Amos Abolaji
University of Ibadan, Biochemistry, Faculty Member
Objectives The inadvertent exposure to environmental contaminants has been reported to induce cancer in different animal models. Here, we investigated the toxicity of Sodium Arsenite (SA), a Class I Carcinogen in Drosophila melanogaster.... more
Objectives The inadvertent exposure to environmental contaminants has been reported to induce cancer in different animal models. Here, we investigated the toxicity of Sodium Arsenite (SA), a Class I Carcinogen in Drosophila melanogaster. Methods Harwich fly strain (1–3 days old) of both sexes were orally exposed to SA (0, 0.0312, 0.0625 and 0.125 mM) for 14 days for survival study. Thereafter, 5 days exposure period was selected to assess the toxic effects of SA on oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. Results The results indicated that SA induced significant reduction in survival and emergence rate of flies. Furthermore, SA significantly increased Nitric Oxide (NO, nitrite and nitrate) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) levels in flies compared with control (p<0.05). In addition, SA inhibited catalase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities, and depleted total thiol and glutathione (GSH) contents. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase activity significantly increased in flies treated with SA when compared with control. Conclusions Sodium arsenite-induced reduction in survival and emergence rates of flies occurred via the disruption of oxidative stress-antioxidant homeostasis in D. melanogaster.
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Research Interests: Chemistry, Drosophila melanogaster, Oxidative Stress, Medicine, Antioxidants, and 12 moreReactive Oxygen Species, Animals, Antioxidant, Glutathione, Acetylcholinesterase, Catalase, Glutathione Transferase, Trichloroethylene, Hesperidin, Gene Expression Regulation, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
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More than 19 percent of all human cancer cases globally express mutant RAS proteins, which are the most frequently altered oncogenic proteins. Targeting cancer cells becomes difficult because these oncogenic proteins and cancer cells that... more
More than 19 percent of all human cancer cases globally express mutant RAS proteins, which are the most frequently altered oncogenic proteins. Targeting cancer cells becomes difficult because these oncogenic proteins and cancer cells that are driven by Ras mutation show very aggressive traits. KRAS is the most expressed among the three isoforms of Ras mutation, which usually occur at position 12. KRAS G12C and KRAS G12D are common types of KRAS that have been proven difficult to target for many years. In recent times, many studies started to show that a lot of food spices possess strong anticancer properties that can target many cancer cells. Therefore, computational methods to access the anticancer properties of some selected compounds that are present in common food spices against KRAS G12C and KRAS G12D in their inactive GDP-bound state. These compounds were molecularly docked with standard drugs after their ADMET screening revealed their druglikeness. Chlorogenic acid and Rosmar...
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Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of amino acid glutamate, that is a widely used as food additive. Here, we studied the impacts of MSG on the lifespan and oxidative stress-antioxidant homeostasis in D. melanogaster . Thus,... more
Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of amino acid glutamate, that is a widely used as food additive. Here, we studied the impacts of MSG on the lifespan and oxidative stress-antioxidant homeostasis in D. melanogaster . Thus, both genders of 1 to 3 days old flies were fed with diet containing 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 g/kg MSG for 5 days. Then, longevity assay, Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) levels were evaluated in the flies. In addition, catalase, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, and total thiol level were determined in the flies. We found that MSG reduced the lifespan of flies by up to 23%, increased RONS and H 2 O 2 generations, and increased catalase and GST activities in the flies (p < 0.05). In conclusion, MSG reduced the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster via a mechanism involving the disruption of oxidative stress-antioxidant balance.
