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Antihyperlipidaemic and Antioxidant Potential of Fermented Citrullus vulgaris Seeds (Thunb.) on Tyloxapol-induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats: A Comparison With Fluvastatin
Get PDFGlobally fermented foods form an integral part of the staple diet of people. Fermented Citrullus vulgaris (FCV)
(ogiri) seeds is a nutritious natural fermented condiment that features frequently in West African diets as a spice.This study investigated the antihyperlipidaemic potential of this condiment in tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidaemic rats with reference to that of fluvastatin, a standard antilipidaemic drug. The antioxidant potential of the condiment was also examined using different relevant in vitro assays. Albino rats were divided into six groups (n=5), based on the diet and treatment received. The groups were standard feed (control); FCV supplemented feed; standard feed with tyloxapol administered at the end of the experimental period (tyloxapol control); FCV supplemented feed and tyloxapol at the end of the experimental period; standard feed with fluvastatin sodium (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg body weight separately) followed by tyloxapol. The results revealed that administration of tyloxapol induced significant (p < 0.05) increase in total-cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). These lipid increases were significantly mitigated in groups initially pre-fed with supplemented FCV feed. Plasma TC decreased by 69.38% (p < 0.05); TG by 80.58% (p < 0.05); LDL-C by 7.80% (p < 0.05) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased by 78.61% (p < 0.05). FCV showed appreciable antioxidant activities in vitro in a dose dependent manner. Histomorphological examination of the liver suggested that the FCV possessed hepatoprotective potential. These results suggest that FCV consumption may be a possible dietary measure for the control of dyslipidaemia
In vivo effects of four medicinal plants on nematodes of goat
Get PDFMedicinal plants are very cheap and accessible to rural people for treating ruminant’s diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo effects of four medicinal plants (Vernonia amgydalina, Ocimum grattisimum, Nicotiana tabacum and Talinum triangulare) on nematodes of goat. The ethanolic extracts of these medicinal plants were made and the dose used for the goats include 1 and 2 g/kg for Vernonia amgydalina, 1 and 2g/kg for Ocimum grattisimum, 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Nicotiana tabacum and 0.5 and 1 g/kg for Talinum triangulare. The goats were infected with L3 stage larval of nematodes of Trichostrongyle sp, Haemonchus contortus, Bunostomum and Strongloides sp and after the build up of worm after some days, they were treated using in vivo assay through oral administration of the plants extracts. The faecal samples were collected 3, 7 and 11 days and examined quantitatively through McMaster Counting technique for the number of parasites. The results showed that only 2g/kg of Vernonia amgydalina and 1g/kg of Talinum triangulare showed decreased of 91.6% and and 69% in the mean egg per gram (epg) output of the faecal sample. But other medicinal plants did not show any decrease in epg. This indicates that Vernonia amgydalina and Talinum triangulare could be used as antihelmintic plants to treat goat diseases thus helping to improve the health status of the goat
Effects of Alium cepa Linn on rhodanese activities and half-life of cyanide in the blood
Get PDFRhodanese is the major detoxifying enzyme for cyanide and requires sulphur for its action. Allium cepa (Onion) is rich in organosulphur which may serve as an antidote for cyanide poisoning by supplying sulphur to the enzyme rhodanese. The possible effects of Allium cepa on rhodanese activity during cyanide toxicity was investigated in male Wistar rats. Sixty Wistar rats (150-180 g) were divided into ten groups of six rats each. The first six groups were used for in vivo rhodanese activities evaluation after treatments orally with either KCN (7 mg/kg bwt/day KCN), KCN+ 300 mg Methanol Extract of Allium cepa (MEAC)/kg bwt/day, KCN+ 600 mg MEAC/kg bwt/day, KCN+ 600 mg sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3)/kg bwt/day or 600 mg MEAC/kg bwt/day respectively. The last four groups were used for the evaluation of half-life of KCN after treatment orally with distilled water (control), 600 mg MEAC/kg bwt/day, 600 mg Na2S2O3/kg bwt/day and raw onion adlibitum respectively for two weeks before intravenous injection of KCN. In vitro rhodanese activity was determined using liver homogenate. Results of the in vivo study showed liver rhodanese activity was significantly higher (p< 0.05) in the cyanide only group and in the cyanide+ Na2S2O3 group when compared with the control group, but administration of MEAC in the cyanide treated group did not enhance the activities of rhodanese. The results of the in vitro study showed that rhodanese activity was more enhanced in the presence of essential oil of onion and N
Examination of the Nexus between Academic Libraries and Accreditation: Lessons from Nigeria.
