Objective: NADPH oxidase (NOX) is known to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) at physiological concentrations. However, it can be over-activated with some disease conditions and produces excess ROS. Several molecules have shown an ability to suppress the enzyme’s over-activity, although some weaknesses have been found. Hence, the attempt to screen phytochemicals, with the aim of finding the most specific and effective NOX inhibitor. Material and Methods: The study was carried-out via an in-silico approach. First, phytochemicals with antioxidant activity, according to the literature review, were selected and downloaded from the PubChem database in SDF files. NOX with PDB: 2CDU was downloaded from the protein databank. Drug-likeness properties and biological activities were predicted using ADMETMESH and the Predict Activity Spectra of Substances (PASS) software. Phytochemical-NOX interactions were performed via molecular docking, whereas, docked conformations and bond residue amino acids were analyzed using Protein-plus software. Results: The result of this study predicted 13 phytochemicals with drug-likeness properties, out of which 9 showed NOX-inhibitory activity. Docking results predicted all of the 9 phytochemicals were capable of interacting with NOX, by binding to at least one amino acid. The reference inhibitor (Apocynin, -8.3 kcal/mol) and some phytochemicals (caffeic, eriodictyol, hesperetin, and morin with ΔG -6.1 to -7.7 kcal/mol) were predicted to have bonded to Ser115, via hydrogen bonding. On the other hand, epicatechin gallate and quercetin with ΔG −8.7 and −8.1 kcal/mol did not bind to Ser115, but rather through other amino acids. Conclusion: This study has led to the prediction of phytochemicals with NOX-inhibitory effects, which could be considered for further study.

Liver disease account for a reasonable percentage of medical admissions, and the synthetic drugs used for the treatment of the disease are sometimes ineffective and/or very expensive. Furthermore, the side effects associated with some of them are numerous. These and many other reasons shifted the interest of scientists for the search of plants with hepatocurative effect. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the curative effect of aqueous extract of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) on rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity. The serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct bilirubin (DB) and total bilirubin (TB) were measured as markers of liver disease using standard methods, and compared among group I (Negative control), group II (Positive control), group III (Fed with food + 249mg/kg of extract), group IV (Fed with food + 580mg/kg of extract), group V (hepatotoxic rats treated with 249mg/kg of extract) and group VI (hepatotoxic rats treated with 580mg/kg of extract). The results showed that administration of the various concentration of the extract to healthy rats does not cause any harm to the liver. Also, the different concentrations of the extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the level of ALT, AST, ALP, DB and TB in treated groups (group IV and V) compared to group II. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of date fruit may have hepatocurative effect against CCl4-induced liver damage in rats. This research may open the “gate” for the use of date fruit in treating liver disease in human, especially in places such as Northern Nigeria, where date fruit is cheaply abundant.

The demand for oxygen increases during pregnancy, and this may lead to oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the oxidative stress level in Primigravida attending antenatal clinic at Gombe town Gidan Magani Maternity, Gombe State, North-eastern Nigeria. The concentration of plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as biomarker of oxidative stress. The concentrations of Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Lead, Nickel and Cadmium in relation to oxidative stress were measured. Thirty primigravida and ten aged-matched non-pregnant women who served as control were involved in the study. The result of this research shows that the level of Malondialdehyde significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters, with the increase being higher in the 2nd trimester. The levels of Cu and Zn increased significantly (P < 0.05) in all the three trimesters, while the level of Mn significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in all the three trimesters. There was no reading detected for Ni, Cd and Pb in both primigravida and control subjects under this study, indicating that neither the primigravida nor the control were exposed to them. All these are proves that oxidative stress occurs in Primigravida These findings emphasized the need for increased awareness among Primigravida on the existence of oxidative stress during pregnancy and also points to the need for measures to be taken against oxidative stress in Primigravida, so as to reduce the complications that arise during pregnancy, and ensure the safety of both mother and fetus during pregnancy and after delivery.