Pub Date : 2023-09-21DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2331
None Johnny, I. I., None Okokon, J. E., None Ochigbo, E. B., None Udo, I. J., None Adefabi, A. M.
Hippocratea africana, a medicinal plant, used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of antimalarial, diabetes, poisoning and inflammatory diseases was investigated for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa. The extract and fractions was also screened for total flavonoid and phenol content using standard methods. Onion bulbs were exposed to 2.5 mg/ml, 5mg/ml, and 10 mg/ml concentrations of the leaf extract for macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Tap water was used as a negative control and Methotrexate (0.1 mg/ml) as a positive control. There was statistically significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of root growth depending on concentration by the extract when compared with the negative control group. All the tested concentrations of the extract were observed to have cytotoxic effects on cell division in A. cepa. The extract- induced chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MNC) formations in A. cepa root tip cells and were significant (p<0.05) when compared with control group. The extract treatment further induced cell death, ghost cells, cells membrane damage, and binucleated cells. These results suggest that Hippocratea africana root extract possess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on A. cepa which is as a results of its phytochemical constituents.
{"title":"Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Activities of Hippocratea africana Loes. Ex. Engl. Celastraceae Root Extract","authors":"None Johnny, I. I., None Okokon, J. E., None Ochigbo, E. B., None Udo, I. J., None Adefabi, A. M.","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2331","url":null,"abstract":"Hippocratea africana, a medicinal plant, used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of antimalarial, diabetes, poisoning and inflammatory diseases was investigated for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa. The extract and fractions was also screened for total flavonoid and phenol content using standard methods. Onion bulbs were exposed to 2.5 mg/ml, 5mg/ml, and 10 mg/ml concentrations of the leaf extract for macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Tap water was used as a negative control and Methotrexate (0.1 mg/ml) as a positive control. There was statistically significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of root growth depending on concentration by the extract when compared with the negative control group. All the tested concentrations of the extract were observed to have cytotoxic effects on cell division in A. cepa. The extract- induced chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei (MNC) formations in A. cepa root tip cells and were significant (p<0.05) when compared with control group. The extract treatment further induced cell death, ghost cells, cells membrane damage, and binucleated cells. These results suggest that Hippocratea africana root extract possess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on A. cepa which is as a results of its phytochemical constituents.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"81 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136235691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-06DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2330
Nandini Premkumar
Ashwagandha roots (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) have a history of utilization in Ayurveda to address conditions such as fever, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, inflammation, tuberculosis, mental disorders, and male sexual issues. Through phytochemical analyses, it has been determined that the plant predominantly contains alkaloids (such as withanine, sominiferine, tropine, isopelletierine, and anaferine) and steroidal lactones (including withanolides A-Y, withaferine A, withasominiferols A-C, withanone, and sitoindosides) as the active compounds. These constituents and extracts exhibit various pharmacological effects, encompassing antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antivenom, and anti-parkinsonian properties. This review provides an up-to-date overview of ashwagandha, focusing on its phytochemistry and pharmacology. The plant and numerous secondary metabolites have displayed efficacy in ameliorating diverse human ailments. Nonetheless, additional research is imperative to ascertain the precise mechanisms underlying their actions.
