Differential Expression of Platelet Activation Markers, CD62P and CD63, after Exposure to Breast Cancer Cells Treated with Kigelia Africana, Ximenia Caffra and Mimusops Zeyheri Seed Oils In Vitro.

Cancer patients, including breast cancer patients, live in a hypercoagulable state. Chemo- and hormone- therapy used in the treatment of breast cancer increases the risk of thrombosis. Due to differences in health care services between developed and developing countries, the survival rate of women with breast cancer in developing countries is low. Consequently, ethnomedicines are used and their efficacy as potential alternatives are being scientifically explored. The seed oils of Kigelia africana, Ximenia caffra and Mimusops zeyheri have anti-proliferative effects on hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and cytotoxic effects on hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. In this study, we determined if these seed oils reduce the thrombogenic ability of breast cancer cells by measuring the platelet surface expression of the activation-specific antigens CD62P and CD63. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were pretreated with the seed oils before being exposed to whole blood of human female volunteers. An increase in CD62P and CD63 expression following whole blood exposure to untreated breast cancer cells was observed. Treated MDA-MB-231 cells reduced CD62P and CD63 expression while treated MCF-7 cells increased CD62P and decreased CD63 expression. Kigelia africana, Ximenia caffra and Mimusops zeyheri seed oils are able to reduce the thrombogenic ability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Comparison of the histology of the skin of the Windsnyer, Kolbroek and Large White pigs.

The skin is a protective barrier, and an endocrine, sensory and thermoregulatory organ. We investigated whether the skin of local pigs had beneficial anatomical traits compared to exotic pigs to withstand the increased heat loads predicted under future climate change scenarios. Full-thickness skin specimens were obtained from the dorsal interscapular, lateral thoraco-abdominal and ventral abdominal regions of intact boars (age 6-8 months) of two local breeds of pigs (Windsnyer [n = 5] and Kolbroek [n = 4]) and an exotic pig breed (Large White [n = 7]). The skin sections were stained with a one-step Mallory-Heidenhain stain and Fontana stain (melanin). Sweat gland perimeter was measured using Image J software. The Windsnyer breed had the thinnest dermis layer while the Large White had the thickest dermis layer across all the three body regions (analysis of variance [ANOVA]; p < 0.001). The Windsnyers had widely spaced dermal pegs compared to the other breeds. The Windsnyers had significantly more superficial and larger (~1 mm depth; 4.4 mm perimeter) sweat glands than the Kolbroek (~3 mm depth; 2.2 mm perimeter) and Large White (~4 mm depth; 2.0 mm perimeter) pigs (ANOVA; p < 0.001). The Windsnyers had visibly more melanin in the basal layer, the Kolbroek pigs had very little and the Large Whites had none. The functionality of the sweat glands of the Windsnyer breed needs to be established. The skin from the Windsnyer breed possesses traits that may confer a protective advantage for the increased solar radiation and ambient temperatures predicted with climate change.

Effects of Dietary Ximenia caffra Meal on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance and Growth Performance in Sprague Dawley Rats Modelling Monogastrics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The sub-saharan livestock feed industry depends on imported soyabean meal (SBM) as a dietary protein source in feeds thus making livestock production costly. This calls for the search and development of local dietary protein sources. Using Sprague Dawley rats to model monogastric animals, this study evaluated the potential of Ximenia caffra kernel meal (XCKM) to substitute SBM as a dietary protein source in feeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five diets were formulated wherein XCKM replaced SBM on a crude protein basis at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%. In the digestibility trial, 20 adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to the 5 diets. After a 12-day adaptation period feed and nutrient intake, faeces and urine output were determined over a 5-day collection period. Apparent Total Tract Digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and nitrogen absorption and retention were determined. In the growth trial, 40 weanling male SD rats were randomly assigned to the five dietary treatments and fed for 38 days. The rats were weighed twice weekly. Following euthanasia, gastrointestinal viscera were harvested and their macro-morphometry determined. Linear growth was determined from tibiae and femora indices. RESULTS: In adult rats dietary XCKM had no (p>0.05) effect on ATTD of nutrients. At 100% substitution of SBM, XCKM increased (p<0.05) faecal nitrogen loss while at 75% substitution level it increased (p<0.05) nitrogen retention. In growing SD rats, although dietary XCKM had no effect (p>0.05) on the terminal body and empty carcass mass and viscera macro-morphometry, at 100% SBM substitution, it significantly compromised (p<0.05) body mass gain and average daily gain. Femora and tibiae mass and seed or index significantly decreased (p<0.05) with increased dietary XCKM. CONCLUSION: The XCKM could replace SBM as a dietary protein source in adult SD rat feeds without compromising ATTD digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen utilization thus it could be speculated that XCKM can be utilized as a dietary protein source in feeds of mature monogastrics. Caution must be exercised in using XCKM in grower rat diets as its use at higher inclusion levels compromised growth performance and long bone health.

Phytochemistry, pharmacology and ethnomedicinal uses of Ficus thonningii (Blume Moraceae): a review.

The common wild fig, Ficus thonningii, is extensively used in African ethnomedicine for treating a number of disease conditions which include diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, gonorrhoea, respiratory infections, and mental illnesses. This review aims to present a logical analysis of the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of F. thonningii in relation to its therapeutic applications. A bibliographic analysis of the uses, phytochemical constituents and phytophamacological properties of Ficus thonningii was carried out using published papers, medicinal plant databases and various ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological books. Ficus thonningii contains various bioactive compounds which include alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and active proteins, all of which contribute to its curative properties. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies revealed that F. thonningii possesses antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal, antihelmintic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Acute and sub-chronic toxicity studies have shown that Ficus thonningii is non-toxic if administered orally in low doses. Scientific research has validated the ethnomedicinal claims that Ficus thonningii is useful in disease management. However, there is need to continue identifying, isolating and quantifying the active principles and possibly determine the mechanisms underlying its curative properties.

Suppression of Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation by Kigelia africana, Mimusops zeyheri and Ximenia caffra seed oils.

Animal-derived oils and purified fatty acids, but not indigenous fruit-tree-derived seed oils, have been used to study cell growth and differentiation. In this study, we determined the effects of the Kigelia africana, the Mimusops zeyheri and the Ximenia caffra seed-oil on cell proliferation in culture. Human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells were maintained and treated with various concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, 100 and 120 mg/l) of K. africana, M. zehyeri and X. caffra seed oil. The trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine cell growth 48-hours after oil treatment. All three tree seed oils suppressed both Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, the tree seed oils did not cause increased cell death as the number of dead cells remained unchanged under control and oil-treated conditions. K. africana oil significantly suppressed Caco-2 cell growth compared to HEK-293 cell growth at all oil concentrations, whereas M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils significantly suppressed HEK-293 and Caco-2 cell growth, only at a concentration of 80 mg/l. The suppression of Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation by K. africana, M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils suggest a potential antiproliferative effect of these tree seed oils on the two cell lines.