Research Perspective on Biological Science Vol. 9

Sarcopenic Obesity in Patients with Gastroduodenal Ulcer in Lomé, Togo

2025-12-06T10:58:49+00:00

Background: Gastroduodenal ulcer disease (GUD) is a significant health burden in urban West Africa, a region undergoing a rapid nutritional transition. Conventional assessment using Body Mass Index (BMI) may fail to detect complex malnutrition phenotypes like sarcopenic obesity that could impair ulcer healing. While the infectious and pharmacological etiologies of GUD are well-documented, a critical knowledge gap persists regarding the role of nutritional status as a modulator of disease severity and healing capacity. This gap is particularly concerning in the context of the rapid and profound nutritional transition currently underway in urban African centres like Lomé.

Aim: This study aimed to characterise the detailed nutritional and metabolic profiles of GUD patients in Lomé, Togo, to unmask these underlying disorders.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study, conducted from July to October 2024, recruited 127 patients with endoscopically confirmed GUD. Data were collected on sociodemographic, clinical, and dietary characteristics, with dietary quality assessed via a Dietary Diversity Score (SDA). A score of ≤ 4 was classified as low dietary diversity, while a score of ≥ 7 was considered high diversity.

Body composition, including visceral fat and skeletal muscle mass, was Evaluated using multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Fasting venous blood was analysed for key biochemical markers, including albumin, folate, and homocysteine.

Results: The cohort (mean age 43.7; 35.4% Helicobacter pylori positive) presented a paradoxical nutritional profile. While BMI classified only 31.5% as overweight or obese, BIA revealed a high prevalence of sarcopenic obesity: 46.5% exhibited a low protein index, and 39.4% had visceral obesity. Poor dietary quality (SDA ≤ 4) was significantly associated with lower concentrations of prealbumin and albumin (p<0.05), reduced serum folate (p<0.01), and consequently higher, detrimental levels of homocysteine (p<0.01). The strong inverse correlation between a low Dietary Diversity Score (SDA) and elevated homocysteine levels, mediated by folate deficiency, unveils a critical metabolic pathway that further hinders recovery. Regular fruit consumption was protective against H. pylori infection (OR = 0.42), while a low education level was an independent risk factor (OR = 2.85).

Conclusion: Patients with GUD in Lomé are affected by a severe "double burden of malnutrition." The high prevalence of sarcopenic obesity, entirely masked by BMI, fosters a systemic metabolic environment of pro-inflammatory visceral adiposity and depleted protein reserves that is fundamentally antagonistic to mucosal healing. These findings highlight the inadequacy of BMI and underscore the urgent need to integrate body composition analysis and key biochemical markers into clinical assessment to guide effective nutritional interventions. This study has some limitations, including its cross-sectional design and its single-centre focus at a tertiary hospital. Future research should explore longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between nutrition, body composition, and GUD progression.

A Review on the Phytochemical Composition and Pharmacological Potential of Cissus quadrangularis L.

2025-12-06T11:01:30+00:00

The family Vitaceae consists of several species of plants that have many properties to cure many illnesses and disorders in mankind. Many plant extracts have been reported to have pharmacological uses in many therapies. Manufacturing and pricing of herbal pharmaceuticals can make them more favourable to be exploited in research and progress of new treatment approaches, permitting patients to connect to new medications which are faster and safer for relexification. This review reveals a species of Cissus named Cissus quadragularis L., about its medicinal and herbal uses and its utilisation in the medical field due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as tannin, alkaloid, and flavonoids, as it is used in the drug and cosmetic industry. This review explores the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of Cissus quadrangularis, focusing on its application in herbal formulations. The plant exhibits a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, and phenolic glycosides, found in various parts such as the stem, leaves, fruits, and roots. These phytochemicals contribute to its broad pharmacological activities, which include anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antiobesity, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and bone-healing properties, and female health, as it is used to regulate menstruationduet. Although the review shows therapeutic and pharmacological properties and uses of Cissus quadrangularis as a medicinal herb. It was concluded that the root stem leaves, fruit extracts of the plant C. quadrangularis have therapeutic potential and are acknowledged to possess wound healing, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity and are regularly used to quicken the process of bone fracture healing. The plant is considered a versatile medicinal plant in both the Ayurvedic and modern drug development fields for its valuable therapeutic uses. C. quadrangularis needs to be appraised in scientific research using specific experiments on animal models and clinical trials to recognise the molecular mechanism of action, in the exploration of lead molecules from natural resources.

