EUREKA: Life Sciences
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Thermo-physiological responses and oxidative status of West African dwarf rams fed diets containing supplemental Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meal
Full text linkPlant secondary metabolites in Tetrapleuratetraptera fruit meal (TTFM) could be exploited as natural safe feed additives alternative to non- nutritive chemical and antibiotics to enhance rumen fermentation and feed utilization efficiency with negative oxidative stress. The study investigated the responses of West African Dwarf (WAD) rams to the diets containing varying levels of supplemental Tetrapleura tetraptera fruit meal on the oxidative status and thermo-physiological parameters. Thirty five (35) WAD rams with an average live weight of 13.20±0.2 kg were used in a completely randomized design for 140 days. Five concentrate diets containing varying levels (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 %) of TTFM were formulated while Panicum maximum was fed as a basal diet. The rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate were measured at two week intervals while blood was collected through jugular veins at the onset and at the end of feeding trial to determine oxidative status parameters in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS).Data collected were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). No significant difference observed (p>0.05) in the rectal temperature while the pulse rate and breathing rate increased significantly (p<0.05) till 12th week of the experiment. Increased glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and lowered thiobarbituric acid reactive substance were recorded on the rams at the end of the feeding trial. It was therefore concluded that inclusion of Tetrapleura tetraptera up to 2 % level reduced the oxidative stress in the experimental animals coupled with better thermo-physiological response
Chemical composition of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Full text linkAscocarps of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) were found in natural oak and beech forests on calcareous soils, at altitude of 840–850 m, near the town of Šipovo in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), with the help of trained dogs.
Until now, no one in B&H has researched the chemical composition of summer truffle. The aim of the work is to analyze nutritional value, elemental composition, and the assortment of fatty acids in the freshly collected ascocarps and to compare achieved results with the results from the literature related to the summer truffle ascocarps found in some other locations, then with the ascomata of other species of truffles, and with the fruiting bodies of some above-ground edible mushrooms.
Chemical analysis showed that Tuber aestivum contains about 75.5 % water and about 25.5 % dry matter. The most common group of compounds were carbohydrates, followed by proteins, while the mineral component and fats were much less presented. Among analyzed elements, the most prevalent was potassium with an average concentration of 26,409 mg/kgDW and the least represented was lead with an average concentration of 0.45 mg/kgDW. The main part of the mineral spectrum consisted of three elements: K, P and Ca, with a share of 95.3 %. In ascocarps of summer truffle, 24 fatty acids were detected, of which 13 were saturated and 11 unsaturated. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids was 58.34 % to 41.66 %. The most common among saturated fatty acids was palmitic with a share of 25.89 %, while the most common unsaturated fatty acid was elaidic with a share of 28.17 %. No ingredients have been found in the fruiting bodies that would make them unfit for human consumption in any wa
Traditional cereal-based dishes of the Newari community of Nepal and their preparation process
Full text linkAround the world, cereal grains provide a significant source of dietary nutrients. Since prehistoric times, cereal-based food products have formed the foundation of the human diet. Fermented foods made from cereals account for a significant portion of the calorie intake in developing nations. Worldwide dietary recommendations are urging the consumption of whole grains due to mounting evidence that these grains and food products made from them can improve health in ways other than just giving energy and minerals. The creation of novel food items with qualities that improve health will be aided by the understanding gained from the functional qualities of the many chemical components found in whole grains.