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ABSTRACT Anacardium microcarpum is consumed as infusion in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases in which free radicals assaults have been implicated in their etiology. However, there is no scientific report on... more
ABSTRACT Anacardium microcarpum is consumed as infusion in the Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases in which free radicals assaults have been implicated in their etiology. However, there is no scientific report on this traditional claim. Thus, we investigated for the first time, its antioxidant activity as well as its potential toxic effects on human leukocytes and erythrocytes in vitro. In addition, qualitative and quantitative analyses of the classes of phytochemicals in the various fractions from A. microcarpum were carried out by HPLC–DAD. The results demonstrated that IC50 (for DPPH radical scavenging) varied from 27.88 ± 1.60 (AcOEt fraction) to 32.86 ± 3.05 μg/mL (EtOH fraction), and all the fractions strongly inhibited Fe2+ (10 μM)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain and liver homogenates. All the fractions were not cytotoxic to leukocytes and were able to prevent against 2 mM H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, the fractions did not have any effect on human erythrocytes osmotic fragility, suggesting that A. microcarpum infusion can be consumed safely. Preliminary phytochemical analysis exhibited the presence of phenolics and flavonoids compounds as major phytochemical groups. Taking together, our results indicate that the popular use of A. microcarpum for preventive or therapeutic agents in pathologies where cell oxidative stress is implicated has a scientific basis.
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Research Interests: Endocrinology, Chemistry, Andrology, Oxidative Stress, Medicine, and 15 moreAntioxidants, Internal Medicine, Sperm, Animals, Male, Glutathione, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase, Lipid peroxidation, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rats, Spermatozoa, Epididymis, Malondialdehyde, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Several experimental and epidemiological reports have associated manganese exposure with induction of oxidative stress and locomotor dysfunctions. Diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) is widely reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and... more
Several experimental and epidemiological reports have associated manganese exposure with induction of oxidative stress and locomotor dysfunctions. Diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) is widely reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in in vitro and in vivo studies via multiple biochemical mechanisms. The present study investigated the protective effect of DPDS on manganese-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. The flies were exposed, in a dietary regimen, to manganese alone (30 mmol per kg) or in combination with DPDS (10 and 20 µmol per kg) for 7 consecutive days. Exposure to manganese significantly (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) increased flies mortality, whereas the survivors exhibited significant locomotor deficits with increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. However, dietary supplementation with DPDS caused a significant decrease in mortality, improvement in locomotor activity and restoration of AChE activity in manganese-exposed flies. Additionally, the significant decreases in the total thiol level, activities of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase were accompanied with significant increases in the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in flies exposed to manganese alone. Dietary supplementation with DPDS significantly augmented the antioxidant status and prevented manganese-induced oxidative stress in the treated flies. Collectively, the present data highlight that DPDS may be a promising chemopreventive drug candidate against neurotoxicity resulting from acute manganese exposure.
Research Interests: Pharmacology, Chemistry, Drosophila melanogaster, Oxidative Stress, Mortality, and 14 moreMedicine, Manganese, Neuroprotection, Biological Sciences, Reactive Oxygen Species, Animals, Antioxidant, Glutathione, Acetylcholinesterase, Neurotoxicity, Organoselenium Compounds, Neuroprotective Agents, Neurochemical, and Medical and Health Sciences
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Some heavy metals are essential in trace amounts, enhancing enzyme functioning and other intracellular molecules. Others are explicitly toxic at low concentrations, increasing the risk of organ-related toxicity. Non-essential metals have... more
Some heavy metals are essential in trace amounts, enhancing enzyme functioning and other intracellular molecules. Others are explicitly toxic at low concentrations, increasing the risk of organ-related toxicity. Non-essential metals have similar mechanisms of toxicity to essential metals. These include the modifiable change in oxidation states, interaction with sulfhydryl moieties of proteins and indirect modification of nucleic acids. Ultimately, oxidative stress is generated, and potentiation of damage ensues. The susceptibility, sensitivity, genetic resources, and cellular response of Drosophila melanogaster to heavy metal exposure and toxicity have made this insect appropriate for toxicological studies. In this review, we focus on the toxicological impacts of non-essential metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) in Drosophila and discuss its cellular and developmental responses to increasing concentrations of these metals. We also suggest current or proposed therapeutic alternatives, as well as dimensions that may improve the studies of non-essential metal biology.
