Kemi Feyisayo Akinwunmi

Bio: Kemi Feyisayo Akinwunmi is an academic researcher from Obafemi Awolowo University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Phytochemical & Germination. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 5 publications receiving 8 citations.

Aspirin-Induced Gastric Lesions Alters EGFR and PECAM-1 Immunoreactivity in Wistar Rats: Modulatory Action of Flavonoid Fraction of Musa Paradisiaca

Abstract: AIM: In this study, Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor and Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 were localised to investigate the healing effects of a flavonoid-rich fraction of M. paradisiaca fruit in the gastric corpus of Wistar rats following aspirin-induced gastric lesion.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mature, unripe fruits of M. paradisiaca were peeled; air dried, pulverised, extracted with 70% methanol, concentrated and partitioned. Ninety male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 15 rats each. The gastric lesion was induced in groups B, C, D, E and F rats by administration of 400 mg/kg aspirin in distilled water. Group A received distilled water. After 24 hours, flavonoid fraction of M. paradisiaca was administered to groups C, D and E at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively for 21 days. Group F rats received omeprazole at 1.8 mg/kg for 21 days. Five rats from each group were anaesthetized with ketamine on days 14, 21 and 28. Gastric tissues were excised and fixed in Neutral buffered formalin. This was followed by paraffin wax embedding method and sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin and for immunolocalisation of EGFR and PECAM-1. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the ulcer index in the corpus of control and treated rats throughout the experimental period (p = 0.0001). H&E stained sections showed a gradual restoration of the epithelial lining in the treated groups. Immunohistochemical examination showed that M. paradisiaca significantly increased (p < 0.05) reactivity for both EGFR and CD31 across the treatment groups.CONCLUSION: The efficacy of Musa paradisiaca in attenuating the damaging effects of aspirin on the gastric mucosa was observed as there was a significantly increased reactivity for EGFR and PECAM-1 in the gastric corpus in a dose-dependent manner.

Proximate and Elemental Analyses, Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous and Ethanol Extracts of Solanum incanum Linn. fruits

Abstract: Solanum incanum Linn. (Solanaceae) is a perennial bushy herb used to stained teeth among the Kanuri women and in making vegetable soups. This study determined proximate and elemental contents, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of the fruit. The proximate analyses showed the presence of crude fibre, carbonhydrate and crude protein while the elemental analyses revealed the presence of magnesium, calcium and sodium. The fruit contains; saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardenolite, glycosides, reducing sugars, phenolics content and flavonoids content. The results of antioxidant showed that the EC50 values for DPPH radicals with aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts of the S. incanum Linn. were found to be 0.02488 and 0.1000 mg/ml, respectively. The aqueous extract showed EC50 value lower than ethanol extract. In conclusion, this results suggested that aqueous extract of S. incanum Linn might contain more potential antioxidant compounds than ethanol extract.

The effect of aqueous leaf extracts of Pterocarpus mildbraedii on crude oil-induced toxicity in Albino rats

Abstract: This study evaluated the ameliorative potential of the aqueous leaf extracts of Pterocarpus mildbraedii against crude oil-induced toxicity in rats. The effects of co-administration of the P. mildbr...

Allelopathic Effect of Chrysanthemum Procumentens on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Beans Phaseolus Vulgaris: Akinwunmi et al

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to assess the allelopathic effect of Chrysanthemum procumentens in relation to germination and growth of bean seedling. C. procumentens reduced germination and suppressed early seedling growth of beans. With increase in extract concentration from 20 mg ml-1 to 60 mg ml-1, a gradual decrease in seed germination evaluated by reduction in the concentration of biomolecules such as total protein, total soluble sugar and amylase activities; and increase in the activities of hydrolytic enzymes such as proteases, Lipases and Arginase occurred. The longest seedling root and shoot lengths were recorded on day 1 at 20 mg ml-1 extract concentration while the shortest seedling root and shoot length were recorded on day 6 at 80 mg ml-1 extract concentrations. It was noted that the reduction in germination and suppression of seedling growth observed in this study were concentration and time dependent. The result suggested that C. procumentens had good allelopathic potential which reduces germination and plant growth.

Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Potentials of the Leaf Extract and Fractions of Chrysanthemum procumetens

Abstract: The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity of the methanolic extract and fractions of Chrysanthemum procumetens leaves were evaluated. The extract was obtained from dried leaf samples using 70% methanol and screened for phytochemical constituents. The crude extract was partitioned successively with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol. Membrane stability and inhibition of albumin denaturation assays were done to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Antibacterial activity was determined using six test bacteria strains of both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. Phytochemical screening tested positive for flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, steroids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. The crude extract had the highest total phenol (344.67 ± 11.26 mg GAE g⁻¹) and flavonoids (230.30 ± 22.11 mg RE g⁻¹) while the butanol fraction had the lowest total phenol and total flavonoids (117.57 ± 9.40 mg GAE g⁻¹ and 100.60 ± 1.99 mg RE g⁻¹, respectively). The crude extracts and fractions exhibited concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, comparable to Ibuprofen. The anti-bacterial activity of the crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction of C. procumetens were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa with inhibition zone of 24.30 ± 0.02 mm; 15.5 ± 0.02 mm and MIC of 1.70 ± 0.01 mg mL⁻¹ and 2.00 ± 0.03 mg mL⁻¹, respectively.