印度烟根(Withania somnifera L. Dunal)在阿育吠陀医学中被用来治疗发烧、哮喘、关节炎、风湿病、炎症、肺结核、精神障碍和男性性问题等疾病。通过植物化学分析,确定该植物主要含有生物碱(如:缬氨酸、半胱氨酸、托莨菪碱、异芥子碱和茴香碱)和甾体内酯(包括:缬内酯A- y、半胱氨酸A、半胱氨酸A- c、withanone和五角草苷)作为活性化合物。这些成分和提取物表现出各种药理作用,包括抗氧化、抗肿瘤、抗菌、抗蛇毒血清和抗帕金森病特性。本文综述了印度甘薯的最新研究概况,重点介绍了其植物化学和药理作用。植物和许多次生代谢物已显示出改善多种人类疾病的功效。尽管如此,还需要进一步的研究来确定其行为背后的确切机制。
{"title":"A Study of Phytochemical Analysis and Pharmacological Activities of Withania somnifera","authors":"Nandini Premkumar","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2330","url":null,"abstract":"Ashwagandha roots (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) have a history of utilization in Ayurveda to address conditions such as fever, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, inflammation, tuberculosis, mental disorders, and male sexual issues. Through phytochemical analyses, it has been determined that the plant predominantly contains alkaloids (such as withanine, sominiferine, tropine, isopelletierine, and anaferine) and steroidal lactones (including withanolides A-Y, withaferine A, withasominiferols A-C, withanone, and sitoindosides) as the active compounds. These constituents and extracts exhibit various pharmacological effects, encompassing antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antivenom, and anti-parkinsonian properties. This review provides an up-to-date overview of ashwagandha, focusing on its phytochemistry and pharmacology. The plant and numerous secondary metabolites have displayed efficacy in ameliorating diverse human ailments. Nonetheless, additional research is imperative to ascertain the precise mechanisms underlying their actions.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87518714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-04DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2329
Abdullahi M. Hassan, Abdullahi H. Sadiya, Kuje E. Jafaru, H. Sunday
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease plagued with insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance. New targets and disease pathways are emerging and one such is the 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) which catalyses the intracellular conversion of inert cortisone to physiologically active cortisol, functioning to enhance local cortisol action beyond what would be predicted based on simple plasma exposures. This study aimed at exploring the anti-diabetic potential of the bioactive compounds found in Carica papaya. In this study, 59 natural compounds were obtained from literature are used for molecular docking simulations against the 11β-HSD1 receptor target using the Python Prescription (PyRx) 0.8 software. An arbitrary docking score ≤ -8.0 kcal/mol was chosen as the cut-off value. Further screening for drug-likeness, Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) properties, Pan Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS), and bioactivity were performed. The compounds were compared to the 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, MK-0916 which was the reference compound and docked against the target with a binding affinity of -8.8 kcal/mol. After docking, 11 compounds emerged with docking of ≤-8.0 kcal/mol, the highest at -8.1 kcal/mol and lowest at -10.7 kcal/mol. The compounds were further screened using Ghose and Verber rule resulting in four compounds i.e. Ibogamine, Clausamine G, Dasycarpidan-1-methanol, acetate (ester) and Phenol-2-methyl-5- (1,2,2- trimethylcyclopentyl). Pharmacokinetic screening (ADMET and bioactivity) was carried out on the four compounds and it was discovered that they have a level of potency but Ibogamine has higher potency of exerting inhibitory function on 11β-HSD1 compared to the control.
{"title":"In-silico Investigation of Potential Inhibitors of 11-β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase","authors":"Abdullahi M. Hassan, Abdullahi H. Sadiya, Kuje E. Jafaru, H. Sunday","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2329","url":null,"abstract":"Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease plagued with insufficient insulin production or insulin resistance. New targets and disease pathways are emerging and one such is the 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) which catalyses the intracellular conversion of inert cortisone to physiologically active cortisol, functioning to enhance local cortisol action beyond what would be predicted based on simple plasma exposures. This study aimed at exploring the anti-diabetic potential of the bioactive compounds found in Carica papaya. In this study, 59 natural compounds were obtained from literature are used for molecular docking simulations against the 11β-HSD1 receptor target using the Python Prescription (PyRx) 0.8 software. An arbitrary docking score ≤ -8.0 kcal/mol was chosen as the cut-off value. Further screening for drug-likeness, Absorption Distribution Metabolism Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) properties, Pan Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS), and bioactivity were performed. The compounds were compared to the 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, MK-0916 which was the reference compound and docked against the target with a binding affinity of -8.8 kcal/mol. After docking, 11 compounds emerged with docking of ≤-8.0 kcal/mol, the highest at -8.1 kcal/mol and lowest at -10.7 kcal/mol. The compounds were further screened using Ghose and Verber rule resulting in four compounds i.e. Ibogamine, Clausamine G, Dasycarpidan-1-methanol, acetate (ester) and Phenol-2-methyl-5- (1,2,2- trimethylcyclopentyl). Pharmacokinetic screening (ADMET and bioactivity) was carried out on the four compounds and it was discovered that they have a level of potency but Ibogamine has higher potency of exerting inhibitory function on 11β-HSD1 compared to the control.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89202358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-29DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2328
