Background: Appreciable number of medicinal plants are used for the treatment of diabetes in Nigeria. Aim of the Study: The present study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic activity of Zingiber officinale extracts and its potential mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methodology: Albino rats of Wistar strain weighing between 130 g to 160 g were induced with single freshly prepared streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body weight). Diabetes was confirmed after forty eight hours in streptozotocin -induced rats showing fasting blood glucose levels > 10 mmol/l. The rats were randomly divided into four (4) experimental groups (n = 4). A (Control diabetic group fed with normal feed), Group B (Normal control fed with normal feed), Group Group C (Diabetic rats treated with 400 mg/Kg body weight extract of ginger and Group D, (Diabetic rats are treated with 400 mg/Kg body weight of metformin). After 8 days the animals were sacrificed and blood samples Jiyil et al.; AJRIMPS, 8(1-2): 1-8, 2019; Article no.AJRIMPS.51900 2 were collected for biochemical and hematological analysis. Changes in the animal body weights were also measured within the period. Results: From the results, it was observed that treatment of rats with extract of ginger compensates for the reduction of body weight, and caused an increase in the body weight of the treated rats (+11.5%) in contrast to 24.8% reduction observed in diabetic control. In the same order, serum glucose significantly decreased (p<0.05) after the 8-day treatment compared to diabetic control. The extent of reversal of hyperglycemia in the ginger extract treated animals compared well with the metformin treated group. The results, therefore, showed that ginger extract has a significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and moreover, elevations in the measured biochemical parameters were significantly (p<0.05) attenuated in rats treated with ginger extract. Conclusion: Zingiber officinale extracts has a significant effect on some biochemical parameters and hematological assays. These provide scientific evidence to confirm the traditional use of Z. officinale in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Original Research Article

Background: Physalis angulata have been extensively used for the management of diabetes in folklore medicine, in Nigeria. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of Physalis angulata and its potential mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Study Duration: The period of the study was done on 30th September, 2018 at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, university of Jos, Nigeria. Methodology: Albino rats of Wistar strain weighing between 200g to 250g were induced with single freshly prepared streptozotocin (55 mg/kg body weight). Diabetes was confirmed after forty eight hours in streptozotocin -induced rats showing fasting blood glucose levels > 10 mmol/l. The rats were randomly divided into four (4) experimental groups (n = 4). A (Control diabetic group fed with normal feed), Group B (Normal control fed with normal feed), Group Group C (Diabetic rats treated with 400 mg/Kg body weight extract of Physalis angulata and Group D, (Diabetic rats are treated with 400 mg/Kg body weight of glibenclamide). After 8 days the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for biochemical and hematological analysis. Changes in the animal body weights were also measured within the period. Results: From the results, it was observed that treatment of rats with extract of Physalis angulata elevates the reduction of body weight, and caused an increase in the body weight of the treated rats. In the same order, serum glucose significantly decreased (p<0.05) after the 8-day treatment compared to diabetic control. The extent of reversal of hyperglycemia in the physalis angulata extract treated animals compared well with the glibenclamide treated group. The results, therefore, showed that Physalis angulata extract has a significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats and the histopathological results of treated groups showed the regenerative/protective effect on

Background: Antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria is increasing at an alarming rate leading to the need for traditional medicine as an alternative. Aim of the Study: The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of methanolic and, aqueous extracts of partial purified protein of young and matured roots of Guiera senegalensis. Methodology: Antimicrobial activity was determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques, Quantitative phytochemical analysis was carried out by standard procedure, the gel chromatography technique was used to fractionate the crude protein. The test isolates were Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. Results: The antimicrobial activity showed all the extracts were quite effective against most of the test isolates except Candida albicans (fungus). The crude and partially purified proteins were active against Gram-positive bacteria. The maximum zone of inhibition (37.33±5.03b mm) was observed in methanolic extracts of young root against Staphylococcus aureus at 100 mg/ml. Most extracts of methanolic exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the range of 6.25 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 12.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml. The young root was more active than the matured root. Quantitative phytochemicals showed a high amount of saponins (9.98% and 6.42%) in matured and young roots respectively. Conclusion: Guiera senegalensis has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and a potential source of new antibiotics that could be useful for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Background: Legumes are outstanding sources of macronutrients, micronutrients, phytochemicals, as well as antinutritional factors. These components present a complex system enabling interactions with different components within food matrices. The interactions result in insoluble complexes with reduced bioaccessibility of nutrients. The development of appropriate preparation technologies for use at the household and village-level become so imperative to facilitate processing and dietary availability of beans. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal processing on the chemical contents of unfermented and fermented red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and the effects of the resulting changes on the in vitro protein digestibility. This will enhance food security and reduction in malnutrition. Methodology: Unfermented and fermented P. vulgaris were boiled using ordinary cooking pot and a pressure pot and the chemical contents were evaluated by standard methods. In vitro protein digestibility was carried out by pepsin digestion. Results: Fermentation resulted in a decrease in the traditional cooking time in the ordinary cooking pot by 40.32%. The protein content of the fermented sample increased by about 7%. The in vitro protein digestibility value was increased by more than 30% with greater percentage evident in fermented samples. Sulphur containing amino acids, methionine and cystein were the limiting amino acids but their contents appreciated by 6.64% and 10.92% respectively after fermentation. Total ash, crude fibre, crude fat contents of P. vulgaris were all affected by more than 20% during the open fermentation and cooking of unfermented beans. The antinutritional factors of P. vulgaris decreased most in boiled fermented samples compared with the other processing methods. There was overall improvement in the In vitro protein digestibility, reduction of cooking time and antinutritional factors when P. vulgaris was fermented and cooked. Conclusion: The outcome of the reserach justifies the fact that combining both fermentation and cooking results in the overall improvement in the nutritional value of P. vulgaris as against cooking without fermentation.

Background: Microorganisms have evolved defence mechanisms against antimicrobial agents and have become resistant to some antibiotics. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of methanol as well as that of the aqueous and partially purified protein of   young and matured leaves of Guiera senegalensis. Study Duration: This study was conducted on 30th January, 2015 at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu  Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Methodology: Antimicrobial activity was determined using disc diffusion and broth dilution techniques, Gel chromatography techniques were used to fractionate the crude protein. Results: The Test isolates were Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. All the extracts were sensitive to most of the isolates except Candida albican (fungus). The crude and partially purified proteins were active against the Gram positive bacteria. The maximum zone of inhibition (42.00±1.00 mm) was observed in the methanol extract of a young leaf against Staphylococcus aureus at 100 mg/ml. The methanol extracts exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at a range of 6.25 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at 12.5 mg/ml and 25 mg/ml. The young leaf was more active than the matured leaf. Quantitative phytochemicals showed high amounts of saponins (26.20% and 19.66%) in matured and young leaves respectively. Conclusion: This research justifies the traditional claim of Guiera senegalensis leaves for therapeutic purposes. The leaves can be used to remedy diseases caused by bacterial agents.