Nigerian Journal of Chemical Research

Identification of compounds from Aframomum melengueta (alligator pepper) as potential inhibitors of the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) in male infertility

C B Adindu — 2024-09-30

Human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a glycoprotein produced and secreted by the liver and is capable of binding androgens and estrogens in males. Both androgens and estrogens are important hormones that help in the development of sexual and reproductive tissues. The present work investigates the active chemical components of Aframomum melegueta (Alligator pepper) as well as study their involvement as potential drug lead to inhibiting Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) receptor protein that is involved in the various cases of male infertility. Phytochemical identification of the constituents was achieved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry GC-MS experiments, while the ligand-target interaction to discover the drug lead candidates was achieved by molecular docking. Adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) screening was performed to ascertain the suitability of the compounds as drug lead candidates. The GC-MS result revealed a total of 30 compounds, the molecular docking results showed that 5-Hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)decan-3-one which was found to be present in , gave a binding energy of -7.0 Kcal mol^-which is an indication that it might form a good drug lead candidate for the inhibition of the Sex hormone binding globulin. The ADMET study showed that all the compounds above 1 from the GC-MS study proved leading drug candidates with great efficacy, no toxicity, no cardiotoxicity and no carcinogenicity was observed.

Gadolinium (III) trinuclear salen capped Complexes of a series of N2O2 Donor Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Studies

U S Oruma — 2024-06-30

Novel Gadolinium (III) trinuclear salen capped complexes of N₂O₂ donor ligands, [{Gd(OH)₂(salen)}₃(TT/TTPS)].3H₂O were synthesized. Characterization of the compounds were done using UV-Visible, IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and molar conductivity measurements. The spectral studies indicate that the ligands are hexadentate and coordinate to the Gd(III) ions through the oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group. The trinuclear Gd(III)salen capped complexes were characterized as being bridged by carboxylate anions to the Gd(III)salen centers and displays a coordination number of eight by involving two hydroxyl groups in the coordination sphere. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the ligands and complexes were investigated against Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (ATCC 6749) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027), Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 14579), and fungi: Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger by the agar well diffusion technique. In vitro antimicrobial test indicate that TTPS and [{Gd(OH)₂(salen)}₃(TTPS)].3H₂O showed higher activity against the test organisms investigated relative to TT and [{Gd(OH)₂(salen)}₃(TT)].3H₂O. The in vivo antimalarial assay carried out on Plasmodium berghei shows a general dose-dependent significant parasitemia inhibition compared with the negative control with [{Gd(OH)₂(salen)}₃(TTPS)].3H₂O having highest inhibition of 72.20% at 50 mg/kg and 70.28% at 25 mg/kg close to the value (87.22%) of the standard drug artesunate 5 mg/kg. Hence, [{Gd(OH)₂(salen)}₃(TTPS)].3H₂O can serve as an antimalarial drug at doses less than 2154 mg/kg.

Hazard Evaluation and Health Risk Assessment of a Major River in Ondo Nigeria State

H Ayedun — 2024-09-30

Regular monitoring of water bodies for pollution is necessary to prevent the depletion of aquatic plants and animals that serve as food to man. This study was carried out in the Ogbese River, situated along the Akure - Owo expressway, Ondo state, Nigeria. The physicochemical parameters were determined using the standard method while the heavy metal concentration in the river was determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and Electrical Conductivity are within WHO recommended limit. The Dissolved Oxygen (DO) ranged between 2.9 mg/L to 4.2 mg/L with an average value of 3.74 ± 0.04 mg/L, which indicates depletion of Oxygen. The heavy metal concentrations with slightly higher ranges than WHO limits are Ni, and Pb with a range of 0.07 mg/L to 0.12 mg/L, and 0.016 mg/L to 0.042 mg/L respectively. The Average Daily Intake (ADI_i) of metals if the water is consumed and ingested are Cd 6.0 x 10^-4 mg/kg, Ni 2.9 x 10^-3 mg/kg, Pb 8.0 x 10^-4 mg/kg, and Cu 7.9 x10^-3 mg/kg body weight. The Target Hazard Quotient (dermal) (THQ_d), if used to bathe and shower are Cd 2.4 x 10^-3 mg/kg, Ni 1.16 x 10^-3 mg/kg, Pb 3.2 x 10^-4 mg/kg and Cu 1.1 x10^-1 mg/kg body weight. The Hazard Index (HI) for Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cu are 0.273, 0.146, 0.457, and 0.308 respectively. Ogbese river is polluted with some metals which is due to non-point sources.

Antitrypanosomal Activity of Glochidonol and Salacinin C from Phyllanthus muellerianus

J V Anyam — 2024-09-30

Phyllanthus muellerianus is an important plant in Nigerian ethnomedicine. Several compounds were isolated from the hexane and methanol extracts of the stem and root bark of the plant using silica gel column chromatography and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. The compounds were assayed for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The hexane and ethyl acetate extracts yielded friedelanone, physcion, glochidonol, and Salacinin C, while the methanol extract gave monoacetyl glycerol. Glochidonol (EC50 = 1.25 µg/ml) and Salacinin C (EC₅₀ of 6.25 µg/ml) showed strong antitrypnosomal activity in vitro.

Modelling of Fixed Bed Adsorption of Ciprofloxacin on ZnCl2-Activated Carbon Derived from Typha australis Grass

A B Makama — 2024-09-30

Fixed-bed adsorption has emerged as a widely employed industrial application in wastewater treatment processes. Various low-cost adsorbents have been stud- ied for their applicability in treating wastewater. In this study, the potential of ZnCl₂-activated carbon (TAAC) from Typha australis grass was investigated for ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal from synthetic wastewater in a fixed-bed adsorption column. The effect of flow rate (0.5 - 2.0 mL/min), bed height (5 - 10 cm), and initial drug concentration (25 - 100 mg/l) on the behavior of breakthrough curves was explained. Breakthrough time decreased with increasing flow rate and inlet CIP concentration but increased with increasing adsorbent bed height. Breakthrough curve analysis showed that CIP adsorption onto the TAAC material was most ef- fective at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, inlet CIP concentration of 25 mg/L, and at a bed height of 10 cm. The maximum adsorption capacity of TAAC and removal eﬀi- ciency were found to be 8.2 mg/g and 59.3%, respectively. Four common fixed-bed models were fitted to the breakthrough curves, and the Yan model displayed the best fit to the experimental data (R2 > 0.98) across all conditions. These findings suggest that TAAC, a low-cost material, has the potential to be a promising adsor- bent for the sustainable removal of CIP from water. However, further testing with surface modifications and real wastewater samples containing competitive anions is necessary to validate the performance of TAAC for practical applications.