Browsing by Author "Brooks, Nicole L."

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    The beneficial role of Anchomanes difformis in STZ-induced reproductive dysfunction in male Wistar rats
    (Dove Press, 2020-11) Alabi, Toyin Dorcas; de Villiers, Charon; du Plessis, Stephan S.; Monsees, Thomas K.; Brooks, Nicole L.; Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi Omoniyi
    Background: Progression of diabetes mellitus has increasingly led to several diabetic complications. Diabetes is one of the major factors implicated in male reproductive system damage. Recent approaches such as the use of medicinal plants have been explored in the management of diabetes and associated complications. Anchomanes difformis (common name: children’s umbrella) has been shown to possess anti-diabetic ability in animal model. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the potency of Achomanes difformis in ameliorating diabetes-induced reproductive dysfunction. Method: Type 2 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with 10% fructose administration for 2 weeks and an intraperitoneal injection of 40mg/kgBW of streptozotocin. Aqueous extract (200mg and 400mg/kgBW) of Anchomanes difformis leaves was administered daily for 6 weeks. The rats were randomly divided into 7 groups with a minimum of eight rats in each (8 rats in normal groups and 10 in diabetic groups). The impact of diabetes and treatment was investigated by estimating sperm concentration, motility indices, viability and morphological parameters in the normal, treatment controls and diabetic rats using CASA-SCA system. Histological examination of the testes and epididymis was performed. Results: Diabetes induction resulted in significant decrease in sperm concentration, viability and some motility parameters with 40% abnormalities in sperm morphology. The administration of Anchomanes difformis significantly increased sperm concentration and sperm viability, while it significantly improved the percentage of morphologically normal sperm in diabetic rats. Anchomanes difformis ameliorated testicular damage such as vacuolization and loss of germinal epithelium in the diabetic-treated rats when compared to the diabetic controls. Conclusion: The potency Anchomanes difformis displayed against diabetic-induced damage in the reproductive system might be a new and promising tool in the management of male reproductive dysfunctions and associated complications in diabetes mellitus.
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    Effects of Anchomanes difformis on inflammation, apoptosis, and organ toxicity in STZ-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy
    (MDPI, 2020-02-08) Alabi, Toyin D.; Chegou, Novel N.; Brooks, Nicole L.; Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi O.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Persistent hyperglycemia is known to cause enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species in diabetes. Several inflammatory cytokines are induced by oxidative stress, and their release also leads to increased oxidative stress; this makes oxidative stress one of the important factors in the development of chronic inflammation and other immune responses. These have been implicated in the development of diabetic complications such as nephropathy and cardiomyopathy. Anchomanes difformis has been shown to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials. The present study investigated the immunomodulatory potential and the antiapoptotic ability of Anchomanes difformis to ameliorate heart toxicity and injury in type II diabetes. Two weeks of fructose (10%) administration followed by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg) were used to induce type II diabetes in male Wistar rats. Leaf extract (aqueous) of Anchomanes difformis (200 and 400 mg/kg) was administered orally for six weeks. Blood glucose concentrations and body weights before and after interventions were determined. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were measured in the heart homogenates. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total protein, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) levels were determined. Expressions of transcription factors (Nrf 2 and NFkB/p65) and apoptotic markers were also investigated in the heart. Anchomanes difformis administration reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, increased anti-inflammatory markers, and enhanced antioxidant defense in the heart of diabetic treated animals. Anchomanes difformis is a new, promising therapeutic agent that can be explored for the treatment of pathological conditions associated with immune responses and will be a useful tool in the management of associated diabetic complications.
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    Kolaviron, a Garcinia biflavonoid complex ameliorates hyperglycemia-mediated hepatic injury in rats via suppression of inflammatory responses
    (BioMed Central, 2013-12) Ayepola, Omolola R.; Chegou, Novel N.; Brooks, Nicole L.; Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi O.
    Background: Chronic inflammation plays a crucial role in hyperglycemia-induced liver injury. Kolaviron (KV), a natural biflavonoid from Garcinia kola seeds have been shown to possess anti- inflammatory properties which has not been explored in diabetes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of KV on pro-inflammatory proteins in the liver of diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (50 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats. Kolaviron (100 mg/kg) was administered orally five times a week for six weeks. The concentrations of cytokines and chemokine were measured using Bio-plex Pro™ magnetic bead-based assays (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, USA). Plasma glucose and serum biomarkers of liver dysfunction were analyzed with diagnostic kits in an automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Insulin concentration was estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Result: Kolaviron (100mg/kg) treatment significantly ameliorated hyperglycemia and liver dysfunction. Serum levels of hepatic marker enzymes were significantly reduced in kolaviron treated diabetic rats. Kolaviron prevented diabetes induced increase in the hepatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines; interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the hepatoprotective effects of kolaviron in diabetic rats may be partly associated with its modulating effect on inflammatory responses.