Papers by Kingsley Ubaoji
Food Chemistry, 1992
The nutrient profile and levels of antinutritional factors of five high yielding varieties of ric... more The nutrient profile and levels of antinutritional factors of five high yielding varieties of rice bean (Vigna umbellata) and one variety each of green gram and black gram were investigated. The proximate compositions of rice bean varieties did not vary significantly among themselves and were comparable with those of green gram and black gram, except for protein content, which was significantly lower in rice bean. However, the concentrations of riboflavin and aseorbic acid varied significantly among the rice bean varieties and were comparable with those of green gram and black gram. Amounts of unsaturated fatty acids were higher than saturated. There were some significant differences among the rice bean varieties in their total and extractable mineral contents, which were comparable with those of green gram and black gram, except for calcium, which was twice as great in rice bean than in black gram and green gram. The trypsin inhibitor activity and contents of phytic acid, polyphenolic compounds and saponins varied significantly.
Salivary -amylase activity among cigarette smokers in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria
Alpha amylase enzyme activity was determined in the saliva samples collected from two hundred a... more Alpha amylase enzyme activity was determined in the saliva samples collected from two hundred and fifty (250) volunteers who were not known to have any disease of the buccal cavity. The volunteers comprise two hundred (200) smokers of different categories and fifty (50) non-smokers (control) randomly selected from Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. All the volunteer subjects were within the age bracket of 23-40 years. The analysis of the saliva samples using buffered starch substrate solution revealed specific activities ranging from 1.27 to 2.32 U/mg for non smokers, 1.30 to 2.45 U/mg for light smokers (< 10 sticks/day) and 1.27 to 2.38 U/mg for heavy smokers (> 11 sticks/day). Mean values of 1.76 + 0.30 U/mg and 1.77 + 0.30 U/mg were obtained for light and heavy smokers respectively while the control group (ie non smokers) has a mean activity of 1.79 + 0.33 U/mg. These mean values were subjected to a statistical test for differences in means using students t-test which revealed...
The anti-ulcer activities of aqueous extract of unripe plantain peels (Musa paradisiaca) were eva... more The anti-ulcer activities of aqueous extract of unripe plantain peels (Musa paradisiaca) were evaluated in this study using standard methods. Twentyfivemalewistar (albino) rats were starved and randomized into five groups designated A,B,C,D and E. Groups A (positive control) and B (negative control) animalswere administered with 2ml/kg and 50mg/kg bodyweight of distilled water and reference drug (cimetidine) respectivelywhile 50mg/ kg, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg bodyweight of the extractwere administered intraperitoneally to animals in groups C, D and E respectively and after four hours, 90% ethanol(1mg/kg body weight) was administered to the rats in all the groups. Then the animals were anaesthetized after two hours using chloroform, and their stomachs were dissected and hematological studies were carried out. The result showed that the ulcer index activity for groupA(positive control) had a significant change (P<0.05) compared to groups B (negative control), C, D. and E respectively...
Bisphenol A Causes Blood Electrolyte Imbalance and Upsets Kidney Functions in Albino Wistar Rats
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a contaminant with increasing exposure to it and exerts both toxic and estro... more Bisphenol A (BPA) is a contaminant with increasing exposure to it and exerts both toxic and estrogenic effects on mammalian cells. Available literature presents inconsistent and in some cases incomplete data on associated organsystem functions. This study investigates the possibility of blood electrolyte imbalance and kidney function perturbations at prevailing low exposure rates in albino Wistar rats. To five experimental groups each containing five (5) female rats were administered 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μg BPA/kgbw/day. To the sixth control group was given water. A replicate group of experimental rats were similarly treated for seven (7) days to ascertain possible subchronic effects. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the respective studies and plasma sample specimens analyzed by routine diagnostic procedures for kidney function activities and essential electrolytes using Chemwell Chemical Analyzer. Significantly increased concentrations of sodium, chloride, potassium, cal...
Diclofenac predisposes benign prostate hyperplasia in fat feed albino rats
International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 2022
Background: An attempt to establish the possible cause(s) of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in... more Background: An attempt to establish the possible cause(s) of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in fat feed albino rats treated with diclofenac (DCF)-potassium (K) was performed to ascertain its likely translational relationship in humans.Methods: Thirty-five male wistar albino rats of 24 weeks old were divided into five groups of 7 animals each were used. Group 1; the normal control (NC) was injected subcutaneously with the vehicle (olive oil) only and served normal diet. Group 2; standard group treated with testosterone propionate in olive oil (3 mg/kg b. wt.). Groups 3, 4, and 5 were fed with the standard feed mixed with animal fat (sourced from roasted meat/condiments in aluminium foils) in 20, 40 and 80% portions, then treated with DCF-K in solution as low (2 mg/kg b. wt.), mid (4 mg/kg b. wt.), and high (6 mg/kg b. wt.) doses, respectively. The blood samples collected were analysed for prostate specific antigen (PSA), hematological parameters, kidney and liver function.Results:...
