DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

The global consumption of energy drinks and caffeine-containing beverages has increased due to their stimulating effects, yet concerns regarding their impact on oxidative stress remain largely unaddressed. This study investigates the effects of energy drinks and caffeine on oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA), in heart and kidney tissues. Fifty (50) young Sprague-rats weighing between 164g-250g were used for this study. The rats were divided into five groups; Group 1 as control (n=10) received water, Group 2 (n=10) received 5ml of energy drink, Group 3 (n=10) received 10ml energy drink, Group 4 (n=10) received 5ml of caffeine 0.89mg/kg b.w., Group 5 (n=10) received 10ml of caffeine 2.0mg/kg b.w. The various doses of energy drinks and caffeine were administered orally daily for six weeks .Weight of rats were taken weekly, at the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed and organs collected into plain tubes filled with normal saline solution. Oxidative stress parameters were measured using spectrophometric method. Results were presented as standard error of mean (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of tests and control value while the post-hoc test was done using Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed that energy drinks increased antioxidant enzyme activities in the heart but also elevated MDA levels, indicating oxidative stress. Caffeine reduced antioxidant activity in the heart and increased MDA levels in the kidney, signifying oxidative damage. These effects were tissue-specific and dose-dependent, highlighting potential health risks. In conclusion, excessive consumption of energy drinks and caffeine may pose health risks due to oxidative stress. Therefore, public awareness and regulatory measures are essential to mitigate these effects.

Salbutamol, montelukast, and prednisolone are widely used in the management of respiratory disorders. Despite their therapeutic benefits, their effects on pulmonary oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses, particularly when used in combination, remain unclear. This study evaluated the influence of these agents on oxidative stress markers and total protein concentration in lung tissue. Experimental animals were divided into five groups (n = 8 group): negative control, positive control, salbutamol, montelukast, prednisolone, salbutamol/prednisolone, salbutamol/montelukast, and prednisolone/montelukast. Lung tissue homogenates were analyzed for total protein concentration, antioxidant enzyme activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)—and oxidative stress markers, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO). Data were expressed as mean ± SEM and analyzed using one-way ANOVA with significance set at p < 0.05. Total protein concentration significantly increased only in the salbutamol/prednisolone-treated group compared with the negative control (p < 0.05). This group also exhibited significant decreases in SOD, CAT, and GPx activities relative to both negative and positive controls (p < 0.05), indicating reduced antioxidant capacity. In contrast, salbutamol/montelukast and prednisolone/montelukast treatments did not alter protein concentration or most antioxidant enzymes compared with the negative control, although CAT and GPx were decreased relative to the positive control (p < 0.05). Hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly elevated in salbutamol/montelukast and prednisolone/montelukast groups compared with the negative
control (p < 0.05), while NO levels did not differ significantly among groups. However, compared with the positive control, NO concentration increased in salbutamol/prednisolone and salbutamol/montelukast groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, combination therapy with salbutamol and prednisolone reduces pulmonary antioxidant enzyme activity while increasing total protein, suggesting mild oxidative stress. Montelukast-containing combinations primarily modulate hydrogen peroxide without major effects on protein content or overall antioxidant capacity. These findings indicate that drug combinations exert differential effects on lung oxidative homeostasis, highlighting the need for careful evaluation of pulmonary redox status during combination therapy.

