Asian Journal of Biology

DPPH and ABTS Radical Scavenging Assay and Hemolytic Potential of Methanol Leaf Extract of Erythrina crista-galli L.

Keerthana H. Deshpande, Syed Muskan Imran, B. S. Ramesh — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Erythrina crista-galli is a medicinal plant containing bioactive constituents of potential biological importance. Evaluation of its radical-scavenging activity and interaction with red blood cells is important for characterising the antioxidant activity and haemolytic potential of its leaf extract.

Aim: The present study aims to investigate the antioxidant activity and haemolytic potential of the methanol leaf extract of Erythrina crista-galli.

Method: Anti-radical activity was assessed using the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, and the haemolytic activity of the methanol leaf extract was evaluated.

Results: The methanol leaf extract of E. crista-galli demonstrated DPPH scavenging activity; at extract concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 75 µg/mL, the recorded inhibition values were 3.125%, 15.625%, 25.0%, 31.25%, and 37.5%, showing a gradual enhancement in antioxidant potential with increasing concentration. The percentage inhibition of ABTS radicals increased progressively with increasing extract concentration, indicating a concentration-dependent antioxidant effect. Quercetin was used as the standard. The plant extract exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in haemolytic activity.

Conclusion: The present findings confirm the existence of mild and remarkable antioxidant activity and significant haemolytic potential in the leaf extract of E. crista-galli, and these data could pave the way for further research.

Haematopoietic and Inflammatory Cytokines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Enugu Metropolis, South East Nigeria

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia and persistent low-grade inflammation, which contribute to disease progression and the development of vascular complications. Alterations in inflammatory cytokines and haematopoietic factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of T2DM and may provide valuable insights into disease-associated immune and erythropoietic responses.

Aim: This study evaluated haematopoietic and inflammatory cytokine profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 86 patients with T2DM and 58 apparently healthy controls. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), complete blood count, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations were determined using standard laboratory methods. Data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Patients with T2DM exhibited significantly higher FBG and HbA1c levels compared with controls (p < 0.001), indicating poor glycaemic control. Interleukin-1β concentrations were significantly elevated in diabetic males (14.36 ± 0.99 pg/mL) and females (17.17 ± 0.66 pg/mL) compared with their respective controls (p < 0.05). In contrast, IL-10 levels were markedly reduced in diabetic males (3.44 ± 0.28 pg/mL) and females (3.70 ± 0.21 pg/mL) relative to controls (p < 0.001). Erythropoietin concentrations were significantly increased in diabetic males (31.50 ± 1.09 mU/mL; p < 0.001) and diabetic females (28.63 ± 1.62 mU/mL; p < 0.05) compared with controls. Total white blood cell and neutrophil counts were also significantly elevated, particularly among diabetic females, reflecting enhanced systemic inflammatory activity.

Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with significant alterations in inflammatory cytokines and haematopoietic activity, characterised by elevated IL-1β, reduced IL-10, increased erythropoietin concentrations, and leukocyte abnormalities. These findings highlight the presence of persistent inflammation and altered haematopoietic responses in T2DM and suggest that inflammatory and haematopoietic biomarkers may serve as useful indicators of disease progression and metabolic dysfunction.

Commercialization of Game Wildlife: A Threat to Wildlife Diversity in the Danané Department, Western Côte d'Ivoire

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Danané department, located in the Tonkpi region of western Côte d'Ivoire, presents a unique context characterised by the local population's heavy reliance on bushmeat. While the trade in game meat in this department serves as a crucial driver of food security and household subsistence, it simultaneously undermines the region's ecological balance. This study aimed to (i) identify the various actors involved in the game meat trade, (ii) determine the origin of the game, and (iii) identify the diversity of game species being sold. The primary method employed was snowball sampling. This technique involved interviewing an initial subgroup of the population, whose members identified other group members; these individuals were then interviewed and, in turn, identified others within the population. These surveys gathered information regarding the actors and their goods, such as actor type, gender, age, marital status, education level, hunting tools, handling precautions, local knowledge of species, and modes of transport. To identify the animal species being hunted, we conducted weekly inventories of game meat sold in restaurants across the town of Danané. The game meat trade in the Danané department involved three main categories of actors: hunters (77), intermediaries (31), and female restaurant owners (13). Each group of actors had distinct characteristics, including age, gender, education level, marital status, ethnicity, number of children, primary occupation, nationality, and religion. The town of Danané was supplied with game meat from six different localities: Téapleu (25.83%; N = 182), Zonneu (19.14%; N = 135), Mahapleu (18.44%; N = 130), Yelleu (10.07%; N = 71), Kouan-houyé (7.80%; N = 55), and Guinea-Conakry (18.72%; N = 132), with p-value = 1.21E-08 < 0.05. The game species sold in the town of Danané in 2024 belonged to four (04) mammalian orders. The most represented mammalian orders were rodents at 62.82% (N = 443) and artiodactyls at 30.92% (N = 218). The mammalian orders least frequently observed in restaurants were primates at 4.96% (N = 35) and carnivores at 1.27% (N = 9).