Adaptation of Owls to Urban Life: A Review of Owls’ Dietary and Behavioural Responses to Worldwide Anthropogenic Challenges and Environmental Change

2025-12-06T11:03:42+00:00

Ever-increasing urban expansion has led to worldwide habitat destruction, fragmentation, and degradation, posing serious threats to wildlife. As the world’s only nocturnal avian apex predator, owls not only have to adapt to anthropogenic challenges, such as artificial light and noise (ALAN), but also adapt to hunting different prey species. Here, we review more than 140 owl diet studies representing 20 different owl species inhabiting rural and urban landscapes in Europe, North America, South America, North Africa, South Africa, India, Southeast Asia and Australia. Primarily, we investigate whether there was a relationship between the degree of urbanisation surrounding nest/roost sites, and the proportion of synanthropic rodents (the Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus, Black Rat Rattus rattus and House Mouse Mus musculus) and birds in their diet. The similarity index was calculated to show the degree of differences in two compared components of the urban and rural diet of the studied owl species. In total, SI for 20 owl species was 0.32 in urban rats/house mice vs. rural rats/ house mice, and 0.50 in urban birds vs. rural birds. High rats/house mouse consumption in urban environments has been documented for most owl species living in cities. Similarly, suburban and urban owls often eat many more birds than their rural counterparts, but the difference is less prominent, as shown by a higher similarity index. Although interactions with powerlines and roads are primarily problems in rural and natural environments, we have presented them here as further anthropogenic obstacles for owls to navigate. Studies such as this one may help form environmental mitigation strategies for future urban expansion.

Congenital Goitre in Newborn Goat Kids: A Case Study

2025-12-06T11:05:46+00:00

Background: Congenital goitre is a deadly thyroid metabolic disorder characterised by low thyroid hormone levels, subsequent secretion of excess Thyroid‐Stimulating Hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland, and compensatory hyperplasia of the thyroid gland. This study reported a case of congenital goitre in a goat kid and highlighted the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and management strategies.

Case Presentation: A case of day nine-day-old kid was presented at VCC, College of Veterinary Sc & A. H., Rewa, with a complaint of swelling under the neck, gasping and anorexia. Upon clinical examination, the lesion revealed hard, glandular, painless and palpable swelling cranio-ventral neck region, in the throat at the thyroid region. Clinical signs revealed gasping with a respiratory rate of 56/min, a temperature of 104.3 F and a pulse rate- 98/min. Haematological examination revealed anaemia with low RBC count and haemoglobin value. On the basis of clinical signs and laboratory findings, the case was diagnosed as congenital goitre. The goat kid was treated with an antibiotic (Cefriaxone @ 10 mg/kg B. Wt. IM for 3 days), an antiinflammatory drug (injection Melonex 0.2 mL IM), and oral haematinic (RBC Rakkt @ 2.5 mL twice a day for 15days). Lugol’s iodine was used as an iodine supplement.

Conclusion: Goitre in goat kids is particularly noteworthy due to its potential impact on overall health and growth. Goitre caused by iodine deficiency is preventable and treatable. Animals surviving the initial danger period after birth may recover, except for partial persistence of the goitre. Iodine feed supplementation and providing a balanced mineral ration to pregnant goats reduces the risk of goitre in neonates.

Ecological Significance and Conservation Needs of Fiddler Crabs in the Sundarbans Mangrove Ecosystem