The global consumption of energy drinks and caffeine-containing beverages has increased due to their stimulating effects, yet concerns regarding their impact on oxidative stress remain largely unaddressed. This study investigates the effects of energy drinks and caffeine on oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA), in heart and kidney tissues. Fifty (50) young Sprague-rats weighing between 164g-250g were used for this study. The rats were divided into five groups; Group 1 as control (n=10) received water, Group 2 (n=10) received 5ml of energy drink, Group 3 (n=10) received 10ml energy drink, Group 4 (n=10) received 5ml of caffeine 0.89mg/kg b.w., Group 5 (n=10) received 10ml of caffeine 2.0mg/kg b.w. The various doses of energy drinks and caffeine were administered orally daily for six weeks .Weight of rats were taken weekly, at the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed and organs collected into plain tubes filled with normal saline solution. Oxidative stress parameters were measured using spectrophometric method. Results were presented as standard error of mean (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of tests and control value while the post-hoctest was done using Dunnett’s multiple comparison tests and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed that energy drinks increased antioxidant enzyme activities in the heart but also elevated MDA levels, indicating oxidative stress. Caffeine reduced antioxidant activity in the heart and increased MDA levels in the kidney, signifying oxidative damage. These effects were tissue-specific and dose-dependent, highlighting potential health risks. In conclusion, excessive consumption of energy drinks and caffeine may pose health risks due to oxidative stress. Therefore, public awareness and regulatory measures are essential to mitigate these effects

roponin I (TnI) is a crucial component of the troponin complex in striated muscle, playing a central role in regulating contraction and relaxation through calcium interaction. Heat stress refers to the overall response of the human body to the combined effects of environmental factors and temperature. It indicates how much heat the body is exposed to within its thermal surroundings. The justification for studying troponin I levels in heat-exposed Sprague-Dawley female rats is grounded in the need to understand cardiac responses to hyperthermia. Elevated troponin I levels can indicate myocardial injury, which is critical during heat stress conditions. The study aimed to explore the connection between heat exposure and myocardial damage by
examining variations in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels in heat-exposed Sprague-Dawley female rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (1, 2, 3 and 4) for a period of eight weeks. The rats were exposed to heat for 1 to 2 hours daily at a temperature of 38°C to 40°C. Group 1 served as the control group which were not exposed to heat. Group 2 was exposed to heat for 14 days and group 3 and 4 were exposed to heat for 28 days and 42 days respectively. At the end of the experiment, each animal was first anaesthetized using chloroform vapour, followed by a dissection procedure to harvest the heart tissue. After harvesting the heart tissue, it was minced into small pieces and homogenised using phosphate buffer solution, thereafter spun and the supernatant was collected and sent for biochemical analysis. Statistical analysis was done using graph pad prism version 10.4. Results were presented as mean ± standard error of mean. One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of tests and control value while post hoc test was done using Dunnett's multiple comparison test and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The result gotten from this research shows that mild heat exposure may not induce noticeable cardiac stress. In conclusion, long periods of high temperature exposure may indicate possible myocardial alteration, so heat exposure should be kept within reasonable limits

Medicinal plants and the bioactive substances they contain have drawn the
interest of various researchers over the past ten years due to their ability to
cure different illnesses. Ocimum gratissimum is a member of the Lamiaceae
family. It is cultivated in several gardens surrounding village huts in Nigeria
under the popular name "scent leaf" for both medicinal and culinary purposes. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of ocimum gratissimum on some hematological parameters in male wistar rats. The effect of methanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum on some red blood indices of Wister rats was studied using fifteen healthy adult wistar rats with weights ranging between 140-160g. The rats were divided into three groups; control group, low dose group and high dose group. Increasing doses (100mg and 300mgkg-1 body weight) of the extract were administered orally to the other two groups for a period of four weeks. Sample collection was done via cardiac puncture using 5ml syringes. The extract displayed a significant increase (p<0.05) difference in platelet levels when compared with the normal control and a non significant difference (p<0.05) in the other parameters were observed. In conclusion, the extract of gratissimum might be a panacea in the management of anaemic conditions due to its
erythropoietic, and/or haematopoietic effects, and beneficial to the blood’s oxygen supporting ability and thrombopoietin, putting into consideration that there were no alteration in the morphology and fragility of the RBCs

