Browsing by Author "Malomo, S.O."
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Item Activatory Effects of Manganese and Cobalt Ions on the Activity of Cellulase Produced by Aspergillus niger(Nigeria Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2013) Igunnu, Adedoyin; Malomo, S.O.; Saliu, B.K.Cellulase is an enzyme with wide industrial applications, however the optimization of its activity by metal ions has not been fully characterised. In this study, the effect of interaction of Mn2+ and Co2+ on the activity of cellulase produced by Aspergillus niger using submerged fermentation process was investigated. Cellulase activity was determined by measuring the concentration of glucose produced from the hydrolysis of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) catalysed by the enzyme. Both Mn2+ and Co2+ (0.2-10 mM) activated cellulase-catalysed hydrolysis of CMC with optimal concentrations at 8 mM and 1 mM respectively. Synergistic interaction between Mn2+ and Co2+ promoted hydrolysis of CMC by cellulase with optimal activation at 8 mM Mn2+ and 1 mM Co2+. This study revealed that the activity of cellulase produced by Aspergillus niger can be optimized in the presence of optimal concentrations of Mn2+ and Co2+ for its various applications.Item Anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory constituents of leaf extracts of Anacardium occidentale L. in animal models(Elsevier Limited, Oxford, UK, for Shanghai Association of Integrative Medicine and Shanghai Changhai Hospital, China., 2017) Awakan, J.O.; Malomo, S.O.; Adejare, A.A.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Atolani, O.; Adebayo, A.H.; Owoyele, B.V.Objective: Anacardium occidentale L. leaf is useful in the treatment of inflammation and asthma, but the bioactive constituents responsible for these activities have not been characterized. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the bioactive constituent(s) of A. occidentale ethanolic leaf extract (AOEL) and its solvent-soluble portions, and evaluating their effects on histamine-induced paw edema and bronchoconstriction. Methods: The bronchodilatory effect was determined by measuring the percentage protection provided by plant extracts in the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction model in guinea pigs. The antiinflammatory effect of the extracts on histamine-induced paw edema in rats was determined by measuring the increase in paw diameter, after which the percent edema inhibition was calculated. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the bioactive constituents. Column chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used respectively to isolate and characterize the constituents. The bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated bioactive constituent were evaluated. Results: Histamine induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pigs and edema in the rat paw. AOEL, hexane-soluble portion of AOEL, ethyl acetate-soluble portion of AOEL, and chloroform-soluble portion of AOEL significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities (P < 0.05). Oleamide (9-octadecenamide) was identified as the most abundant compound in the extracts and was isolated. Oleamide significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities by 32.97% and 98.41%, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that oleamide is one of the bioactive constituents responsible for the bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity of A. occidentale leaf, and can therefore be employed in the management of bronchoconstriction and inflammation.Item Antimalarial Activity of Cocos nucifera Husk fibre: Further Studies(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2013) Adebayo, J.O.; Balogun, E.A.; Malomo, S.O.; Soladoye, A.O; Olatunji, L.A.; Kolawole, O.M.; Oguntoye, O.S.; Babatunde, A.S.; Akinola, O.B.; Aguiar, A.C.C; Andrade, I.M.; Souza, N.B.; Krettli, A.U.Abstract In this study, the antimalarial and toxicity potentials of husk fibre extracts of five Nigerian varieties of Cocos nucifera were evaluated in vitro. The only active extract fraction, West African Tall (WAT) ethyl acetate extract fraction, was then evaluated for its phytochemical constituents, antimalarial and toxicity potentials at varying doses (31.25–500 mg/kg body weight) using various organ function indices. The results revealed that WAT ethyl acetate extract fraction (WATEAEF) contained alkaloids, tannins, and flavonoids and was active against Plasmodium falciparum W2 strain maintained in continuous culture, with a selectivity index of 30.3. The same extract fraction was active in vivo against Plasmodium berghei NK65, causing more than 50% reduction in parasitaemia on days 4 and 6 after inoculation at various doses administered. WATEAEF did not significantly alter ( ) function indices of the liver and cardiovascular system at all doses administered but significantly increased ( ) plasma creatinine concentration at 250 and 500 mg/Kg body weight compared to controls. The results of this study suggest that WATEAEF possesses antimalarial activity and may not