Browsing by Author "Ugbogu, Eziuche Amadike"

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    Phytochemical composition, acute and subacute toxicity profile of Persea amaricana seed oil in albino Wistar rats
    (Toxicology Reports, 2025) Iweala, Emeka Joshua; Okore, Finian Uchenna; Okoro, Benedict Chukwuebuka; Dania, Omoremime Elizabeth; Amuji, Doris Nnenna; Ugbogu, Eziuche Amadike
    Objective: This study investigated the phytochemical composition and toxicity profile of Persea americana seed oil (PASO) in albino Wistar rats. Methods: Chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the chemical constituents of PASO. For the acute toxicity test, PASO was administered orally in a single dose of up to 3000 mg/kg body weight (bw). For the subacute toxicity test, the rats were divided into four (4) groups. Group I (normal control), while groups II, III and IV received 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg PASO daily, respectively, for 14 days. Results: In the acute toxicity test, the lethal dose (LD50) of PASO was estimated to be 1477.83 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity test, PASO significantly increased (p < 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, urea, malondialdehyde, high density lipoprotein, interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and cardiac troponin and significantly decreased glutathione, red blood cells (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), superoxide dismutase and catalase compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our study showed that the LD50 of PASO is 1477.83 mg/kg body weight, which classifies it as a moderately toxic substance. In subacute toxicity, our results revealed that treatment with PASO resulted in an increase in liver enzymes, urea and creatinine, and inflammatory markers, and a decrease in antioxidant enzymes, suggesting that PASO impairs liver and kidney functions and may cause cardiac or muscle damage in albino Wistar rats.
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    Targeting c-Met in breast cancer: From mechanisms of chemoresistance to novel therapeutic strategies
    (Current Research in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, 2024) Iweala, Emeka Eze Joshua; Amuji, Doris Nnenna; Oluwajembola, Abimbola Mary; Ugbogu, Eziuche Amadike
    Breast cancer presents a significant challenge due to its heterogeneity and propensity for developing chemo resistance, particularly in the triple-negative subtype. c-Mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (c-Met), a re ceptor tyrosine kinase, presents a promising target for breast cancer therapy due to its involvement in disease progression and poor prognosis. However, the heterogeneous expression of c-Met within breast cancer subtypes and individual tumors complicates targeted therapy. Also, cancer cells can develop resistance to c-Met inhibitors through various mechanisms, including bypass signaling pathways and genetic mutations. The off-target effects of c-Met inhibitors further limit their clinical utility, necessitating the development of more selective agents. To overcome these challenges, personalized treatment approaches and combination therapies are being explored to improve treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Novel c-Met inhibitors with improved selectivity and reduced off-target toxicity show promise in preclinical studies. Additionally, targeted delivery systems aim to enhance drug localization and reduce systemic toxicity. Future directions involve refining inhibitor design and integrating c-Met inhibition into personalized treatment regimens guided by molecular profiling. This review explores the mechanisms by which c-Met contributes to chemoresistance in breast cancer and current challenges in targeting c-Met for breast cancer therapy. It discusses strategies to optimize treatment outcomes, ultimately improving patient prognosis and reducing mortality rates associated with this devastating disease