Effects of Catechin, Quercetin and Taxifolin on Redox Parameters and Metabolites Linked with Renal Health in Rotenone-toxified Rats.

Nephrotoxicity, with the attendant risk of progression to kidney failure, is a growing problem in many parts of the world. Current orthodox treatment options for nephrotoxicity and kidney failure are limited and there is need for alternative or complementary approaches. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of three structurally related flavonoids, catechin, quercetin and taxifolin on renal redox and metabolite biochemical disturbances in rotenone intoxicated animals. Male Wistar rats were administered 1.5 mg/kg rotenone (s.c.) for ten days followed by post-treatment with catechin (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg), quercetin (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg) and taxifolin (0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) (s.c.), for 3 days. Renal redox indices and levels of renal-related metabolites (creatinine, urea and uric acid) were assessed after sacrifice of animals. Catechin, quercetin and taxifolin significantly attenuated rotenone-induced effects on oxidative stress markers and metabolites linked to renal health.  Quercetin was clearly more effective than catechin. The activity demonstrated by taxifolin, despite being administered at the lowest doses, was compelling. The results highlight the potential of these phytochemicals in the management of renal dysfunction. The findings additionally suggest a correlation between the structure of the flavonoids and their activity but also indicate that additional structural considerations beyond conventionally acknowledged ones may be involved.

Ethanol-induced male infertility: Effects of aqueous leaf extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum.

This study investigated the effects of Tetracarpidium conophorum leaf extract on infertility induced by ethanol in male rats. Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals each: Group 1 (positive control) received 0.9% saline only; Group 2 (ethanol alone) were given only 30% ethanol orally at 7 ml/kg body weight per day, thrice in a week; groups 3, 4 and 5 were given ethanol and co-treated with 50, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract, respectively, while Group 6 was given ethanol and co-treated with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate. Ethanol treatment resulted in significant (p < .05) decrease in LDH activity, G-6PDH activity, glycogen content, 3ß and 17ß HSD activities and testicular and epididymal Zn and Se contents and furthermore decrease in testicular sperm count, viability and marked increment in total sperm abnormalities, rate of sperm analysis parameters and consequently decreased reproductive hormone levels. Interestingly, co-administration of ethanol with either T. conophorum extract or drug almost ameliorated the toxic assault imposed by ethanol on reproductive organs and improved seminal qualities of the rats.

Tetracarpidium conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats.

BACKGROUND: Tetracarpidium conophorum (Mull. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalz is one of the many medicinal plants used for ages in folklore as male fertility enhancers. The current study evaluates the effect of the plant leaf extract on alcohol - induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals each; Group 1 (positive control) received normal saline only; Group 2 (ethanol alone) were given only 30 % ethanol orally at 7 ml/kg body weight per day, thrice in a week; Group 3, 4, 5 were given ethanol and co-treated with 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract respectively while Group 6 were given ethanol and co-treated with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate. All the drugs were given daily and the experiment lasted for twenty one consecutive days. RESULTS: Alcohol ingestion resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in water, food intake and marked elevation of lipid peroxidation as assessed by the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the reproductive tissues. Precisely, MDA level was elevated in the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland by 81 %, 63 %, 95 % and 91 %, respectively. Furthermore, levels of total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the reproductive tissues were significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced in ethanol-ingested rats. Interestingly, co-administration of T. conophorum with ethanol led to almost complete inhibition of lipid peroxidation thereby enhancing antioxidant status of the reproductive tissues. CONCLUSION: Overall, T. conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats and its ameliorative effect comparable well with the fertility drug, clomiphene citrate.

Possible involvement of membrane lipids peroxidation and oxidation of catalytically essential thiols of the cerebral transmembrane sodium pump as component mechanisms of iron-mediated oxidative stress-linked dysfunction of the pump's activity.