2025-12-08T10:49:40+00:00

The Sundarbans, renowned as the world's largest mangrove forest, serves as a haven for a diverse array of species. This unique ecosystem is not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also a critical natural habitat supporting an array of life forms, many of which are found nowhere else. Among these inhabitants are the often-overlooked fiddler crabs (Uca sp.), small crustaceans that play a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of the Sundarbans ecosystem. This short communication aims to shed light on the ecological significance of these seemingly insignificant creatures, emphasising their crucial contributions to nutrient cycling and the overall health of the mangrove vegetation. Fiddler crabs are integral to the nutrient cycling processes within the Sundarbans. Their burrowing activities enhance soil aeration and facilitate the breakdown of organic matter, enriching the soil with essential nutrients. These nutrients, in turn, support the growth and development of the mangrove trees, which form the backbone of this unique ecosystem. Without their presence, the entire mangrove ecosystem could face disruptions that would impact a wide range of other species, including commercially important fish and crustaceans. Despite their vital role, fiddler crabs face a multitude of threats, including human exploitation, environmental pollution, and the impacts of climate change. The Sundarbans, while renowned for its Bengal tiger population, often overlooks the conservation needs of smaller, less charismatic species like the fiddler crab. Current conservation efforts primarily focus on protecting the tiger, leaving these crucial ecosystem engineers vulnerable. A more holistic conservation approach is urgently needed that must encompass the protection of all species, regardless of their perceived importance. Legal frameworks should be strengthened to safeguard fiddler crab populations, and community engagement programs should be implemented to raise awareness about their ecological significance. Furthermore, increased scientific research is crucial to better understand the ecological role of fiddler crabs and develop effective conservation strategies. Fiddler crabs play a crucial ecological role in the Sundarbans ecosystem, highlighting their importance in maintaining environmental balance. Therefore, it is imperative to expand the conservation lens to include the less-publicised, yet equally crucial, inhabitants, like the fiddler crab. By incorporating the conservation needs of these lesser-known species into broader conservation efforts, we can strive towards a more sustainable future for this unique and invaluable natural treasure.

Enhancement of Bioactive Compound Production through Plant Transcription Factors

2025-12-24T09:37:18+00:00

Medicinal plants produce a wide array of bioactive compounds with significant pharmaceutical value. Plant transcription factors (TFs) play a pivotal role in regulating the biosynthesis of these compounds. The chapter provides an overview of the key TF families, molecular mechanisms of TF mediated regulation, TF-DNA interactions, TF-TF interactions, regulatory networks and recent advances in TF based approaches for enhancing the production of valuable bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. The complex regulatory networks controlling active compound biosynthesis were considered while shedding light on novel strategies for improving the yield and quality of plant-derived products. Recent research in the field of molecular engineering using transcription factors in medicinal plants, with the examples included in the chapter, may encourage the budding molecular biologist to adapt new technologies and tools for the enhanced biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The chapter will provide a synopsis of scientific tools and techniques which can be exploited in the field of tissue culture and secondary metabolite production. Optimisation and enhancement of the pharmacologically relevant bioactive compound production can be achieved through the administration of specific transcriptional regulation factors. The knowledge of the biosynthetic pathway of pharmaceutically significant therapeutics can be applied to the invention of novel bioreactors in the biopharma industry.

Detoxifying and Enriching Bamboo Shoots: Antinutrients, Fermentation and Safety

2025-12-24T09:39:16+00:00

Bamboo shoot fermentation is a traditional process that transforms nutrient-rich, but potentially toxic, shoots into safe and palatable foods. The main challenge addressed by this method is the presence of antinutritional factors such as cyanogenic glycosides, which can release toxic hydrogen cyanide if not removed. Indigenous and local communities use a combination of boiling, soaking, slicing, drying, and especially fermentation to reduce these harmful compounds. Fermentation, driven by beneficial microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, lowers the pH and breaks down toxins, improving safety and imparting distinctive flavours and textures. This process not only enhances food safety and sensory qualities but also increases nutrient bioavailability and introduces probiotics, benefiting digestive health. The traditional knowledge behind these practices supports both community health and the development of safe, marketable bamboo shoot products, ensuring this valuable heritage continues sustainably.