A. Razdan, R. Arora, Gauri Agarwal, Shikha Koul, Vandana Sharma, J. Kandpal
Down’s Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality with a gain of a third copy of chromosome 21, characterized by craniofacial abnormalities, intellectual developmental delay and growth retardation. In the present study, one-day-old neonate and a patient with an aborted fetus were presented to rule out genetic aberrations via CMA screening. DNA was extracted using from the case samples and evaluated by CMA Affymetrix platform. Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus such as trisomy emerges due to several factors including maternal age, genetic mutational events, non-disjunction of chromosomes and epigenetic changes. Genetic Cause of trisomy 21 is chromosomal aneuploidy and gain of three copies of chromosome 21. The Trisomy 21 can occur due to Robertsonian translocation, Mosaicisms or duplication of critical region of chromosome 21. The trisomy 21 is the result of nondisjunction of homologous chromosomes 21 during gametogenesis at the time of embryo development. CMA is an effective molecular diagnostic tool for predicting and diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities which needs to be promoted in India for healthy pregnancy outcomes. We report two cases of confirmed post-natal Trisomy 21. The main aim of this study is to focus on genetic diagnosis and its awareness which is still lacking with 100% coverage, in developing countries to reduce the burden of genetic diseases and associated emotional and economic consequences.
{"title":"Nondisjunction in Trisomy 21: Origin and Mechanisms","authors":"A. Razdan, R. Arora, Gauri Agarwal, Shikha Koul, Vandana Sharma, J. Kandpal","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i2328","url":null,"abstract":"Down’s Syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality with a gain of a third copy of chromosome 21, characterized by craniofacial abnormalities, intellectual developmental delay and growth retardation. In the present study, one-day-old neonate and a patient with an aborted fetus were presented to rule out genetic aberrations via CMA screening. DNA was extracted using from the case samples and evaluated by CMA Affymetrix platform. Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus such as trisomy emerges due to several factors including maternal age, genetic mutational events, non-disjunction of chromosomes and epigenetic changes. Genetic Cause of trisomy 21 is chromosomal aneuploidy and gain of three copies of chromosome 21. The Trisomy 21 can occur due to Robertsonian translocation, Mosaicisms or duplication of critical region of chromosome 21. The trisomy 21 is the result of nondisjunction of homologous chromosomes 21 during gametogenesis at the time of embryo development. CMA is an effective molecular diagnostic tool for predicting and diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities which needs to be promoted in India for healthy pregnancy outcomes. We report two cases of confirmed post-natal Trisomy 21. The main aim of this study is to focus on genetic diagnosis and its awareness which is still lacking with 100% coverage, in developing countries to reduce the burden of genetic diseases and associated emotional and economic consequences.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"152 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88994715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-28DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1327
Ikechukwu Iloh Udema
Backed by kinetic schemes, attempts have been made to derive equations for the calculation of all zero-order first-order rate constants (ZOFORC) for the activation of the enzyme-substrate (ES) complex and its deactivation. The values of ZOFORC, including the kind for the dissociation of the enzyme-product complex (EP) to free enzyme (E) and product (P), are hardly reported. The methods of research were primarily Bernfeld and Lineweaver methods. The goal of the research was to determine ways for the utilization of experimental data for the determination of verifiable and quantifiable rate constants, with the following objectives: 1) To derive equations for the first-order rate constants for the activation of ES and its deactivation, respectively; 2) To quantify by calculation the first-order rate constant for product release; 3) To ultimately quantify the rate constants; and 4) To advise the reactor, process, chemical engineers, etc. in different industrial concerns on the usefulness of the rate constants. The value of ZOFORC for the dissociation of EP to free E and P is 3.155 exp. (+5)/min; the values of the rate constant for activation and deactivation are 3.513 exp. (+4) and 2.377 exp. (+8)/min, respectively. Ultimately, it is imperative for all stakeholder groups to devise means of controlling the enzymatic rate of catalysis by manipulating the magnitudes of the rate constant for activation and deactivation in particular. The derived equations can be fitted to the experimentally generated and calculated data. A future research project should entail conducting the assay under optimum conditions so as to verify possible variations in the ZOFORC values when compared with values generated outside optimum conditions.
