Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is recognized as category 1 carcinogen by the international agency for research on cancer based on its relationship to pulmonary tumors. Cigarette smoking is one major source of Cd in the environment. Levels of Cd in 19 different brands of cigarettes (both local and foreign made) sold in Abakaliki town were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) (205). The results showed varied levels of Cd in different brands of cigarettes analyzed. On the average, locally made cigarettes contained…

Abstract: Cadmium induced testicular damage has been investigated in -tocopherol (Vitamin E) pretreated and non-pretreated male rats exposed to a single sub-lethal dose of cadmium in form of CdCl2. Graded doses of vitamin E (75, 150, and 750 mg kg -1 body wt.) were administered daily to rats in separate groups by gavage for 4 weeks while 3 mg Cd kg- 1 body wt was administered subcutaneously, 24 hr to the termination of the study. Relative to the Cd - free control rats, cadmium significantly (P < 0.05) increased total cholest…

Abstract: A lectin was isolated and purified from the pepper seeds Capsicum annuum. The purification procedure involved anionic exchange chromatography on DEAE – Cellulose and QAE – Sephadex columns followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G–100. The heamagglutinating activity of the lectin towards human erythrocytes was sensitive to inhibition by D-mannose and D-glucose; and enhancement by CaCl2 and MgCl2. The lectin activity was enhanced at very high acidic pH, inhibited at high basic pH but stable at physiological pH range…