Prominent Use of Malva sylvestris L in Dermatology

2025-12-24T09:43:15+00:00

Malva sylvestris L. (common mallow) is a flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. The plant has laxative, diuretic, spasmogenic and laxative properties. This plant has a rich history in traditional medicine across Asia, Europe, and Africa, and presents a compelling natural therapeutic agent for a wide range of dermatological conditions. Among the various species used in herbal medicine, M. sylvestris stands out for its diverse usage, which has been documented since 3000 BC. In Iran, M. sylvestris is recognised as an edible herb and has been consumed raw in various vegetable salads; however, it is most commonly used as a medicinal herb. This review consolidates scientific evidence to validate its traditional use in treating wounds, eczema, atopic dermatitis, and skin infections. The therapeutic efficacy of M. sylvestris is primarily attributed to its diverse profile of bioactive phytoconstituents. Key among these are mucilaginous polysaccharides, which provide emollient and soothing effects for sensitive skin and irritations; flavonoids (e.g., gossypetin, malvidin 3-glucoside) and phenolic compounds, which exert potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities by scavenging free radicals and modulating inflammatory mediators like PGE₂; and tannins and essential oils, which contribute to its significant antibacterial effects against pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that topical applications of M. sylvestris extracts promote wound healing by enhancing collagen deposition and fibroblast proliferation, reduce inflammation and pruritus in atopic dermatitis, and accelerate burn wound contraction, often showing superior efficacy compared to standard treatments like silver sulfadiazine. The convergence of its demulcent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, underpinned by its distinct phytochemical composition, justifies its traditional use and positions M. sylvestris as a versatile and effective candidate for integrative dermatological therapy. Future studies, including well-designed clinical trials and standardised extract formulations, are required to validate the therapeutic efficacy of Malva sylvestris in dermatological conditions.

Evaluation of the Anthelmintic Potential of Aqueous and Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of Vitex negundo against Benzimidazole-resistant Haemonchus Contortus in Sheep

2026-01-05T08:12:41+00:00

Background: Vitex negundo is a large aromatic shrub, sometimes a small slender tree, found throughout the greater parts of India. Traditionally, leaves are reported to possess a tranquillising effect, insecticidal properties, and are laid over grain to ward off insects.

Study Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Vitex negundo for their anthelmintic potential against the benzimidazole-resistant Haemonchus contortus of sheep.

Method: The organised sheep farms in the various districts of Tamil Nadu, viz., Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Salem, Karur and Kanniyakumari were randomly selected for sampling. In this study, 560 faecal samples were collected from organised sheep farms from the above districts before and after deworming with benzimidazole (BZ). The BZ-resistance was tested in this study by in vivo tests, viz., faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) and in vitro tests, viz., egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval paralysis assay (LPA).

Results: The faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) revealed the development of anthelmintic resistance to BZ in Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. The allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR), the molecular technique employed to amplify the 250bp BZ-resistant gene fragments, had also revealed the BZ resistance. This study evaluated the anthelmintic potential of Vitex negundo leaves against BZ-resistant H. contortus in sheep. The aqueous leaf extracts (ALE) and ethanolic leaf extracts (ELE) of V. negundo were prepared in various concentrations, viz., 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg/mL. The in vitro methods, viz., egg hatch assay (EHA) and larval paralysis assay (LPA), were performed to assess the anthelmintic efficacy of the above extracts. EHA revealed maximum efficacy (%) of 11.67±1.67% and 5.00±0.91% in 50 mg/mL concentration of ALE and ELE, respectively. LPA revealed 13.44±1.41% and 7.23±0.55% efficacy in 50 mg/mL concentrations of ALE and ELE, respectively. The results of this study with V. negundo indicated a dose-dependent effect of ALE and ELE in EHA and LPA.

Conclusion: It is concluded that V. negundo could be a futuristic phytomedicine for an alternate control strategy to combat the anthelmintic resistance against BZ-resistant strongyle nematodes of sheep. Future studies should focus on further investigations of Vitex negundo to evaluate its potential in combating anthelmintic resistance in farm animals.

Spider Diversity and Ecological Health in an Educational Landscape: Insights from College Campus

2026-01-05T08:15:32+00:00

Spiders (Order: Araneae) are among the most diverse and ecologically significant arthropods, occupying nearly every terrestrial habitat and playing a vital role in ecosystem functioning as both predators and prey. India, recognised as a megadiverse country, harbours a rich and varied arachnid fauna. Indian college campuses, with their green cover and semi-natural habitats, act as reservoirs of biodiversity. The present study was conducted at the Sangola College Campus, Solapur, to assess spider diversity. A three-month survey (June–August 2025) at the college campus documented 17 entries, of which 16 were true spiders (Order Araneae) across 13 families. The fauna included ground-dwelling and arboreal species, with dominant families such as Lycosidae, Cheiracanthiidae, Sparassidae, and Oxyopidae, and genera like Rabidosa, Trochosa, and Oxyopes salticus. A, Orbweavers (Araneidae, Tetragnathidae) and sac spiders (Cheiracanthiidae) highlighted vegetation complexity. These findings underscore spiders’ role in pest regulation and ecosystem balance, establishing a baseline for biodiversity monitoring and emphasising the value of campuses as living laboratories for conservation and ecological education.