Human Biochemistry

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Phyllanthus amarus (PA) leaf extract on serum lipid profile in alloxan induced diabetic albino wistar rats. A total of 30 albino wistar rats each weighing 100g were assembled and divided into 3 groups (A-C) consisting of 10 rats. Group A received PA treatment, B was without PA treatment while group C served as the control group. 400mg/kg of aqueous extract of PA leaf was administered orally to the rats in group A but not in group B while group C received only water for 7 days. Blood samples were collected into plain containers for estimation of biochemical parameters (TC, TG, LDL and HDL) respectively. Serum TC, TG, LDL and HDL were analyzed using standard methods respectively. There was a significant decrease in the mean serum level of TC (2.10±0.11 vs 2.6±0.16; p=0.000), TG (0.55±0.03 vs 0.61±0.04; p=0.000) and LDL (1.07±0.03 vs 1.53±0.06; p=0.000) whereas the mean serum level of HDL was significantly raised after PA administration (0.77±0.09 vs 0.72±0.06; p=0.000). Again, the result shows a significant decrease in the mean weight of the subjects after PA administration (98.80±1.03 s 119.40±1.17; p= 0.000). This study revealed hypolipidemic as well as anti-obesity effects of PA use. Therefore, PA use could be of importance in prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases and obesity in patients.

This study investigated the effect of pre-and-post examinational stress on antioxidant and plasma glucose levels in apparently healthy students. A total of 50 subjects aged 18-30 years, were recruited for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic data and dietary pattern of subjects whereas 5mls of blood sample was collected from the subjects and used for the analysis of biochemical parameters. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by thiobarbituric acid method, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) by Rotruck's method, Vitamin E by Desai's method and glucose by glucose oxidase method. There was no significant difference in the mean serum levels of MDA, Vitamin E, plasma glucose and GPx activity (P>0.01) before and after examination stress. The results showed no statistically significant difference when pre examination plasma glucose level was correlated with pre examination antioxidant status (P>0.01). Again, there was no significant difference on the post examination plasma glucose level when correlated with post examination antioxidant status (p>0.01). However, the result did show a significant difference when post examination MDA was correlated with post examination GPx (r=0.370; p=0.01) but there was no significant difference on the post examination vitamin E level. Therefore, examination stress when properly managed may pose no deleterious effect on the students and hence, students should seek to acquire stress management skills that will enable them cope with the challenging nature of their academic life.

Cannabis is the preferred name of the plant Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. The Cannabis plant is a known potent psychoactive substance. This study investigated the effect of cannabis in the serum lipid profile levels of smokers in apparently healthy male students of College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi campus, Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 60 male subjects (40 cannabis smokers and 20 non-cannabis smokers) were recruited for the study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic and anthropometric data of the subjects. Thereafter, 5mls of fasting blood sample was collected from the subjects and analysed for serum lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL) respectively. The result showed no significant differences in the mean serum triglyceride, total cholesterol low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein of cannabis smokers compared to the non-smokers. However, there were significant increase in the mean weight (73.87± 10.83mmol/l vs 67.75 ± 9.66mmol/l; p = 0.037) and body mass index (24.26 ± 3.61mmol/l vs 21.94 ± 2.18mmol/l; p = 0.011) of smokers when compared with non-smokers. This study shows that cannabis smoking may not have negative effect on serum lipid profile values.

Objective: Serum levels of vitamins C, E, selenium, malondialdehyde (MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRx) in individuals with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection was investigated. Methods: 251 individuals consisting 120 treatment naïve individuals with active TB [26 (TB+HIV+) and 12 malaria parasite (MP) and TB (TB+MP+) co-infection, 82 HIV negative (TB+HIV−)], 26 Latent TB (LTB) and 105 apparently healthy control (AHC). TB infection was determined by Ziehl-Neelsen sputum smeared microscopy and GeneXpert. MP was confirmed by Giemsa staining technique, HIV by immuno-chromatographic method. Analytes were evaluated spectrophotometrically, but selenium was by atomic absorption spectrometer. SPSS version 21 ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. Results: The mean levels of vitamins E, C and selenium were significantly lower in individuals with TB infections compared with AHC (p<0.05). Significantly higher differences were observed in MDA levels in TB infections than in AHC (p<0.05). Significantly lower differences existed in the mean levels of vitamin C and selenium in LTBI than in control, MDA was significantly higher in the same group (p<0.05). The mean levels of vitamin E in TB+HIV+ (1.57±1.30) and TB+MP+ co-infections (2.23±1.70) were significantly lower compared with those with TB+(7.01±3.40)(p<0.05).The mean SOD, catalase and GPx activities in active tuberculosis, TB+HIV+ and TBMP co-infections were significantly lower than in the control (p<0.05). The mean GRx activity in AHC, active TB, TB+HIV+ and TB+MP+ co-infections were significantly lower than in LTBI(p<0.05). Conclusions: Glutathione reductase may have prognostic potential in the differential screening for latent tuberculosis.

Background: Swimming is a form of exercise which can be of good value to mankind but in some cases may be detrimental to health. This study was designed to assess the role of swimming on the serum levels of blood glucose and lipid profiles.
Materials and methods: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) which were allowed to acclimatize at room temperature for 2 weeks. Group A were not allowed to swim, while groups B, C and D swam for 2, 4 and 6 hours respectively, 3 times a week for one month. 4 ml of blood samples were collected before exercise, 2 and 4 weeks following exercise and 2 weeks post exercise through the orbital sinus. The plasma/serum levels of glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were analyzed spectrophotometrically.
Results: After 4 weeks of swimming, the mean values of the Wistar rats from groups B (4.41±0.12), C (4.36±0.02) and D (4.27±0.01) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than the Wistar rats that didn’t swim (5.10±0.09). However, the mean serum levels of TC and LDL at 2 and 4 weeks of swimming were significantly lower (P<0.05) in Wistar rats in groups B (2.54±0.12; 2.51±0.06 and 1.05±0.02; 1.05±0.11), C (2.48±0.07; 2.45±0.02 and 1.06±0.06; 1.02±0.24) and D (2.22±0.26; 2.41±0.02 and 0.89±0.06; 1.02±0.12) respectively compared to group A rats (2.56±0.09; 2.51± 0.10 and 1.15±0.21; 1.16±0.15). While the mean value of HDL of groups B (1.24±0.04 and 1.25±0.03), C (1.26±0.09 and 1.28±0.09) and D (1.31±0.14 and 1.34±0.13) were significantly higher (P<0.05) when compared with group A Wistar rats (1.13±0.05 and 1.16±0.04) at 2 weeks and 4 weeks after swimming and non swimming respectively.
Conclusion: Swimming notwithstanding the duration, could be of good value in disease states such as diabetes mellitus and arthrosclerosis as shown be the significant decrease in blood glucose, TC and LDL and increase in HDL after hours and weeks of swimming.