Get PDFThe article investigated the nexus between academic libraries and
accreditation in the higher institutions with special focus on the
Nigerian experience. It showed that all accreditation agencies place
a high premium on library provisions as a major component of
requisite benchmarks in determining the status of the program
or institutions being assessed. Academic libraries help to enrich
formal classroom curricular and act as a broadening influence
on lecturers and students as well as nurture in them the virtue
of independent inquiry. State-of-the-art academic libraries confer
prestige on the institutions and have tremendous impact on student
retention, rankings, and high profiling of parent institution
during accreditation. The article noted that there exists strong intrinsic
and sometimes imperceptible relationship between academic
libraries and higher education. It recommended institutionalization
of global and regional ranking of academic libraries, among
others
Reviewing Gaps in Work-Life Research and Prospecting Conceptual Advancement.
Get PDFWithin various organisational, behavioural and management studies, work-life balance is still a
discursive subject. Focal themes and implications of most research findings on this social concept often
discloses the need for working adults to consolidate efforts in finding the right balance between their
work and non-work roles while organisations are scrutinised on implementing a variety of work-life
practices and policies that can foster workplace well-being. However, gaps in accentuating its meaning,
the dominance of role conflict realities and continuous emphasis on negative work-life outcomes still
proliferates studies of this nature. Thus, the modest ambition of this paper is to assess trends in research
evidencing gaps in work-life literature and what prospects are available to overcome such hiatus in
work-life theory, practice and policy development. This review concludes by stimulating scholarly minds
on potential collaborative solutions and proactive changes that human resource managers and
employees’ alike can capitalise on for a more sustainable and fulfilling enactment of a win-win work-life
situation
ACCOUNTING REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS’ COMPLIANCE IN NIGERIA
Get PDFThis paper is an attempt to investigate the rate of compliance of public institutions with the
framework stipulations of accounting regulations in Nigeria. Series of accounting Regulatory
Provisions guiding preparation and presentation of financial reports in public institutions were
examined. Descriptive statistical methods - Simple Percentage Method (SPM) and Chi-square
were used on 50 Respondents from Ministry of Finance and the Office of Accountant General of
the State of Osun in Nigeria. The paper revealed that there is a positive relationship between
regulatory framework and financial reports preparation and presentations in Osun State. The
study recommends that Proper trainings on public sector accounting and establishments of
performance evaluation of employees should be put in place in order to make public institutions
account more effective in the State of Osun
Potentials of microorganisms associated with plantain peels in the Lagos metropolis for biodegradation and bioconversion.