{"title":"Directly and Indirectly Determinable Rate Constants in Michaelian Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions","authors":"Ikechukwu Iloh Udema","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1327","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1327","url":null,"abstract":"Backed by kinetic schemes, attempts have been made to derive equations for the calculation of all zero-order first-order rate constants (ZOFORC) for the activation of the enzyme-substrate (ES) complex and its deactivation. The values of ZOFORC, including the kind for the dissociation of the enzyme-product complex (EP) to free enzyme (E) and product (P), are hardly reported. The methods of research were primarily Bernfeld and Lineweaver methods. The goal of the research was to determine ways for the utilization of experimental data for the determination of verifiable and quantifiable rate constants, with the following objectives: 1) To derive equations for the first-order rate constants for the activation of ES and its deactivation, respectively; 2) To quantify by calculation the first-order rate constant for product release; 3) To ultimately quantify the rate constants; and 4) To advise the reactor, process, chemical engineers, etc. in different industrial concerns on the usefulness of the rate constants. The value of ZOFORC for the dissociation of EP to free E and P is 3.155 exp. (+5)/min; the values of the rate constant for activation and deactivation are 3.513 exp. (+4) and 2.377 exp. (+8)/min, respectively. Ultimately, it is imperative for all stakeholder groups to devise means of controlling the enzymatic rate of catalysis by manipulating the magnitudes of the rate constant for activation and deactivation in particular. The derived equations can be fitted to the experimentally generated and calculated data. A future research project should entail conducting the assay under optimum conditions so as to verify possible variations in the ZOFORC values when compared with values generated outside optimum conditions.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135033529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-25DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1326
E. El-Dawy, Y. Gherbawy, Omnia Salamah, Riham Alian, S. Ahmed, Samah Aoud, Rawda Mosa, Abd Elrahman Ahmed, N. Ali, Mohamed Ahmed, A. Mahmoud
Aim: Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. This work aimed to assess the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and the variability between isolates of Sporisorium scitamineum causal agent of smut in sugarcane. Materials and Methods: The fungus was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. The morphological characters were described based on the growth diameter, texture, and colony colors. The microscopic description focused on the spore’s size from medium and teliospores from whips. Results: The colony appeared with white mycelial cotton and a yeast-shaped mycelial colony. In vitro, control of S. scitamineum isolates with endophytic fungi of Macrophomina phaseolina and Trichoderma viride was studied. The results showed that the two fungi could inhibit the growth of S. scitamineum. A pathogenicity test was carried out on sugarcane cuttings by inoculating the buds with spore suspension of S. scitamineum, which showed a pathogenic effect ranging from 50–100%. Also, other sugarcane cuttings were inoculated by the pathogen and Trichoderma viride as a biocontrol agent that inhibited the pathogen growth completely in four strains. Conclusion: Trichoderma viride is the safely biocontrol agent against S. scitamineum.