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Different ethnomedical benefits have been documented on different parts of Ackee (Blighia sapida); however, their roles in ameliorating oxidative damages are not well established. CdCl2 inhibitory effects on some oxidative-stress... more
Different ethnomedical benefits have been documented on different parts of Ackee (Blighia sapida); however, their roles in ameliorating oxidative damages are not well established. CdCl2 inhibitory effects on some oxidative-stress biomarkers and ameliorative potentials of Ackee leaves (AL) and arils (AS) methanolic extracts were studied using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. One to 3-day-old D. melanogaster flies were orally exposed to different concentrations of CdCl2 in their diet for 7 days. The fly’s survival profile and negative geotaxis assays were subsequently analysed. Methanolic extracts of AL and AS treatments showed negative geotaxis behaviour, and extracts were able to ameliorate the effect of Cd2+ on catalase and GST activities and increase total thiol and GSH levels, while it reduced the H2O2 generation ( p ≤ 0.05 ) when compared to the control. Furthermore, Cd2+ exhibited noncompetitive and uncompetitive enzyme inhibition on catalase and GST activities, respectively...
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Drosophila melanogaster is used as a model system in biomedical studies. Selenoprotein is the major biological form of selenium in eukaryotes. Selenoproteins are generally involved in catabolic pathways in bacteria and archaea, whereas it... more
Drosophila melanogaster is used as a model system in biomedical studies. Selenoprotein is the major biological form of selenium in eukaryotes. Selenoproteins are generally involved in catabolic pathways in bacteria and archaea, whereas it participates in anabolic and antioxidant processes in eukaryotic. In this study, anticancer potential of selenoprotein BthD of D. melanogaster was investigated using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that selenoprotein BthD of D. melanogaster may have dual properties as evident by its orthology with selenoprotein H (SelH) of Homo sapiens and conserved domain of fructokinase-like protein 2 of Vitis vinifera. These dual properties were also revealed in the phylogenetic analysis, while further structural modeling showed that selenoprotein BthD possibly exists as homotetramer in the native functional structure. The anticancer property of selenoprotein BthD was proposed to be by synergy of antioxidant or redox activities of thioredoxin and glutathi...
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The first-line antituberculosis (anti-TB) drugs, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), ethambutol (EMB), and pyrazinamide (PZA), are effective in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the toxicity of these drugs in the clinical... more
The first-line antituberculosis (anti-TB) drugs, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), ethambutol (EMB), and pyrazinamide (PZA), are effective in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the toxicity of these drugs in the clinical setting limits their use. Here, we evaluated the effects of anti-TB drugs on the reproductive system in female rats. Thirty-five female Wistar rats were assigned into five groups of seven animals each. The control group received normal saline, whereas others received INH (5 mg/kg), RIF (10 mg/kg), EMB (15 mg/kg), and PZA (15 mg/kg) through gavage thrice a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Administration of anti-TB drugs significantly (p<0.05) reduced uterine and ovarian weight, as well as the relative weight of the uterus when compared with controls. In addition, anti-TB drugs increased the activities of alanine aminotransferase as well as the level of total bilirubin. Treatment with INH, RIF, and PZA significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of fo...
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Adaptive response is the ability of an organism to better counterattack stress‐induced damage in response to a number of different cytotoxic agents. Monosodium L‐glutamate (MSG), the sodium salt of amino acid glutamate, is commonly used... more
Adaptive response is the ability of an organism to better counterattack stress‐induced damage in response to a number of different cytotoxic agents. Monosodium L‐glutamate (MSG), the sodium salt of amino acid glutamate, is commonly used as a food additive. We investigated the effects of MSG on the life span and antioxidant response in Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster). Both genders (1 to 3 days old) of flies were fed with diet containing MSG (0.1, 0.5, and 2.5‐g/kg diet) for 5 days to assess selected antioxidant and oxidative stress markers, while flies for longevity were fed for lifetime. Thereafter, the longevity assay, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels were determined. Also, catalase, glutathione S‐transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities, and total thiol content were evaluated in the flies. We found that MSG reduced the life span of the flies by up to 23% after continuous exposure. Also, MSG increased reactive oxygen and nit...
