Journal of African Association of Physiological Sciences

Ameliorative Effects of Sunflower Seeds Powder on High Fat Diet Induced Metabolic Changes in Wistar Rats

Augustine Oko Adugba — 2024-08-15

Background: Obesity and prediabetes are reversible disorders affecting people globally with no sex predilection. They can progress to diabetes mellitus with resultant complications. Studies have shown greater involvement of high fat diets in the etiology of obesity and prediabetic conditions. Sunflower (Helianthus Anuus) extracts with an LD50> 5000mg/kg has been found to be effective in reducing high blood sugar levels in both human and animal studies. Sunflower seed powder was used in this study to investigate its effects on high fat diet (HFD) induced metabolic changes in Wistar rats.
Methods: A total of 27 male Wistar rats (350 - 400 grams) were used for this study. They were randomly assigned to 9 groups of 3animals each and were fed for 6 weeks. Group 1 served as control (water and feed ad libitum) Group 2 (high fat diet alone); Group 3 (HFD + 5000mg/kg of sunflower seed concurrently); Group 4 (HFD + 3000mg/kg of sunflower seed concurrently); Group 5 (high fat diet + 2000mg/kg of sunflower seed concurrently ); Group 6 (HFD for 5 weeks + 5000mg/kg of sunflower seed for 1week); Group 7 (HFD for 5weeks + 3000mg/kg of sunflower seed for 1wk); Group 8 (HFD for 5 wks + 2000 mg of sunflower seed for 1wk); Group 9 (HFD for 5 wks + 70mg/kg Metformin for 1 week). Animals were anesthetized with ketamine and blood collected via cardiac puncture. Blood glucose measurement was done using the glucose oxidase method and plasma insulin levels were measured using ultra sensitive rats Insulin ELISA kit marketed by Crystal chem, specificity 100% and sensitivity, 0.05 ng/ml, serum glycated albumin and haemoglobin was measured using the Variant TMIIT urbohigh-performance liquid chromatography system. Harvested pancreatic tissues were fixed in 10%
formalin for histomorphological analyses.
Results: Blood glucose, plasma glycated haemoglobin in the HFD only group were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to control and other groups. The sunflower treated groups with 5000mg, 3000mg and 2000mghad significantly decreased (p<0.05) insulin levels compared to control group and similar to metformin and HFD alone groups. Pancreatic histology results showed that HFD caused significant destruction of islet cells which was preserved in the sunflower co-administered groups.
Conclusions: Sunflower seed significantly reduce blood sugar level, reduced HbA1c, and conferred cyto-protection on islets of Langerhan cells.

Scopolamine-induced brain injury and lipid peroxidation in Wistar rats ameliorated by garlic oil supplementation

Moses Ternenge Ashiekaa — 2024-08-15

Background: Scopolamine induced toxicity has been linked to impaired learning and memory, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and impairment of cholinergic transmission resulting in brain injury; which are synonymous with features of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Garlic oil has been found to be a possible therapeutic intervention. Its antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity were evaluated in scopolamine-induced brain toxicity in Wistar rats.
Methods: The animals were grouped into seven groups (n=5). Group I (Normal Control) was given 1mL/kg distilled water for 14days P.O, Group II was treated with 90 mg/kg garlic oil for 14days P.O while Group III was treated with 2 mg/kg scopolamine IP daily for 14 days. Group IV was co-administered garlic oil (90mg/kg) orally and scopolamine 2mg/kg IP daily for 14 days. Group V had garlic oil orally at 90mg/kg for 7 days after 14 days of scopolamine. Group VI had donepezil at 3mg/kg orally co-administered with scopolamine at 2mg/kg IP daily for 14 days, Group VII 3mg/kg donepezil was administered orally for 7 days after 14 days of scopolamine. Elevated plus maze (EPM), was used to assess memory and learning. Thereafter, the rats were anesthetized using diethyl ether and the frontal cortices of the brain were harvested, homogenized and centrifuged. The supernatant was used to assay for dopamine, and malondialdehyde (MDA). The frontal cortices of the animals’ brains were subjected to histomorphological analyses.
Results: Scopolamine significantly decreased (p<0.05) learning and memory while increasing MDA levels. Brain dopamine levels, and transfer latency in EPM were significantly reduced (p< 0.05) and neurodegenerative changes were seen in the brain. All these were significantly reversed in the garlic-oil treated groups.
Conclusions: According to this study, garlic oil has antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities and may have therapeutic benefits against scopolamine-induced toxicity and diseases related to loss of memory.