The precise molecular events defining the complex role of oxidative stress in the inactivation of the cerebral sodium pump in radical-induced neurodegenerative diseases is yet to be fully clarified and thus still open. Herein we investigated the modulation of the activity of the cerebral transmembrane electrogenic enzyme in Fe(2+)-mediated in vitro oxidative stress model. The results show that Fe(2+) inhibited the transmembrane enzyme in a concentration dependent manner and this effect was accompanied by a biphasic generation of aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation. While dithiothreitol prevented both Fe(2+) inhibitory effect on the pump and lipid peroxidation, vitamin E prevented only lipid peroxidation but not inhibition of the pump. Besides, malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibited the pump by a mechanism not related to oxidation of its critical thiols. Apparently, the low activity of the pump in degenerative diseases mediated by Fe(2+) may involve complex multi-component mechanisms which may partly involve an initial oxidation of the critical thiols of the enzyme directly mediated by Fe(2+) and during severe progression of such diseases; aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation such as MDA may further exacerbate this inhibitory effect by a mechanism that is likely not related to the oxidation of the catalytically essential thiols of the ouabain-sensitive cerebral electrogenic pump.

Inhibition of key markers linked with spermatogenesis and cellular ATP by subchronic exposure to leachate in a rat model.

Few or no studies have measured the toxic effects of subchronic exposure to leachate using key markers linked with spermatogenesis and cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in an experimental rat model. This study was undertaken to evaluate the toxic effects of leachate obtained from the Elewi Odo municipal battery-recycling site (EOMABRL) on male reproductive function using testicular hormones and biomarker of cellular ATP. EOMABRL was administered at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% concentrations to adult male rats for 60 days. After exposure, serum was collected for hormonal biochemistry assays, and testes were collected to determine the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Exposure of animals to EOMABRL resulted in a 519.7, 285.7, 569.1, 606.1, and 1,793.2% increase in XO activity with a sequential decrease in LDH activity (marker of cellular ATP) by 44.1, 55.9, 61.4, 69.3, and 89.7%, respectively, compared with the control. Furthermore, EOMABRL caused a significant inhibitory effect on serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone levels. We conclude that some possible mechanisms by which EOMABRL elicits toxicity in male rat testes could be through inhibition of LDH activity and depletion of serum hormone levels.

Rutin and quercetin show greater efficacy than nifedipin in ameliorating hemodynamic, redox, and metabolite imbalances in sodium chloride-induced hypertensive rats.

Rutin and quercetin were investigated for their effects on blood pressure and antioxidant defense system of rats fed with 8% sodium chloride-supplemented diet (high salt diet) for 6 weeks. Animals fed with high salt diet demonstrated an increase in systolic, diastolic, pulse, and mean arterial blood pressures (p < 0.05) as well as lipid peroxidation but decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes compared with control group. Groups post-treated with rutin and quercetin for 2 weeks showed significant reversals in the values of these indices compared with the group fed with only the high salt diet but not post-treated. The high salt diet also led to significant increase in serum glucose, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, low-density-lipoprotein, and total cholesterol concentrations. Treatment with rutin and quercetin ameliorated the effects of high salt diet on these biochemical indices. The reference standard, nifedipin was less effective than rutin and quercetin. The results of this study highlight the risk of high salt consumption on cardiovascular health and the potent antioxidant and antihypertensive property of rutin and quercetin.

Anticancer and antiradical scavenging activity of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae).

Ageratum conyzoides has been used in folklore for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. In the present investigation, the in vitro activity of ethanol, petroleum ether, ethylacetate, butanol, and water extracts of A. conyzoides were screened in some cancer cell lines using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. These cell lines include: Human non-small cell lung carcinoma (A-549), human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29), human gastric carcinoma (SGC-7901), human golima (U-251), human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-231), human prostate carcinoma (DU-145), human hepatic carcinoma (BEL-7402), and mouse leukemia (P-388) cancer cell lines. Furthermore, kaempferol was isolated from the ethylacetate extract and the structure was elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy. The effect of DPPH antiradical activity on the extracts and kaempferol was also determined. The results showed that ethylacetate extract exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity on A-549 and P-388 cancer cells with IC(50) values of 0.68 and 0.0003 mug/ml, respectively. Kaempferol isolated from the ethylacetate extract of A. conyzoides rapidly scavenged DPPH at a concentration of 130.07 +/- 17.36 g/kg. The result therefore showed that A. conyzoides possessed anticancer and antiradical properties.

Coagulants modulate the antioxidant properties & hypocholesterolemic effect of tofu (curdled soymilk).

