Background and Objective: In countries where cultivation of Citrullu slanatus (watermelon) is on the increase, watermelon is known to have invaluable benefits. Watermelon seeds are often discarded while the fleshy fruit is eaten. This study aimed at determining the medicinal and nutritive bioactive components of Citrullus lanatus through proximate, mineral, vitamin, amino acid and phytochemical analysis. Materials and Methods: In this study, seeds of watermelon were analyzed for proximate, minerals, phytochemicals and vitamin content. The proximate analysis, minerals content, vitamins, amino acids and phytochemicals screening were performed using standard guideline of AOAC, GC-MS, AAS, HPLC and the statistical analysis was carried out using the Microsoft excel software 2010 version. Results: The proximate analysis results indicated that the watermelon seeds had moisture 48.7%, ash content 0.96%, fat 22.77%, carbohydrate 13.99% and protein content 8.9%. The amino acid profile showed the seeds were rich in phenylalanine, arginine, valine, glutamate and serine content. Vitamins A and C at 68.13 and 19.45 mg kgG 1 , respectively were the most abundant vitamins in the seeds. The seeds also contained appreciable mineral elements such as; Fe, Mg, Na and K with K (18.189 ppm) being the highest. The phytochemistry of the samples showed a lot of compounds with known medicinal effects. Conclusion: The present findings suggested watermelon seeds as considerable source of nutrients in the diet and may have health and economic benefits due to its vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals with high level of antioxidant activities and consequently a very useful potential nutraceutical.

Sida corymbosa plant is one of medicinal plants used in many parts of Africa, including Nigeria for the treatment of human diseases. The purpose of this work was to investigate the antioxidant effects of Sida corymbosa ethanolic leaf extract on rats administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). One hundred and sixty male-rats between 170-180 g were used. They were grouped into 8 major groups (groups A-H) and 4 subgroups (A 1 -H 4 ) in each group making it 32 subgroups of 5 rats each. The major groups comprise A (positive control-normal rats giving feed and water only and left for 7-28 d), B (negative control-those administered CCl 4 only at 0.4 ml/kgbw and left for 7-28 d), C-H (treatment groups-those administered extract before and after CCl 4 administration at 5,000, 3,000 and 1,000 mg/kgbw for 7-28 d). Antioxidant assays were determined using UV-VIS spectrophotometer (model 752g, China). Results of serum antioxidant assays done revealed that levels of serum reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), supraoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased significantly (P<0.05) in the treatment groups from 7-28 d, when compared with the negative control. Oxidative assay carried out showed that serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly lower (P<0.05) in treatment groups than in negative control groups. These may be suggesting that the extract may have improved the antioxidant levels of the rats. Sida corymbosa ethanolic leaf extract may, therefore, have positive effects on antioxidant status of rats administered CCl 4 .

Background and Objectives: Living organisms are exposed to oxidant agents constantly from both endogenous and exogenous sources. One of such oxidant agent is Bisphenol A (BPA) and its exposure is capable to modify biomolecules and induce damages. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a contaminant with increasing exposure. It exerts toxic effects on cells.  This study investigates the possibility of BPA exposure on Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) perturbations at prevailing low exposure doses in female albino Wistar rats, following exposure for the period of three (3) month. Materials and Methods: Total 12 groups were formed; out of which 11 experimental groups, each containing 10non-pregnant female rats were administered; 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1 mg of BPA/kgbw/day. To the 12th control group was given water.  Blood was collected from animals at the end of every week of the study and serum sample specimens analyzed by routine diagnostic procedures for oxidized LDL such as malondialdehyde modified- LDL (MDA-LDL), oxidized phospholipids LDL (OX-PL LDL), N (epsilon) (carboxymethyl) lysine-modified-LDL (CML LDL) and 4-hydroxynonenal-LDL (HNE-LDL) using Autochemical Analyzer. Results: Significantly increased concentrations of serum oxidized LDL such as MDA-LDL, OX-PL LDL, CML LDL and HNE-LDL were observed at all concentrations of BPA exposure. Conclusion:  Bisphenol A alters oxidized LDL such as MDA-LDL, OX-PL LDL, CML LDL and HNE-LDL balance and causes disturbance of internal oxidative statues.

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is a contaminant with increasing exposure and exerts both toxic and estrogenic effects on cells The general population is potentially exposed to many chemicals that can affect the endocrine system. These substances are called endocrine disruptors (EDs), and among them Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the most widely used and well-studied. This study investigates the possibility of blood serum endogenous estrogens levels perturbations at prevailing low exposure rates of BPA in albino Wistar rats. Eleven experimental groups each containing five (10) female rats were administered graded doses of BPA/kg body weight (bw)/day. The first control group was given water. Animals blood were collected weekly for twelve weeks and serum sample specimens analyzed by routine diagnostic procedures for estrogens assay using Chemwell Chemical Analyzer. Significantly increased concentrations of estrone and estradiol were observed, alongside significant decreased estriol concentrations, at all concentrations of BPA exposure at different time suggesting that bisphenol A upsets endogenous esrogens and causes perturbation of estradiol concentrations. These findings point to the overall disruption of estrogen metabolism.