African Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research

Swimming Away the Damage: Exercise Combats Alcohol-Induced Liver Stress in Wistar Rats

Abdul-kareem Y. I — 2024-09-02

This study investigated the impact of forced swimming exercise on alcohol-induced oxidative stress biomarkers and liver histo-architecture in Wistar rats (mean weight 150 to 200g). The rats were randomly assigned to four groups of five: normal control, exercise only, alcohol only, and exercise plus alcohol. The control group received 0.9% saline for 5 days a week over 12 weeks. The exercise group underwent forced swimming for 5 minutes daily, 5 days a week, for 12 weeks. The alcohol group was given 20% ethanol orally at a dose of 2.0 g/kg body weight. The exercise plus alcohol group received both treatments as described for the exercise and alcohol groups. At the end of the exposure period, all animals were euthanized, and blood and liver tissue samples were collected for analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers (SOD, CAT, GPx, and MDA) and liver histo-architecture. The ethanol-exposed group showed significantly elevated oxidative stress markers, whereas the normal, exercise, and exercise plus alcohol groups exhibited decreased levels. Marked hepatocellular necrosis and perivascular inflammation were observed in the ethanol group, along with moderate central vein congestion. In contrast, the normal and exercise groups displayed normal hepatocellular architecture with no inflammatory cells and clear central veins. The exercise plus alcohol group showed largely normal liver architecture, with very mild necrotic cells, no inflammatory cells, and a clearly visible central vein, indicating that exercise mitigated alcohol-induced liver changes in adult male Wistar rats. These findings suggest that exercise training can alleviate oxidative stress and prevent liver architecture damage following chronic alcohol consumption, potentially helping to prevent liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Prediction Model Based on Transfer Characteristics of Heavy Metals from Soils to Yam Tubers Grown in Wukari Farmland

Augustina Achimugu — 2024-09-02

Heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils poses a significant threat to human health because these elements accumulate in food crops. The study's aim was to make a prediction model based on the soil's properties that would show how well yam tubers would take up six heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in Wukari farmland soils. Soil and plant samples were collected from different locations within Wukari, and the physiochemical properties of the soils, along with the concentration of heavy metals, were determined. For the yam tubers, the samples were peeled, washed, dried, pulverized, and then analyzed for heavy metals with the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Step-wise linear regression analysis was employed to develop a prediction model to estimate the potential uptake of heavy metals by yam tubers based on the soil properties. The results showed that the farmland sample soils are sandy loamy and slightly alkaline, with a mean pH of about 7.88. The prediction model demonstrated good performance in predicting the uptake of all six heavy metals, with R² ranging from 0.683 (Pb) to 0.998 (Zn) in the fitted empirical model. This work's findings will provide other researchers with a cost-effective tool for assessing potential contamination based on readily available soil data.

Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Sediment of River Benue Troughs, Benue State, Nigeria

Idris Habiba Adam — 2024-09-09

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants with significant ecological and health implications. This study investigates the presence and risks of microplastics (MPs) in the River Benue, Nigeria, using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Water and sediment samples were collected from five locations along the river, with FTIR analysis revealing key functional groups such as alcohols, alkenes, amines, and carbonyls. Specifically, water samples from one site showed peaks at 3320 cm⁻¹ (O-H stretch, indicating alcohols) and 1640 cm⁻¹ (C=C stretch, indicating alkenes), while another site exhibited peaks at 3264 cm⁻¹ (N-H stretch, indicating amines) and 1640 cm⁻¹ (C=C stretch, indicating alkenes). Sediment samples showed significant peaks at 3622 cm⁻¹ (O-H stretch, indicating alcohols and phenols) and 2326 cm⁻¹ (C=N stretch, indicating nitriles). The Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Risk Quotient (RQ) analyses confirmed varying levels of microplastic contamination, with potential environmental and health risks due to the leaching of toxic additives. The study underscores the need for continuous monitoring, stricter pollution control, and public education to mitigate microplastic pollution in this vital waterway.

