Browsing by Author "Moody, J.O."
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Item CHEMICAL DETECTION OF CYSTEINE-RICH CIRCULAR PEPTIDES IN SELECTED TROPICAL VIOLACEAE AND MORINGACEAE FAMILIES USING MODIFIED G-250 AND MASS SPECTROMETRY(Nig. J. Nat. Prod. and Med., 2016) Attah, A. F; Sonibare, M.A.; Moody, J.O.Cysteine-rich circular peptides (CRCs) comprise a large family of gene encoded and low molecular weight polypeptides that has recently engaged the attention of scientists. This class of peptides exhibit a continuous circular configuration and a cystine knot backbone, which defines their resilient naturedirected structural design. Many CRCs have been reported in medicinal plants the first of which is kalata B1 cyclotide from the traditional African plant Oldenlandia affinis. Their detection and isolation can be very challenging and evasive. Only about 1% of plant species have so far been reportedly screened. A modified preliminary chemo-microscopic/macroscopic method involving the use of G-250 stain was applied followed by thin layer chromatographic protosite reaction for plant selection. This was followed by the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass spectrometry guided experiment for cyclotide discovery. The blue colouration produced upon sample reaction with modified G-250 led to the selection of potential circular peptide containing plant samples. A further MALDI-TOF MS-guided screening resulted in the detection of circular peptides and cyclotides in Moringa oleifera, Rinorea dentata, R. oblongifolia and R. brachypatela. Viola odorata and Viola tricolor (positive controls) indicated the presence of cyclotides. Results from this study can serve as proof-of-concept for plant selection based on preliminary cysteine-rich circular peptide detection in plants especially with the use of G-250 stain.Item COMPARATIVE PROXIMATE, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF FREEZE-DRIED AND AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA DEL. LEAVES AND GARCINIA KOLA HECKEL SEEDS(International Journal of Herbs and Pharmacological Research, 2020) Bolajoko, E.B.; Onyeaghala, A.A.; Akinosun, O.M.; Attah, A.F.; Moody, J.O.; Khine, A.A.Medicinal plants have been used for centuries to meet primary healthcare needs. This study compared proximate, phytochemicals, micronutrient and toxic metal concentrations in freeze-dried and aqueous extract samples of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaves and Garcinia kola (GK) seeds. Fifty gram of freeze-dried samples and 50 mL of freshly prepared aqueous extracts of VA and GK each were used for the analysis. Proximate compositions of VA and GK were assessed using standard analytical methods. Phytochemicals were quantified spectrophotometrically, vitamins by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mineral compositions by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Proximate compositions were significantly elevated in freeze-dried samples of VA and GK compared with aqueous extracts. Phytochemicals: tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids, were higher in freeze-dried samples of VA and GK compared to aqueous extracts (p<0.05). Terpenoids and alkaloids were only observed in VA (p<0.05) but not detected in GK. Similarly, micronutrients including manganese, iron, copper, zinc, vitamins A, C and E were more concentrated in freeze-dried samples compared to aqueous extracts (p<0.05); while, toxic metals such as lead and cadmium were not detected in both freeze-dried and aqueous extracts of VA and GK. The findings suggested that freeze-dried samples of Vernonia amygdalina leaves and Garcinia kola seeds could possess good medicinal and therapeutic properties.Item Metal Contents and Acute Toxicity of Combined Vernonia amygdalina Leaves and Garcinia kola Seeds-VAGK, a Herbal and Nutritional Formulation in Male Wistar Rats(Afr. J. Biomed. Res., 2019-05) Bolajoko, E.B.; Attah, A.F.; Akinosun, O.M.; Onyeaghala, A.A.; Moody, J.O.; Khine, A.A.While plants have been useful to man as food and medicine, many have the potentials to induce toxicity either singly or in combination, which may result from their phytochemical contents or accumulation of toxic metals. Therefore, this study investigated the metal contents and acute toxicity of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaves and Garcinia kola (GK) seeds in single and combined forms on rat′s kidney and liver. Aqueous extracts of these plants were used to investigate their acute toxicity potentials separately and in combined formulation, VAGK, using male Wistar rats. Following previous studies, a limit acute toxicity investigation of VA and GK were carried out. In addition, a full acute toxicity test was performed on VAGK using Lorkes’ method. The geometric means of doses were used to obtain the acute toxicity value. Histopathological examination was carried out on harvested rats’ kidney and liver while metal analysis was performed on the powdered plants. Results showed that all animals survived the limit dose as well as the full acute toxicity tests. The Kidney and liver revealed no notable pathological changes in the tested plants. Concentration of some of the analysed metals (mg/kg) in plants fell within recommended permissible limits except for Pb, Co, Cr and Ni, which were above these limits. In conclusion, although the acute oral toxicity test revealed no mortality and demonstrated no detrimental effects on the kidney and liver of the treated rats, however based on metal results, caution must be taken when using these plants as herbal remedy.