adversely affect normal liver function nor predispose subjects to cardiovascular diseases but may impair normal kidney function at higher doses. Further studies are underway to isolate the active principles.Item Catalytic cofactors (Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions) influence the pattern of vanadate Inhibition of the monoesterase activity of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase(Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology, 2014) Igunnu, Adedoyin; Arise, R.O.; Adebayo, J.O.; Olorunniji, F.J.; Malomo, S.O.The mechanism of modulation of vanadate inhibition of alkaline phosphatase activity by catalytic cofactors has not been fully characterized. We investigated the effect of the interaction of catalytic cofactors (Mg2+ and Zn2+) and vanadate (an active site inhibitor) on the rate of hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) (monoesterase reaction) by calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP). The results showed that vanadate significantly inhibited ʻcofactor-freeʼ CIAP, and the inhibition was relieved by the presence of the catalytic cofactors in the reaction. Our results show that the absence of the cofactors did not significantly alter the Km of the reaction, but caused a decrease in the Vmax. Kinetic analyses showed that vanadate inhibited CIAP-catalyzed hydrolysis of pNPP by decreasing the Vmax and increasing the Km of the reaction. The presence of cofactors in the reaction alleviated the effect of vanadate by increasing the Vmax and decreasing the Km. The activity of the dialyzed CIAP was increased by the addition of catalytic cofactors to vanadate-inhibited enzyme. This study provides preliminary data that reversible inhibition of CIAP is subject to the influence of catalytic cofactors. Further studies will reveal detailed mechanistic aspects of this observation and its significance in the biological system.Item Characterization of detergent-stable proteases isolated from Citrus sinensis fruit peel(Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology, 2017) Ibraheem, S.A.; Malomo, S.O.; Igunnu, AdedoyinProteases are important group of enzymes with wide industrial applications including laundry. They have been isolated and characterized from different agro wastes but the use of Citrus sinensis fruit peel as a source of protease has not been reported. In this study, low molecular weight (10-17 kDa) proteases were purified and characterized from C. sinensis fruit peel using a combination of ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and sephadex G150 column chromatography. One unit of protease activity was defined as the amount of the enzyme required to liberate one microgramme (1 μg) of tyrosine from gelatin per minute at 37°C under standard assay conditions. The elution profile obtained from gel filtration chromatography depicted three peaks of protease activity designated as proteases I, II and III. The purification fold obtained for ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and proteases I, II and III fractions were 1.7, 3.85, 9.47, 9.84 and 8.47 respectively. The activities of Proteases I and II were significantly increased (p<0.5) in the presence of 5-10 % w/v, and 1-10 v/v % Tween 80 respectively. However, the activity of Protease III was not significant affected (p>0.5) by Tween 80. Triton-X significantly increased (p<0.5) Protease II activity at 5 to 10% v/v concentrations but did not significantly affect (p>0.5) the activities of Proteases I and III between 1 to 10% v/v concentrations. SDS significantly increased (p<0.5) the activities of proteases I and II at 5-10 % w/v, and 1-10 w/v % respectively but did not significantly affect (p>0.5) Protease III activity. Findings from this study suggest that proteases from C. sinensis fruit peel are detergent stable which may be useful in laundry industries.Item Cofactor interactions in the activation of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase: Synergistic effects of Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions(Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology, 2007) Olorunniji, F.J.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Adebayo, J.O.; Arise, R.O.; Malomo, S.O.The interactions of Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions in the activation of non-specific tissue alkaline phosphatase were investigated using crude extracts of rat kidney. Activation of alkaline phosphatase by the metal ions was accompanied by changes in the kinetic parameters of p nitrophenylphosphate hydrolysis. The results suggest some synergistic interactions between Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions in promoting the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylphosphate by alkaline phosphatase. The results show that assays of alkaline phosphatase activity in homogenised tissue samples will give better responses if both Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions are included in the reactions.Item Comparative Study on the Antioxidant Activities of Ethyl acetate and Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Celosia argentea(Nigeria Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2014) Malomo, S.O.; Yakubu, M.T.; Amira, O.J.; Sulyman, A.O.; Dosumu, O.O.