The recent increase in Soymilk and tofu (coagulated soymilk) consumption especially in Western Country is due to the recognition of the health benefits of soy foods; consumption of soybean would prevent heart diseases. In Nigeria Calcium salt, alum and steep water from pap production are usually used as coagulant in tofu production. The effect of those coagulants on the antioxidant properties of tofu and serum cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) level of albino rats fed tofu for 14 days is been assessed. The result of the study revealed that there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the tofu yield (17.6-18.3%), however steep water coagulated tofu had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) total phenol (12.0 g/kg) content, reducing power (0.6 OD700) and DPPH free radical scavenging ability (69.1%) than tofu produced using other coagulants. Furthermore, feeding albino rats with tofu and water ad libitum for 14 days caused a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the serum cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins when compared with the control, while there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the average daily feed intake of the rats. Conversely, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the serum high-density lipoproteins when compared with the control. However, rats fed steep water coagulated tofu had the lowest serum level of cholesterol and LDL level followed by those fed CaCl2 and alum coagulated tofu respectively, while those fed with calcium chloride coagulated tofu had the highest serum HDL level, and closely followed by those fed steep water coagulated tofu. It was therefore concluded that of all the coagulant, steep water appeared to be the most promising coagulant with regard to the production of tofu with higher antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic effect.

Chemical profile and amino acids composition of edible mushrooms Pleurotus sajor-caju.

Two varieties of Pleurotus sajor-caju, obtained from the wild and cultivated (on shredded corncobs) were separated into cap and stalk and analysed on dry weight basis. The proximate composition (g/100 g) showed that both varieties were highly concentrated in crude protein. The cultivated cap (Cc) was found to accumulate higher concentration of crude protein (26.34%) and ash (10.37%) than the wild cap (Wc), which had higher crude fat (3.90%) and crude fibre (16.32%) concentrations while the wild stalk (Ws) contained the highest concentration of crude fibre (26.14%). Amino acid analysis showed the mushroom protein to be a rich source of nutritionally useful essential amino acids with leucine as the most abundant occurring in highest concentration (mg/g) in the Cc (64.8 +/- 0.24). Methionine and cysteine concentrations were low as confirmed by their chemical scores (0.29-0.59). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the distribution of amino acids in the mushroom varieties and parts. The total essential amino acid (TEAA) in the cultivated range between 42.91-43.69% while in the wild it was between 42.90-43.73 % of the total amino acid content. The amino acid concentration was a function of mushroom variety and part selected.

Protective effect of some tropical vegetables against CCl4-induced hepatic damage.

In the present study, ethanolic extracts of some tropical vegetables were investigated for their hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. CCl4 at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg of body weight produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total protein in serum (40.60 +/- 3.50 IU/L, 80.60 +/- 5.10 IU/L, and 73.20 +/- 1.87 g/L, respectively) and in liver homogenate (1,300.00 +/- 7.38 IU/L, 1,660.00 +/- 13.69 IU/L, and 250.00 +/- 7.51 g/L, respectively) compared to the control. The extracts at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight were administered to the CCl4-treated rats. The vegetables at a dose of 250 mg/kg of body weight produced a significant hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the serum levels of ALT, AST, and total protein to values in the range of 11.21 +/- 1.90-16.22 +/- 1.00 IU/L, 29.00 +/- 2.70-48.00 +/- 2.10 IU/L, and 62.10 +/- 2.40-70.13 +/- 2.00 g/L and at a dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight to 13.00 +/- 1.20-21.00 +/- 1.30 IU/L, 40.00 +/- 2.5-59.00 +/- 2.20 IU/L, and 68.00 +/- 2.40-72.00 +/- 2.10 g/L, respectively. Similar results were obtained for liver homogenate levels of ALT, AST, and total protein with decreasing values compared with the CCl4-treated rats: 900.00 +/- 3.05-1,020.00 +/- 4.25 IU/L, 1,150.00 +/- 5.57-1,530.00 +/- 4.99 IU/L, and 150.00 +/- 3.12-185.00 +/- 3.00 g/L and 900.00 +/- 3.05-1,030.00 +/- 8.80 IU/L, 1,400.00 +/- 6.95-1,530.00 +/- 8.50 IU/L, and 165.0 +/- 5.50-210.00 +/- 4.41 g/L, respectively, at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of the extracts on lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde (MDA), was estimated on the liver homogenate. A significant hepatoprotective effect was also noticed with a decreased value of the MDA levels: 46.00 +/- 0.08-52.00 +/- 0.06 and 47.00 +/- 0.07-60.00 +/- 0.10 nmol of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances/g of liver protein at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. It could be concluded that all the evaluated vegetables exhibit good hepatoprotective activities, though to varying degrees.