Comparative Antisickling Activity and Pharmacognostic Characterisation of Spondias mombin Leaf and Stem Bark

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This study aims to comparatively evaluate the antisickling activity and pharmacognostic characteristics of the leaves and stem bark of Spondias mombin, with a view to providing scientific evidence for their potential use in sickle cell disease management and establishing diagnostic parameters for their identification and standardisation.

Place and Duration of Study: Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, between October 2024 and September 2025.

Methodology: Dried plant materials were extracted with 70% ethanol, freeze-dried, and reconstituted in phosphate-buffered saline. Inhibitory and reversal antisickling assays were performed on HbSS erythrocytes at concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/mL using sodium metabisulphite-induced sickling. Cytotoxicity was assessed by percentage haemolysis and methaemoglobin (MetHb) formation, while pharmacognostic authentication was performed using standard anatomical procedures.

Results: Both extracts demonstrated notable antisickling activity, although their effects varied with concentration and incubation time. SML exhibited higher inhibition at 2 mg/mL in the 4-h batch (47 ± 2.43%) than in the 1-h batch (38 ± 4.11%), while activity at 4 mg/mL was comparable between batches (44 ± 1.97% vs. 44 ± 0.08%). For SMB, inhibition was similar at 2 mg/mL between the 1-h and 4-h batches (33 ± 5.76% vs. 34 ± 2.14%), but markedly higher at 4 mg/mL in the 4-h batch (72 ± 1.32%) than in the 1-h batch (45 ± 4.66%). In reversal assays, SML showed concentration-dependent activity, increasing from approximately 12 ± 4.58% reversal at 2 mg/mL to 58 ± 4.14% at 4 mg/mL, whereas SMB demonstrated approximately 54 ± 5.46% reversal at 2 mg/mL but decreased sharply to about 9 ± 3.24% at 4 mg/mL. Haemolysis values remained below 2% for both extracts across all concentrations tested, indicating low cytotoxicity. MetHb formation increased with concentration, ranging from 4–12% for SML and 8–17% for SMB. Anatomical studies revealed diagnostic features including unicellular trichomes, crystal druses, dorsiventral mesophyll, tannin-containing cells, sclereids, tyloses, and secretory ducts.

Conclusion: Spondias mombin leaf and stem bark extracts possess promising antisickling potential with minimal cytotoxicity, supporting their possible development as plant-derived therapeutic agents for sickle cell disease management.

Batch Adsorption Study for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions Using Cucurbita pepo Seed Starch–based Resin

Praveen Kumar Chandel, Ruchika Sharma, Chandra Prakash Gharu — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Heavy metal contamination of aqueous systems poses significant environmental and health concerns, highlighting the need for effective and environmentally compatible adsorbent materials. Starch-based biopolymers have attracted attention as cost-effective and biodegradable materials for heavy metal removal. However, the adsorption potential of pumpkin seed starch–ascorbic acid resin for Zn(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), particularly under varying pH conditions, remains insufficiently explored. A starch-based resin derived from Cucurbita pepo seed was synthesised using epichlorohydrin and ascorbic acid and evaluated for the removal of selected heavy metal ions from standard aqueous solutions. The resulting pumpkin seed starch-ascorbic acid (PSSAA) resin was characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis. FTIR analysis showed characteristic bands associated with hydroxyl, carbonyl, C-H, and C-O-C functionalities, while SEM observations indicated a rough and heterogeneous surface morphology. Thermal analysis showed that major degradation occurred at elevated temperature, with the maximum degradation rate occurring at approximately 406 °C. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted for Zn(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) over a pH range of 2-8. Adsorption increased progressively from acidic conditions to pH 7 and declined at pH 8. At pH 7, percentage removal reached 90.95% for Zn(II), 82.12% for Ni(II), 83.04% for Cd(II), and 83.99% for Pb(II). The corresponding distribution coefficients were also highest at approximately pH 7. These findings indicate that solution pH substantially influences the interaction of the studied metal ions with the PSSAA resin. Under the experimental conditions examined, the synthesised material demonstrated measurable adsorption of all four metal ions, with Zn(II) showing the highest removal at the optimum pH.

