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The present study focused on the antioxidant and modulatory effects of the ethanolic extract of Madagascar Harungana bark on cyclophosphamide induced oxidative stress in rat's brain. Ethanolic extract of Madagascar Harungana bark yielded a yellow dye. Subsequently, the phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities, including total phenol content, free radical scavenging ability, reducing power, Fe2+ chelating ability and in vitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation in rat's brain, were determined. The protective effect of dietary inclusion of these extracts (0.5 and 1.0%) on cyclophosphamide (75 mg/kg body weight) induced oxidative stress in rat's brain was also assessed. The dietary supplementation of Madagascar Harungana bark extract caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in rat's brain MDA content in a dose dependent manner, along with suppression of serum activity of AST, ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin content. The high neuroprotective effect of the extract could be attributed to its high antioxidant properties as typified by its high reducing power, free radical scavenging and Fe (II) chelating abilities. Therefore, dietary supplementation of Madagascar Harungana bark as food colourant could modulate neurotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide administration.

This book discusses Social Science Ethics and its relevance to social scientists. In most cases, the sub-disciplines of social science have become independent academic programmes. Nonetheless, social science degree programmes are interrelated. This book will discuss broadly the importance of social science ethics, and examine more specifically, ethics of communications, sociology, political science, philosophy and among others. In particular, the book focuses on the experiences of researchers in, and from, Africa, and challenges international social science scholars to learn from these experiences, and to share their own. Authors discuss the different ways social scientists, media practitioners and students can use ethics to develop good conscience, attitudes and conduct required for public service. International social scientists, academics, researchers, and students will find this book a useful resource material for teaching and research.

A.O. is a Commonwealth scholar funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (NGCS-2014-438) in the UK. N.K. was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science through Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellow. DRT and OM were partly supported by the Major International Joint Research Project from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 31110103913).

The hepatotoxic effects of sub-lethal concentrations of atrazine (2.5, 25, 250, and 500 μg L−1) on Clarias gariepinus juveniles were assessed for 28 days in a quality-controlled laboratory procedure. The study was designed to determine the effects of atrazine on selected liver function biomarkers: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP), and to analyze the liver tissues of the fish using a quantitative and qualitative histology-based health assessment protocol. The levels of ALB and TP in exposed specimens were observed to decrease with increasing concentrations of atrazine. However, the activities of ALT, AST, and ALP showed significant (p < 0.05) increase with increasing concentrations of atrazine. Hepatic assessment of the liver tissues revealed marked histopathological alterations, including structural changes (necrotic/apoptotic liver tissue, poor hepatic cord structure, and loss of normal architecture) in 52.2% of the liver tissues in the treatment groups; plasma alterations (vacuolation or fat inclusions, 22.9%) of hepatocytes; hypertrophied hepatocyte (55.2%); nuclear alterations (52.1%); focal necrosis (16.7%); complete degeneration of hepatocytes (60.45%); sinusoids congested with red blood cells or vascular congestion (70.8%); and karyolysis of the nucleus (18.8%). Findings from this study suggest that atrazine interferes with liver function markers and disrupts the normal architectural and structural components of the liver resulting in noninfectious liver injury. This condition resulted in repeated cycles, cell deaths, and inflammation, which could result in the eventual death of the exposed fish if exposure duration was prolonged.

