International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability
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Pharmacognostic Evaluation on the Leaves of Ludwigia Abyssinica Rich (Onagaraceae)
Get PDFLudwigia abyssinica belongs to the family Onagaraceae, it is native to South America, well distributed in Africa and traditionally used in the treatment of generalized back pain, various skin infections, gastrointestinal and wound disorders. The objective of the study is to establishes some important pharmacognostic profile of L. abyssinica leaves with the hope of assisting in its proper identification as well as standardization for quality and purity. Evaluation of the fresh and powdered sample of the leaves was carried out to determine the micromorphological, chemomicroscopic and some physicochemical parameters of the plant. The microscopy revealed the presence of anomocytic type of stomata in both adaxial and abaxial epidermis with irregular epidermal cells and deeply wavy anticlinal walls on the upper epidermis and with sinous anticlinal walls and polygonal shaped epidermal cells on the lower epidermis. Chemomicroscopic characters present include; cellulose cell wall, lignified cell wall, tannins, starch, calcium oxalate and cutin. The physicochemical parameters evaluated include: moisture content (7.00%), total ash (7.80%), water soluble (4.67%), acid insoluble (2.33%), ethanol extractive value (17.00%), and water extractive value (19.70%). Quantitative leaf microscopy, had shown that on the average stomata number (8.00), stomatal index (12.12%) on upper epidermal layer while on the lower epidermal layer the stomatal number and index were (20.00) and (16.80%) respectively, palisade ratio (13.00), vein islet number (12.00), and vein termination number (11.00). The results of this investigation may be useful for the compilation of a suitable monograph on L.abyssinica
The Effectiveness of Variable Properties on Thermophoresis Particle Deposition at The Levels of 1st and 4th Orders of Chemical Reaction of Buoyancy-driven Flows of Second Grade Fluid
Get PDFThis article presents the analytic solution to a steady, incompressible, free convective flow of an electrically conducting second grade fluid past a vertical surface with variable properties namely: variable viscosity; variable thermal conductivity and variable concentration diffusivity in the presence of thermophoresis, chemical reaction and convective boundary condition. The impact of different orders of chemical reaction on thermophoresis and the transport process of flow, heat and mass transfer in the boundary layer for assisting and opposing flow cases are properly examined and discussed. The governing equations associated with the fluid model are transformed and parameterized to a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations. The resulting coupled ordinary differential equations (ODEs) were solved by adopting the Optimal Homotopy Analysis Method (OHAM). The results indicate that velocity and temperature distributions are decreasing functions of second grade parameter for both cases of assisting and opposing flows. Also, concentration distribution is a decreasing function of thermophoretic parameter for low and high orders of chemical reaction
Accumulation of Trace Metals in Artisans in Nigeria; a pilot case study of Electronic Repair Technicians, Auto Mechanics and Painters
Get PDFThe accumulation of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) in artisan electronic repair technicians, auto-mechanics and painters from Kaduna and Bauchi Metropolis Nigeria, was investigated. Hair and Nail samples of the artisans were tested for the selected metals using AAS. All artisans had Pb, Cd and Cr levels in both hair and nail samples within a range of 31.61 – 228.00, 0.09 -270.00 and 7.95-317.00 µg/g respectively. All three categories of artisans had the metal levels greater than that of the control subjects. The results indicate the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd and Cr in the three categories of artisans. Electronic repair technicians (0.09 – 50.39 µg/g) had the lowest bioaccumulation levels of the metals than auto-mechanics and painters indicating a greater exposure to Pb, Cd and Cr by auto-mechanics and painters (0.00 – 317.00 µg/g) probably due to increased tendency of exposure via both ingestion and inhalation
Recent Advances in Isolation and Characterization of Protein Concentrate and Isolate from Seeds
Get PDFProtein concentrate is defined as the non-oil fraction of the amino acid rich components obtained from defatting plant part followed by extraction and isoelectric precipitation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review some existing methods used in the isolation and characterization of protein concentrate and isolate from plant origin. The methods were also compared based on the properties of their resulting concentrate and their percentage yields as reported by many researchers. Among these methods, enzyme-solvent extraction methods yielded highest amount of concentrate followed by alkaline filtration and lastly enzymatic extraction. Similarly, types of extraction method employed were observed to have significant impact on the functional properties of the concentrate
Determination and Characterization of Tocopherols in Vitamin E Extracted from Goat Milk
Get PDFVitamin E was extracted from milk samples using saponification methods and the separation was achieved using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results from HPLC revealed that extracted vitamin E from milk existed in forms of α, β and δ tocopherols with α-tocopherol being the dominant form. The resulting vitamin E was characterized using UV-Visible and FTIR spectroscopy. A series of standard solution were prepared from the stock solution of 500 ppm vitamin E. From the Uv-visible, a maximum wavelength, λmax obtained was 292.0 nm and the molar absorptivity calculated form graph 1 was 4220.8 L mol-1 cm-1. The FTIR spectra for both fresh vitamin E and oxidized vitamin E were compared and analysed. The spectrum for oxidized vitamin E showed similar absorption bands as fresh vitamin E except for C=O stretching which indicated that the oxidation process has occurred
Physicochemical and Amino acid Evaluation of Hura crepitans Seeds
Get PDFPhysico-chemical properties, amino acid profile, fatty acid and of Hura crepitans Seeds were evaluated. Fatty acid analysis revealed that palmitic acid (24.12%, stearic acid (16.86%), Oleic acid (56.08%), pentafluropropionic acid (0.87%) and non-fatty acid (2.07%). Hura crepitans seed indicate high level of unsaturated fatty acid mainly Oleic acid (56.08%). Physico-chemical analysis was carried out on soxhlet extracted oil (n-hexane) has the following properties: acid value (5.6±0.19 mgKOH/g), Saponification value (92.57±0.94 mgKOH/g). Iodine value (90.42±0.023gI2/100g). Free fatty acid (2.9±0.93 mgKOH/g), Calorific value (43,719.59±0.90 kJ/kg). Amino acid profile revealed the presence of 18 amino acids. Sulphur containing amino acids (Cysteine and methionine) are the most limiting amino acid for adult and children. While lysine and threonine are 2nd and 3rd limiting amino acid for children. The overall results indicate that if the seeds are properly utilized, they could be used as a Protein supplement, bio-fuel and could be used industrially for soap making
Prevalence of Tinea Capitis among School Children in Kudan, Kaduna State.