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Oluwaniyi, O.O.; Arise, R.O.; Adebayo, J.O.The present study was carried out to compare the secondary metabolites, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities as well as the safety of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Celosia argentea leaves in cadmium-induced oxidative stress in rats. The secondary metabolite screening was done by standard methods while the in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated using ammonium thiocyanate, reducing power and diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging models. In the in-vivo antioxidant and toxicological studies, thirty rats (Rattus novergicus) weighing 137.05 ± 5.84g were completely randomized into six groups (A-F) of five animals each. Animals in group A received orally 0.5ml of distilled water for 7 days while those in groups B, C, D, E and F received same volume corresponding to 8 mg/kg body weight (bw) of cadmium, in addition to simultaneous administration of distilled water, 100 mg/kg b.w of ascorbic acid, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of the extract respectively. Biochemical indices of in vivo antioxidant activities and toxicity were evaluated in the animals after the treatment period. The ethyl acetate extract of C. argentea contained saponins (1.67%), tannins (0.65%), cardenolide and dienolides (1.20%) and phenolics (0.42%) whereas the methanolic extract contained saponins (3.20%), tannins (0.65%), cardenolide and dienolides (0.006%) and phenolics (5.72%). Reducing sugar, steroids, and glycosides were only detected in the ethylacetate extract. The ethyl acetate extract and ascorbic acid, at 50 mg/ml, inhibited linoleic acid oxidation by 51.00 and 24.2% respectively whereas the methanolic extract produced 51.01% inhibition. Ethylacetate extract at 10, 50 and 100 mg/ml produced reducing power of 0.116, 0.092 and 0.127 nm whereas the methanolic extract produced 0.131, 0.185 and 0.183nm when compared with ascorbic acid that gave 0.092, 0.089 and 0.107 nm. The 100 μg/ml of both the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts scavenged 82% and 30% respectively of the DPPH radical as against 65% in ascorbic acid. Both the extracts attenuated the cadmium chloride treatment related reduction in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine and aspartate transaminase as well as the levels of uric acid, albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin, total protein and the Cd elevated levels of malondialdehyde in the serum and tissues of the animals in a manner similar to that of the ascorbic acid treated animals and the non-Cd treated animals administered distilled water; with the ethyl acetate producing a better result. The totality of the results conferred antioxidant activity on the ethyl acetate extract and methanolic extract by the phenolic components of the extracts via induction of the antioxidant enzymes and scavenging of free radical. The extracts also reversed cadmium induced changes in the biomarkers of liver damage.Item Effect of artesunate and amodiaquine on rat hexobarbital sleeping time and some hepatic biochemical parameters(Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2012) Arise, R.O.; Akiode, S.O.; Igunnu, A.; Malomo, S.O.Item Effects of co-administration of artesunate and amodiaquine on some cardiovascular disease indices in rats(Elsevier, 2011) Adebayo, J.O.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Arise, R.O.; Malomo, S.O.The effects of co-administration of artesunate and amodiaquine on some cardiovascular disease indices were investigated in albino rats (Rattus novergicus). The experimental animals were randomly divided into four groups: those administered distilled water (control), those administered artesunate (2 mg/kg body weight), those administered amodiaquine (6.12 mg/kg body weight) and those co-administered artesunate (2 mg/kg body weight) and amodiaquine (6.12 mg/kg body weight). The drugs were orally administered twice daily for three days after which the serum lipid profile, heart MDA content and heart ALP and ACP activities were determined. Artesunate significantly reduced (P < 0.05) total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the serum with no significant effects (P > 0.05) on other parameters compared to controls. Amodiaquine, on the other hand, significantly reduced (P < 0.05) serum total cholesterol concentration while it significantly increased (P < 0.05) serum LDL-cholesterol and heart ACP activity compared to controls. Co-administration of artesunate and amodiaquine significantly reduced (P < 0.05) total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations in the serum while significantly increasing (P < 0.05) serum LDL-cholesterol concentration, atherogenic index (LDL-C/HDL-C) and ACP activity in the heart compared to controls. The results obtained suggest that co-administration of artesunate