Acarbose is an antidiabetic drug which acts by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities but with deleterious side effects. Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic acid that is widespread in plant foods. We therefore investigated the influence of GA on α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory properties of acarbose (in vitro). Aqueous solutions of acarbose and GA were prepared to a final concentration of 25μM each. Thereafter, mixtures of the samples (50% acarbose + 50% GA; 75% acarbose+25% GA; and 25% acarbose+75% GA) were prepared. The results revealed that the combination of 50% acarbose and 50% GA showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, while 75% acarbose+25% GA showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory effect. Furthermore, all the samples caused the inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation (in vitro) in rat pancreatic tissue homogenate, with the combination of 50% acarbose and 50% GA causing the highest inhibition. All the samples also showed antioxidant properties (reducing property, 2,2'-azino-bis (-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate [ABTS*] and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] free radicals scavenging abilities, and Fe2+ chelating ability). Therefore, combinations of GA with acarbose could be employed as antidiabetic therapy, with a possible reduction of side effects of acarbose; nevertheless, the combination of 50% acarbose and 50% GA seems the best. [Display omitted]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) results from the inability of the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin or weakened cellular response to the insulin produced, which leads to hyperglycemia. Current treatments of DM focus on the use of oral hypoglycemic drugs such as acarbose, alpha-glucose inhibitors, sulphonylureas, thiazolidinediones, and biguanides to control blood glucose levels. However, these medications are known to have various side effects in addition to their bioavailability, efficacy, and safety concerns. These drawbacks have increased interest in the anti-diabetic potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds such as oleanolic and maslinic acids. Although their efficacy in ameliorating blood glucose levels has been reported in several studies, their bioavailability and efficacy remain of concern. The current review examines the anti-diabetic effects of oleanolic, maslinic, asiatic, ursolic, and corosolic acids and their derivatives, as well as the progress made thus far to enhance their bioavailability and efficacy. The literature for the current review was gathered from leading academic databases—including Google Scholar and PubMed—the key words listed below were used. The literature was searched as widely and comprehensively as possible without a defined range of dates.

Numerous geochemical anomalies exist at the K-Pg boundary that indicate the addition of extraterrestrial materials; however, none fingerprint volatilization, a key process that occurs during large bolide impacts. Stable Zn isotopes are an exceptional indicator of volatility-related processes, where partial vaporization of Zn leaves the residuum enriched in its heavy isotopes. Here, we present Zn isotope data for sedimentary rock layers of the K-Pg boundary, which display heavier Zn isotope compositions and lower Zn concentrations relative to surrounding sedimentary rocks, the carbonate platform at the impact site, and most carbonaceous chondrites. Neither volcanic events nor secondary alteration during weathering and diagenesis can explain the Zn concentration and isotope signatures present. The systematically higher Zn isotope values within the boundary layer sediments provide an isotopic fingerprint of partially evaporated material within the K-Pg boundary layer, thus earmarking Zn volatilization during impact and subsequent ejecta transport associated with an impact at the K-Pg. Elevated Zn isotope compositions occur in K-Pg sedimentary layers of three different depositional environments across North America and the Caribbean. The data indicate a volatilization event, and act as a robust mechanistic indicator of the meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous.

Diabetes is a global pandemic typified by impaired carbohydrate metabolism. In folklore, mushrooms consumption has been linked to diabetes management. However, this study aims to unravel the blood‐glucose‐lowering mechanisms of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) and shiitake mushroom (Lentinus subnudus) in streptozotocin induced‐diabetic rats. Forty two adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the control (C), untreated diabetic rats (group 2), diabetic rats treated with acarbose (25 mg/bodyweight) (group 3), and diabetic rats placed on diet supplemented with 10% and 20% oyster mushroom and shiitake mushroom designated as groups 4–7, respectively. The experiment lasted for 14 days. However, the fasting blood glucose (FBG), activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, angiotensin‐1 converting enzyme (ACE), arginase, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status in rat's pancreas and heart were evaluated. The FBG level, activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, ACE, and arginase were all reduced significantly (p < .05) in normal rats and in diabetic rat placed on oyster mushroom and shiitake mushroom inclusion diets when compared with untreated diabetic rats. Similarly, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was significantly (p < .05) elevated in diets‐treated diabetic rats when compared with an untreated diabetic rat. Also, elevated malondialdehyde equivalent compounds in untreated diabetic rats were significantly reduced in diabetic rats fed with the supplemented diets. Nevertheless, oyster‐mushroom‐ and shiitake‐mushroom‐supplemented diets exhibited FBG lowering ability, reduced activity of α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, ACE, and improved diabetic rats antioxidant status. Nevertheless, shiitake‐mushroom‐supplemented diets exhibited better effects than oyster‐mushroom‐supplemented diets in treated diabetic rats. Supplemented diets with shiitake and oyster mushroom reduce elevated blood glucose level fasting in diabetic rats. Supplemented diets with shiitake and oyster mushroom reduce activity of key enzymes linked with carbohydrate degradation. Supplemented diets with shiitake and oyster mushroom enhance antioxidant status of the diabetic rats.