Evaluation of maternal behavior and offspring growth throughout the weaning process in maternal rats treated with aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis

Imoh Emmanuel Ukoh — 2024-08-15

Background: The lack of maternal behaviors represents a serious problem that endangers not only offspring survival but also offspring growth. Therefore, many mothers are seeking medication to improve maternal care and infant bonding. This study assessed maternal behavior and offspring growth throughout weaning process in dams treated with aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis (ALEJT).
Methods: The rats were grouped into 2 (n=10); control received 20ml/kg of distilled water and Jatropha received 500mg/kg of ALEJT orally, and were treated throughout gestation and postnatal day (PND) 15-21. Non-pregnant rats were excluded from the study. Pup assessments: intrauterine growth indices (body length, tail length and birth weight), pup growth indices (alive at PND 1-7, 8-14, 15-21 and weaning weight) and reproductive index (live birth-, viability-, pre-weaning- and weaning- indexes). Maternal (pup retrieval, licking, crouching, resting with pup, nesting and sniffing pup) and non-maternal (resting alone, gnawing, self-grooming and feeding) behavior was observed every 2nd day from PND 2-15. At expiration of weaning dams were anesthetized with 60mgkg-1 of ketamine HCl and blood samples collected by cardiac puncture were used to assess serum levels of maternal hormones.
Results: Litter size, live birth, live birth index and pups alive at PND 1-7 differed not significantly but pups body length, birth weight, weaning weight, weaning index (P<0.001), pups alive at PND 15-21, pre-weaning index (P<0.01), tail length, viability index and pups alive at PND 8-14 (P<0.05) increased significantly in Jatropha compared to control. Treated dams spent more time engaged in maternal behavior compared to control. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) differed not significantly, but prolactin (PRL), estrogen (P<0.05), progesterone (P<0.01), luteinizing hormone (LH), oxytocin and relaxin increased significantly in Jatropha compared to control.
Conclusions: According This study has shown that ALEJT enhances neuroendocrine hormones release which facilitates maternal caregiving, pups survival and growth.

Ameliorative Effects of Moringa oleifera Aqueous Leaf Extract on Dichlorvos-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis in Wistar Rats

Mabel Ehi-Omosun — 2024-08-15

Background: Insecticide poisoning is the most common cause of lung diseases among people with insecticide-related occupations which has significant morbidity and mortality if left untreated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera on dichlorvos-induced interstitial pneumonitis in the adult Wistar rat.
Methods: Thirty (30) adult Wistar rats (male and female) weighing between 240 g and 270 g were divided into five (5) groups of six (6) rats per group. Group A rats were placed on feed and water only. Group B rats were exposed to only 2 puffs of dichlorvos (10 ml/puff) at a concentration of 100 mg/m3, administered at 10 am daily for 30 minutes via inhalation. Group C rats received 500mg/kg body weight per day (BWT/D) of Moringa oleifera. Groups D and E rats were exposed to dichlorvos via inhalation and received 250mg/kg BWT/D (low dose) and 500mg/kg BWT/D (high dose) of Moringa oleifera respectively. The Moringa oleifera dosages were given for 30 consecutive days via an orogastric tube. The weights of the animas in each group were taken and recorded weekly and the difference noted. At the end of the 30th day exposure, the animals were euthanized under chloroform anaesthesia and the lungs were harvested and processed for histological examination. The obtained data were analyzed using the one-way Analysis of Variance, with level of significance set at <0.05.
Results: Exposure to dichlorvos did not affect body weight in rats, but it did cause significant changes in blood parameters, including decresed lymphocytes and red blood cells, and disruptions of other red cell indices, indicating haematoogical toxicity. This suggests that dichlorvos may have effects of the bood and haematoogical system, even if it doesn’t affect body werght. The histological sections of the lungs of rats in Group A, C, D and E showed normal histoarchitecture of the lungs. There were observable histological variations in the lung histoarchitecture of the exposed rats (Group B) which include bronchiolar haemorrhage, alveolar haemorrhage and interstitial infiltrates of inflammatory
cells (evidence of interstitial pneumonitis).
Conclusion: It was concluded that Moringa oleifera had an ameliorative effect on dichlorvos-induced interstitial pneumonitis in Wistar rats. Moringa oleifera is therefore valuable in combating interstitial pneumonitis.