{"title":"Diagnosis and Biocontrol of Sporisorium scitamineum Associated with Whip Smut Sugarcane","authors":"E. El-Dawy, Y. Gherbawy, Omnia Salamah, Riham Alian, S. Ahmed, Samah Aoud, Rawda Mosa, Abd Elrahman Ahmed, N. Ali, Mohamed Ahmed, A. Mahmoud","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1326","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: Whip smut of sugarcane is the most serious and widely spread disease of sugarcane and causes a significant reduction in cane quantity and quality. This work aimed to assess the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and the variability between isolates of Sporisorium scitamineum causal agent of smut in sugarcane. \u0000Materials and Methods: The fungus was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. The morphological characters were described based on the growth diameter, texture, and colony colors. The microscopic description focused on the spore’s size from medium and teliospores from whips. Results: The colony appeared with white mycelial cotton and a yeast-shaped mycelial colony. In vitro, control of S. scitamineum isolates with endophytic fungi of Macrophomina phaseolina and Trichoderma viride was studied. The results showed that the two fungi could inhibit the growth of S. scitamineum. A pathogenicity test was carried out on sugarcane cuttings by inoculating the buds with spore suspension of S. scitamineum, which showed a pathogenic effect ranging from 50–100%. Also, other sugarcane cuttings were inoculated by the pathogen and Trichoderma viride as a biocontrol agent that inhibited the pathogen growth completely in four strains. \u0000Conclusion: Trichoderma viride is the safely biocontrol agent against S. scitamineum.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80382875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-24DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1325
Adedapo Oluwafunmilayo Victoria, Aremu Fiyinfoluwa Moses, A. Ifeoluwapo
Aim: The study is designed to assess the perception and attitude towards the involvement of males in family planning practices in Nigeria. Methodology: This study design was a descriptive cross-sectional design, whose population were males (15-55 years), and selected via the convenience sampling technique. The research instrument was a semi-structured questionnaire on male involvement in family planning and was subjected to face and content validity (Cronbach Alpha = 0.673). The study data (responses) were analysed using simple frequency, percentages, and means, with the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) V 21. Results: Most of the men (n=267; 96.4%) have good knowledge of family planning, and there is a medium level of men’s involvement (n=141; 50.9%) towards family planning practices. Furthermore, regarding their behaviours towards family planning methods involvement, 208 (75.1%) men disagreed that family planning is meant for only females and that contraceptives are not working for males, while all the men (n=277; 100 %) disagreed that family planning is meant for the literate only. More so, half of the men (n=147; 53.1%) rejected that family planning delay pregnancy, while 208 (75.1%) men accepted that it prevents pregnancies. These results proved that the men do not believe only the literate utilize family planning methods. Conclusion: Most males are knowledgeable about family planning and many adopted condoms as their methods of family planning, which implies that men could be effectively involved in family planning with proper and effective education.
目的:本研究旨在评估尼日利亚对男性参与计划生育实践的看法和态度。方法:本研究设计为描述性横断面设计,研究对象为15-55岁的男性,采用方便抽样方法。研究工具为半结构式男性参与计划生育问卷,采用面孔效度和内容效度测试(Cronbach Alpha = 0.673)。使用社会科学统计软件包(SPSS) V 21,使用简单的频率、百分比和平均值分析研究数据(回应)。结果:大多数男性(n=267;96.4%)对计划生育有良好的了解,男性的参与程度中等(n=141;50.9%)推行计划生育。此外,在涉及计划生育方法的行为方面,208名(75.1%)男性不同意计划生育只适用于女性,避孕药具对男性不起作用,而所有男性(n=277;百分之百)不同意计划生育只适用于识字的人。更有一半的男性(n=147;53.1%的男性认为计划生育会延迟怀孕,而208名(75.1%)男性认为计划生育可以预防怀孕。这些结果证明,男性并不认为只有识字的人才使用计划生育方法。结论:大多数男性对计划生育有一定的了解,很多男性选择使用避孕套作为他们的计划生育方式,这意味着通过适当和有效的教育,男性可以有效地参与计划生育。
{"title":"Perception and Attitude towards Involvement of Males in Family Planning Practices in Nigeria","authors":"Adedapo Oluwafunmilayo Victoria, Aremu Fiyinfoluwa Moses, A. Ifeoluwapo","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1325","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: The study is designed to assess the perception and attitude towards the involvement of males in family planning practices in Nigeria. \u0000Methodology: This study design was a descriptive cross-sectional design, whose population were males (15-55 years), and selected via the convenience sampling technique. The research instrument was a semi-structured questionnaire on male involvement in family planning and was subjected to face and content validity (Cronbach Alpha = 0.673). The study data (responses) were analysed using simple frequency, percentages, and means, with the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) V 21. \u0000Results: Most of the men (n=267; 96.4%) have good knowledge of family planning, and there is a medium level of men’s involvement (n=141; 50.9%) towards family planning practices. Furthermore, regarding their behaviours towards family planning methods involvement, 208 (75.1%) men disagreed that family planning is meant for only females and that contraceptives are not working for males, while all the men (n=277; 100 %) disagreed that family planning is meant for the literate only. More so, half of the men (n=147; 53.1%) rejected that family planning delay pregnancy, while 208 (75.1%) men accepted that it prevents pregnancies. These results proved that the men do not believe only the literate utilize family planning methods. \u0000Conclusion: Most males are knowledgeable about family planning and many adopted condoms as their methods of family planning, which implies that men could be effectively involved in family planning with proper and effective education.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"281 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74376404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-21DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1324
O. T. Oyediran, Rashidat Abidemi Oladiti, G. Joseph, A. Iyanda
Purpose: Earlier on, it was reported that altered hepato-renal parameters and depletions of some nutrients co-existed at third trimester among the study participants. Yet the role low levels of nutrients played in altered hepato-renal axis (i.e. a possible association between the two) was not investigated. Even though liver is known for its physiologic importance in the metabolism of various metals and abnormal levels of certain elements also induce alterations in physiologic processes in specific organs. The study is aimed at investigating correlation between nutritional parameters (total protein, albumin, calcium, magnesium) and hepato-renal indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine) at the last trimester of pregnancy. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Methods/Participants: Forty pregnant women in the third trimester (29 weeks to term) were recruited as test group while another group of 40 women (age-matched, non-pregnant) served as control. 5 mL of blood was collected and used for estimation of nutritional indices and hepato-renal markers. Information on birth weight was obtained. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data obtained from the study revealed that there were no correlations between any nutritional marker and hepato-renal indices. Similarly, nutritional markers were not correlated with birth weight. Conclusion: There is no indication that there is a relationship between abnormal nutritional markers and indices of nephro-hepatic activities in third trimester women that had earlier being reported to feature abnormal liver and kidney function.
{"title":"Study of Inter-relatedness between Hepato-renal Indices and Essential Minerals during the Last Trimester of Pregnancy","authors":"O. T. Oyediran, Rashidat Abidemi Oladiti, G. Joseph, A. Iyanda","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1324","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: Earlier on, it was reported that altered hepato-renal parameters and depletions of some nutrients co-existed at third trimester among the study participants. Yet the role low levels of nutrients played in altered hepato-renal axis (i.e. a possible association between the two) was not investigated. Even though liver is known for its physiologic importance in the metabolism of various metals and abnormal levels of certain elements also induce alterations in physiologic processes in specific organs. The study is aimed at investigating correlation between nutritional parameters (total protein, albumin, calcium, magnesium) and hepato-renal indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, urea and creatinine) at the last trimester of pregnancy. \u0000Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. \u0000Methods/Participants: Forty pregnant women in the third trimester (29 weeks to term) were recruited as test group while another group of 40 women (age-matched, non-pregnant) served as control. 5 mL of blood was collected and used for estimation of nutritional indices and hepato-renal markers. Information on birth weight was obtained. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P≤ 0.05 was considered significant. \u0000Results: Data obtained from the study revealed that there were no correlations between any nutritional marker and hepato-renal indices. Similarly, nutritional markers were not correlated with birth weight. \u0000Conclusion: There is no indication that there is a relationship between abnormal nutritional markers and indices of nephro-hepatic activities in third trimester women that had earlier being reported to feature abnormal liver and kidney function. ","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"46 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73519910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-08-18DOI: 10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1323
Kisoi George, Kinyua K. Johnson, W. Fred