Enhancing the Extraction of 6-Gingerol from Zingiber officinale Rhizomes Using Dry Vacuum Evaporation to Improve Bioavailability

Okafor A. I — 2024-09-09

This study optimized the extraction and purification of 6-gingerol from ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizomes through a multi-step process. Initially, cold maceration ethanol extraction was performed, followed by hexane defatting to remove impurities. Further purification was achieved through liquid-liquid extraction using a sequential solvent system of chloroform and ethyl acetate. The resulting extract was then fractionated using silica gel column chromatography with methanol, and finally concentrated using dry vacuum evaporation to minimize heat-induced degradation. HPLC analysis confirmed a significant concentration of 6-gingerol (33 mg/g) in the final extract. Thus, optimized method demonstrates an effective approach to produce high-quality ginger extracts enriched in 6-gingerol, with potential applications in pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products.

Recent Application of Enzymes and Microbes in Bioremediation

Emmanuel Afen Eneji — 2024-09-09

Chemicals used in industry and military, along with poor waste management, cause soil, water, and air pollution. Pollutants pose health risks due to their resistance to degradation processes. Conventional methods are costly and generate secondary pollution. Bioremediation offers eco-friendly alternatives using enzymes and nanotechnology for efficient pollutant removal either in situ or ex sit. Microorganisms play a crucial role in bioremediation by converting toxic elements into less harmful compounds through processes like mineralization. They can survive in diverse environments and utilize various substrates, making them efficient in removing pollutants. Microbes utilize mechanisms like immobilization and mobilization to remove pollutants from the environment, with different types of bacteria specializing in degrading specific pollutants. Enzyme engineering involves manipulating biomolecules and processes for biotechnological applications. Two main strategies are rational design, requiring prior knowledge, and directed evolution, mimicking natural selection in a controlled manner. Rational design combines microorganisms or enzymes for specific reactions, while directed evolution creates gene variants through random mutagenesis for desired characteristics. Both methods aim to improve enzymes for bioremediation applications.

Effect of Heavy Metals and Risk Analysis on Arable Farmlands in Selected Local Government Areas of Southern Taraba State, Nigeria

Bilyaminu Habibu — 2024-09-09

Heavy metals are naturally occurring metallic elements that have a relatively high density compared to water. In most of the continent including Africa, the lack of food quality usually stand to be one of the major problem in which most of the food items are laden with lots of pollutants from heavy metals. Soil is said to be the reservoir of nutrients as well as pollutants. These pollutants have been implicated in causing lots of Health issues on human and Animals. Agricultural soil plays major role in food safety, food scarcity and food security, consumption of contaminated foods has serious implication on Human and Animals health. Heavy metals are potential environmental pollutants which are toxic to the human health. When present in an Arable land, they have the ability to bio-accumulate in the soil then to crops and eventually get to humans through food consumption. This study is able to evaluate the effect of heavy metals and risk analysis of arable farmlands in some selected local government areas of southern Taraba state (Donga, Wukari and Takum). All samples were processed, and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, and As) concentration were assayed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed that Chromium had a high concentration across all the studied areas with values ranging from 1.40 mg/kg to 2.25 mg/kg. However, Cadmium followed with values ranging from 0.04 mg/kg to 0.07 mg/kg and Arsenic with values ranging from 0.03 mg/kg to 0.06 mg/kg while Lead and Mercury had the lowest concentration of less than 0.03 mg/kg across the three LGAs. Ecological Risk Assessments parameters; Target Cancer Risk, Hazard Index (HI) and Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) were determined to assess the non-carcinogenic health risk. Takum recorded the highest levels of HM having the highest health risk followed by Wukari, whereas Donga had the lowest. Consistent use of crops harvested from the sampled location may pose a serious health challenge; bio-accumulation of toxicants in the soil across the studied areas may pose a health risk due to high concentration of heavy metals which are known to generate free radicals that may lead to oxidative stress and other cellular damages in humans.