Temitayo Olabisi Ajibade

Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, relies on conventional fossil fuels for several energy demands, including transportation and power generation. The negative environmental impacts and carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels highlight the urgent need to consider viable alternatives such as bioenergy, which is renewable energy derived from biological materials. The utilization of biofuels and bioproducts would significantly reduce the carbon footprint with other social and economic benefits such as income stability and improved public health, especially in rural communities. Although bioenergy research in Nigeria has been ongoing for several decades, the knowledge curve for utilization is very steep, despite the relative abundance of the raw materials needed to produce it. This review provides an overview of the biomass types used as feedstock for bioenergy production in Nigeria, discusses their characteristics, explores pretreatment and conversion techniques, and highlights their various applications.

The role of cadmium in the dwindling male fertility rate in men and animals has been extensively documented in several studies over the years, and various natural compounds have been used to successfully manage it. In this study, we investigated the impact of exposing dams to polyphenol-rich extract of Ocimum gratissimum (PREOG)/cadmium during gestation and lactation on the reproductive outcome in adult male offspring (PND 90). Sixty adult females were randomly assigned to groups A-F (n = 10) and cohabitated with adult males in a ratio of 2:1 for ten days. At day 7, each female received oral treatment daily as follows; A (served as the control), B (received 3 mg/kg CdCL₂), C (received 100 mg/kg PREOG), D (received 200 mg/kg PREOG), E (received 100 mg/kg PREOG + 3 mg/kg CdCL₂) and F (received 200 mg/kg PREOG + 3 mg/kg CdCL₂) treatment continued to postnatal day 29 before weaning. The male pups separated from females continued to receive only food and water ad lib till postnatal ninety (PND90). At (PND 90) five males were selected from each group cohabited with the untreated females at a ratio of 2:1 for a fertility test, while six males from each were sacrificed, and blood, semen, and testes were harvested for analysis. Our result indicated that PREOG enhanced semen quality, GSI/EPI, SOD, GPx, and GST values at (PND90), also PREOG upregulates the expression of StAR, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD genes, and testosterone value in (PND90), PREOG also upregulated the expression of PTMA, RSPH6A, DAAM1 genes, and the fertility outcome in (PND90) offspring. These findings validate the protective role of PREOG against cadmium-induced reprotoxcity in male offspring exposed during gestation and lactation and enhance reproductive performance. Graphical Abstract

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine‐disrupting chemical, and it is mostly used in plastic industries. Naringin is a potent flavonoid that has been reported to possess several beneficial pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of naringin against the damage induced by BPA in the brain and testes of commercial chicken. Methods: Thirty‐day‐old cockerel chickens were purchased and reared for 6 weeks and subsequently divided into six groups: group A (control), group B (100 ppm BPA‐treated), group C (BPA and 100 mg/kg naringin‐treated), Group D (BPA and 200 mg/kg naringin‐treated), group E (100 mg/kg naringin‐treated), and group F (200 mg/kg naringin‐treated). BPA was administered via drinking water, while naringin was administered via oral gavage. Analyses such as biochemical assays, hormonal assays, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry were done. Results: The results showed a decrease in the level of LH, FSH, and testosterone, an increase in the level of oxidative stress markers (MDA and H ₂ O ₂ ), and alteration in the levels of enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants (GSH, GST, SOD, GPx) in the brain and testes of the BPA‐intoxicated group. Histologically, neuronal necrosis and degeneration were observed in the brain, and degeneration of testicular cells was seen in the testes of BPA‐intoxicated chickens. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed low expression of myelin basic protein in the brain and increased expression of caspase 3 in the testes of the BPA‐intoxicated group. Conclusions: Naringin reversed the neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of BPA by normalizing the values of the altered parameters. Hence, naringin ameliorated the deleterious effects caused by BPA in both the brain and testes by enhancing the antioxidant defence mechanism.

Introduction: Alterations of antioxidant defense, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration are common pathological occurrences associated with neurodegenerative diseases. This study evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Launaea taraxacifolia (LT), popularly known as African Wild lettuce, against neuroinflammation, memory loss, and neurobehavioral deficit. Methods: Adult Wistar rats were used following random assignment into groups 1 to 5. Group one was the normal control. Groups four to five received 40 mg/kg Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). In addition to L-NAME exposure, groups three and four received 100 and 200 mg/kg LT, whereas group five received 10 mg/kg lisinopril. The experiment lasted for five weeks. Markers of oxidative stress, neurobehavioural studies, histology, and immunohistochemistry of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionised calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), as well as anti-calbindin for staining astrocytes, microglia, and Purkinje cells were determined. Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl in the L-NAME alone group were heightened compared to those treated with LT. However, treatment with LT significantly reduced neuronal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurobehavioural changes. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining revealed heightened glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionised calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), as well as anti-calbindin as indicated by astrogliosis, microgliosis, and Purkinje cell degeneration in untreated rats. Moreover, the observed ultrastructural anarchy induced by L-NAME was restored in rats treated with LT (P<0.05). Conclusion: Together, the leaf extract of LT can be effective as a neuroprotective drug candidate.

