Abstract: Obesity, a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease, is associated with increased oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant status. Melatonin, potent free radical scavenger antioxidant, has powerful cardioprotective effects in lean animals but its efficacy obesity unknown. We investigated the of chronic melatonin administration on development metabolic syndrome as well ischemia–reperfusion injury rat model diet‐induced (DIO). Male Wistar rats received control diet, diet...

The most accessible points of call for African populations with respect to primary health care are traditional systems that include spiritual, religious, and herbal medicine. This review focusses only on the use medicines. Most people accept medicines as generally safe no serious adverse effects. However, overlap between conventional medicine is a reality among countries in transition. Patients often simultaneously seek treatment from both same condition. Commonly encountered...

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, which leads to right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy and failure. The pathophysiological mechanisms of PH remain unclear but oxidative stress believed contribute RV dysfunction. Melatonin a powerful antioxidant cardioprotective against ischemia-reperfusion injury hypertension. Therefore, we hypothesized that chronic treatment with melatonin, given as curative or preventive therapy, may confer cardiovascular...

Obesity and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are associated with cardiovascular risk. Surprisingly, despite a greater prevalence of obesity lower HDL concentrations than white women, black South African women relatively protected against ischaemic heart disease. We investigated whether this apparent discrepancy may be related to different function subclass distribution in white, normal-weight obese (n = 40). functionality was assessed by measuring paraoxonase (PON)...

Chronic melatonin treatment has been shown to prevent the harmful effects of diet-induced obesity and reduce myocardial susceptibility ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, exact mechanism whereby it exerts its beneficial actions on heart in obesity/insulin resistance remains unknown. Herein, we investigated relatively short-term a rat model obesity. Control obese Wistar rats (fed high calorie diet for 20 wk) were each subdivided into three groups receiving drinking water with or...

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved health parameters of HIV infected individuals. However, there are several challenges associated with the chronic nature HAART administration. For populations in transition, dual use medicinal plant extracts and conventional medicine poses a significant challenge. There is need to evaluate interactions between commonly used drugs against HIV/AIDS. Efavirenz (EFV) nevirapine (NVP) major components both metabolized by CYP2B6, an...

This study evaluated the effects of Newbouldia laevis and Cassia abbreviata extracts on CYP450 enzyme activity. Recombinant fluorogenic substrates were used for evaluating inhibition, allowing assessment herb-drug interactions (HDI). Phytochemical fingerprinting was performed using UPLC-MS. The herbal risk ranked HDI based IC50 values determined each CYP enzyme. inhibited CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 activities with Ki 2.84 µg/mL, 1.55 1.23 respectively. N. exhibited a TDI (4.17) effect CYP1A2...

Excess uric acid has been shown to induce oxidative stress, triglyceride accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the liver is an independent predictor of type-2 diabetes. Skeletal muscle plays a dominant role type 2 diabetes presents large surface area plasma acid. However, effects on skeletal are underinvestigated. Our aim was therefore characterize excessive content, function C2C12 myotubes assess how these modulated by antioxidant molecule melatonin. Differentiated were exposed 750...

Capture and transport are essential procedures for the management conservation of southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum), but associated with stress-induced morbidity mortality. To improve efforts, it is crucial to understand pathophysiology rhinoceros stress responses investigate drug combinations that could reduce these responses. In this study we measured capture by quantifying hematological immunological changes together adrenal hormone concentrations. We investigated...

HIV-infection, certain antiretroviral drug classes, especially protease inhibitors (PI), and obesity are associated with increased ischaemic heart disease (IHD) risk. However, the effect of PI-free fixed dose combination (FDC) therapy (ART) on hearts exposed to ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) is unknown, particularly in obesity. This becoming relevant as World Health Organisation guidelines recommend a FDC ART containing (non-) nucleoside reverse transcriptase (tenofovir (TDF),...

The cheetah is considered the fastest land animal, but studies on their skeletal muscle properties are scarce. Vastus lateralis biopsies, obtained from male and female cheetahs as well humans, were analysed compared for fibre type size, metabolism. Overall, had predominantly IIX fibres, which was confirmed by myosin heavy chain isoform content (mean±s.d. I: 17±8%, IIA: 21±6%, IIX: 62±12%), whereas human contained I IIA fibres (type 49±14%, 43±8%, 7±7%). Cheetahs smaller than with larger in...

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity is markedly influenced by coding polymorphisms, Q/R at position 192 and M/L 55 of the PON1 gene. We investigated frequencies these polymorphisms their effects on antioxidant activities in 844 South African mixed ancestry individuals. Genotyping was done using allele-specific TaqMan technology, were measured paraoxon phenylacetate, oxidative status determined measuring ferric reducing power trolox equivalent capacity, lipid peroxidation markers included...

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different levels exercise on markers oxidative stress and selected metabolic parameters in Ghanaian young adults.Significant increases a marker malondialdehyde antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase uric acid were observed exercisers compared with inactive group (p < 0.05). Total cholesterol high density lipoprotein significantly 0.05) between two groups. Positive associations intensity, antioxidant concentration within for vigorous regards acid,...

Capture and transport are part of translocation expose animals to a variety stressors that can lead morbidity mortality. We aimed establish better understanding the physiologic responses capture in black (Diceros bicornis) white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceroses Southern Africa. Fourteen adult were transported 600 km by vehicle 32 (24 adults 8 juveniles) 1,300 vehicle. The had been wild-caught boma-adapted over 6 wk prior only sedated allow for loading into crates. originated from game farm...

Background. Many epidemiological, clinical and laboratory studies suggest that chronic moderate consumption of red wine benefits cardiovascular health, because the alcoholic content or polyphenols/flavonoids. Aims. The antioxidant cardioprotective properties a French (cabernet sauvignon, 12% alcohol by volume) were compared with those same subjected to reverse osmosis for partial removal (6% volume). Methods. Antioxidant capacity was assessed in vitro using oxygen radical absorbance (ORAC)...

Criteria for labelling infant feeds as suitable the dietary management of cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) rely on proving hypoallergenicity such or clinical studies showing that are tolerated by 90% children with proven CMPA. South African (SA) legislation does not indicate what testing is necessary to prove hypoallergenicity.To evaluate all extensively hydrolysed formulas and amino acid-based available in SA residual allergen content, size amino-acid content.All were found be similar...

Aim: Magnesium (Mg 2+ ) is effective in treating cardiovascular disorders such as arrhythmias and pre-eclampsia, but its role during myocardial infarction (MI) remains uncertain.In this study, we investigated the effects of Mg pre-treatment on isoprenaline (ISO)-induced MI vivo.Methods: Rats divided into four groups were each pre-treated with either MgSO 4 (270 mg/kg intraperitoneally) or an equivalent volume physiological saline, prior to ISO (67 subcutaneously) saline treatments.One day...

Due to the abundance of lipoproteins in blood, it is challenging characterize biological functions and components blood-derived extracellular vesicles. The aim this study was develop a multiple-step purification protocol separate serum exosomes from proteins assess their regenerative potential. Exosomes were isolated by concentrating them human using ultracentrifugation (UC), followed sequentially density gradient (DG) UC size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Purity characterization assessed...