The genus Acacia is important economically to local communities in sub-Saharan Africa for its medicinal and beverage usage. The bark extract is used for making a coffee-like concoction, which is named by locals as ‘Wild coffee’ due to its brown color. The objective of this study was to compare the evolutionary analysis of A. nilotica and C. arabica -based amino acids sequence of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. The results showed that A. nilotica and C. arabica are polyphyletic and the subspecies A. nilotica and A. n. hemispherica formed the sister group, same as the species C. arabica, C. salvatrix, and C. racemosa. The chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene, which encodes the large subunit of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), is a valuable marker for investigating the evolutionary relationships between plant species. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of two economically and ecologically significant plants, Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica, using protein sequences derived from the chloroplast rbcL gene. A multiple sequence alignment of the rbcL protein sequences was performed, and a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using the RAxML algorithm. The tree was rooted using a Thiotrichales bacterium as an outgroup sequence to establish the evolutionary context. Branch support values were calculated to assess the statistical robustness of the inferred relationships. The results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationship between Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica within the context of other plant taxa. The phylogenetic tree provided insights into their shared ancestry, divergence time, and taxonomic placement within the larger plant kingdom. We identified conserved regions in the rbcL protein sequences, reflecting functional importance, as well as divergent regions, suggesting potential adaptive evolution. The significance of our study lies in understanding the evolutionary history and taxonomic position of these economically important plant species. This knowledge has implications for biodiversity conservation, crop improvement, and ecosystem management. The study also highlights the utility of the rbcL gene as a valuable tool for investigating plant phylogenetics. In conclusion, our phylogenetic analysis using the rbcL protein sequences provides valuable insights into the evolutionary relationship between Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica. This research contributes to our understanding of plant evolution and has practical applications in various fields, from agriculture to conservation.
{"title":"Phylogenetic Analysis of Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica Using Protein Sequences from the Chloroplast RBCL Gene","authors":"Kisoi George, Kinyua K. Johnson, W. Fred","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v15i1323","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Acacia is important economically to local communities in sub-Saharan Africa for its medicinal and beverage usage. The bark extract is used for making a coffee-like concoction, which is named by locals as ‘Wild coffee’ due to its brown color. The objective of this study was to compare the evolutionary analysis of A. nilotica and C. arabica -based amino acids sequence of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. The results showed that A. nilotica and C. arabica are polyphyletic and the subspecies A. nilotica and A. n. hemispherica formed the sister group, same as the species C. arabica, C. salvatrix, and C. racemosa. The chloroplast-encoded rbcL gene, which encodes the large subunit of ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), is a valuable marker for investigating the evolutionary relationships between plant species. In this study, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of two economically and ecologically significant plants, Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica, using protein sequences derived from the chloroplast rbcL gene. A multiple sequence alignment of the rbcL protein sequences was performed, and a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using the RAxML algorithm. The tree was rooted using a Thiotrichales bacterium as an outgroup sequence to establish the evolutionary context. Branch support values were calculated to assess the statistical robustness of the inferred relationships. The results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationship between Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica within the context of other plant taxa. The phylogenetic tree provided insights into their shared ancestry, divergence time, and taxonomic placement within the larger plant kingdom. We identified conserved regions in the rbcL protein sequences, reflecting functional importance, as well as divergent regions, suggesting potential adaptive evolution. The significance of our study lies in understanding the evolutionary history and taxonomic position of these economically important plant species. This knowledge has implications for biodiversity conservation, crop improvement, and ecosystem management. The study also highlights the utility of the rbcL gene as a valuable tool for investigating plant phylogenetics. In conclusion, our phylogenetic analysis using the rbcL protein sequences provides valuable insights into the evolutionary relationship between Acacia nilotica and Coffea arabica. This research contributes to our understanding of plant evolution and has practical applications in various fields, from agriculture to conservation.