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Fish oil protects cerebellar and hepatic biochemical alterations in low‑protein‑fed rats
(Springer, 2025-10-17) Adebayo, Olusegun L
Background: Protein undernutrition (PU) plays a vital role in the structural and biochemical abnormalities in the different brain regions and the development of liver diseases. Purpose: The study investigated the therapeutic potential of fish oil (FO) in low-protein diet-induced oxidative stress in the brain and liver, as well as lipid dyshomeostasis in rats. Methods: The rats were randomly assigned to four groups, and the normal-protein diet (NPD) and NPD-treated (NPDT) rats, having six rats per group, were fed with 16% casein diet, and the LPD and LPD-treated (LPDT), having eight rats per group, were fed with 5% casein diet. After the 8th week, FO (400 mg/Kg b.w.t) was given orally for 21 days. Results: A significant reduction was observed in the growth of LPD-fed rats compared to the NPD-fed rats. The lipid peroxidation (LPO) level was significantly higher, whereas GSH level and SOD and GPx activities were significantly reduced in both tissues of LPD rats. CAT and AChE activities decreased considerably in the cerebellum. In addition, CHOL, VLDL, and TG levels were significantly increased in LPD-fed rats. FO treatment did not affect the growth except at week 10 but became normalized at week 11. In LPDT rats, FO significantly reduced the LPO, but it increased GSH level and GPx activity in both tissues while CAT and AChE activities increased in the cerebellum. Also, FO treatment increased SOD activity in the liver but decreased CHOL, LDL, VLDL, and TG levels in the LPDT group. Conclusion: FO may effectively protect against hepatic oxidative stress, cerebellar functions, and lipid homeostasis in lowprotein-fed rats.
Fermented Musa paradisica fruit pulp extract attenuates dyslipidemia, and pancreatic, jejunal and neuronal dysfunctions in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats
(Elsevier, 2026-08-09) Adebayo, Olusegun
Persistent hyperglycemia is the hallmark of diabetes mellitus, and it involves complex metabolic and neuroenteric disturbances that challenge single-target therapies. Fermentation of Musa paradisiaca (plantain) fruit pulp has previously been reported as a means of enhancing its bioactivity, which may exert multifaceted nutraceutical benefits, including metabolic regulation. We tested the hypothesis that fermented M. paradisiaca fruit pulp methanolic extract (f-PUME) normalises body weight and fasting glycaemia, attenuates dyslipidaemia, preserves pancreatic β-cell mass and function via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, and maintains the integrity of hypothalamic and jejunal morphology. Thirty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomised into five groups: control, STZ-only, STZ + glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), STZ + unfermented extract (100 mg/kg), and STZ + fermented extract (100 mg/kg). Hyperglycemia was induced with a single i.p. STZ injection, followed by 42 days of daily oral treatment. Body weight, glucose regulatory, coronary, and atherogenic indices, oxidative stress biomarkers, pancreatic proinflammatory cytokines, brain, jejunal, and pancreatic organosomatic indices, and their histomorphometry were assessed. By Day 14, f-PUME reversed STZ-induced weight loss and fasting hyperglycaemia. f-PUME modestly lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides while preserving HDL-c, normalising Castelli and atherogenic indices. In the pancreas, f-PUME restored organ weight, boosted insulin secretion, reactivated antioxidant enzyme activities, and suppressed MDA and proinflammatory cytokine levels, thereby preserving islet architecture and β-cell granule density. f-PUME also reversed hypothalamic- and jejunalvacuolation and pyknotic nuclei and repaired jejunal crypt morphology. f-PUME exhibits a marked antihyperglycemic effect via antioxidant, glucose and lipid metabolic normalisation, organoprotection, and entero-neuronal morphological and functional restoration.
