Alcohol-induced testicular oxidative stress and cholesterol homeostasis in rats – The therapeutic potential of virgin coconut oil

Objective: To evaluate the possible protective effects of virgin coconut oil on alcohol-induced oxidative stress and serum lipid values in rats. Design: This is an experimental animal study. Method: The animals were gavaged with 30% ethanol (7 ml/kg body weight/day) while 6.67 ml/kg body weight/day of virgin coconut oil (VCNO) was administered for 4 weeks using a cannulated syringe. Results: Animals treated with ethanol alone showed a significant elevation in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), which lowered the antioxidant defence system such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase activities when compared with the control. Sperm count, sperm motility and serum testosterone levels were also significantly reduced in this group. Levels of total cholesterol/HDL (TC/HDL) ratio increased significantly in the ethanol-only treated group, while HDL level was significantly reduced. Administration of VCNO improved the antioxidant status by decreasing the levels of MDA and altering lipid profile levels to near normal. Sperm count, motility and serum testosterone levels were also significantly increased when compared with the alcohol-only treated group. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate VCNO has antioxidant activities and does not adversely alter serum lipid levels

Development and evaluation of mucoadhesive bigel containing tenofovir and maraviroc for HIV prophylaxis

Abstract Background Sexual transmission of HIV is the most common means of acquiring the disease. Topical microbicides have been investigated to prevent transmission. This study will use a specific entry inhibitor, maraviroc, and a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), tenofovir, a dual combination which will provide a synergist effect that can enhance the efficacy of HIV microbicides via a mucoadhesive dual compartment bigel. Bigel formulation via hydrogel organogel linkages were developed and evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, safety, and anti-HIV efficacy. In vitro diffusion studies were performed with Franz diffusion cells having effective diffusion surface area of 1.76cm2 and receiver chamber volume of 15mL. Result The bigel formulations showed a viscosity ranging from 14179 to 14560 cPs and had a good spreadability and acidic pH in the range of 4.0 ± 0.34 to 5.2 ± 0.18. The bigel formulations showed good anti-HIV activity at a concentration of 0.1 μg/mL. The in vitro release study of maraviroc from the bigel formulations showed a release rate ranging from 2.675 to 3.838 μg/cm2/min½ while the release rate for tenofovir ranged from 3.475 to 3.825 μg/cm2/min½. The bigel formulations were non-toxic to the human vagina as there was &lt; 1 log10 change in Lactobacilli crispatus viability. Conclusion This study successfully developed a dual compartment bigel containing maraviroc and tenofovir. BG C was found to be stable and safe towards vaginal and rectal epithelium, and it actively prevented HIV transmission. This bigel has the potential for long-term pre-exposure prophylaxis prevention of HIV transmission. </jats:sec

A comparison of the anti-diabetic potential of d-ribose-l-cysteine with insulin, and oral hypoglycaemic agents on pregnant rats

Over 18% of pregnant women are affected by diabetes mellitus (DM) and Insulin has been the commonest drug used in its treatment. There are reports of noncompliance to insulin due to trypanophobia, with suggestions for the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs). However, the opposing views about the benefits and risk of oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) warrant a continuous search for an alternative regimen. Therefore, this study is aimed at comparing the antidiabetic effects of d-ribose-l-cysteine (riboceine) with vildagliptin, glibenclamide, metformin, glipizide and insulin in diabetes in pregnancy. Forty (40) female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were mated with twenty (20) male SD rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin and the female SD rats were divided into 8 groups of five (5) rats each. The animals were administered either of the OHAs vildagliptin, glibenclamide, metformin, glipizide and riboceine for a period of 19 gestational days. The results showed that streptozotocin (STZ) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the weights of the animals, increased malondialdehyde, blood glucose levels and altered reproductive hormones. These effects of STZ were better ameliorated in animals that received insulin and riboceine compared to the other OHAs. While progesterone levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in animals that received riboceine compared to insulin. Glibenclamide increased (p < 0.05) foetal weights compared to non-diabetic animals. In conclusion, glibenclamide may be a threat to mother`s life in the management of diabetes in pregnancy however, riboceine as well as vildagliptin, metformin and glipizide are effective oral hypoglycaemic agents which could serve as a potent adjuvant comparable to insulin in the management of diabetes during gestation. Keywords: d-Ribose-l-Cysteine, Oxidative stress, Diabetes, Metformin, Glibenclamide, Vildagliptin, Glipizid