Search Results (3)

Male fertility is strongly affected by the overexpression of free radicals induced by heavy metals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gonado-protective effects of natural compounds. Biochemical and morphological assays were performed on male albino rats divided into five groups: a control group (water only), a group orally exposed to a metal mixture of Pb-Cd-Hg-As alone and three groups co-administered the metal mixture and an aqueous extract of the Nigerian medicinal plant, Anonychium africanum (Prosopis africana, PA), at three different concentrations (500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg) for 60 days. The metal mixture induced a significant rise in testicular weight, metal bioaccumulation, oxidative stress, and pro-inflammatory and apoptotic markers, while the semen analysis indicated a lower viability and a decrease in normal sperm count, and plasma reproductive hormones showed a significant variation. Parallel phytochemical investigations showed that PA has bioactive compounds like phlobatannins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, and alkaloids, which are protective against oxidative injury in neural tissues. Indeed, the presence of PA co-administered with the metal mixture mitigated the toxic metals’ impact, which was determined by observing the oxido-inflammatory response via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, thus boosting male reproductive health. Full article

Cubing machines in food processing have evolved over the years, which have made products like Star^®, Knorr^®, and Chicken^® bouillon cubes become commercially available today, even in many parts of Africa. On the other hand, the fermented mesquite seed “okpeye” food condiment, traditionally produced by well-trained artisans and widely utilised in Nigeria, requires further product development in order to compete with bouillon cubes. Quality comparisons between the cubed “okpeye” condiment and commercially available bouillon cube products have not yet been reported. Therefore, cubing fabrication/costing and machine performance on African fermented “okpeye” condiment quality attributes, compared with commercial bouillon types, were done. The processing of mesquite seeds into the “okpeye” condiment resembled those of artisans. Bouillon cube products involved the Star^®, Knorr^®, and Chicken^® types. Quality attributes involved proximate, micronutrient, phytochemical, and microbial aspects. Results showed that the throughput capacity of a cubing machine increased with an efficiency of 48 condiment cubes/min, forming properly without separation. Across all studied samples, the protein, ash, moisture, crude fat, crude fibre, and carbohydrate contents were in the range of 1.45–42.50%, 5.29–6.75%, 8.50–12.29%, 2.56–18.54%, 2.45–3.19%, and 18.16–25.56%, respectively. The protein, fat, moisture, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese contents of “okpeye” condiment were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of bouillon cubes. Fair amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, and E were found, with the “okpeye” condiment higher in vitamin E. Besides the flavonoids (0.12–0.18%), alkaloids (0.08–0.15%), saponins (0.19–0.55%), and tannins (0.69–0.93%) present, the microbial loads were similar (p > 0.05) across all samples. Indeed, the “okpeye” condiment can be cubed, and by quality attribute, it competes favourably, and very promising substitute to commercial bouillon cubes. Full article

Members of the Prosopis genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The Prosopis species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are P. africana, P. alba, P. cineraria, P. farcta, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, P. nigra, P. ruscifolia and P. spicigera, which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from Prosopis pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world. In addition, various in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed interesting antiplasmodial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and wound healing effects. The phytochemical composition of Prosopis plants, namely their content of C-glycosyl flavones (such as schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin II, vitexin and isovitexin) has been increasingly correlated with the observed biological effects. Thus, given the literature reports, Prosopis plants have positive impact on the human diet and general health. In this sense, the present review provides an in-depth overview of the literature data regarding Prosopis plants’ chemical composition, pharmacological and food applications, covering from pre-clinical data to upcoming clinical studies. Full article