Antimicrobial potential of unstressed and heat stressed .

Garlic () is generally known to be of medicinal value, possessing potentials that include antimicrobial activity, but are often consumed in foods after subjection to cooking heat. The antimicrobial potential of heat stressed garlic may become decreased or lost when cooked, making its medicinal benefit unavailable to consumers. The potential of uncooked and cooked extracts from garlic imported to Jamaica, to inhibit the growth of eight microbes of clinical significance was investigated.

Antiproliferative activities of lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum Hance Jam1), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), and ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) against acute monocytic leukemia.

Acute monocytic leukemia (AML M5 or AMoL) is one of the several types of leukemia that are still awaiting cures. The use of chemotherapy for cancer management can be harmful to normal cells in the vicinity of the target leukemia cells. This study assessed the potency of the extracts from lesser galangal, turmeric, and ginger against AML M5 to use the suitable fractions in neutraceuticals.

Effects of phytic acid and exercise on some serum analytes in rats orally exposed to diets supplemented with cadmium.

Cadmium is an environmental pollutant of increasing worldwide concern. It has been reported to be high in the soil where food crops are grown in some parishes of Jamaica. Surprisingly, no adverse effect of cadmium has been reported among the Jamaican population.

Alterations in glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation of tadpoles (Xenopus laevis) exposed to Bonny Light crude oil and its fractions.

We determined the effects of sub-lethal levels of Bonny Light crude oil (WC) and its water soluble (WSF) and insoluble (WIF) fractions on malondialdehyde (MDA) and stress enzymes in tadpoles (Xenopus laevis) following two and 4 weeks exposure at different concentrations. We observed that the treatment of tadpoles with WC, WSF, or WIF decreased the weight of tadpoles, increased MDA levels, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) at lower concentrations of exposure and decreased the enzymes at higher doses of exposure. We found that the WC had a lesser negative effect on the parameters of tadpoles compared to the WSF.