MODULATORY EFFECT OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF Pterocarpus santalinoides HOOK F. (RED SANDAL WOOD) ONACETAMINOPHEN- INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS
Bisphenol A Exerts a Transient Perturbation of Liver Function in Wistar Albino Rats at Acute and Sub-Chronic Exposure Doses
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical found in the environment. Oral ex... more Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-known endocrine-disrupting chemical found in the environment. Oral exposure from food is generally considered the major source of BPA exposure for all age groups for non-occupationally exposed individuals. Apart from its oestrogenic property there are uncertainties about its effects on liver functions at very low doses over short time exposure periods. This study was carried out to determine the acute and sub-chronic exposure effects of BPA on the liver functions and plasma proteins of albino rats following oral administration. To five experimental groups each containing five (5) female rats was administered 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μg BPA/kgbw/day. To the sixth control group was given water. A replicate group of experimental rats were similarly treated for seven (7) days to ascertain possible sub-chronic effects. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the respective studies and sample specimens analyzed by routine diagnostic procedures for plasma protei...
Nutraceuticals: History, Classification and Market Demand
Nutraceuticals are food or part of food that offers medical/health benefits including the prevent... more Nutraceuticals are food or part of food that offers medical/health benefits including the prevention and treatment of diseases. In a more general term, they are natural substances that include certain herbs that are used as dietary supplements and regulated as foods. Plant derived nutraceuticals have received significant consideration because of their supposed safety, and multiple nutritional and therapeutic effects. They are widely seen as a prevailing instrument that acts against nutritionally induced acute and chronic diseases, thus promoting good health and longevity. The nutraceuticals as herbal and dietary supplement is rapidly growing and has gained a global market that is estimated at over 100 billion USD. Among the common plant-derived (herbal) nutraceuticals are curcumin from turmeric, glucosamine from ginseng and omega-3- fatty acids from linseed. This chapter presents an overview of nutraceuticals, the herbals used as nutraceuticals, the regulation of herbal nutraceutica...
Genetic Modification as a Control Mechanism to Plant Pest Attack
Many continents are susceptible to food insecurity and malnourishment which is predominantly evid... more Many continents are susceptible to food insecurity and malnourishment which is predominantly evident in rural areas where people chiefly depend on agriculture for food and income. However, the world agricultural sector has for decades been faced with many challenges, particularly low productivity caused by pest attacks to the crops. To tackle this challenge, modern biotechnology through genetic modification offers the additional tool for increasing crop productivity. The aim is to transfer a desirable gene (pest-resistant gene) from donor specie to the recipient plant, in such that they become toxic to certain pests. When such modification is done, the recipient plant is regarded as genetically modified (GM) plant. The world's most common GM crops with pest-resistant character include maize, cotton, soybean, and potato. This chapter examined the concept of genetic modification, genetic modification resulting to pest-resistant crops, GM pest-resistant crops, and the regulations o...
The numerous ethno-medicinal properties of Mucuna plant have called for a serious research invest... more The numerous ethno-medicinal properties of Mucuna plant have called for a serious research investigation of all the various parts of the plant including the leaves in order to ascertain maximum utilization of the plant. In this prospective study therefore, nutritional and antinutritional evaluation and phytochemical composition of aqueous leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens were carried out using standard methods in order to determine the potential of this part of the plant. The result of the proximate analysis indicated the presence of the following nutrients: crude lipid(2.2%), protein(35.0%),crudefiber(12.5%),carbohydrate(42.6%) and ash content (7.8%) and the following anti nutrients:phytate(236.90mg/100gsample),oxalate(43.30mg/100gsample),haemagglutinin(98.4 0HU/mg protein) and trypsin inhibitor(26.30TIU/mg protein) while the energy value was 255.3Kcal/100g sample. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides...
