THE EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES OF FLUTED PUMPKN (TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS) ON BLOOD GLUCOSE ,HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AND SPERM PARAMETERS

THE  RESEARCHERS  FROM   DEPARTMENT  OF  BIOCHEMISTRY  UNIVERSITY  OF  NIGERIA   NNSUKA ,ENUGU  STATE  AND  DEPARTMENT  OF  BIOCHEMISTRY  MICHAEL  OKPALA  UNIVERSITY  OF  AGRICULTURE  ,UMUDIKE  ABIA  STATE . STUDIED   THE   EFFECT   OF   THE   AQUEOUS   EXTRACT   OF   THE   LEAVES   OF   TELFAIRIA   OCCIDENTALIS    [FLUTED  PUMPKIN]   ON  SOME   HAEMATOLOGICAL   INDICES , SPERM  PARAMETERS   AND   BLOOD   GLUCOSE   IN    MALE    ALBINO   RATS.    THE   EXPERIMENT   WAS   DIVIDED   INTO   TWO   PARTS.   IN  THE  FIRST  PART,  12  MALE  RATS  WERE  DIVIDED  INTO  TWO   GROUPS   OF  SIX  RATS  EACH.  GROUP   1 RATS   SERVED   AS   CONTROL   AND   WERE  GIVEN   TO   ML/KG   OF   NORMAL   SALINE    WHILE   THE   GROUP    2  RATS    WERE   TREATED  WITH    200MG/KG     OF  THE   AQUEOUS   EXTRACT   FOR   TWO   WEEK.    AT   THE   END   OF   THE   TREATMENT     PERIOD,    HAEMATOLOGICAL    INDICES   [PACKED  CELL   VOLUME,    HAEMOGLOBIN    CONCENTRATION,    RED   AND   WHITE   BLOOD   CELL   COUNTS],SPERM   PARAMETERS      [SPERM    MOTILITY,VIABILITY  AND   COUNTS]  AND   BLOOD   GLUCOSE   WERE   DETERMINED.   

 IN   THE   SECOND   PART   OF   THE    EXPERIMENT,   24   MALE  RATS   WERE   DIVIDED   INTO   FOUR   GROUPS   OF   SIX    RAT   EACH.     GROUP   1  RATS    SERVED   AS   CONTROL   WHILE   GROUPS   2,3   AND   4    RATS   WERE   GIVEN   200MG/KG   OF   THE   EXTRACT   FOR   5,7   AND  14   DAYS,    RESPECTIVELY.   HAEMATOLOGICAL   INDICES   WERE   DETERMINED    IN      THESE     RATS     AT   THE  END  OF   THE    TREATMENT.    THE   RESULTS    SHOWED     THAT  T.OCCIDENTALIS               SIGNIFICANTLY     INCREASED   ALL   THE   HAEMATOLOGICAL    INDICIE   AND   SPERM     PARAMETERS:    IN   CONTRACT,     HOWEVER,   THE    EXTRACT    SIGNIFICANTLY   REDUCED   THE   BLOOD   GLUCOSE   LEVELS.   THE   RESULT  ALSO   SHOWED  THAT   THE   INCREASE   IN  THE     HAEMOTOLOGICAL   INDICES    STARTED    AFTER   THE   SEVENTH  DAY   OF  TREATMENT.THE  RESEACHER   THEREFORE  POINTED  OUT  THAT  FOOD   PREPARED  WITH  FRUTED  PUMPKIN ( UGU ) IN  IBO LEAVES AND  SEEDS REDUCE  BLOOD  GLUCOSE  LEVELS AND  STOP  CANCER

 SOURCE:

THE  GURDIANS,THURSDAY 2, 2012

WHAT IS GARCINIA KOLA ?

Garcinia kola:          The seeds  of several  plants have been used either  wholly as a substitute  for, or as adulterants of, true kola. All of these, however,  lack  the characteristic principles of the true kola. Among these plants is  Garinia Kola (Heckel). The fruit of this plant is rarely found as an adulterant  of kola, as their external features are entirely different. However, it  bears the name of  false kola, male kola, and bitter kola. It is highly esteemed by the native of Africa, though devoid of marked stimulant properties of true kola.  Negroes chewed  it as a powerful aphrodisiac and, as masticatory, they  employ them in common colds.   They contain tannin,  colour matter, and a brown and a yellowish- white resin but  no alkaloids (Harvey Wickes, 1898).

