Browsing by Author "Afolabi, Saheed O."

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Alkaloids and flavonoids from African phytochemicals as potential inhibitors of SARS-Cov-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase: an in-silico perspective
    (SAGE Publishers, 2020) Ogunyemi, O.M; Gyebi, G.A.; Elfiky, A.A.; Afolabi, Saheed O.
    Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Exploiting the potentials of phytocompounds is an integral component of the international response to this pandemic. In this study, a virtual screening through molecular docking analysis was used to screen a total of 226 bioactive compounds from African herbs and medicinal plants for direct interactions with SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). From these, 36 phytocompounds with binding affinities higher than the approved reference drugs (remdesivir and sobosivir), were further docked targeting the active sites of SARS-CoV-2, as well as SARS-CoV and HCV RdRp. A hit list of 7 compounds alongside two positive controls (remdesivir and sofosbuvir) and two negative controls (cinnamaldehyde and Thymoquinone) were further docked into the active site of 8 different conformations of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp gotten from molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) system equilibration. The top docked compounds were further subjected to predictive druglikeness and ADME/tox filtering analyses. Drugable alkaloids (10’–hydroxyusambarensine, cryptospirolepine, strychnopentamine) and flavonoids (usararotenoid A, and 12α-epi-millettosin), were reported to exhibit strong affinity binding and interactions with key amino acid residues in the catalytic site, the divalent-cation–binding site, and the NTP entry channel in the active region of the RdRp enzyme as the positive controls. These phytochemicals, in addition to other promising antivirals such as remdesivir and sofosbuvir, may be exploited towards the development of a cocktail of anti-coronavirus treatments in COVID-19. Experimental studies are recommended to validate these study.
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    Combined Intranasal Insulin/Saxagliptin/Metformin Therapies Ameliorate the Effect of Combined Oral Contraceptive- (COC-) Induced Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with a Major Target on Glucose Metabolism in Adult Female Wistar Rats
    (Hindawi Publishers, 2021) Afolabi, Saheed O.; Folahan, J.; Agede, O.; & Olorundare, Olufunke E.
    Objective. To evaluate the effect of the chronic use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs: ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel) on the indices of metabolic syndrome in adult female Wistar rats and possible therapeutic management. Materials and Methods. 64 female Wistar rats received either distilled water, norethindrone (NOR), COC, intranasal insulin (INI), metformin (MET), saxagliptin (SAX), INI+MET, and INI+SAX. After 8 weeks of exposure to COC, the animals were sorted into the therapeutic groups. Several parameters were assayed for, such as body weight changes, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, insulin levels, inflammatory cytokines, and glycated hemoglobin (Hb1Ac). Results. The levels of FBG, insulin, and Hb1Ac were increased consequent upon COC treatment. Treatment with INI+SAX and INI+MET reduced significantly the levels of FBG and Hb1Ac; in addition, the level of insulin was significantly increased in the INI+MET groups (p ≤ 0.05). Serum lipid profile analysis showed a statistical reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level; this reduction was also significantly reversed in the INI+SAX group. Reduced catalase activity observed in the COC group was reversed in the INI+MET group (p ≤ 0.05). A nonsignificant increase in the level of TNF-α as a result of COC treatment was reversed by INI and INI+MET treatment. Liver GLUT4 and G-6-phosphate levels were significantly increased by COC treatment, and this effect was reversed by INI+SAX in both assays, respectively (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions. The use of MET and SAX in combination with INI has been shown to reverse some indices of MetS. This study proposes a clinical phase to backup and ascertain these preclinical findings.
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    GC/MS Analysis and a 30-day Toxicological Evaluation of a Nigerian Immunomodulatory Polyherbal Supplement (PHS)
    (2023) Afolabi, Saheed O.; Olorundare, O. E.; Akanbi, O. B.; Bello, M. K.; Njan, A.; Agede, O. A.; Ibiyemi, S
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    Inhibitory potentials of phytocompounds from Ocimum gratissimum against anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins associated with cancer: an integrated computational study
    (2022) Gyebi, G.A; Ogunyemi, O.M; Ibrahim, I.M; Afolabi, Saheed O.; Ojo, R.J.; Ejike, U.I.D.; Adebayo, J.O.