Hematological indices are essential for evaluation of blood composition and overall health.
They are a set of measurements and values obtained from a complete blood count (CBC) test. They include: Red blood cell count, total and differential white blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), platelets count etc. This study aims to measure and compare the values of RBCs, Total and Differential WBCs, MCV, MCH,
MCHC and Platelets between young male and female human adults. A Questionnaire was given to collect demographic and a little clinical data from the participants to ensure they met the criteria for participation.
The participants constituted two (2) groups – males and females, with each group having 20 individuals between ages 18-30. Blood samples were collected. The data obtained from the groups were presented as Mean ± S.E.M (Standard Error of Mean), (n=20) in each group and analyzed for statistical significant at (p ≤ 0.05). The statistical software used includes R and WPS sheets. The results for RBC count, MCV, MCH and MCHC were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in males than in females, while the values of total WBC count, each of the differential WBC count and the platelet count, were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in females compared to males. In conclusion, the results of this study highlights and buttress that there are significant differences between the selected hematological parameters of males and females. These variations are most likely due to physiological factors like the testosterone on erythropoiesis and the potential differences in body composition and metabolism.

The use of medicinal plants as traditional medicine is made possible as a result of the presence of bioactive metabolite in plants which form the basis of herbal medication. This study was carried out to assess the antidiabetic activity of cocoa extract and its effect on body weight, food and water consumption using normal and diabetes mellitus-induced wistar albino rats. Thirty five healthy male Wistar albino rats with average body weight of 200 g were purchased and grouped into 5 groups (A to E) with 7 rats in each group. Group A was normal rats fed with standard rat feed (Normal control). Group B was diabetic rats fed with standard rat feed (Diabetic control). Group C was diabetic rats fed with standard rat feed + 300mg/kg cocoa extract (Low Dosage). Group D was diabetic rats fed with standard rat feed + 600mg/kg cocoa extract (Moderate Dosage). Group E was diabetic rats fed with standard rat feed + 900mg/kg cocoa extract (High Dosage). The result showed that there were significant differences in water and food intake of the rats across the treatment groups (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in fasting blood glucose levels of the rats across the treatment groups (p < 0.05). The histological plates also provide visual evidence of the effects of low dosage, moderate dosage, and high dosage of cocoa extracts on pancreatic tissue in a rat model of diabetes. While LD extract appears to have a positive impact on tissue architecture and islet regeneration, MD and HD cocoa extracts may have limited benefits in reversing diabetes-induced changes. These results provide a foundation for future research into the therapeutic potential of these extracts in managing diabetes.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, energy drinks are defined as liquid products that typically contain caffeine, with or without additional ingredients. As energy drink consumption rates and popularity continue to rise, it's crucial to monitor their usage prevalence and investigate both the short-term and long-term effects of regular consumption to better understand their impact. The study aimed to investigate the effect of energy drinks (EDs) on liver function tests and hematological indices among young adult consumers in the University of Benin. 40, apparently young healthy adults between the ages of 18-25 years
studying at the University of Benin, were divided into 2 groups of 20 each. Group 1 which is the control group comprised of participants who were not regular consumers of energy drinks and would not consume energy drink (Predator) during
the study period. Group 2 comprised of adults with a history of energy drink consumption and would also consume energy drink (Predator) daily for 2 weeks. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 2 weeks f consumption. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using Graph Pad Prism version 8.1 statistical package and relevant statistical values were obtained. An unpaired Student t-test was used and data were presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Values of P<0.5 were considered statistically significant. The statistical values obtained were presented graphically in the form of bar charts. The consumption of
energy drinks among young adults did not cause significant alterations in the serum lipid profile for most parameters measured. Specifically, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL levels in both experimental groups showed no significant differences when compared with the control group (P > 0.05). However, VLDL levels exhibited a significant decrease in both groups relative to the control (P < 0.05), suggesting that energy drink intake may have a slight lipid-lowering effect on VLDL concentration. The electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters — including heart rate, and blood pressure but Parameters like QRS complex becomes wider in Group 1 and increasingly wider in group 2 but normal in Control, ST interval elevation is observed in Group 1 and more elevated in Group 2 but flat in control group. No significant difference between the Axis of Group 1 and Control group but Group 2 axis progressively slants to the left

