Journal of Current Biomedical Research

Methanol leaf extract of Leptadenia hastata ameliorates chronic, unpredictable, mild stress-induced depression

Dr. Ibrahim H. Sani — 2024-02-29

Leptadenia hastata (Pers) Decne is a tropical herb widely used in the phytotherapy of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. Despite the availability of synthetic antidepressant drugs, depression remains a major medical problem. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of methanol leaf extract of Leptadenia hastata (LHME) on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression. Acute toxicity of Leptadenia hastata was determined using Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model-induced depression involves the evaluation of baseline behavioural changes in the sucrose preference test, open field test, and tail suspension test. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations and serum cortisol were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also assessed using standard procedure.

The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) value was > 5000 mg/kg. LHME at doses of 250 – 1000 mg significantly (p<0.01) decreased CUMS-induced depression in a dose-dependent manner. LHME significantly (p<0.01) reversed depression associated weight loss from 14.00±0.62 g in week two to 22.57±1.13 g in week five of the experiment. It also increased sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test (SPT) from 4.29±0.52 ml in week two to 9.71±0.68 ml in week five. The LHME also significantly (p<0.01) decreased the duration of immobility from 190.00±4.55 sec in week two to 158.00±3.83 sec in week five in the tail suspension test (TST). Furthermore, LHME at the tested dose significantly (p<0.01) increased the locomotor activity from 36.29±1.25 sec in week two to 62.43±1.73 sec in week five in the open field test (OFT). LHME significantly (p<0.01) and dose-dependently increased the levels of BDNF (204.74±22.97 pg/ml) and decreased the levels of plasma cortisol (0.98±0.06 ng/ml). However, treatment with LHME and the standard drug imipramine did not significantly change SOD activity and the MDA level in CUMS-induced mice.

The findings demonstrated that LHME ameliorates CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviours, and its effect is possibly mediated via the neuroendocrine (cortisol) and neurotrophic (BDNF).

Antipyretic and Antinociceptive Effect of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Ficus asperifolia in Murine Models

Ibrahim Doma — 2024-02-29

Pyrexia occurs as a result of the resetting of the hypothalamic set-point. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for the treatment of fever and related illnesses are associated with side effects including gastrointestinal irritation, bleeding, ulcers and perforation. In traditional medicine, many plants have been found to possess antipyretic activity. Ficus asperifolia (Miq), family Moraceae has been traditionally used to treat pain and fevers. The aim of the study was thus to evaluate the antipyretic and antinociceptive activity of the methanol leaf extract of Ficus asperifolia (FME) in murine models. Preliminary phytochemical screening and oral acute toxicity studies were conducted using standard protocols. Antipyretic activity was evaluated using the Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia model. Antinociceptive effects were investigated using the acetic acid and thermal induced models. The mechanism of action of the plant was also evaluated against several antagonists. FME significantly (p<0.05) and dose dependently reduced yeast induced pyrexia. FME at doses 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreased acetic acid induced abdominal writhes and increased the mean reaction time of mice to thermal-induced pain stimulus. Pre-treatment of mice with naloxone (a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist), glibenclamide (a potassium channel blocker) and L-NNA (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) significantly reversed the analgesic action of the extract suggesting that the activity is likely mediated via the involvement of these pathways.

Prevalence of hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasites among in-patients of a missionary and private hospital in Awka, Southeastern Nigeria

Cornelius Orjighjigh Ishar — 2024-02-29

Regardless of the efforts by health organizations and hospital personnel, research continues to report hospital acquired infections in admitted patients worldwide. This research was carried out to survey the prevalence of hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasites among admitted patients of Regina Caeli Specialist Hospital (missionary hospital) and Izunna Hospital and Maternity (private hospital) in Awka South LGA of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria. Two samples each from 79 patients were collected and analyzed using direct wet mount and formol ether concentration technique. Other information concerning demography and risk factors were obtained with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed using chi-square test and probability values ≤ 0.05 were considered significant. Out of the samples examined, 9(11.4%) were positive for hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasites. Hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasites were found to occur in all two hospitals with the missionary hospital having the highest occurrence rate of 66.7%. Males recorded the highest prevalence of 6(15.8%) compared to females 3(7.3%) while age group 50-59years had the highest prevalence of 28.6%. Patients from the male ward recorded a higher prevalence of 17.9%. Meanwhile patients whose occupation is farming had a higher prevalence of 25.0% while patients who only wash their vegetables/fruits sometimes before eating presented a higher prevalence of 18.2%. Prevalence of hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasite infection was strongly associated with duration of hospital stay (P˂ 0.000). Out of the four parasites identified, Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent with 5(55.6%). Consequently, regulation of patients’ hospital stay, sanitation and better hygiene practices should be adopted and encouraged to prevent the spread of hospital acquired infection.

Molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in coagulase – negative staphylococci nasal isolates among adult patients in a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria

Cecilia Towobola Atolagbe — 2024-02-29

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are harmless microorganisms that can become pathogenic when the host resistance is impaired. Their ability to exhibit multidrug-resistance and form biofilm limit treatment options and contributes to the health and financial burden on health care systems worldwide. This study aimed to provide data on the acquisition and expression of genetic elements associated with resistance and virulence in the organisms from nasal colonization of adults admitted to a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. One hundred and twenty-three presumptive staphylococci isolates were obtained from the medical microbiology laboratory of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. The isolates were characterized, and the antibiotics susceptibility pattern assessed. Biofilm formation was evaluated by the micro-titre plate method, and polymerase chain reaction was used to detect resistance genes (mecA and ermB), virulence gene (psm-mec) and adhesin genes, (icaAB, icaC and icaD) in the isolates.

Out of the 60 coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates, 50 (83.3%) were strong biofilm formers, 5 (8.3%) were moderate biofilm formers and 5 (8.3%) were weak biofilm formers. For the 14 isolates that were characterized by PCR, mecA and ermB resistance genes were detected in 78% and 71% of the isolates respectively. Twenty-one percent had psm-mec virulence gene while biofilm adhesin genes, icaAB and icaD were detected in 36% and 57% respectively, icaC gene was not detected.

This study confirmed formation of biofilm, carriage of resistance and virulence genes which have been shown to play a role in pathogenesis. This study shows the necessity of the periodical monitoring of the drug resistance pattern and virulence factors of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Effect of some aspirin analogues on SW480 Colorectal cancer cell line: Tip of the iceberg

Asma’u Ismail Bashir — 2024-02-29

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of death with approximately 1.9 million cases and almost a million deaths worldwide in 2020. It is predicted that the global incidences of CRC will be over 3 million in 2040. Aspirin has been shown to have cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects on CRC cell lines. However, due to side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding in older patients, there has always a quest for safer and more effective analogues, leading to the synthesis of aspirin analogues. One of the primary regulators of the mitochondria-mediated pathway to apoptosis is the family known as BCL-2 proteins, which are broadly grouped into pro-apoptotic proteins such as BAX, BAK, BIK, BAD and anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2 and BCL-X_L.

Phase contrast images of the SW480 CRC cells treated with aspirin, meta-aspirin, para-aspirin, ortho-thioaspirin, meta-thioaspirin and para-thioaspirin at 0.5 mM for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were taken at 100X magnification.

Western blot was used to detect BAX and BCL-2 proteins by treating CRC cells with aspirin and its analogues, and analysed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The blots were then probed with primary antibodies BCL-2 and BAX, after which the HRP bound protein-labelled antibody was visualised using ECL and exposed to CL-XPosure™ Film.

It was observed that the isomers of aspirin (O-ASP), meta-aspirin (M-ASP) and para-aspirin (P-ASP) significantly increased the density of BAX Ab. O-ASP, M-ASP, P-ASP and ortho-thioaspirin (O-TASP) significantly reduced the density of BCL-2 Ab, thus proposing that the anti-apoptotic effect of this cell line is reversed/reduced by these aspirin analogues.

The results of this study suggest that M-ASP and P-ASP have its antiproliferative effect on the SW480 CRC cell line via driving the pro-apoptotic effect of BAX protein and decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic of BCL-2 protein, thus, encouraging apoptosis in this CRC cell line.