and amodiaquine to patients with coronary heart disease should be with caution.Item Evaluation of Antimalarial and Toxicity Potentials of Methanolic fraction of cocos nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre extract in animal models(Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria, 2013-03) Ugbomoiko, U.S.; Awoniyi, M.A.; Balogun, E.A.; Malomo, S.O.; Soladoye, A.O.; Adebayo, J.O.; Kolawole, O.M.; Oguntoye, O.S.; Olatunji, L.A.; Babatunde, A.S.; Akinola, O.B.The antimalarial and toxicity potentials of the methanolic fraction of Cocos nucifera (West African tall variety) husk fibre extract were investigated using animal models. For the 4-day suppressive antimalarial test, thirty Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice were randomly divided into six groups (A-F) with five mice each. Mice in group A (control) received orally appropriate volume of distilled water while those in group B were orally administered chloroquine (20 mg/Kg body weight) for three days post-inoculation. Mice in groups C-F were orally administered 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/Kg body weight of the extract fraction for three days post-inoculation. For toxicological studies, twenty albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (G-J) with five rats each. Rats in group G (control) were orally administered appropriate volume of distilled water while those in groups H-J were orally administered 25, 50 and 100 mg/Kg body weight of the extract fraction respectively for fourteen days. At the end of the experimental period, venous blood was collected and selected tissues isolated and homogenized. The full blood count and activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase in the tissues were determined. The results revealed that the methanolic fraction of C. nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre extract does not possess any antimalarial activity. The extract, at all doses administered, had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the red blood cell indices, white blood cell indices and the activities of all the enzymes in the liver, kidney, heart and brain compared to controls. The results thus suggest that the methanolic fraction of the husk fibre extract may not be responsible for the acclaimed antimalarial action of C. nucifera (West African Tall variety) husk fibre, though it may not aggravate the severity of the disease.Item In vivo Antimalarial Activity and toxicological effects of methanolic extract of Cocos nucifera (Dwarf Red Variety) husk fibre(Shanghai Association of Integrative Medicine, China, 2014) Balogun, E.A.; Malomo, S.O.; Adebayo, J.O.; Ishola, A.A.; Soladoye, A.O.; Kolawole, O.M.; Oguntoye, O.S.; Babatunde, A.S.; Akinola, O.B.Abstract Phytochemical constituents as well as antimalarial and toxicity potentials of the methanolic extract of the husk fibre of Dwarf Red variety of Cocos nucifera were evaluated in this study.The dried powdered husk fibre was exhaustively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol successively and the methanolic extract was screened for flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenes, phlobatannins, anthraquinones and glycosides. A 4-day suppressive antimalarial test was carried out using Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice, to which the extract was administered at doses of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Toxicity of the extract was evaluated in rats using selected hematological parameters and organ function indices after orally administering doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg BW for 14 d.Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, glycosides, steroids and anthraquinones in the extract. Moreover, the extract reduced parasitemia by 39.2% and 45.8% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW respectively on day 8 post-inoculation. Various hematological parameters evaluated were not significantly altered (P>0.05) at all doses of the extract, except red blood cell count which was significantly elevated (P<0.05) at 100 mg/kg BW. The extract significantly increased (P<0.05) urea, creatinine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and bilirubin concentrations in the serum as well as atherogenic index, while it reduced albumin concentration significantly (P<0.05) at higher doses compared to the controls. Alanine aminotransferase activity was reduced in the liver and heart significantly (P<0.05) but was increased in the serum significantly (P<0.05) at higher doses of the extract compared to the controls.The results suggest that methanolic extract of the Dwarf red variety has partial antimalarial activity at higher doses, but is capable of impairing normal kidney and liver function as well as predisposing subjects to cardiovascular diseases.Item Influence of Teenage Pregnancy on Academic Performance as perceived by Secondary School Students in Ganmo, Kwara State(Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, 2019) Olubiy, S.K.; Ibraheem, M.A.; Okesina, F.A; Onifade, J; Okesina, B; Malomo, S.O.Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in female human beings from age to 13 to 19. A girl can become pregnant from sexual intercourse after she has begun to ovulate which can be before her first menstrual period (menarche), but usually occurs after the onset of her periods. The objective of the study was to determine the knowledge about teen pregnancy among students, the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and its influence on the academic performance of students, the awareness about causes of teenage pregnancy among students and the impact of teenage pregnancy on academic performance of female students in Ganmo. The research design was adopted for the study with a population of 302 female teens in the two selected Secondary Schools in Ganmo: namely, Community Secondary School, Ganmo and ECWA Secondary School, Ganmo, Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to select 150 respondents. Questionnaire was used in obtaining data for the research work. The data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Virtually all close results were obtained in two trials. The reliability co-efficient value of 0.041 was obtained with Cronbach Alpha technique. The information and data generated were analyzed and interpreted to the research questions proposed for the study. Findings showed that there is prevalence of teenage pregnancy among students in Ganmo. The study also revealed that most of the teenage mothers drop out of school. The study therefore recommended that teenage mothers should be helped in their psychosocial development and job skills development. Government at all levels should introduce sex education to the school curriculumItem Ivermectin protects against monosodim glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the rat(University of Niš Faculty of Medicine, Serbia, 2019) Arise, Rotimi. O; Arise, Abimbola K; Malomo, S.O.; Oyewole, I.OMonosodium glutamate (MSG), an established excitotoxic food additive, has been found to induce oxidative stress in all tissues. To examine the protective effects of ivermectin on MSG-induced excitotoxicity, 28 male albino rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1, the control, received 1 ml of oral distilled water, group 2 was administered an aqueous solution of MSG (4 mg/kg body weight/day). Group 3 was co-administered with the same dose of MSG and 0.4 mg/kg body weight of ivermectin, while group 4 rats received orally the same dose of MSG for 2 weeks, after which ivermectin was administered orally for 1 week. Administration of MSG orally for 21 days and for 14 days, followed by oral administration of ivermectin for 7 days, significantly increased (p < 0.05) glutathione-S-transferase, nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as well as malondialdehyde and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations while Na+ - K+ - ATPase, Ca2+ - Mg2+ - ATPase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the control. However, co-administration of MSG and ivermectin for 21 days did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) in all the parameters studied compared to the control. This result suggests that ivermectin may protect against MSG-induced excitotoxicity in rats.Item Modulatory Effects of Mg2+ and Zn2+ Ions on Monoesterase Activity of Wildtype and Mutant E. coli Alkaline Phosphatases(Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Ilorin, 2018) Igunnu, Adedoyin; Joel, E.B.; Ezetulugo, L.N.; Malomo, S.O.Metal cofactors and arginine-166 residue are active site participants in alkaline phosphatase catalysis. However, the mechanism by which the metal cofactors coordinate with arginine-166 residue during alkaline phosphatase catalysis is elusive. This study investigated the effects of Mg2+ and Zn2+ on monoesterase activity of wild-type and mutant E. coli alkaline phosphatases (ECAPs). The intact arginine-166 residue of wild-type ECAP was replaced by alanine and serine in the mutant ECAPs, R166A and R166S, respectively. Monoesterase activity of ECAP was measured by monitoring the rate of hydrolysis of para-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). The monoesterase activity of wild-type ECAP was approximately 2-fold higher than the mutant ECAPs. Mg2+ (0.110mM) increased the activities of wild-type and mutant enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner. Zn2+ (0.05-0.1mM) slightly increased the activities of wild-type and mutants ECAPs. In the absence and in the presence of 10mM Mg2+ or 0.1mM Zn2+, the maximum reaction rate of wild-type ECAP was higher than those of the mutant ECAPs while its Michaelis constant was lower than those of the mutant ECAPs. Findings in this study revealed that monoesterase activity of ECAP was greatly reduced by the loss of arginine-166 residue but its modulation by Mg2+ and Zn2+ ions was independent of arginine-166 residue.Item Novel pectin from Parkia biglobosa pulp mediated green route synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles(Elsevier, 2019) Ibraheem, S.A.; Audu, E.A.; Jaafar, M.; Adudu, J.A.; Barminas, J.T.; Ochigbo, V.