Inhibition of caspase-3-mediated GSDME-derived pyroptosis aids in noncancerous tissue protection of squamous cell carcinoma patients during cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Abstract: The side effects of platinum-based chemotherapy are important factors limiting the survival of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Current research suggests that pyroptosis is involved in this process. However, how this mechanism can be used to reduce side effects has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we reported that GSDME was expressed at higher levels in normal tissues than in cancerous tissues in OSCC patients and was the main cause of platinum-based side effects. In an OSCC xenograft model, the inflammatory status and GSDME expression were increased after cisplatin chemotherapy. Cellular experiments showed that higher expression of GSDME was associated with less chemoresistance to cisplatin. A subsequent study demonstrated that cisplatin treatment promotes the maturation of caspase-3, triggers GSDME-mediated pyroptosis and induces cell death. When the amino acid sequence of GSDME cleaved by caspase-3 was mutated, cellular death and pyroptosis induced by cisplatin were significantly inhibited. Moreover, application of vitamin D during cisplatin-based chemotherapy could successfully inhibit GSDME cleavage and pyroptotic cell death in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our study revealed that vitamin D can inhibit caspase-3-mediated GSDME cleavage and thus reduce normal tissue pyroptosis, relieving chemotherapeutic side effects. Inhibition of systemic GSDME during chemotherapy is currently unachievable. Vitamin D supplementation during chemotherapy in OSCC patients might be able to reduce the process described above and benefit patients. However, additional follow-up clinical studies are needed.

Techniques for the Extraction of BioactiveCompounds from Lebanese Urtica dioica

Abstract: The use of bioactive compounds in different commercial sectors such as pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries assures the need of the most appropriate and standard method to extract these active components from plant materials. In the present study, conventional methods and numerous new methods (maceration, reflux, soxhlet, hydrodistillation, Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE)) using different solvents have been developed for the extraction of bioactive compounds from Urtica dioica grown in Lebanon. Our results revealed that the extraction method, solvent and time had a significant effect on the amount of the extracted compounds. In terms of extraction method applied, microwave-assisted extraction was the more effective technique compared to the other methods. The extraction time was reduced, less solvent was used and the amount of extracted compounds was increased.

Gastroduodenal Injury: Role of Protective Factors

Abstract: The gastroduodenal mucosal layer is a complex and dynamic system that functions in an interdependent manner to resist injury. We review and summarize the most updated knowledge about gastroduodenal defense mechanisms and specifically address (a) the mucous barrier, (b) membrane and cellular properties, and vascular, hormonal, and (c) gaseous mediators. Trefoil factor family peptides play a crucial role in cellular restitution by increasing cellular permeability and expression of aquaporin channels, aiding cellular migration and tissue repair. Additionally, evidence suggests that the symptoms of functional dyspepsia may be attributed to alterations in the duodenum, including low-grade inflammation and increased mucosal permeability. The interaction of the various mucosal protective components helps maintain structural and functional homeostasis. There is increasing evidence suggesting that the upper GI microbiota plays a crucial role in the defense mechanisms. However, this warrants further investigation.

A pharmacological perspective of banana: implications relating to therapeutic benefits and molecular docking.

Abstract: Banana is one of the most nutritious fruits, as it is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, and minerals. Banana has been used in traditional medicines for managing coughs and colds, ulcers, burns, and diarrhea. Banana contains various bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, with reported therapeutic benefits, including antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial activities. The present review focuses on a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and biological properties and phytochemicals of different species of banana and its different parts. Although detailed characterization of the compounds that are present in many parts of the plant has been carried out, chemical profiling of the seed, pseudostem, and leaves of banana is lacking and requires further exploration. Moreover, the functions of the reported compounds were elucidated using computational tools, supporting their potential role in managing life-threatening diseases and physiological complications.

A review of the ethnomedicinal, antimicrobial, and phytochemical properties of Musa paradisiaca (plantain)

Abstract: More people—in both developing and developed countries—now use, and are favourably disposed to, traditional medicine. Musa paradisiaca (plantain) is used extensively in traditional medicine across continents. In this review, we investigated the scientific justification of this extensive usage. Generally, several studies validate usage in infectious diseases, but limited antiviral and in vivo reports exist. The mechanistic elicitation of antimicrobial activity has similarly not been ascertained. Contrarily, data abound from rigorous studies on physiological conditions. Activity across categories is tied to the potent phytosterols duo of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol; and the triterpenes viz. cycloeucalenone, 24-methylene-cycloartanol, and 31-norcyclolaudenone; present in plantain. Toxicity studies, while finite, suggest general safety and tolerance. Findings in the studies reviewed projects plantain as a veritable source for drug bioprospecting that will be of benefit to scientific research and pharmaceutical industries.