Research Interests: Biology, Diet, Drosophila melanogaster, Oxidative Stress, Medicine, and 12 moreAntioxidants, Reactive Oxygen Species, Animals, Antioxidant, Glutathione, Acetylcholinesterase, Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Transferase, Biochemistry and cell biology, Monosodium glutamate, and Flavoring agents
The fungicide carbendazim (CBZ) and insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) are currently applied together by farmers for the control of pests. Here, we investigated the impacts of 7 days oral co-exposure to 10 mg/kg body weight of CPF and 50... more
The fungicide carbendazim (CBZ) and insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) are currently applied together by farmers for the control of pests. Here, we investigated the impacts of 7 days oral co-exposure to 10 mg/kg body weight of CPF and 50 mg/kg body weight of CBZ on selected oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in the liver, kidney, and spleen of female rats. The results showed that while the body weight gain and relative organ weights were not significantly affected after separate exposure to CPF and CBZ, there was a significant decrease in the body weight gain with concomitant increases in the relative kidney and spleen weights of rats treated with the mixture. Also, CPF and CBZ co-exposure significantly increased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine ( p < 0.05) when compared with the groups treated with CBZ or CPF alone and the control. The significant decreases in both antioxidant enzymes activities and nonenzy...
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In the current study, we evaluated the endocrine disruption effect and oxidative stress implication of therapeutic dose of artemether–lumefantrine combination therapy on the ovary and uterus of rats. In this respect, female rats were... more
In the current study, we evaluated the endocrine disruption effect and oxidative stress implication of therapeutic dose of artemether–lumefantrine combination therapy on the ovary and uterus of rats. In this respect, female rats were divided into four groups: animals were per orally treated with tween 80 (control), artemether (4 mg kg−1 body weight), lumefantrine (24 mg kg−1 body weight) and artemether–lumefantrine (artemether, 4 mg kg−1 body weight and lumefantrine, 24 mg kg−1 body weight). We found that therapeutic doses of the drugs did not change the levels of ovarian hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but increased uterine levels of H2O2 and MDA and reduced ovarian and uterine levels of reduced glutathione. In addition, whilst ovarian glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity reduced in the lumefantrine monotherapy group, uterine GPx increased in the artemether monotherapy as well as the artemether–lumefantrine groups. Furthermore, the drugs reduced ovarian and ute...
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Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a clear, colorless, nonflammable environmental contaminant classified as a carcinogen. It is globally used as a degreasing agent for automotive and metal industries. It has minor usage in dry cleaning, textile... more
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a clear, colorless, nonflammable environmental contaminant classified as a carcinogen. It is globally used as a degreasing agent for automotive and metal industries. It has minor usage in dry cleaning, textile manufacturing, production of adhesives and co-polymers. It is also an established ovotoxic agent in rodents. Hesperidin (3,5,7-trihydroxy flavanone-7-rhamnoglucoside) is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid found abundantly in citrus fruits widely reported to possess antioxidant potency. In this study, the potential of hesperidin to alleviate TCE-induced toxicity was investigated in Drosophila melanogaster . The flies (both genders) of 1 to 3 days old were divided into four groups of fifty flies in five replicates per group. Group A consisted of flies that were treated with a diet containing 2.5% ethanol (Control), group B consisted of flies fed with 10 μM TCE/ 10 g diet, Group C consisted of flies fed with 400 mg hesperidin / 10 g diet and Group D con...
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Loss-of-function mutations in parkin is associated with onset of juvenile Parkinson’s disease (PD). Resveratrol is a polyphenolic stilbene with neuroprotective activity. Here, we evaluated the rescue action of resveratrol in parkin mutant... more
Loss-of-function mutations in parkin is associated with onset of juvenile Parkinson’s disease (PD). Resveratrol is a polyphenolic stilbene with neuroprotective activity. Here, we evaluated the rescue action of resveratrol in parkin mutant D. melanogaster. The control flies (w1118) received diet-containing 2% ethanol (vehicle), while the PD flies received diets-containing resveratrol (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg diet) for 21 days to assess survival rate. Consequently, similar treatments were carried out for 10 days to evaluate locomotor activity, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers. We also determined mRNA levels of Superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1, an antioxidant gene) and ple, which encodes tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting step in dopamine synthesis. Our data showed that resveratrol improved survival rate and climbing activity of PD flies compared to untreated PD flies. Additionally, resveratrol protected against decreased activities of acetylcholinesterase and catalase and levels ...