Acrylamide is basically one of the most industrial organic compound monomers of polyacrylamide th... more Acrylamide is basically one of the most industrial organic compound monomers of polyacrylamide that finds its way into many products in our everyday life. It is one of the potential environmental public health problems, both as a suspected carcinogen and a neurotoxin resulting from its increased accumulation in the process of cooking food materials. It is a chemical with a very wide range of uses and it accounts for one of the major health concern because it has been detected in a widely consumed food items; fried breads (or any carbohydrate-rich food items cooked at high temperature). Accordingly, the general population is highly exposed to it. reactions involve the Maillard reaction, which leads to browning and flavor changes in cooked foods. There are also several foods in which acrylamide appears to form in high-moisture conditions at lower temperatures, such as prune juice and canned ripe black olives. These substances are usually formed when asparagines is heated in the presen...
Background: Population explosion is the major cause of poverty and environmental degradation in d... more Background: Population explosion is the major cause of poverty and environmental degradation in developing countries. The geometric growth in human population has negatively affected the social, economic and technological development ofhuman race. There is need to solve this problem by looking in the direction of controlling the population size through effective, safe, and reversible contraceptives. The burden of contraceptives still lie on women, however there is a growing awareness that men are willing to share this burden. There is still yet no effective chemical contraceptives in use for males, hence the need to search the morass of medicinal plants for possible sources of male contraceptives. Materials and Methods: Twenty male wistar albino rats divided equally into four groups were administered with ethanol leaf extract of Justicia carnea (ELEJC) by gavage at doses of 200, 400, 600 mg/kg BW two times daily ( morning and evening) for 21 days.The control group was not treated wi...
The associations between Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure with prolactin and progesterone hormone level... more The associations between Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure with prolactin and progesterone hormone levels is been considered globally. A three months study was conducted with female albino rats exposed to BPA. The blood samples were collected for assay of prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (PROG). A significant positive association between increased BPA concentration and higher PRL and PROG levels were observed. The results suggest that BPA exposure may lead to alterations in female reproductive hormone levels.
Background: Population explosion is the major cause of poverty and environmental degradation in d... more Background: Population explosion is the major cause of poverty and environmental degradation in developing countries. The geometric growth in human population has negatively affected the social, economic and technological development ofhuman race. There is need to solve this problem by looking in the direction of controlling the population size through effective, safe, and reversible contraceptives. The burden of contraceptives still lie on women, however there is a growing awareness that men are willing to share this burden. There is still yet no effective chemical contraceptives in use for males, hence the need to search the morass of medicinal plants for possible sources of male contraceptives. Materials and Methods: Twenty male wistar albino rats divided equally into four groups were administered with ethanol leaf extract of Justicia carnea (ELEJC) by gavage at doses of 200, 400, 600 mg/kg BW two times daily (morning and evening) for 21 days.The control group was not treated wit...
Alpha- amylase enzyme was characterized from the saliva samples collected from one hundred health... more Alpha- amylase enzyme was characterized from the saliva samples collected from one hundred healthy adult smokers and fifty non smokers (control) in order to determine the effects of temperature, pH and substrate concentration on the kinetics of the enzyme. The analysis of the saliva samples revealed specific activities ranging from 1.25 to 2.20U/mg for smokers and 1.23 to 2.10U/mg for non smokers, with mean values of 1.70 ± 0.33U/mg and 1.72 ± 0.30U/mg respectively. The Michaelis constant (Km) values of 3.30 ×10–2 mg/ml and 3.37×10–2mg/ml observed for smokers and non smokers were obtained from the double reciprocal plot of initial velocity(1/VO) and substrate concentration(1/[S]). Maximum activities were obtained at an optimum temperature of 40ºC and an apparent pH of 7.0 for both subjects. Therefore, this prospective study shows that cigarette smoking has no effects on the kinetics of salivary alphaamylase activity.
Effect of leaf extracts of Carica papaya (Paw paw) and Pakia biglobosa (African locust bean) on some biochemical parameters of albino rats
International Journal of Science and Technology Research Archive
In spite of the advances made in orthodox medicine, there has been an increasing interest in herb... more In spite of the advances made in orthodox medicine, there has been an increasing interest in herbal medicine. The leaves of Carica papaya and Pakia biglobosa have been reported to contain lots of beneficial medicinal compounds, hence their use in the traditional prevention, management and treatment of ailments/diseases. In this study, the effect of varied concentrations of the ethanol leaf extract of the plants on some biochemical parameters of albino rats was assessed. The phytochemical compositions of the leaves were determined using established standard laboratory methods. Fifty four male Albino rats weighing between 150g-200g were randomly distributed into nine groups of six animals each. A daily single dose of 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg, 1500mg/kg and 2000mg/kg body weight of either of the extracts was respectively, administered to the eight test groups for fourteen days. The control group was given only feed and water. Biochemical parameters such as the serum activities of Aspartate ...