Objective: Lead (Pb) poisoning affects multiple organs including the reproductive system. The experiment was performed to explore the protective effect of naringin on testicular apoptosis, neuronal dysfunction and markers of stress in cockerel chicks.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six cockerel chicks were used for this study, and randomly grouped into six chicks per group viz. control, Pb only (600 ppm), Pb and naringin (80 mg/kg), Pb and Naringin (160 mg/kg), naringin only (80 mg/kg) and naringin only (160 mg/kg), respectively, for eight weeks. Pb was administered via drinking water while naringin was administered via oral gavage. Oxidative stress indices in the brain and testes were assessed, and immunohistochemistry of TNF-alpha and caspase 3 was done in the brain and testes, respectively.Results: Lead administration induced inflammatory and testicular apoptosis cascade accompanied with increased oxidative stress and upregulation of brain and testicular antioxidant enzymes in comparison to the control and Pb-only-treated cockerels. Immunohistochemistry showed significant immunoreactivity of testicular caspase 3 and TNF-alpha in the brain.Conclusion: Treatment of Pb-exposed chickens with naringin offered protection to Pb acetate-induced testicular oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neuroinflammation in cockerel chicks.

Lead (Pb) toxicity constitutes a major health hazard to both humans and animals especially in the developing countries. It is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant found in the air essentially because of unregulated mining and other industrial activities. Lead can be found naturally in the soil thus, contaminating crops for human and animal food, as well as run-off water and air pollution. Intensively and extensively reared domestic chickens are exposed to contamination via inhalation and ingestion of contaminated food materials. Naringin, a product from citrus plant has been described to possess excellent metal chelating ability. Naringin is rich in flavonoid with attendant antioxidant, anti-autophagy, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and cardio-nephroprotective properties. This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective and modulation of oxidative stress in commercial cockerel chickens by Naringin. Thirty-six commercial cockerel chickens were randomly assigned into six groups A-F of six birds each viz: Group A served as control group while groups B, C, and D received Lead acetate at 300 ppm via drinking water continuously till the end of the experiment. In addition, groups C and D were treated with Naringin at 80 mg/kg and 160mg/kg, respectively, via oral gavage for 8 weeks. Groups E and F were administered naringin only at 80mg/kg and 160mg/kg respectively for eight weeks. Pb toxicity induced degenerative changes in the histological sections as well as, higher expression of hepatic caspase 3 as shown by immunohistochemistry. There was increased oxidative stress markers (H2O2, MDA) and depletion of the antioxidant defense system markers SOD, GPx, GSH, and GST. It concluded that Co- treatment with Naringin ameliorated oxidative stress, enhanced antioxidant defense system, reduced the expression of hepatic caspase 3 thus, offering protection against lead acetate-induced derangements in the liver of commercial cockerel chickens

Background: The important roles of liver and kidney in the elimination of injurious chemicals make them highly susceptible to the noxious activities of various toxicants including cobalt chloride (CoCl₂). This study was designed to investigate the role of glycine in the mitigation of hepato‐renal toxicities associated with CoCl₂ exposure.Methods: Forty‐two (42) male rats were grouped as Control; (CoCl₂; 300 ppm); CoCl₂ + Glycine (50 mg/kg); CoCl₂ + Glycine (100 mg/kg); Glycine (50 mg/kg); and Glycine (100 mg/kg). The markers of hepatic and renal damage, oxidative stress, the antioxidant defense system, histopathology, and immunohistochemical localization of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and renal podocin were evaluated.Results: Glycine significantly reduced the markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde content and H₂O₂ generation), liver function tests (ALT, AST, and ALP), markers of renal function (creatinine and BUN), and decreased the expression of neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) and podocin compared with rats exposed to CoCl₂ toxicity without glycine treatment. Histopathology lesions including patchy tubular epithelial necrosis, tubular epithelial degeneration and periglomerular inflammation in renal tissues, and severe portal hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, and duct hyperplasia were observed in hepatic tissues of rats exposed to CoCl₂ toxicity, but were mild to absent in glycine‐treated rats.Conclusion: The results of this study clearly demonstrate protective effects of glycine against CoCl₂‐induced tissue injuries and derangement of physiological activities of the hepatic and renal systems in rats. The protective effects are mediated via augmentation of total antioxidant capacity and upregulation of NGAL and podocin expression.

Canine vector-borne diseases are of great relevance not only regarding animal welfare but also in relation to the One Health concept. Knowledge concerning the most relevant vector-borne pathogens in dogs is scarce and limited to stray dogs in most western African regions, and there is virtually no information about the situation in kept dogs presenting (regularly) to vets. Therefore, the blood samples of 150 owned guard dogs in the Ibadan area—in the southwest of Nigeria—were collected and analyzed for the DNA of Piroplasmida (Babesia, Hepatozoon, Theileria), Filarioidea (e.g., Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens), Anaplasmataceae (e.g., Anaplasma, Ehrlichia), Trypanosomatidae (e.g., Leishmania, Trypanosoma), Rickettsia, Bartonella, Borrelia and hemotropic Mycoplasma using molecular methods. Overall, samples from 18 dogs (12%) tested positive for at least one pathogen. Hepatozoon canis (6%) was the most prevalent blood parasite, followed by Babesia rossi (4%). There was a single positive sample each for Babesia vogeli (0.6%) and Anaplasma platys (0.6%). Moreover, one mixed infection with Trypanosoma brucei/evansi and Trypanosoma congolense kilifi was confirmed (0.67%). Generally, the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in this sample group of owned dogs in southwest Nigeria was lower than in prior studies from the country and in other parts of Africa in total. This leads to the assumption that, firstly, the exact geographical location has a major influence on the incidence of vector-borne diseases, and, secondly, it seems to make a difference if the dogs are owned and, therefore, regularly checked at a veterinary clinic. This study should raise awareness of the importance of routine health check-ups, tick and mosquito prophylaxis, and a well-managed infectious disease control program to prevent vector-borne diseases in canines.