DIABETES CAN BENEFIT FROM MANGOSTEEN FRUIT

 A   remarkable fruit from the SE Asia called Mangoteen, legendary for its health promoting powers!

Researchers have now unlocked the key secret to Mangosteen’s amazing benefits, a powerful, new class of super-antioxidants found in the rind (pericarp) of this delicious tasting fruit called Xanthones.

First discovered in India over 400 years ago and regarded as the national fruit of Thailand and Malaysia, the Mangosteen fruit contains 43 different Xanthones, each with its own unique health promoting properties, among them the ability to help reduce inflammation with no side effects according to several new clinical trials.

Now the subject of numerous studies and research, the remarkable benefits of the Mangosteen fruit and its Xanthones are now available in Africa for the first time ever!

Want to look better, feel better, have more energy, and improve your health? Now you can! 

Introducing VEMMA Mangosteen! THAT  IS  ABOUT  TO  LAUNCH  OUT  IN  NIGERIA FOR THE  VERY FIRST  TIME, THIS  JUNE CLINCK HERE TO  KNOWN  MORE

HOW TO HAVE A GOOD SLEEPING HABIT

Sleep  is  very  important  for  our  healthy growth,  thinking   and fast  memory capabilities.Therefore  for  our  good body , muscle  ,  organ  and brain  performance  we  need  quality  sleep .And  for us  to stay  healthy  free  of some chronic  disease  like  diabetes ,hypertension  or high  blood pressure   Heart failure  etc  ,we  need  good  quality  sleep.For  an  example  in 2005, a study of over 1400 participants showed that participants who habitually slept few hours were more likely to have associations with Diabetes Type 2.If  sleep is so  important  ,how can  we correct our  deprived  sleep nature ? here are  some way  we  can  balance  our  sleep nature:

1. Pray and give all your burdens to the Lord. Pray that God will help you sleep well. The Bible says in Psalms 4: I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: For thou, Lord,only maketh me dwell in safety.
   
2. 2
   Exercise regularly
   Exercise regularly: Exercise in the late afternoon or early evening but not within two hours of bedtime.
   
3. 3
   Bananas contain tryptophan
   Eat sleep promoting foods: In the evening eat almonds,bananas, dates, figs, tuna, turkey or yogurt. These foods are high in tryptophan which promotes sleep.
   
4. 4
   What a feeling to get a massage!
   Massage your entire body using essential oil: Prepare a massage oil by mixing 2 drops of valerian oil, 2 drops of lemon oil, 2 drops of chamomile oil, 2 drops of clary-sage oil and 2 drops of valerian. Use this prior to taking your essential oil bath. Massage over your entire body, you may need help from your husband or wife for this one.(Smile) :) There is nothing like your partner in life lending his/her hand to massage you when needed. Make sure the shoulders and neck are included.
   
5. 5
   Key is relaxation!
   Take an essential oil bath: Essential oil can be used in a nice, warm and sensual bath. Mix 3 drops of clary-sage, 2 drops of vetiver, 1 drop of valerian and two drops of lavender oil in a bowl and then pour in a dropper bottle. Afterwards, place 3 drops per bath. Get in the tub, relax and read a book. Then go to bed. Repeat nightly or as needed.
   

5 Ways to Help Baby Sleepwww.SleepThroughNight.com

Tear-free tips to help baby sleep No obligation, privacy guaranteed

Read more: How to Induce Sleep Naturally | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4765158_induce-sleep-naturally.html#ixzz171I8A6hM

EFFECTS OF BITTER KOLA EXTRACT ON BLOOD GLUCOSE

In this experiment, the aqueous bitter kola (Garcinia kola) extract was added to the plasma invitro.
The glucose concentration gotten was then compared with that of the normal blood glucose without the extract.
Test
Six tubes were lined and 100*l of plasma was put into each tubes. Into first three tubes was labelled 20*lE, 50*lE, 100*lE of extract. The second set of three test tubes was labelled 20*l NS,
50*l NS,100*lNS, of normal saline which acted as control.
In test tubes labelled for extract 20*l, 50*l and 100*l of the bitter kola extract was put respectively. The same was done to the normal saline. The tubes were shacked for content to mix. The timing device was set to 1 hour.
This allows a time for the extract to react with the blood glucose. At the end of one hour a blood glucose test was done (as described above). The values were calculated according. The time device set to another one hour, making the reaction time to be two hours. At the end of the two hours the blood glucose test were repeated and values calculated accordingly.