Get PDFThe prevalence of Tinea capitis being an infection of the scalp by dermatophytes has increased in children worldwide. A total of 100 children were screened for dermatophytes and 45% were found to be infected with different species of dermatophytes which was achieved by fungal culture and microscopy using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar supplemented with 2% cycloheximide and lactophenol cotton blue solution respectively. The prevalence was found to be higher in children of the age group between 5 and 10 years (42.6%) than among 11- 15 years age group. Trichophyton rubrum (27.27%) and Microsporum canis (24.24%) were the most prevalent species isolated and the least were Trichophyton verrucosum (04.55%) and Trichophyton tonsurans (04.55%). Single dermatophyte infections accounted for 73.3% while mixed dermatophyte infections accounted for 26.7%. The predisposing factors with statistically significant association with tinea capitis were number of persons in the family (p=0.0152), age of children (p=0.0006) and shaving of hair at the barber’s shop (p=0.0098). This is an indication that there is high tendency for the spread of the disease through human contact. Community health education on the cause, mode of transmission, prevention as well as treatment of tinea capitis is recommended. This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and associated risk factor of tinea capitis among school children in Kudan, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrators (PSTC) Technology as an alternative Method of generating electricity in Nigeria
Get PDFThe demand of energy and global warming as well as the greenhouse gas emission has mandated the world to shift towards alternative sources of energy. Nigeria had unfortunately fallen among the least electricity generating countries in the world due to the highly dependent on the fossil fuel in electricity generation. Solar thermal power plants are the most promising technologies that can supplement/replace the use of fossil fuels sources of energy. This paper focuses on the review of the development of the parabolic trough solar concentrators (PSTC) in Nigeria and looking forward the feasibility of using the technology to be an alternative method of generating electricity thereby pointing out some challenges with the regard to the installation of parabolic trough solar power technology in Nigeria
Insecticidal Effects of Hyptis Suaveolens Leaf Extract on Bean Weevils (Callosobruchus Maculatus) and Maize Weevils (Sitophilus zeamais)
Get PDFHyptissuaveolens is among the most widely used plants in insect pest control.Similarly, the cowpea beetle (Callosobruchusmaculatus F.) is a major primary insect of stored cowpea in Nigeria which causes annual losses estimated at 2900 tons. Likewise, the maize weevil (Sitophiluszemais M.) is one of the world’s most serious stored maize pest, that attacks all other cereal grains and products. The effects of the methanolic, ethanolic and acetonicleaf extracts of Hypitssuaveolens(L.) were evaluated for their repellent activities against adult Callosobruchus maculates and Sitophiluszeamaisusing a multi-choice bio-assay apparatus. The extracts were applied to the cowpea and maize each at 0.00mg/ml, 6.25mg/ml, 12.50mg/ml and 100.00mg.ml concentrations and the repellant activities were recorded. Observations were made after two hours, four hours, six hours, and eight hours for each extract and percentage repellency (PR) was determined. Among the three solvents tested, methanol extract of Hypitsuaveolens (100mg/ml) showed the highest repellent effect on Sitophiluszeamais (100%). In contrast, highest percentage of repellent activity was obtained when acetonicextracts were tested against the cowpea beetles.The highly significant percentage repellency observed in allthe extracts, strongly revealed the repellent properties of the plant. Hypitssuaveolens, is environmentally friendly, safe to consume. Therefore, it is recommended as a promising candidate for the treatment of stored grains
Preparation and Properties of Cotton Fabric Modified With a Hydrogel Containing ZnO Nanoparticles
Get PDFZnO particle size, concentration, morphology and surface modification have been a topic of discussion for quite a long time in the medical sector. In this work ZnO Nanoparticles and Hydrogel were synthesised by a simple precipitation technique and are used on a fabric bandage. The Hydrogels were synthesised using Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent and N, N- methylenebisacrylamide (bis-AAm) as the cross linker. Through water absorption measurement, the Hydrogel shows good moisture absorption capacity. ZnO Nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple Chemical Precipitation Technique with Zinc Sulphate and Ammonia as starting materials. The synthesized sample was calcined at 4000c temperature for 5 hrs. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The hydrogel was utilized to provide uniform distribution and binding of the nanoparticles to the fibre surface and to prevent their agglomeration. The resulting ZnO-Hydrogel fabric bandage was investigated for antibiotic activity against gram-negative bacteria of three species; E.Coli, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus known as important pathogens in clinical infections. Significantly far above the ground antibacterial effect on the bacteria tested was achieved. This showed potential application of the new formulations as effective wound dressings to control the spread of infections