Palm Kernel De-Oiled Cake: A Potential Source of Cellulose for the Production of Carboxylmethyl Cellulose for Industrial Uses
OALib
Saudi Journal of Biomedical Research
Background: Diclofenac (DCF) is a drug widely consumed in developing countries like Nigeria, beca... more Background: Diclofenac (DCF) is a drug widely consumed in developing countries like Nigeria, because of its fast and immediate effect on pains. Objectives: The high number of adult males falling victims to BPH made DCF a suspect in the predisposition to BPH. Methods: Thirsty Six (36) Male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups of six animals each. Group 1; the Normal control (NC) was injected subcutaneously with olive oil only, Group 2; standard group treated with testosterone Propionate in olive oil (3 mg / kg b.wt.). Groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated with Diclofenac, potassium in solution as low (2 mg / kg b.wt.), mid (4 mg / kg b.wt.), and high (6 mg / kg b.wt.) doses respectively. All animals were fed same diets throughout the twelve (12) weeks. After this period, the rats were allowed to fast overnight then Blood samples were collected and analyzed for liver function, kidney function, lipid profile, prostate specific antigen (PSA), and haematological parameters. Results: The result showed an elevation in liver parameters; ALT, ALP, AST, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin in the treatment groups compared to the control. Conversely, the concentration of Na + , Cland HCO 3 revealed no significant difference compared to the control while urea and creatinine increased significantly. Haematological parameters showed increase in WBC, PCV, PLT in the treatments groups while RBC, Hb, MCV decreased. For lipid profile; Total cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL increased significantly in the groups treated with mid and high dose DCF. Conclusion: The level of PSA was found to increase in all the treatment groups compared to the control. This result revealed that DCF-Potassium at high concentration can inter fare with the liver and kidney functions, lipid profile and haematological parameters as well as increasing PSA level. Thus, we conclude that persistent consumption of DCF can likely predispose to BPH.
Journal of Scientific Research in Medical and Biological Sciences
Purpose: Gingko biloba (GB) leaves have been recognized for their therapeutic effects, dating bac... more Purpose: Gingko biloba (GB) leaves have been recognized for their therapeutic effects, dating back to traditional Chinese medicine where the ground leaves were used to treat several health problems. GB extracts are renowned for their medicinal properties in Asia, Europe and South America. However, GB leaves are rarely grown and used in Nigeria. In this study, we screened the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of GB leaves (aqueous and ethanol extracts) grown in Enugu, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Study Design: Experimental Materials and Methods: Quantitative analyses of phytochemicals were done using gas chromatography while disk diffusion and broth dilution methods were used to determine the antimicrobial activities. Results: The phytochemical analysis of aqueous and ethanol extracts showed high quantity of flavonoids (anthocyanin, rutin, epicatechin, kaemferol and catechin), alkaloids (lunamarine and ribalindine) and saponin while the moderate quantity of ...
African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is an important ingredient in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and... more Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is an important ingredient in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and other industries. In this research work, microcrystalline cellulose was synthesized from the alpha cellulose content of pretreated palm kernel de-oiled cake. The microcrystalline cellulose from palm kernel cake was obtained through acidified sodium chlorite, sodium hydroxide delignification followed by hydrogen peroxides bleaching and finally acid hydrolysis. The prepared microcrystalline cellulose was characterized by determining some physicochemical properties such as pH, bulk density, tap density, moisture content, ash content, Carrs compressibility index, Hausners ratio, powder porosity, angle of repose and compared with commercial-grade microcrystalline cellulose that is used in pharmaceutical industry as excipient. FT-IR was employed to expose the functional groups and the wavelength inherent by both the produced and commercial microcrystalline cellulose. The swelling property of MCC product was determined based on hydration capacity, swelling capacity and moisture sorption capacity. The results of the physicochemical parameters were given as pH(7.75 ± 0.40%), bulk density (0.49 ± 0.67g cm-3), tapped density (0.54 ± 0.03 g cm-3), moisture content (1.00 ± 0.5%), ash content (4.30 ± 0.35 %), Carrs compressibility index (12.96 ± 0.27), Hausners ratio (1.15 ± 0.01), powder porosity (18.8 ± 0.55), angle of repose (27.4 ± 0.26) respectively. The swelling properties were also determined and compared favorably with the commercial grade of microcrystalline cellulose (p>0.05). The findings suggest that palm kernel cake can not only be used as feeds for animals but also a better source of cellulose for the production of microcrystalline cellulose for the industry owing to its availability and cost managements.
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Papers by Kingsley Ubaoji