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Malomo, S.O.Hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles were synthesized using pectin from pulp of P. biglobosa as green template. This was achieved at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1%) of pectin. The HAP nanoparticles mediated by pectin were characterized using Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) and Xray Diffraction (XRD). Structure and morphology of the synthesized HAP indicate that discrete and less agglomerated particles were produced at low concentration (0.1%) of pectin. The HAP nanoparticles produced, with crystallite size ranging from 17.5 to 26.3 nm, inhibited the growth of selected bacteria used for the study. Findings from this study suggest that P. biglobosa pulp pectin can serve as a green template for the production of HAPnanoparticleswhichareconsideredtobepromisingandversatilebioactivematerialsinenzymetechnology, biomedical and tissue engineering.Item Oxalate: A potential ligand for differentiating Plasmodium berghei lactate dehydrogenase from host erythrocyte lactate dehydrogenase(University of Ilorin Library and Publication Committee, 2015) Igunnu, Adedoyin; Adebayo, J.O.; Malomo, S.O.Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase is a valuable malaria diagnostic indicator. However, the difference between Plasmodium and host lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the presence of ligands has not been fully characterized. This study investigated the effects of Co2+ and oxalate on lactate dehydrogenase activities in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocyte (PBIE-LDH) and uninfected erythrocytes (UE-LDH) of mice. LDH activities in PBIE and UE were determined in the presence of varying concentrations of Co2+ and oxalate. Vmax of PBIE-LDH was three times higher (with reduced Km) than that of UE-LDH in the absence of the ligands. Co2+ activated both PBIE-LDH and UE-LDH activities with optimal concentrations at 10 mM and 5 mM respectively. Oxalate (0.1-10 mM) inhibited UE-LDH activity. Moreover, oxalate (from 0.1 to 2 mM) progressively inhibited PBIE-LDH activity but concentrations higher than 2 mM (up to 10 mM) progressively reversed this inhibition but not to the range of the enzyme activity in the absence of oxalate. Kinetic analyses revealed that Vmax of PBIE-LDH in the presence of 5 mM oxalate and 5 mM Co2+ was one and a half times and five times higher (with reduced Km) than those of UE-LDH respectively. These results suggest that the P. berghei LDH can be differentiated from host erythrocyte LDH in the presence of oxalate at concentrations higher than 2 mM. This could be of significance in antimalarial screening programmes and, by extension, effective diagnosis of malaria caused by other Plasmodium species and monitoring of recovery during treatment.Item Responses of selected haematological and biochemical parameters to artesunate/artemether-lumefantrin combination therapy in children with severe malaria(Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria., 2017) Okoli, C.A.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Malomo, S.O.Item Responses of Selected Inflammatory, Kidney and Liver Function Markers in Serum of Nigerian Children with Severe Falciparum Malaria to Treatment with Artesunate/ArtemetherLumefantrine Combination Therapy(Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 2019) Okoli, C.A.; Igunnu, Adedoyin; Malomo, S.O.; Adebayo, J.O.; Oguche, S.Malaria tolerance is a defence strategy that limits the damage caused by Plasmodium species irrespective of pathogen burden. The mechanisms responsible for this, responses of these mechanisms and their impact on organs to treatment have not been extensively studied. Thus, in this study, serum levels of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, liver and kidney function indices with leucocytes indices in 100 children (1-10 years) with severe falciparum malaria were determined before treatment, at 48 hours during treatment and 48 hours after treatment with WHO recommended dosage of artesunate/artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy using standard methods. Data were analysed using SPSS, differences were considered significant at p<0.05. The results revealed that the serum levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide (NO), creatinine, albumin, total protein and conjugated bilirubin were not significantly changed at higher parasite densities before treatment. Only serum IL-4, CRP, total bilirubin, urea and creatinine levels and alanine aminotransferase activity were significantly reduced below the ranges of those with severe malaria. The results suggest a self-protective feed-back control, indicating tolerance, which reduced the adverse effects of the disease on kidney and liver functions at higher parasite densities. The results also suggest serum IL-12, IL-4, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CRP and NO levels as immune-protective markers for tolerance and serum IL-4 level as an effective marker for disease severity and recovery from the disease in children with severe malaria.