Therefore, the main aim of this study is to illuminate the varied application of cereals like rice, maize, wheat, and barley in preparing a wide range of delightful dishes like (Aila, Dhindo, Yomari, Selroti, Chatamari, Khurma, Chiura, and Lakhamari) which holds immense significance in shaping the cultural identity of the Newari community. In this study, the nutritional advantages of cereals highlight their crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of the Newar community. Cereals are abundant in essential vitamins, fibers, minerals, and carbohydrates as a fundamental component of a well-balanced diet that promotes overall well-bein
Consumers’ safety of some selected ready to eat and street vended foods in Wudil, Kano state as determined by microbial content
Full text linkBecause of their cost, affordability, availability and simplicity to prepare, ready-to-eat foods are highly consumed in all over Nigeria, therefore critical to Nigerians’ health. This research aimed at ascertaining the consumers’ safety in terms of microbial load in ready-to-eat sell on the street Awara (Steamed Cowpea Beans Slurry) and Moin-moin (Bean pie) sold in three different vending locations retailed to the students of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology Wudil, Kano state Nigeria. Total of 24 samples consisting of equal quantity of Awara (Bean pie) and Moin-moin (Steamed Cowpea Bean Slurry) were collected from three different location in Wudil town and analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, fungi and Staphyococcus count. Seven different species of microorganism of health concern were identified to include Micrococcus spp, Staphylococcus aureous, Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp., Mucor, Rhizophus stoonifer and Aspergillus flavus. The total mean of the aerobic bacteria, fungi and Staphylococcus count across all the location in all the samples were found to be withing the tolerable range with the standard set by the International Commission for Microbial Specification for Foods (ICMSF) and Food and Environmental Hygiene Standard (FEHD) as well as the South Wales Food Authority Standards for ready-to-eat foods. Higher microbial counts were founds on Moin-moin sample and this may be attributed to its high moisture content which is found to range from 64.2 to 70.0 %. The comparison of this research finding with international standard justified the safety of consumers and concludes the acceptability of these foods as safe to eat even though the presence of microorganisms such as Aspergilus spp. has been found to pose serious public health issue such as aflatoxin intoxicatio
Use and management of medicinal plants among the Moba in the prefecture of Tone in Togo
Full text linkBackground and research objectives: Finding sustainable management options for the local communities that depend on medicinal plants is crucial in the face of human pressure on these plants. This study contributes to the sustainable management of medecinal plants in Togo. It aims to censusing medecinal plants and pathologies and identify the endogenous sustainable management strategies for medicinal plants in the Moba ethnic group of Togo. Methods: Data was collected through semi-structured ethnobotanical individual interviews with 50 traditional healers, recorded on a Microsoft Excel 10 spreadsheet and processed with the Sphinx5V software and the Microsoft Excel 10 table. Results: 166 medicinal plants were reported in the treatment of 91 pathologies dominated by dysmenorrhoea, stomachache, wounds, general and chronic asthenia, and infantile umbilical hernia. The most represented botanical families were: the Poaceae (12), the Combretaceae (10), and the Euphorbiaceae (10), Caesalpiniaceae (8), and Mimosaceae (7). The most important species according to the Species Importance Value Index (IVIsp) are: Vitellaria paradoxa (159.59), Parkia biglobosa (145.94), Securidaca longipedunculata (145.12), Diospyros mespiliformis (133.51), Annona senegalensis (123.88), Khaya senegalensis (110.52), Cymbopogon proximus (106.88), Cymbopogon giganteus (102.03), Zanthozylum zanthoxyloides (99.005). The most used plant parts are roots (18.6 %), leaves (17.85 %), bark of the trunk (16.66 %), the whole plant (14.28 %) and the fruits (12.30 %). Endogenous management strategies for medicinal plants include in situ protection in fields, reforestation, and respect for totemic trees, groves and sacred forests
Effect of storage conditions on the physical properties of coffee beans with different qualities
Full text linkThe quality of coffee starts in the field, and goes through the harvesting and post-harvesting processes, and continues to storage and transportation. The storage of coffee beans aims to stock a product for a certain period of time. However, factors such as quality and metabolism of the grain, water content, environmental conditions of the warehouse, type of packaging, and storage time influence the maintenance of these characteristics, and may negatively affect sensory aspects of the beverage. The use of high-barrier packaging or refrigerated storage practices are alternatives that can ensure grain quality during storage. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of raw coffee beans, of different processing and quality levels, packed in impermeable packages and stored in a refrigerated environment. The specialty coffees were previously sampled and characterized as to the drink, with two lots (one of natural coffee and the other of pulped natural coffee) evaluated with a score of 82 points, and another lot of natural coffee evaluated with a score of 84 points. They were packed in two types of packaging: moisture and gas permeable, and gas, moisture, and light impermeable. The beans were stored in ambient conditions without temperature control and in refrigerated environments. The CO2 concentration inside the packaging was measured, and the physical analyses – water content, color, and apparent specific mass – were performed. According to the results there is less variation in the water content and coloration of the grains stored in high barrier packages. The storage of the beans in refrigerated condition and in high barrier packing is efficient in the retarding of the loss of quality of the coffees during the nine months of the experimen
The biological and environmental features of reproduction and distribution of dominant harmful organisms in modern conditions
Full text linkThe article presents research on the features of reproduction of dominant pests of species of organisms in agrobiocenoses growing cereals, leguminous crops, sunflowers and flowers. The article describes the latest ways to control a complex of soil harmful insect species in short-rotation field crop, as well as aerogenic harmful organisms in the integrated use of plant protection products of nutrition systems. In addition, we have identified individual levels of biologically oriented mechanisms of self-regulation of harmful organisms with measures to stabilize the functioning of agrocenoses, which are supplied with natural adaptive reactions in trophic chains.
In the region of observations, the complex of pests is controlled by spiders, nematodes, mites, pathogens, predators and parasites. A variety of causative agents of bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoal diseases of phytophagous insects deserve special attention.
