Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry
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Antioxidant Activities of the Leaf Extract and Fractions of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott could be Attributed to The Abundance of Polyphenol Compounds
Get PDFDryopteris filix mas (D filix-mas) is wildly used in ethnomedicine for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, wounds and other diseases. We investigated the anti-oxidant activities of its leaf extract, and chromatographic fractions. The ethanol leaf extract was partitioned into four fractions; n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water. Ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP), 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging in vitro assays were carried out on the extract and fractions at 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 µg/mL. The most active fraction (ethyl acetate fraction) was further purified using chromatographic techniques to isolate its major compound whose structure was elucidated using ID nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. The ethyl acetate fraction produced the highest free radical scavenging activity among the other fractions. The fraction (VLC-E7) from which the bioactive compound, quercetin-3-O-αL-rhamnopyranoside, was isolated had the best FRAP and DPPH scavenging activities with EC50 and IC50 values of 88.81 ± 3.41 and 26.87 ± 0.24 respectively more than the ethyl acetate fraction. This study revealed that the polyphenol flavonoid, quercetin-3-O-αL-rhamnopyranoside could be responsible for antioxidant activity of ethno-medicinal property of D filix-mas leaf
Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Nigerian Male Commercial Vehicle Drivers Selected from The Three Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria
Get PDFThe use of psychoactive substances for several reasons by commercial vehicle drivers has been documented as a major cause of increased incidences of traffic accidents globally. The study aimed at determining the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among Nigerian male commercial vehicle drivers randomly selected from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria (Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba). A structured questionnaire which included data on sociodemographic status and psychoactive drug use history was introduced to all participants. Generic Multi-Drug Urine Dip Card Test Kit and Shimadzu chromatograph system (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) were used for toxicological analyses. Out of the 264 Nigerian male commercial vehicle drivers who participated in this study, 111(42.0 %) had used illicit drugs in recent times, 55(20.8 %) took drugs for improved energy and 90(34.1 %) felt high after using illicit drugs. Marijuana was the most abused substance; 77(29.2 %) followed by benzodiazepine; 34(12.9) across all ethnicities studied. Across all ethnicities, HPLC revealed that the Hausa drivers had the highest concentration of psychoactive substances in their urine samples. These findings, reiterates the need for the Nigerian anti-drug agency to develop new strategies in conducting a repressive drug war and extending the same to bus stations
Anatomical and Histological Study of Shark (Carcharhinus sorrah) Kidney
Get PDFSharks are sea water fishes belong to the class Chondrichthyes, Subclass Elasmobranchii. Sharks are cartilaginous fish that have a different osmoregulation process than any other sea water fish. Cartilaginous fish is the only vertebrate that can maintain urea. This study aims to determine the anatomical and histological structure of the kidney in the anterior, medial and posterior parts of kidney. The study was conducted by observing anatomy of the kidney. Histological preparations were made using the paraffin method. Qualitative descriptive data analysis was done. Research results show that shark kidneys consist of three parts, namely the head kidney, the body kidney, and the tail kidney. Kidney sharks are brownish red with a size of 18 cm long. Histological observations of shark kidney in the head kidney reveals many glomerulus, body kidney reveals many distal and tubule proximal contractile tubules whereas tail kidney reveals stroma that is rarely found in vertebrate kidney
The Effects of Wet Cupping Therapy in Blood Pressure, Glucose, Uric Acid and Total Cholesterol Levels
Get PDFWet cupping therapy is a simple, cheap, and effective alternative medical treatment. In China wet cupping therapy become a formal treatment in the hospital. 14 centuries ago Prophet Muhammad implemented wet cupping therapy or hejamah as a curing treatment and become sunnah for muslim. Today in a modern world, many studies proved the advantages of wet cupping therapy, which is a sunnah since 14 centuries ago. The aims of this study were to measure the effects of wet cupping therapy treatment on blood pressure, blood glucose, uric acid, and total cholesterol level. 21 participants were treated with hejamah/wet cupping, blood pressure and blood samples were collected from all the participants one week before and one week after hejamah. Blood pressure, either systolic or diastolic was significantly decreased following therapy (p||0.05). uric acid and total cholesterol level was also significantly decreased following therapy (p|<|0.05). With only just one time treatment, hejamah had a significant effects on blood pressure, uric acid and total cholesterol level, that is proved the advantages of hejamah
A Simple Method for Clearing and Staining Specimens for The Demonstration of Animal Skeleton
Get PDFTeaching skeletal system would be more attractive using real/preserved specimen compared to those using only book. The aim of the research was to develop clearing and staining method of animal skeleton specimen using Alizarin Red S-Alcian Blue as teaching aid tool. The specimen were eviscerated, fixed, stained, cleared, and keep in glycerine solution. The spesimen will increase effectiveness in elementary school science teaching and learning
Liver Profile of Atazanavir/Ritonavir in Pregnant Albino Rats
Get PDFMedication use during pregnancy is challenging due to the occurrence of maternal or fetal toxicities. Atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) has hepatotoxic potential hence; use in pregnant patients living with human immunodeficiency virus may cause maternal hepatotoxicity. This study assessed the liver profile of ATV/r in pregnant albino rats. Thirty pregnant albino rats randomized into groups were orally treated daily with ATV/r (4.28/1.43 mg/kg-34.3/11.4 mg/kg) for 16 days. After treatment, the rats were weighed and sacrificed. Blood samples were collected and examined for serum biochemical parameters. Liver samples were weighed and assessed for biochemical and histological changes. Body and liver weights were normal (p>0.05) in ATV/r-treated pregnant rats when compared to control. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood glucose levels were significantly (p<0.01) elevated whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in rats treated with ATV/r (34.3/11.4 mg/kg) when compared to control. Liver and serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, and conjugated bilirubin levels were significantly increased in a dose-dependent fashion in rats treated with ATV/r; 8.57/2.86 mg/kg (p<0.05), 17.1/5.72 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 34.3/11.4 mg/kg (p<0.001) when compared to control. Liver superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly decreased whereas malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in a dose-dependent fashion in rats treated with ATV/r; 8.57/2.86 mg/kg (p<0.05), 17.1/5.72 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 34.3/11.4 mg/kg (p<0.001) when compared to control. Necrotic hepatocytes were observed at higher doses of ATV/r. ATV/r may not be hepatotoxic in pregnant women living with HIV at the clinical dose
Mathematical Model of Cervical Cancer Treatment Using Chemotherapy Drug
Get PDFCervical cancer is a malignant disease that causes problems in women's health, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia. Cervical cancer cells will develop quickly, uncontrollably, and will continue to divide and then infiltrate the surrounding tissue and continue to spread to connective tissue, blood, and attack important organs and spinal nerves. The aim of the research is to study the mathematical model of cervical cancer by chemotherapy treatment. The results of this study are that cervical cancer treatment using chemotherapy is effective enough to kill abnormal cells such as infected cells, pre-cancerous cells and cancer cells, although there are side effects, namely the killing of normal cells due to chemotherapy drugs
Digital Anthropometer Development for Improving the Measurement Quality of Human Body Dimensions
Get PDFDigital information technology has become the nerve of information for industry-based companies. However, there are still data or information that retrieved manually, one of them is measurement of the human body dimension. The problem is seemed solved by invention of digital anthropometer application. Yet, the application requires a further improvement especially in its accuracy and user interface. The improvement of accuracy quality of its measurement uses the capability process analysis method. As a result, the current Cp and Cpk is 0.26 and -0.209 while in the developed application is 2.56 and 1.218. Thus, the developed application is stated that quality of measurement increases to meet the criteria of good process capability. The user interface is improved based on the user voices. Data storage databases and percentile calculation in the application was added as one on the significant user-interface improvement