Nutritional quality of sandbox tree (Hura crepitans Linn.).

Antinutrient, proximate, mineral, fatty acid, vitamin, and amino acid analyses of sandbox tree (Hura crepitans) seeds were carried out. The results of antinutrient analysis showed that H. crepitans seed contains alkaloid (5.0 +/- 0.2 mg/100 g), tannins (5.0 +/- 0.3 mg/100 g), phytate (53.0 +/- 6.0 mg/100 g), cardiac glycoside (1890.0 +/- 1.5 mg/100 g), and saponin (2.2 +/- 0.1 mg/100 g). Its trypsin inhibitor activity was found to be 30.27 +/- 1.86 TIU/mg of protein. The results of proximate analysis showed that H. crepitans seed is very rich in crude protein (25.16 +/- 0.22%), crude oil (51.43 +/- 0.22%), and energy content (2,621.891 +/- 6.357 kJ/100 g). H. crepitans seed also contains 1.85 ppm Na, 3.4 ppm K, 0.088 ppm Ca, and trace amounts of Mg, Fe, and Zn. The results also showed that H. crepitans oil contains 20.12% oleic acid, followed by stearic acid (3.0%), while linoleic acid is present at the lowest level (0.03%) among the other acids. The Hura oil has a high saponification value (127.16 +/- 0.18 mg/g) and low acid value (3.56 +/- 0.16 mg/g). The results also showed that the average molecular weight of glycerides is higher in the oil as reflected by the ester value (123.6 +/- 0.73 mg/g). The iodine value of Hura oil was found to be 65.62 +/- 0.73%. A low peroxide value (6.6 +/- 0.2 mg/g) was observed in Hura oil. The results showed that H. crepitans seed contains 328.1 IU of vitamin A/100 g, 0.398 mg of vitamin E/100 g, and 0.26 mg of vitamin K/100 g. The results also showed that H. crepitans seed is very rich in glutamate (14.41 g/100 g of protein) and deficient in cysteine (0.78 g/100 g of protein). Among the essential amino acids, arginine has the highest value (5.97 g/100 g of protein). This is followed by leucine, at 4.16 g/100 g of protein. Therefore, H. crepitans seed is a nutritionally promising seed.

Anti-trichomonal, biochemical and toxicological activities of methanolic extract and some carbazole alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Murraya koenigii growing in Nigeria.

The methanolic extract of Murraya koenigii leaf was screened for toxicological and biochemical effects on rats because of the folkloric uses as an anti-dysentery and anti-diabetes. The extract was moderately toxic (LD(50)=316.23 mg/kg body weight) to rats and had appreciable effect on the liver and kidney at higher doses leading to liver inflammation. It had little or no effect on haematology and relative organ weight of lungs, heart and spleen. Acute doses (500 mg/kg) reduced significantly serum globulin, albumin, urea, glucose, total protein, aspartate transaminase (AST), and increased cholesterol and alanine transaminase (ALT) indicating hepatic injury. However, chronic administration for 14 days gave a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the serum cholesterol, glucose, urea, bilirubin, ALT and AST showing that the plant has hypoglycaemic and hepatoprotective effects after prolonged use. The activity demonstrated by some of the isolated carbazole alkaloids and their derivatives against Trichomonas gallinae confirmed that the anti-trichomonal activity of the leaf may be due to its carbazole alkaloids. The order of activity was C(18)>C(23)>C(13). Girinimbine and girinimbilol with IC(50) values of 1.08 and 1.20 microg/ml were the most active. Acetylation of girinimbilol and mahanimbilol improved their activities to 0.60 and 1.08 microg/ml.

Change in the ascorbic acid, total phenol and antioxidant activity of sun-dried commonly consumed green leafy vegetables in Nigeria.

