Protective influence of Costus afer Aqueous Extract In Rats Fed With Crude Oil Contaminated Diet as Measured by Employing Biochemical Indices

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of harmful impacts of xenobiotics in animals is attracting an increasing attention in recent times. The aim of the current study is to assess the preventive potential of Costus afer aqueous leaves extract (CAAE) in treating metabolic aberrations imposed by crude oil contaminated diet inWistar albino rats. Six groups of rats were treated as follows: A = Normal diet; B=Normal diet + 100 mg/kg body weight of CAAE; C =Normal diet + 200 mg/kg body weight of CAAE; D= Crude oil contaminated diet; E= crude oil contaminated diet + 100 mg/kg body weight of CAAE, F = crude oil contaminated diet + 200 mg/kg body weight of CAAE. After thirty days of exposure to the diet and administration of the corresponding plant extracts, the rats were sacrificed with chloroform and the required organs were excised. The hematological indices, as well as function indicators and levels of drug metabolizing enzymes in the liver and kidney, were investigated with standard protocols. The results indicated that the hematological parameters and kidney and liver function indices were altered in rats fed with crude oil contaminated diet. However, the values came close to those in control rats when Costus afer aqueous extracts were administered. Similarly, the activities of oxidase enzymes (aldehyde oxidase, monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and sulphite oxidase), following their inhibition by the ingestion of crude oil contaminated diet, equally restored close to control values upon treatment with Costus afer aqueous extract. This study, therefore, was able to establish an aqueous extract of Costus aferleave as an antidote for crude oil intoxication.

Possible Mechanism of Aframomum Sceptrum Extracts Mediated Modulation of Renal Function after Monosodium Glutamate Exposure

The objective of the research was to explain the possible mechanism of an earlier reported role of Aframomum sceptrum extract in the modulation of renal function parameters in monosodium glutamate-induced toxicity. Materials and Methods. Similar experimental methods previously reported by us in Ogbeke et al., (2016) were maintained. Results. Monosodium glutamate administration led to a significant elevation of levels of serum and kidney lipid peroxidation due to decrease in the levels of serum and kidney antioxidant enzyme, super oxide dismutase, catalase, gluthathione peroxidase and gluthathione. There was observed increase in oxidative enzyme, aldehyde oxidase, sulphite oxidase, xanthine oxidase and monoamine oxidase activities in serum and kidney after monosodium glutamate consumption. Aframomum sceptrum treatment significantly regulated all altered indices. Conclusions. The study concluded that the ability of Aframomum sceptrum extract to modulate renal function parameters in monosodium glutamate-induced toxicity is dependent on its efficacy in the induction and mobilization of antioxidant defense armory via the increased synthesis of tissue and serum enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, as well as improved oxidative enzyme activities that mediates the quenching of rising aldehydes and sulfoxides, N-oxides and aromatic oxides within the kidney.

Persulphide-responsive transcriptional regulation and metabolism in bacteria

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) impacts on bacterial growth both positively and negatively; it is utilized as an electron donor for photosynthesis and respiration, and it inactivates terminal oxidases and iron-sulphur clusters. Therefore, bacteria have evolved H2S-responsive detoxification mechanisms for survival. Sulphur assimilation in bacteria has been well studied, and sulphide:quinone oxidoreductase, persulphide dioxygenase, rhodanese and sulphite oxidase were reported as major sulphide-oxidizing enzymes of sulphide assimilation and detoxification pathways. However, how bacteria sense sulphide availability to control H2S and sulphide metabolism remains largely unknown. Recent studies have identified several bacterial (per)sulphide-sensitive transcription factors that change DNA-binding affinity through persulphidation of specific cysteine residues in response to highly reactive sulphur-containing chemicals and reactive sulphur species (RSS). This review focuses on current understanding of the persulphide-responsive transcription factors and RSS metabolism regulated by RSS sensory proteins.