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78699583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Wetlands serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the vector of malaria Plasmodium. Effective detection of Plasmodium infection requires a very sensitive method. Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of malaria parasite infection in Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa State using nested PCR and high resolution melting analysis (HRMA) technique in comparison with microscopy. Methods: A community based cross sectional study design was employed to randomly select 206 study participants. DNA was extracted from 200 ⴗl of whole blood of each participant and a set of primers was used to target and amplify the 18S rRNA gene of Plasmodium falciparum in both molecular methods. Result: The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection by microscopy was 33.01% (5.8% asymptomatic, 17% mild and 10.2% severe malaria).The prevalence of malaria parasite infection by nested genomic PCR was 71.36% (asymptomatic, 42.20% mild, 18.93%and severe malaria, 10.19%). Prevalence of malaria parasite infection by high resolution melting analysis 92.71% (asymptomatic, 63.59%, mild, 18.93% and severe, 10.19%). All the study participants that were positive for microscopy and nested genomic PCR were also positive for high resolution melting analysis. There were 59.71% and 21.36% false negatives by microscopy and nested PCR respectively. McNemar`s test for pair-wise performance comparisons among the different methods was statistically significant (p < 0.001). High parasite density (19927 ± 749 parasites/µl blood) and hyper parasite density (103667 ± 5214 parasites/ⴗl of blood) were found among asymptomatic and severe malaria subjects (P < 0.000). Conclusion: In conclusion, a high malaria parasite infection prevalence of 92.72% was found in Sagbama LGA. This requires urgent attention especially asymptomatic malaria. HRMA was the most sensitive molecular method and is therefore recommended for future molecular detection of malaria infection.
{"title":"Evaluating the Prevalence of Malaria Parasite Infection among Adults in Wetlands Using Nested PCR and High Resolution Melting Analysis","authors":"F. Ogbole, Chidi Uzoma Igwe, Henrietta Chinyere Onuoha, Chiamaka Perpetua Nzebude","doi":"10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v14i4322","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2023/v14i4322","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Wetlands serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the vector of malaria Plasmodium. Effective detection of Plasmodium infection requires a very sensitive method. \u0000Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of malaria parasite infection in Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa State using nested PCR and high resolution melting analysis (HRMA) technique in comparison with microscopy. \u0000Methods: A community based cross sectional study design was employed to randomly select 206 study participants. DNA was extracted from 200 ⴗl of whole blood of each participant and a set of primers was used to target and amplify the 18S rRNA gene of Plasmodium falciparum in both molecular methods. \u0000Result: The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection by microscopy was 33.01% (5.8% asymptomatic, 17% mild and 10.2% severe malaria).The prevalence of malaria parasite infection by nested genomic PCR was 71.36% (asymptomatic, 42.20% mild, 18.93%and severe malaria, 10.19%). Prevalence of malaria parasite infection by high resolution melting analysis 92.71% (asymptomatic, 63.59%, mild, 18.93% and severe, 10.19%). All the study participants that were positive for microscopy and nested genomic PCR were also positive for high resolution melting analysis. There were 59.71% and 21.36% false negatives by microscopy and nested PCR respectively. McNemar`s test for pair-wise performance comparisons among the different methods was statistically significant (p < 0.001). High parasite density (19927 ± 749 parasites/µl blood) and hyper parasite density (103667 ± 5214 parasites/ⴗl of blood) were found among asymptomatic and severe malaria subjects (P < 0.000). \u0000Conclusion: In conclusion, a high malaria parasite infection prevalence of 92.72% was found in Sagbama LGA. This requires urgent attention especially asymptomatic malaria. HRMA was the most sensitive molecular method and is therefore recommended for future molecular detection of malaria infection.","PeriodicalId":8498,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74055491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}