Sun-drying of green leafy vegetables is popularly practised in many homes in Nigeria, as a way of preserving green leafy vegetables for future use. This project sought to investigate the effect of this method of preservation of vegetables on the antioxidant phytoconstituent (Vitamin C and Total phenol) and activity (reducing property and free radical scavenging ability) of some commonly consumed green leafy vegetables in Nigeria namely Structium sparejanophora (Ewuro-odo), Amarantus cruentus (Atetedaye), Telfairia occidentalis (Ugu), Baselia allia (Amunu tutu), Solanum macrocarpon (Igbagba), Corchorus olitorius (Ewedu), Vernonia anygdalina (Ewuro) and Occimum graticimum (Efinrin). The edible portions of the green leafy vegetables were sun-dried for seven days before determining the Vitamin C and total phenol content, as well as the reducing property and free radical scavenging ability. The result of the study revealed that sun-drying of green leafy vegetables cause a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the Vitamin C content (16.67-64.68% loss). Conversely it leads to a significant increase in the total phenol content (6.45-223.08% gain), reducing property (16.00-362.50% gain) and free radical scavenging ability (126.00-5757.00% gain) of the green leafy vegetables. It could therefore be concluded that a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in Vitamin C content caused by sun- drying will not reduce the antioxidant activity of the green leafy vegetable, moreover, the phenol constituent of the green leafy vegetables contributes more to the antioxidant properties of vegetables than ascorbic acid, as its increase on sun-drying cause a significant (P < 0.05) increases in the antioxidant properties of the green leafy vegetables, irrespective of the decrease in the ascorbic acid content.

Dynamics of the iodine-goitrogen balance in the thyroid status of catfish from selected fresh and brackish water bodies.

The study was designed to investigate the dynamics of the goitrogen-iodine balance in Igbokoda brackish and Ogbese fresh water bodies in Ondo State, Nigeria. The parameters determined include iodine, thiocyanate, chloride, nitrate, calcium, magnesium hardness, calcium hardness, total hardness, and total coliform counts in water, sediment and/or fish (flesh and serum). The fish were subjected to a number of treatments (boiling with water or sodium chloride solution, frying or roasting) prior to analysis. The iodine level (microg I/100g) in the flesh of fish varied with size, treatment and location; it increased with size, was reduced by some treatments (boiling with either water or NaCl solution), while frying and roasting did not affect the level. The least values were 93.45 (Ogbese fish boiled with NaCl solution) and 160.94 (Igbokoda fish boiled with either water or NaCl solution). On the whole, Igbokoda (160.94-314.08) had higher values than Ogbese (93.45-205.06). Serum iodine (microg I/100mL) was equally higher in Igbokoda (5.00-9.00) compared to Ogbese (2.80-5.00). Only the large sized fish of Ogbese recorded a value of 5.00 micromol/L for thiocyanate while this parameter was not detected in other samples. The calculated I/goitrogen ratios (I/Ca, I/NO3, I/Cl and I/SCN) were higher for Igbokoda water than Ogbese water with the exception of I/Mg. This was equally reinforced by the total count of coliforms (goitrogenic), which was higher in Ogbese (3.0 x 10(3)) than in Igbokoda (2.7 x 10(3)). These results indicate that the Igbokoda brackish water body would be a better source of iodine than Ogbese fresh water body for the population dependent on them.

Effect of fungi fermentation on organoleptic properties, energy content and in-vitro multienzyme digestibility of cassava products (flour & gari).

The present study sought to investigate the effect of fungi fermentation on the energy content, sensory quality and the digestibility (in vitro) of cassava products (flour and gari). The fungi fermented cassava products (gari and flour) were produced, by fermenting cassava mash with pure strains of some common saprophytes, namely, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae and Saccharomyces spp (Baker's yeast and palm wine yeast) for 72 hrs before processing into cassava flour and gari, the forms in which cassava is popularly consumed in Nigeria. Parameters determined include energy (Bomb calorimetry), digestibility (in vitro) and sensory quality by trained taste panel. The results of the study indicated that fungi fermentation of the cassava mash significantly (P < 0.05) increased the acceptability of the colour, texture, aroma and taste of the "gari", with that of Rhizopus oryzae fermentation having the highest general acceptability. Furthermore, the results also indicated that fungi fermentation of cassava mash significantly increased (P < 0.05) the in vitro multienzyme protein digestibility of the cassava products. In view of this, fungi fermentation could be used to improve the sensory quality and protein digestibility of cassava products without any significant (P > 0.05) effect on the energy-giving role of cassava products.