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Hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of diabetes and its complications. This study investigated actions of esculentin-2CHa(GA30) on high sucrose-induced oxidative stress in adult Drosophila... more
Hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress plays a critical role in the development of diabetes and its complications. This study investigated actions of esculentin-2CHa(GA30) on high sucrose-induced oxidative stress in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Adult flies were exposed to diets containing graded concentrations of sucrose in the presence or absence of esculentin-2CHa(GA30) (5.0-10 μmol/kg diet) for 7 days. Effects of high sucrose diet and/or esculentin-2CHa(GA30) on survival and longevity of flies, and markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant status and glucose were assessed. High-sucrose diet (15-30%) and esculentin-2CHa(GA30) (5-10 μmol/kg diet) enhanced the percentage of surviving flies by 33.5%-46.2% (P < 0.01) and 7.4%-26.9% (P < 0.01) respectively. Concentration-dependent reduction in total thiol (19.3-51.3%, P < 0.01), reduced glutathione (22.6-54.9%, P < 0.05-0.01), catalase activity (36.8-57.3%, P < 0.05-0.01) and elevated glucose concentration (1.8-2.9-fold, P < 0.001) were observed in high sucrose-fed flies. Esculentin-2CHa(GA30) alone did not affect levels of total thiol, reduced glutathione, glucose and catalase activity. Improved survival (1.2-1.3-fold, P < 0.05-0.01) and longevity (1.3-fold) in flies treated with the peptide (5.0 and 7.5 μmol/kg diet). Feeding on sucrose and esculentin-2CHa(1-30) (5.0 and 7.0 μmol/kg diet) for 7 days increased total thiol (2 - 3-fold, P < 0.001) and reduced glutathione (1.6-1.8-fold, P < 0.05) levels. Reduced catalase activity (21.4-36.4%, P < 0.01) and reduced glucose level (38.6-49.4%, P < 0.01) were observed in peptide-treated flies. Esculentin-2CHa(1-30) inhibited sucrose-induced generation of hydrogen peroxide (7.5-13.7%, P < 0.05) and nitric oxide (22.3-42.9%, P < 0.01) in adult flies. Overall, findings from this study offered further insights into the anti-oxidative properties of esculentin-2CHa(GA30).
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Trans-astaxanthin (TA), a keto-carotenoid found in aquatic invertebrates, possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Rotenone is used to induce oxidative stress-mediated Parkinson’s disease (PD) in animals. We probed if TA... more
Trans-astaxanthin (TA), a keto-carotenoid found in aquatic invertebrates, possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Rotenone is used to induce oxidative stress-mediated Parkinson’s disease (PD) in animals. We probed if TA would protect against rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Trans-astaxanthin (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 10, and 20 mg/10 g diet) and rotenone (0, 250 and 500 μM) were separately orally exposed to flies in the diet to evaluate longevity and survival rates, respectively. Consequently, we evaluated the ameliorative actions of TA (1.0 mg/10 g diet) on rotenone (500 μM)-induced toxicity in Drosophila after 7 days’ exposure. Additionally, we performed molecular docking of TA against selected pro-inflammatory protein targets. We observed that TA (0.5 and 1.0 mg/10 g diet) increased the lifespan of D. melanogaster by 36.36%. Moreover, TA (1.0 mg/10 g diet) ameliorated rotenone-mediated inhibition of Catalase, Glutathione-S-transferase and Ace...
Chlorogenic acid (CA), abundantly found in green coffee beans, is a phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties amongst others. Exposure to rotenone, a natural pesticide, induces Parkinsonism (a type of... more
Chlorogenic acid (CA), abundantly found in green coffee beans, is a phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties amongst others. Exposure to rotenone, a natural pesticide, induces Parkinsonism (a type of neurodegeneration) through the induction of mitochondria dysfunction and oxidative stress. Phytochemicals with antioxidant properties may be promising in attenuating this condition. In this research, the ameliorative role of CA on rotenone-induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster was evaluated. Drosophila melanogaster (Harwich strain, 1- 3 days old) was used. 6 groups of five vials each with 50 flies/vial were exposed to CA (0; control (2% ethanol), 7.5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg/kg diet) for 28 days in the longevity analysis. A 28-day survival assay was carried out with rotenone (0, 250 and 500 μM). CA (30 mg/kg diet) was selected to evaluate its ameliorative potential on rotenone. For the study, the flies were divided into four groups of five vials each and ex...