed that administration of saponins from T. tetraptera increased GST activities significantly (p<0.05) in the serum and kidney. This study has shown that total saponins from T. tetraptera especially at 10mg/kg TTS body weight could scavenge free radicals which is very important in the management of diabetes mellitus.