OJEKALE ANTHONY BABAJIDE

Biochemistry

At the Biochemistry department office

Appointment on Visitation important

Topic: Spermatogenic Potentials Of Hydroethanolic Extract Of Cyathula Prostrata

Description: Introduction: Cyathula prostrata is a medicinal plant used in the management of high blood pressure among the Yorubas of South West Nigeria. Oral information also suggest it plays a role in male fertility. In this study, the spermatogenesis status of rats treated with hydroethanolic extracts Cyathula prostrata will be evaluated for the presence of three stage-specific gene transcripts in the testes of experimental rats in conjunction with histopathological examination. These testis-specific genes are selected according to their expression stage, Deleted in azoospermia DAZL gene expression starts at the spermatogonial level, PRM2 expression is regarded as markers indicative of the presence of early spermatid and mature sperm , while A-kinase anchoring protein-4 AKAP4 gene is expressed only in round and elongated spermatids. AKAP4 is an X-linked member of the AKAP4 gene family that encodes the most abundant protein of the sperm fibrous sheath in all mammals.Aim: To observe the potentials of hydroethanolic extracts on spermatogenesis.Methods: Soxhlet extraction, oral administration of extract to animal model, RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, RT-PCR DAZL, AKAP4 and PRM2 Results: Data generated will open up the discourse on the usage of this plant in managing fertility issues in malesContribution to knowledge: A verification or otherwise of the role of medicinal plants as a veritable complement to western medicine in the management of male fertility

#	Certificate	School	Year
1.	Ph.D (Biotechnology)	University of the Western Cape, Belhar, Cape Town, South Africa.	2011

Thaumatococcus danielli leaves/oil, packaging material, a flavourant

Introduction: The Yoruba peoples, resident in the South Western region of Nigeria are renowned and acknowledged as fun loving, hospitable and hard working people. Being a social socialising people, they are generally known to serve their local/traditional dishes at social functions. A very popular packaging material for some of their foods is the Thaumatococcus danielli leaves. The Thaumatococcus danielli plant is globally known for thaumatin, a non caloric sweetner obtained from the arils of this plant.bIn a previous studies, we evaluated and reported the leaf extracts of this plants for possible antimicrobial properties to justify its usage as a packaging material. The outcome of the study showed that extracts of this plant had no antimicrobial effect on the food implicating microbes used in the study, instead concluded that the essential oils present in the leaves may account for its use in food packaging. Further work by us analysed the composition of the essential oils present and eventually narrowed down the precise components of the oil that may account for the flavour associated with foods packaged and thermally processed in the leaves.Aim:Current work is to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively the components that impart flavour in foods wrapped with leaves of thaumatoccus danielliMethods:Various instrumentation GC-MS, NMR etc , will be used to deduce/verify the formula, structure and eventually synthesize same bio-engineering to simulate the imparted flavour.Contribution to Knowledge: Once synthesized in vitro, this will possibly lead to biodiversity conservation via reduction of harvested leaves for food packaging and eventually boost economy as the synthesised flavourant has economic potentials.

OJEKALE ANTHONY is a Professor at the Department of Biochemistry

OJEKALE has a Ph.D in Biotechnology from University of the Western Cape, Belhar, Cape Town, South Africa.