 Bitter kola extract  was found to have caused the decrease in the blood glucose level  from 5.3± 0.3 to: 4.8± 0.1 mmol/L with a decrease of 9.4% using 20ml of extract, 4.6± 0.4mMol/L with a decrease of 13% using 50ml  of extract, 3.9± 0.5 with 26% decrease in glucose concentration using 100ml  of the extract. After 2 hours interval the glucose level was  found to have dropped to: 5.0 ± 0.1 mMol/L with a decrease of 5.6% using 20ml  of  extract; 4.7 ± 0.4 mMol/L with a decrease of 11% using 50ml  of extract, 4.2 ± 0.5 mMol/L with a decrease of 20% using 100ml  of the extract reacting with the  blood glucose . Indicating a drastic  drop in the glucose level.

Source:A research project from Miriam aniakor{B.Sc.HONS.} in Biochemistry, September,2005.

Diabetes and effect between little sleep

In 2005, a study of over 1400 participants showed that participants who habitually slept few hours were more likely to have associations with Diabetes Type 2. However, because this study was merely cor-relational, the direction of cause and effect between little sleep and diabetes is uncertain. The authors point to an earlier study which showed that experimental rather than habitual restriction of sleep resulted in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).And  new mothers   sleep  pattern  are  also  very  poor. .
Researcher Dr Hawley E. Montgomery-Downs, said the study challenges a central assumption about new mothers' typical sleep patterns.
She said that the general assumption had been that most new mothers are not getting enough hours of sleep so the advice on how to combat daytime fatigue has focused on countering sleep deprivation, such as nap when your baby naps.For detail go to http://en.wikipedia.org

Diabetes ! Can lead to decrease in perlecan levels

Perlecan levels are decreased in many disease states - e.g., diabetes, atherosclerosis and arthritis. Perlecan has an important role in the maintenance of the glomerular filtration barrier. Decreased perlecan in the glomerular basement membrane has a central role in the development of diabetic albuminuria. Perlecan expression is down regulated by many atherogenic stimuli and thus Perlecan is thought to play a protective role in atherosclerosis. Diabetes and atherosclerosis are commonly associated syndromes. 80% of diabetes-associated deaths involve some form of atherosclerotic complication, and the basement membrane of endothelia has been implicated in the atherogenic process.Then  what  is Perlecan ?Heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2), is a human gene which encodes the perlecan protein.
Perlecan is a large multidomain proteoglycan that binds to and cross-links many extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cell-surface molecules. Perlecan is synthesized by both vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells and deposited in the extracellular matrix. Perlecan is highly conserved across species and the available data indicate that it has evolved from ancient ancestors by gene duplication and exon shuffling.

Synthesis of heparan sulfate was shown to decrease in the arteries of diabetics and in arteries developing atherosclerotic lesions. The mechanism by which heparan sulfate was downregulated in these lesions remained unknown for some time. One theory states that high glucose in circulation could lead to a decrease in GAG chain attachment to perlecan, but not necessarily a change in the synthetic pathway of the GAG chains or that of the core protein. After treatment of human aortic endothelial cells with high glucose medium, secreted perlecan contained less sulfate incorporation accompanied by less overall GAG chain incorporation. Although no signaling pathway is identified leading to this decrease in GAG chain incorporation, it is suggested that the 30% loss in overall glycosylation of the protein could mean loss of one of the three HS chains on perlecan in this model of diabetes-associated hyperglycemia. It is also noted that similar decreases in extracellular HS without a change in staining for the core protein chains occur in diabetic kidneys and in kidney cells in culture treated with high glucose.
SOURCE:http://en.wikipedia.org