Bryophyllum Pinnatum (Lam.) Oken Protects Against Oxidative Damage and Cytokine-Mediated Neuroinflammation In Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Epilepsy In Male and Female Rats
(2026-11-01) Adebayo, Olusegun
Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterised by unprovoked seizures arising from abnormal neuronal firing. This disorder prompts interest in medicinal plants, including Bryophyllum pinnatum, a Crassulaceae family, which is traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes. This study examined the neuroprotective effect of the ethyl acetate extract of B. pinnatum (BPE) on oxidative and inflammatory markers in brain regions, including the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus, in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epilepsy. Rats of both genders were randomly assigned to six groups per gender. PTZ groups were intraperitoneally injected with 40 mg/kg b.wt. PTZ on alternate days for 29 days, whereas treatment groups received 250 mg/kg BPE or 5 mg/kg b.wt. diazepam (DZP) daily. PTZ increased MDA levels by 2 - 4-fold across the brain regions, whereas BPE reduced hippocampal MDA by approximately 67% and 40% in the cortical region of PTZtreated rats. BPE also attenuated PTZ-associated oxidative alterations, with XO activity in PTZ+BPE rats ranging from 24.2-32.2 nmol/min/mL across the investigated regions and genders, compared with 25.6-34.0 nmol/min/mL in PTZ rats. GPx activity in BPE-treated groups ranged from 5.3 to 6.3 nmol/mg protein. BPE enhanced GSH and antioxidant enzyme activities, decreased NO and pro-inflammatory markers, and elevated IL-10 and Nrf-2 levels, while preserving neuronal histoarchitecture. These findings demonstrate the neuroprotective potential of BPE against oxidative and inflammatory alterations in PTZ-induced epilepsy across both genders.
Peer victimisation and social anxiety disorder among adolescents: The mediating role of perceived social support
(2025) Okeniyi Oluwatobiloba Ajibola
Objective: This study examined the links between peer victimisation, perceived social support, and social anxiety disorder, and assessed the mediating role of perceived social support. Method: A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 551 adolescents (45% male, 55% female) mean age =14.70 SD =1.76). Participants completed the Social Phobia Inventory, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Multidimensional Online and Offline Peer Victimisation Scale. Structural equation modeling, regression analysis, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses. Results: A 12.9% prevalence of severe social anxiety was reported by participants. Peer victimisation significantly predicted social anxiety (β=0.36, t=9.30, p<0.01) and together with perceived social support, it significantly predicted social anxiety disorder (R=0.42, R²=0.18; F (1,543) = 19.52, p<0.01). Perceived social support did not significantly mediate the relationship between peer victimisation and social anxiety (β=0.003, t=0.038, 95% CI: -0.012 ~ 0.021, p>0.05). Female adolescents exhibited significantly higher social anxiety than males (t (551) = -4.26, p<0.01), with no significant differences found across adolescent age groups (F (2, 548) = 1.73, p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings highlight the significant impact of peer victimisation on social anxiety, with female adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Educational administrators and policymakers should implement programs to enhance social support and address peer victimisation, with attention to gender differences in social anxiety.
ASSESSMENT OF HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES OF ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
(Uniosun Journal of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 2026-09-30) OJO ODUNAYO TOPE
Inadequate solid waste management remains an important environmental and public- health challenge in rapidly urbanized communities. This study assessed household solid waste management practices, disposal behaviours/ methods, environmental and residents’ perceptions, and reported factors affecting waste management practices in selected communities of Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria. A community- based cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 adult household residents from sixselected communities in Abeokuta Metropolis. Sixty respondents were recruited from each community. Data were collected through self-reported structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Information was obtained on household waste characteristics, storage, transportation, disposal practices, waste-collection services, environmental perceptions, and community participation. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and were based on self-reported questionnaire/interview responses. Food and vegetable residues were the most frequently reported waste type (91.1%), followed by paper/cardboard (80.8%) and plastics, bottles, and sachet materials (74.4%). Manual carrying was the predominant reported method of waste transportation (42.8%), followed by scavengers (24.4%). Burning was the most commonly reported disposal practice (55.0%)open dumping (25.3%). Waste collection was predominantly reported as monthly (48.3%). Waste accumulation (85.0%), flooding (75.8%), unpleasant odour (63.4%), and insect proliferation or disease outbreaks (62.5%) were among the commonly perceived consequences of poor waste management. Although 90.8% of respondents believed that environmental awareness could help reduce health implications, only 30.8% reported participating in community clean-up activities. Household solid waste management in the selected communities was characterized by inadequate collection, reliance on informal transportation, open burning, and indiscriminate open dumping. The findings support the need for improved collection services, source segregation and recycling, enforcement of environmental regulations, community participation, and environmental health education. Because the study was descriptive and relied partly on self-reported information