International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 071-076, April, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of  the antioxidant vitamin E in blood sample of steady state sickle cell anaemia and non-sickle cell anaemia patients

*Ibrahim Alkali¹, Kashim Monguno² and Mustapha Waziri²

¹Department of Human Physiology, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

²Department of Human Physiology, University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ibrahim_alkali@yahoo.com.

Accepted 05 May, 2015

Abstract

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin characterized by sickled red blood cells and increased destruction of these cells. This research aims to study the antioxidant vitamin E in blood sample of steady state sickle cell anaemia patients and that of non-sickle cell anaemia in Maiduguri, Borno State, North-eastern Nigeria. Sickle-cell anaemia is a hereditary disorder, which results into various types of crisis such as chronic acute pain syndromes, severe bacterial infections, and necrosis (tissue death), although, there is no cure for sickle cell disease. However, with a nutritionally balanced diet, other supplements such as vitamins E, A and C, well hydration and taking care of infection potentially help lessen the effects of the disorder. Vitamin E improves vascular endothelial vasodilatory function by inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation or by protein kinase activation or by enhancement of nitric oxide (NO) dependent mechanism. It also increases femoral blood flow (FBF) and decreased forearm vascular resistance in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. This study was carried out on steady state sickle cell anaemia patients attending the paediatrics and haematology clinics of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) as a referral center. Undergraduate students, secondary, primary and pre-primary school students of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, were incorporated in the study as controls. A total number of 120 subjects were enrolled into the study constituting 60 subjects with homozygous SS, and 60 controls who are homozygous AA. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of the vitamin E. The mean vitamin E in SCA in relation to age, occupation, educational level, and BMI were 0.072 ± 0.004 mg/ml, 0.059 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.071 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.70 ± 0.001 mg/ml respectively and that of the control were 0.092 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.081 ± 0.001 mg/ml, 0.092 ± 0.001 mg/ml, and 0.103 ± 0.001 mg/ml. These values were significantly lower (P˂0.05) in SCA patients compared to that of the control. In conclusion, there is a decrease in vitamin E levels in SCA patients in the steady state with controls. These results also showed that the level of education improved the vitamin level of the SCA patients.

Key words: Sickle cell anaemia, vitamin E, age, level of education.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 077-080, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of the effect of methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea on potassium bromate induced nephrotoxicity in mature wistar rats

Farida Ganiyu¹, Aminu Haruna²* and Marwa Ali Sherriff²

¹Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

²Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: farida_ganiyu@gmail.com.

Accepted 04 February, 2015

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea on potassium bromate (KBrO₃) induced nephrotoxicity in adult wistar rats. Twenty five adult wistar rats weighing 160-280 g were divided into five groups. The negative control group A was orally administered with 1 ml of distilled water daily, whereas the positive control group B was orally administered with 75 mg/kg/body weight for 14 days. Group C received 250 mg/kg/body weight of extract and 75 mg/kg/ body weight of KBrO₃ after six hours orally. Group D received 500 mg/kg/body weight of extract and 75 mg/kg/ body weight of KBrO₃ after six hours orally, while group E received oral dose of potassium bromate at 75 mg/kg/ body weight and 500 mg/kg/body weight of extract after six hours. Both the control and experimental groups were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia at the end of the period of administration. The results show that the body weights were reduced at the end of the period of administration. Histopathological examination indicated that group B (positive control group) showed nephrotoxicity, this is evidenced by the presence of inflammation and tubular dilatation within the renal cortex. Groups C and E showed significant recovery evidenced by the presence of normal kidney. Group D showed area of mild peri-capsular inflammation, that is, within and around the glomerulus. The prevention of nephrotoxicity induced by potassium bromate was observed to be higher in group E, which took the extracts six hours after the induction of potassium bromate when compared with group D, which took the extracts six hours before potassium bromate induction. This study suggests that oral administration of methanolic extract of P. oleracea significantly ameliorates potassium bromate induced nephrotoxicity in rats and seem to be useful in controlling kidney injury in drug induced nephrotoxicity. 

Key words: Kidney, histopathology, potassium bromate, nephrotoxicity, Portulaca oleracea.

International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN 2326-7275 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 067-070, March, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

A study of antioxidant potentials of carotenoid on the spleen of mature wistar rats

James Kalu Okpala*, Ovbiagele M.A and Chijioke Philips

Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 January, 2015

Abstract

Carotenoids are hypothesized to play a preventive role in a variety of diseases; however, little is known about their biodistribution and metabolism in humans and tissue specific bioactivity. This study is aimed at investigating the effects of carotenoid on the spleen of adult wistar rats following low and high administration. Twenty healthy wistar rats weighing between 150-210 kg were used. They were designated as groups A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control and received 0.35 ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C and D received 0.4 ml, 0.5 ml and 0.6 ml of carotenoid respectively for twenty-one days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, anaesthetized under the influence of chloroform vapour and dissected. Spleen tissues were removed, weighed and trimmed down to a size of 3 mm × 3 mm and fixed in 10% formaldehyde for histological studies. There was significant weight gain of experimental groups related to the control. The relative spleen weight of the experimental groups was statistically similar with that of the control. Histological finding showed that there was no destruction of the cytoarchitecture of the spleen tissues. These findings suggest that low and high consumption of carotenoid may not put the spleen at risk of adverse histopathological conditions.

Key words: Spleen weight, body weight, carotenoid, antioxidant, hepatoprotective.