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition of the airways that causes a variety of symptoms due to the irritation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. The aim of this study is to determine
the effects of Montelukast and hydrocortisone on liver function, liver antioxidant levels, and histology, in order to determine which medication may have a more favorable effect on the liver. Methodology: Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 180-250g were divided into two main groups; the Control group and Test group. The test group was further divided into three subgroups treated with anti-asthmatic drugs. The control group received normal rat chow and water
throughout the experiment while the test groups were exposed to concentrations of Ovalbumin (OVA, egg albumin grade II) and aluminum hydroxide to induce asthma after which they were treated with hydrocortisone and montelukast. All experimental groups (2, 3, and 4) were sensitized
1mg OVA and 200mg aluminum hydroxide dissolved in 0.9 saline on day 0 and 7. After confirmation of asthma in all test groups, treatment began with 5mg/kg hydrocortisone (i.p) and 10mg/kg Montelukast. They were challenged with OVA (1% w/v, dissolved in 0.9 saline) twice
weekly from day 7 of treatment until the last day. For the challenge, rats were placed in a plastic chamber measuring 70cm in diameter and 40cm in length connected to a Medel family nebulizer
with aerosol delivery of 0.28ml/min. At the end of drug administration, all animals were euthanized, blood and tissue samples collected for biomarker assay and histology. All data obtained from the experiments are expressed as mean ± Standard Error of Mean (SEM) and
statistical analysis performed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for assessing differences amongst multiple groups, followed by Tukey's test using Graphpad Prism 10.0.3 software. The
result of the experiment showed that there were statistically significant differences in liver enzymes and antioxidant levels among Montelukast and hydrocortisone treatment on asthma induced spraguedawley rats.

In Africa, despite the high prevalence of under nutrition, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. This leaves us with a double burden of malnutrition and obesity with a need for prevention. Children and young adults who are obese are more likely to have a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus, which persist into adulthood. Unsaturated FAs include mono-unsaturated FAs and poly-unsaturated FAs. Mono-unsaturated FAs are considered to be the healthiest types of FAs because they help to reduce harmful low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) that are closely associated with coronary heart disease. They are mainly found in olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts and seeds. This study is aimed at examining the castelli risk index and lipid profile variation amongst a population of young obese female student sin the University of Benin. The study was carried out across the university environment in ovia north eastlocal government area. 60 participants were employed for this study with 30 obese subjects astest subjects and 30 slim subjects as control. 5mls of blood were collected into lithiumhepar in bottles and centrifuged for 15mins. The supernatant was separated using a pasteur pipette and placed in plain bottles after which they were refrigerated at -20 oC for lipid profile analysis (total cholesterol/HDLcholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios). Castelli Risk Index, CRI was calculated as theratioofTC/HDLc and LDLc/HDLc respectively while Atherogenic Index of Plasma, AIP is a logarithmicallytransformed molar ratio of TG to HDLc i.e. Log10 (TG/HDLc) ratio (where, TG=Triglyceride,TC=Total Cholesterol). Our results revealed that there was no significant difference in triglyceride, LDL, and total cholesterol concentration between the control (slim) and test (obese) subjects (p>0.05)but there was significant reduction in HDL concentration in the obese subjects when compared with the control subjects (p<0.05). In conclusion, obesity leads to an unfavorable lipid pattern, characterized by high TC, TG, LDL (“bad lipoprotein”) levels and low HDL (“Good lipoprotein”)levels that elevates the values of AIP and CRI I-II ratios which takes account of the proportion between pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic fractions hence considered more effective as diagnostic and prognostic alternatives in cardiovascular risk assessment unlike the conventional lipidparameters shown to be inadequate, especially in persons with intermediate risk.