Get PDFThe role of microbes in the degradation of plantain derived-wastes and their potential to produce cellulolytic enzymes was assessed. Soil samples of decomposing waste piles were collected from two major plantain markets in the Lagos metropolis and analyzed for physicochemical properties, toxic heavy metal content and microbial populations. Findings revealed that the values of moisture content of the two soils varied between 7.27±0.04 and 8.06±0.19 %. M-12 site had the highest organic matter content of 6.89±0.14 %. A similar pattern was observed for nitrate, phosphate and chloride levels while some heavy metals were also detected in varying and high amounts. The highest viable bacterial counts was 58.0±2.9 x 104 cfu/g at MU and there were no fungi at the site whereas M-12 had a fungal count of 40.0±3.3 x 103 cfu/g. Out of the total of 34 isolates encountered, 8 isolates having maximum cellulase activities were selected for further studies by the primary screening technique. These test organisms were then evaluated by secondary screening for enzyme production. The test organisms were phenotypically and biochemically characterized and identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae spp pneumoniae (2 strains), Klebsiella pneumoniae spp ozaenae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Providencia alcalifaciens, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger respectively. Both the bacteria and moulds were found to be capable of utilizing lignin and cellulosic substrates for growth and for production of cellulolytic enzymes. It is suggested that such microorganisms could be useful in bioconversion of cellulosic substrates like plantain-derived wastes for biotechnological application
Biochemical changes associated with sickle cell anaemia
Get PDFSome blood chemical parameters including some enzyme activities were determined in forty two sickle cell patients in Ekiti state, Nigeria. All the parameters of interest analyzed for were found present in all the samples. The mean values for uric acid (0.35±0.16 mol/l), creatinine (100.55±8.13 μmol/l), urea (10.50±6.28 mmol/l), Total bilirubin (14.42±2.03 μmol/l), conjugated bilirubin (10.53±2.67 μmol/l), alkaline phosphatase (82.67±10.87 μ/l) aspartate transaminase (SGOT)(20.68±9.85 μ/l) and alanine transaminase (SGPT)(28.68±9.85 μ/L) were significantly higher (P 0.05). The significant raised level of SGPT, SGOT, ALP, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, and significant lower levels of total protein, albumin, calcium, inorganic phosphate indicates that there may be abnormal liver and renal function as well as muscular and bone dysfunction in these patients
Kraft lignin degradation by autochtonous streptomyces strains isolated from a tropical lagoon ecosystem
Get PDFKraft lignin contributes to the toxicity of the pulping plant effluent and is known to resist microbial treatment.The lignin component must be removed from lignocellulose biomass to enhance the release of fermentable sugars for the production of biofuel and other value-added end products. Lignin-degrading bacteria provide an advantage due to their ease of isolation,wider tolerance of environmental conditions and genetic manipulations compared with their fungal counterparts. There is no documented evidence on the degradation of kraft lignin by bacteria in the tropical estuarine ecological niche in Nigeria. Bacterial growth and assessment of kraft-lignin degradation in submerged fermentation was carried out for a period of 10 days using Streptomyces spp isolated from a tropical lagoon as the inocula. The organisms utilized 23 to 99 % kraft-lignin at the rate of 2.3×10-5 to 9.9×10-5 g.d-1cm-3 with specific growth rates of 0.020 - 0.084 h-1and doubling times of 8.3 - 35.1 h. Maximum values obtained for laccase and peroxidase activities were 9.5x10-2 and 400 μ mol mg -1min -1 respectively.
The aim of this study was to obtain evidences for Kraft lignin degradation by indigenous tropical estuarine Streptomyces species from Lagos, Nigeria.
The Autochthonous bacterial species of the Lagos lagoon utilize kraft lignin as a sole carbon source and may be good candidates for biotechnological purposes. The outcome of this study has bridged an information gap in the tropical environment and will complement existing global data because the information on the degradation of kraft lignin by marine Streptomyces is not common
Organisational Stress: Theoretical Reflections and Proposed Directions for Management Research and Practice.
Get PDFThis article critiques the diverse theoretical sentiments accentuated in the field of work stress as well as
incidences and impact of work stress within an organisational context. Thus, the purpose of this paper is
threefold. First, it is to review the organisational factors increasing employee stress and further reflect on
the contentious definition of work stress. Some main theoretical models that have been important in the
field of stress research are also critically evaluated. Second, this study further focuses on unveiling
promising areas of research that scrutinises stress management interventions that is a terrain where
paucity of research is found to still exist. Third, this review concludes by presenting important research
and practice implications