Comparative Evaluation of Tray and Floor Rearing Methods on Larval Growth, Disease Incidence and Cocoon Yield of Bombyx mori under Farmer-field Conditions

Avleen Kour — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sericulture, the commercial cultivation of the silkworm (Bombyx mori) for silk production, serves as a crucial agro -based cottage industry that supports rural economies worldwide. The economic viability of sericulture depends substantially on maximising cocoon yield and quality, both of which are influenced by larval health, growth rates, and environmental management. Under practical farmer-field conditions, the choice of silkworm rearing technology can influence these outcomes. Among the various management strategies, tray rearing and floor rearing represent two prominent methods utilised by farmers, each offering distinct operational and microclimatic environments for the developing larvae. The traditional tray rearing method involves managing silkworms in structured, stacked wooden or plastic trays. This system allows for precise hygienic control, efficient bed cleaning, and uniform spacing, though it often demands intensive labour and higher initial infrastructure costs. On the other hand, floor rearing—where silkworms are reared directly on large, continuous floor beds—gained popularity as a labour-saving alternative designed to accommodate larger volumes of silkworms with reduced physical handling. Despite the theoretical benefits of labour reduction, the transition to floor rearing under field conditions may introduce management challenges. The continuous floor space can complicate microclimate regulation, compromise hygiene, and facilitate pathogen spread. This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation comparing tray and floor rearing methods by monitoring an experimental setup of 5 ounces (100 disease-free layings, or DFLs) per system. By analysing critical parameters such as larval weight, disease incidence, cocoon weight, and the Effective Rate of Rearing (ERR%), this study compares the performance of tray and floor rearing, including during the critical desertion and spinning periods. Ultimately, this comparative analysis seeks to inform sericulture farmers when selecting suitable rearing practices. This study evaluates the comparative impacts of tray and floor rearing systems on Bombyx mori performance under field conditions, with the results indicating higher larval growth, lower disease incidence, and greater cocoon yield under tray rearing than under floor rearing. Future research could examine the integration of IoT-driven microclimate automation and early molecular disease diagnostics to optimise these rearing structures, while considering affordability and biosecurity for small-scale farmers.

Microplastic Exposure and Male Infertility: Mechanisms, Effects on Semen Quality and Emerging Human Evidence

Bhuneshwar Behra, Sunil Kumar Nayak, Alka Mishra, Mohammed Shoeb — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microplastics and nanoplastics are increasingly detected across environmental media and in human biological matrices, including blood, semen, and testicular tissue, raising concern about possible effects on male reproductive health. This review evaluates the principal mechanisms through which plastic particles may impair male reproductive function, their reported effects on semen quality, and the emerging human evidence. Experimental studies, particularly in rodents, indicate that exposure can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine and steroidogenic disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and impairment of the blood-testis barrier. These processes are associated with reductions in sperm count, motility and viability, abnormal sperm morphology, altered testosterone production, testicular injury, and disturbed spermatogenesis. Human studies provide evidence that microplastics can occur in semen and testicular tissue and suggest associations with selected semen-quality parameters. However, the human evidence remains limited by small study populations, predominantly cross-sectional designs, heterogeneous analytical methods, variable particle-detection limits, potential contamination, incomplete assessment of nanoplastics, and confounding by lifestyle and environmental exposures. Current findings therefore support biological plausibility but do not establish a causal relationship between microplastic exposure and male infertility. Future research should prioritise prospective human studies, standardised contamination-controlled methods, environmentally relevant exposure assessment, and integrated evaluation of particle burden, semen quality, reproductive hormones, and sperm DNA integrity.