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    Polyalthia longifolia extract triggers ER stress in prostate cancer cells concomitant with induction of apoptosis: insights from in vitro and in vivo studies
    (Hindawi publishers, 2019) Afolabi, Saheed O.; Olorundare, Olufunke E.; Babatunde, A.; Albrecht, R.M.; Koketsu, M.; Syed, Deeba N.; Mukhtar, Hassan
    Plant-based therapies are being explored to prevent or treat several cancer types. The antioxidant properties of Polyalthia longifolia plant are well established. In our previous work, we demonstrated the presence of cytotoxic compounds in the methanol extract of Polyalthia longifolia (MEP) with potent activity against human leukemia cells. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of MEP against prostate cancer (PCa) and established the molecular basis of its effect in in vitro and in vivo models. We observed that MEP treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the growth and viability of PCa cells, associated with arrest in the G1/S phase of the cell cycle. Apoptosis was confirmed as the primary mode of MEP-induced cell death through activation of the intrinsic apoptotic machinery. Proteomic and biochemical studies identified BiP as an important target of MEP with the activation of the ER stress pathway, as a potential mechanism driving MEP-induced apoptosis. The extract exhibited strong efficacy in the PCa xenograft mouse model with significant inhibition of tumor growth and reduced tumor burden. Taken together, our findings indicate that MEP-induced apoptosis in PCa cells concomitant with the activation of the ER stress pathways results in the inhibition of tumor growth, in vitro and in vivo. Our studies provide initial evidence of the efficacy of MEP against PCa and advocate for in-depth studies in other preclinical models for its possible use in clinical settings.
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    Safety effect of fractions from methanolic leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum on reproduction in male Wistar rats
    (Elsevier, Netherlands., 2019) Njan, Anoka A.; Olaoye, Solomon O.; Afolabi, Saheed O.; Ejimkonye, Benjamin C.
    This study evaluates the reproductive toxicity of ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from crude methanolic leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum in male Wistar rats. Acute toxicity was assessed to determine the safety dose, Sub-chronic reproductive toxicity studies were carried out by administering daily 25, 100 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses of the fractions to respective group of animals and 1 ml of normal saline daily for the control group for 28 days. Blood, epididymis and testes were harvested for reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, and histopathologic analysis respectively. There was significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum levels of testosterone, body-weight gain, sperm count. There was also apparent increase in mean-testicular weight and preservation of testicular histology with increase spermatogenesis in both the ethyl acetate and butanolic fraction treated groups compared with control. Serum levels of luteinising hormone was however significantly (P < 0.05) decrease across the groups compared to control. These effects were more pronounced in the butanolic fraction group compared to the ethyl acetate treated group. Sperm motility was also significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the ethyl acetate treated group compared to control. Findings from this studies demonstrate that these fractions were non-toxic at the tested doses with regards to male reproduction but, rather, exhibited fertility enhancing effects which was better with the butanolic fraction. Our findings also shows that the ethyl acetate fraction may be safer than the butanolic fraction.
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    Sub-Acute Toxicological Evaluation of An Artemisia-Based Moringa Supplement (AMS)
    (Published by the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, 2025) Afolabi, Saheed O.; Olorundare, O.E.,; Akanbi, O.B.,; Bello, M.K.; Folahan, J.T; Ibiyemi, S
    Background: In developing nations, several natural medicine practitioners explore the use of plant-based supplements and other forms of phytotherapies to combat viral infection via immune-boosting mechanisms. One such supplement is a locally compounded and consumed Moringa supplement containing and named, artemisia-based Moringa supplement (AMS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a subacute (30 days) administration of AMS on the toxicological indices in albino Wistar rats of both sexes. artemisia annua Results: There were no adverse hematological effects because of AMS treatment. Serum electrolytes levels were not affected across the doses of AMS administered for 30 days. Creatinine levels were not significantly altered, however a significant (p = 0.037) reduction in urea level was observed in the highest dose of 500 mg/kg. Liver function assays showed no significant alterations in the liver function enzymes, although, a significant decrease in the liver malonaldehyde (MDA, product of lipid peroxidation) level was observed. There was no adverse effect on kidney function parameters and serum lipid profile.