Masters of Science in Biochemistry

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    comparative study of the antioxidant activities of leafy vegetables (solanum nigrum, amaranth us dub/us and cucurbita maxima), consumed in Bushenyi district, Uganda
    (Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences, 2013-12) Wambui, Kinyi; Hellen
    This study explored the antioxidant potential of three vegetables, commonly consumed in Bushenyi District of Western Uganda. The vitamin C, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and antihemolytic activity of the raw, steamed and boiled Amaranthus dubius, Solanum nigrum and Cucurbita maxima were investigated using in vitro methods. Spectrometry was used to evaluate the reducing power and antihemolytic activity, while titration using the 2, 6- indophenol method was used for vitamin C and replacement titration for hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity .The results from this study showed that vitamin C content differed among cultivars of the same vegetable. The vitamin C content of the raw vegetables ranged from 0.93mg/l OOg to 5.55mg/l OOg with the ranking A.dubius>C.maxima>S.nigrum. Cooking the vegetables by steaming or boiling caused 88- 99% reduction in the vitamin C content of the cooked vegetables. There was a significant increase in the vitamin C content of the water used for boiling. Cooking caused variable effects in the antioxidant activity of the three vegetables. There was decreased activity in the reducing and scavenging activity of A.dubius as the scavenging activity of C. maxima and S.nigrum increased on steaming. The Antihemolytic activity of A.dubius and S.nigrum increased on steaming while that of C.maxima was variable among the two cultivars. The results from this study indicate that the vegetables have the potential to offer antioxidant activity which, however, can be affected by various cooking methods. A.dubius is the vegetable with the highest antioxidant activity and steaming is recommended as the preferred method of cooking.
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    Effect of a Mixture of Allium Cepa and Camellia Sinensis Extracts On Hyperlipidemic Male Wistar Rats
    (Kampala International University, College of Applied Sciences, 2017-11) Kyobe, Ronald Kimanje
    The burden of hyperlipidemia is on the rise globally especially in many low income countries like Uganda. Management of this metabolic disorder mainly involves dietary and behavioral therapies, which are often met with poor results as they require time and discipline from the patients. The chemotherapeutic options available are expensive, are associated with many side effects and are not readily available to the average citizen. Thus, an alternative effective remedy which is readily available and cheap is needed to combat the problem of hyperlipidemia. This study sought to establish the combination of Allium cepa and Camellia sinensis extracts with the highest antioxidant activity and evaluated the effect of this mixture on the plasma lipid profile of the male wistar rats. It also assessed the toxic effect of the mixture on the liver. The mixture of Allium cepa and Camellia sinensis at a ratio of 3:7 had the highest antioxidant activity. It reduced body weight, reduced total cholesterol, increased HDL and had no toxicity to the liver. It has thus been recommended as a potential therapy for hyperlipidemia and its associated complication of liver toxicity. A further study on the kinetics of the interaction of the antioxidants in the mixture has also been recommended.