Toxicological investigation of aqueous-methanolic extract of the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

The aqueous fraction of an aqueous-alcoholic extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyces was given to Wistar albino rats (150-200g) orally as drugs to study the toxicity of the extract. The rats, which were fed with commercial diet and water ad libitum, were divided into six groups of four rats each. Treatments 1 through 6 received 0, 1, 3, 5, 10 and 15 doses of 250 mg/kg each, respectively; the control group received physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). Results of the studies showed that the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were significantly (P<0.05) increased in all the treatments compared with the control group. However, the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Only the group with 15 doses had their serum level of albumin significantly (P<0.05) increased. However, the results of histopathological studies showed that both the livers and hearts gave no pathological features for all the treatments. The results showed that prolong usage of this extract at 15-dose level could cause liver injury while the effect was mild at small dose levels (1-10). Though the average consumption of 150-180 mg/kg per day appears safe, the extract should be taken with caution bearing in mind that higher doses could affect the liver.

Prediction of nutritional status by chemical analysis of urine and anthropometric methods.

A combination of anthropometric and chemical indices was used to investigate the nutritional status of 26 healthy (H) and kwashiorkor (K) children aged 2-5 years and possibly predict the onset of malnutrition. The healthy children had significantly (p>0.05) higher values for weight, height, middle upper arm circumference and weight/height ratio than kwashiorkor children. The healthy children had significantly higher urinary concentrations of urea, inorganic sulphate and sulphate relative to creatinine, but significantly lower thiocyanate and thiocyanate relative to creatinine than the kwashiorkor children. The results of the present study would tend to indicate that a chemical analysis especially of urea, inorganic sulphate or thiocyanate alone or the urea/creatinine, inorganic sulphate/creatinine or thiocynate/creatinine ratio could be used to predict malnutrition after the initial anthropometric measurements. This study should however be repeated with a large population of volunteers to determine the specific cut-off points for each anthropometric and chemical analysis.

Parameters of thyroid function in the endemic goitre of Akungba and Oke-Agbe villages of Akoko area of southwestern Nigeria.

The parameters of thyroid function were determined in Akungba and Oke-Agbe communities of Akoko area, where goiter is endemic and compared to a control population of Erinmo and Ifewara in Ijesha area, both areas being in southwestern Nigeria. The two study areas have similar physical and geological settings. However, while the main carbohydrate source of the control population are yam and/or bread-fruit, the Akoko population derives her carbohydrates mainly from cassava which could lead to increased serum thiocyanate, a goitrogen. The serum level of tetraiodothyronine (T4) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Ifewara (11.0) and Erinmo (11.8) compared to Akungba (7.1) and Oke-Agbe (8.8[symbol: see text]micrograms/dL). The triiodothyronine (T3) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Ifewara (193) than Erinmo (133) and also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Oke-Agbe (127) compared to Akungba (107 mg/dL). Conversely, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (microU/mL) level was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than values obtained from Ifewara (4.5) and Erinmo (3.3). T3/T4 ratio above 25, indicative of hypothyroidism and endemic goiter, was 14, 7, 4 and 0% from Akungba, Oke-Agbe, Ifewara and Erinmo, respectively. The results of the present study clearly explain the Akoko goiter endemia in the light of modification (s) of thyroid metablism.

Cassava processing, consumption, and cyanide toxicity.

The frequency of cassava consumption was investigated among three groups of people representing students from traditional and nontraditional cassava-consuming environments and cassava processors. Of these, 64% of the students at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 38% of those at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and 44% of the cassava processors consumed cassava products at least once a day, while 4, 35, and 28% of the groups, respectively, were moderate consumers (4-6 times a week). The serum thiocyanate level of the processors was significantly higher (0.57 mg/dl) than those of the students (0.38 mg/dl), but there was no significant difference in the urinary thiocyanate level of the three groups. Analysis of cassava and its intermediate and final products for free cyanide, acetone cyanohydrin, and intact glucosides during the production of such cassava products as gari, fufu, and lafun revealed that while the finished products might be safe for human consumption, the workers were probably exposed at different stages of processing to nondietary sources of cyanide.