Parasites and predators appear everywhere with trophic chains in 16 rows of the insect class. In recent years, predatory species of ground beetles from a number of Hymenoptera insects that feed on aphids on corn crops with unreasonable intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers have acquired significant importance.
The use of compositions of insecticide + UAN, 32 % for seed treatment of grain crops, allows to save mineral nutrition and get an increase in grain yield up to 27 %. This helps to optimize the state of cenoses and obtain high-quality grain while reducing the cost. Measures have been developed to realize the productivity potential of field crops and flowers through low-cost plant protection measures and to determine the mechanisms for controlling the number of phytophages and the development of dominant types of diseases according to the characteristics of their biology and ecolog
Urinary schistosomiasis: risk factors and symptoms among school adolescents in Kaduna State, Nigeria
Full text linkImproper waste disposal, unsafe water and indiscriminate water-contact activities are major factors enhancing continuous spread of schistosomiasis in Nigeria. Many water bodies are prone to contamination with human wastes directly discharged into them or due to surface runoff, and are infested with parasites. Open defecation and discharge of household sewage into water channels is still practiced. Children conduct activities in these water bodies, thereby exposing themselves to infections with schistomes among other pathogens. Urine samples (10 mL each) were collected from 600 consented school adolescents across six Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Information on their water-contact activities were obtained by means of questionnaires. Urine sediment was examined for Schistosoma haematobium eggs by microscopy. No infection was recorded in adolescents who had awareness about the disease. Those who engaged in swimming (9.2 %, OR=2.2) and fishing (10.3 %, OR=2.1) were significantly more infected than those who did not (P≤0.05). Adolescents who worked on irrigated farms (9.0 %, OR=1.4), washed clothes in rivers (9.0 %, OR=1.6), or fetch water from rivers for domestic purpose (10.0 %) were more infected than others who did not engage in those activities. Therefore, swimming and fishing are important factors enhancing the spread of schistosomiasis among school adolescents in Kaduna State. Irrigation farming, washing of clothes in rivers or fetching water from rivers exposed the adolescents to schistosome infections. Widespread awareness campaigns, provision safe water to communities, and standard water-based recreational centers are paramoun
Hydropriming improves seed germination in horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex Naudin) landraces
Full text linkThe global popularity of horned melon highlights the need of sound crop establishment processes, since uniform and quick seed germination has a substantial influence on crop yield and quality. Using a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) with a factorial structure, the effects of hydro priming durations (0, 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 h) on seeds of two horned melon landrace (L1&L2) were investigated. Hydro priming had significant (P>0.05) influence on several germination indices (germination percentage, relativized percentage, mean germination rate, germination index, synchronization, duration to 50 % germination, mean daily germination, peak value, and germination value). Among the germination indicators tested, landrace (L2) exhibited a considerably stronger germination response than L1. The findings also reveal a curvilinear relationship between priming length and germination percentage, with 24 hours being greatest proportionately. The mean germination rate, germination index, mean daily germination, peak value of germination, and germination value all rose as the hydro priming duration increased. Primed seeds germinated more quickly than unprimed ones. With increasing priming duration, the synchronization index fell linearly. The interaction between landraces and hydro priming was not significant (P>0.05) for final seed germinated, relativized germination, and synchronization indices, but it had a significant impact on all other indices. Because the efficacy of hydro priming tends to lessen with extended soaking, we recommend using it for a maximum of 32 hours. Future study should concentrate on alternative priming chemicals and the applicability of various priming solutions for various agroecosystem
Dynamic changes in the histomorphological structure of the thyroid gland of rats against the background of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis
Full text linkIn preclinical studies, which are conducted to study the therapeutic effectiveness and pharmacological safety of biologically active compounds for the correction of autoimmune thyroiditis, various experimental models of this pathology are used in the experiment.
In this work, we analyzed various models of thyroiditis that have been used for the past fifty years. Such an analysis made it possible to choose the most optimal model for the study of autoimmune pathology of the thyroid gland as well as for the correction of this condition. The analysis of known and the search for new pathogenetically justified models of autoimmune diseases of endocrine organs is a very urgent task.
The aim of the work was to study the dynamics of changes in the histomorphological structure of the thyroid gland when modeling autoimmune thyroiditis in rats using an allogeneic antigen isolated from the human thyroid gland.
The postoperative thyroid gland of a person was used as an antigen. Morphological changes in the thyroid gland were studied one, three and six months after the end of the simulation.
It was found that the use of this type of immunization led to changes in the parenchyma of the gland, characteristic of autoimmune thyroiditis. Already one month after modeling, Gürtle cells, fibrosis, areas of lymphoid infiltration of the parenchyma were registered. These pathological changes persisted and worsened three and six months after the end of the simulation.
The investigated type of model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis is easily reproduced. Pathological changes in the gland deepen over time and are comparable to those that occur in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditi