International Journal of Science for Global Sustainability
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Phytochemical Analysis, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Studies on the n-Hexane Soluble Fraction of Vernonia glaberrima
Get PDFVernonia species have been used in the management of pain and other ailments in traditional medicine. This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical constituents, toxicity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the n-hexane soluble fraction of Vernonia glaberrima. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the n-hexane fraction revealed the presence of steroids and triterpenes while the intraperitoneal LD50 of the fraction using Lorke’s method was 2154 mg/kg indicating the fraction to be slightly toxic. The analgesic property of the fraction was assessed using acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice and formalin-induced pain in rats while the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using formalin test in rats. The results of the study showed that the n-hexane fraction at the highest dose (500 mg/kg) decreased writhing response with 89.55 % inhibition. The fraction also exhibited significant (P<0.05) analgesic effect at both phases in the formalin test; the n-hexane fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg) and the standard drug, pentazocine (10 mg/kg) were able to significantly inhibit both phase while the extract 150 mg/kg diminished the pain induced by formalin in the first phase only. There was significant inhibition of oedema induced by carrageenan at the 1st hour (150 mg/kg) and the 4th hour at the graded doses of the fraction and the standard drug, piroxicam (10 mg/kg). The findings of this research suggests that the n-hexane soluble fraction of V. glaberrima contains bioactive constituents with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and thus, validates the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammation in traditional medicine
Determination of Triacylglycerol Composition of Trichilia emetica Seed Oil using GC-MS and 1H-NMR Spectroscopy
Get PDFTrichilia emetica seed oil was analysed for their fatty acid profiles using GC-MS and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR). In the 1H-NMR spectrum, integrating the values of the signals of acyl, allylic and bis-allylic protons, the unsaturated fatty acid: monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was quantitated. The relative percentage of saturated fatty acid (SFA) was determined by subtracting the relative amount of the total unsaturation from the total amount of fatty acid present in the oil. The procedure was verified by using GC-MS to determine the fatty acid methyl esters in the oil sample. The percentage triacylglycerol conversion to its corresponding methyl esters was determine by 1H NMR and was calculated to be 94%. A total of six FAMEs were identified in the seed oil by the NIST library match software and the fragmentation pattern data of GC/MS. The results obtained from the two methods were 55 % saturated (C14:0, C16:0, C18:0), 35% monounsaturated (C18:1) and 10 % polyunsaturated (C18:2 and C18:3). Generally, the 1H-NMR results were in good agreement with gas chromatographic (GC) analyses. In conclusion, the 1H-NMR-based procedures is fast as it does not require the oil to be derivatized and can be applied to neat T. emetica seed oil
Access and Utilization of Climate Change Information and Support Services among Vulnerable Communities in Agatu LGA, Benue State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study investigated access and utilization of climate change information and support services among vulnerable communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study sought to answer how farmers perceive climate change and its local impacts on their livelihood activities; what are the climate information and support services that farmers would like to access, which pathways are most useful for climate information dissemination and support services, in what ways are these information and support services utilized and what are the barriers to effective communication of climate information to rural farmers. Structured and validated interview schedule as well as Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were used to collect relevant information from 250 rural farmers randomly selected from ten villages located along the bank of river Benue. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean and Likert Rating Scale (LRS). The findings revealed that almost all the farmers (92%) in these communities were aware of climate change and perceived change in rainfall, drought, floods, crop and livestock diseases to have been “very severe” over the last five years. Early warning signals (2.78), rainfall prediction (2.86), drought forecast (2.93) and adaptation technology (2.74) were the significant climate information and support services perceived to boost adaptation practices of farmers in the study area. Responses to LRS questions on preferred channel for climate change information indicated that the farmers preferred community channel (0.91) and mass media (0.85) to print (0.63) and electronic media (0.50). Results further showed that respondents utilize climate services principally in deciding time of planting crops and fish harvesting from ponds. The study concluded that combination of extension agents, radio and local administration would be more effective for disseminating climate information and support services to vulnerable communities. Hence, capacity building for extension service and integration of local medium in communication is necessary for interpretation of weather data to enhance effective dissemination of climate information and support services to vulnerable farmers in the study area
Preliminary Studies on Biofuel Potentials of Silk (Ceiba pentendra) Castor (Ricinus communis) and Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
Get PDFThe aim of the study is to investigate the suitability of Ceiba Pentandra (Silk cotton), Ricinus Communis (Castor) and Gossypium hirsetum (cotton) for the uses as biofuel feed stock. The seed oil in each of the samples was extracted using soxhlet extractor, analyzed for their physicochemical properties. From the analysis, it was found that the percentage oil yield of 51.00%, 43.02% and 42.50% were obtained for Castor, Cotton and Silk respectively. Other fuel properties test indicates that the oils have saponificarion value (209.60; 232.30; 198.660mgKOH/g). Iodine value (43.10, 51.25 and 35.02 mg/g). Ester value (188.79, 195.86 and 219.60) for silk castor and cotton seed oils respectively. All the evaluated properties of the seed oils produce were within the limits prescribed by AOAC and ASTM Standard
Evaluation of Pollution Profile and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Open Refuse Dumps in Sokoto, Nigeria
Get PDFThe increase in solid waste generation in Nigeria, especially in urban cities, has become a major environmental problem resulting from high population growth rate and poor management of the solid wastes. The absence of specialized (sanitary and engineered) landfills has led to the emergence of several open waste refuse dumps in towns and cities which, potentially, constitutes a major threat to surface and groundwater systems. This study analyzed the pollution profile and the potential of some selected refuse dumps in the city of Sokoto for groundwater contamination. The parameters analyzed include cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) and some selected heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb and Mn). The results indicated poor nutrient retention and attenuation capacity of the soil, thereby confirming the potential of groundwater contamination from the leachates produced in the refused dump
Geospatial Analysis of Accessibility to Healthcare Facilities in Bauchi Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria
Get PDFIn this study, a Geographic Information System (GIS) based network analysis was used to examine the accessibility to healthcare facilities in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State in northeastern Nigeria. Accessibility to the healthcare facilities in all the twenty two electoral wards in the area was established using OD (Origin Destination) matrix. The population weighted centroids of the electoral wards were used as origins and the healthcare facilities as destinations. Average nearest neighborhood analysis was carried out to determine the spatial pattern of distribution of the healthcare facilities. Findings of the study revealed that some wards like (Majidadi, Hardo and Makama-B) are poorly served with fewer healthcare facilities thanthe other wards like Kangere Galambi and Mun/Munsal. It was also found that the healthcare facilities in the area are highly insufficient in relation to the population in the area. In addition, accessibility to the healthcare facilities in wards like Tirwun, Daniya and K/Durum is a serious problem, because people in these areas have to travel very far distances to access the nearest available healthcare facilities. It is therefore recommended that the distribution of health facilities in the area should be based on the density of population of the electoral wards; and the location of a new health center should not be more than 4km from residential areas at a distance of not more than 20m from the major road
Group Student-Project Allocation Using Constraint Optimization Techniques
Get PDFThe allocation of projects to final year students in various disciplines is a major challenge to many universities in Nigeria and elsewhere. In most cases manual method has been the pre-dominant for this activity. However, many problems arise which among other things include project duplication and delay in project activities. Other works concentrated on project allocation with both students and supervisors preferences, which may not be suitable for departments with small number of academics. In order to minimize the chances for these problems to occur, this study presents a constraint optimization approach to solving the student project allocation problem for the Computer Science programme of the Department of Mathematics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The problem was modelled using constraint optimization (COP) techniques and its prototype was implemented on a Java platform which concentrated largely on students preferences on projects only, to ensure that a maximum number of students got their first choice projects. Upon testing the model, the results obtained showed that 85 out of the 95 students (90%) got allocation in the first round, from which 67 students (73%)got their first choices from the 24 projects supplied by 12 supervisors, which showed maximum allocation of students’ best choices
Estimates of Combining Ability and Gene Action in Groundnut (Arachishypogeae L.) for Resistance to Aphis (Aphis craccivora Koch)
Get PDFNine groundnut genotypes, consisting of three male testers and six female lines were crossed in a line x tester mating design to develop 18 hybrids in 2010. The resultant hybrids, parents and three checks were evaluated using a completely randomize design in the screen house of Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) located at Samaru (11o11'N, 7o38' E) in 2012 to obtain information on combining ability and gene action for resistance to aphid and other quantitative traits in groundnut. Results of the combining ability analysis revealed that both additive and non-additive gene actions were responsible for the control of the traits studied. However, the values of dominance genetic variance were greater than additive genetic variance for all traits which depicts the importance of non-additive gene action for controlling these traits.Narrow sense heritability was low for all the traits studied except shelling percentage (74.00%) which was high and ranged from 1.60% (number of pods per plant) to 74.00% (shelling percentage) also indicating non-additive gene action. Significant effects among female parents were observed in their General Combining Ability for pod yield, 100-seed weight, and number of pods per plant and among male parents for 100-seed weight and days to maturity. SCA effects for ICGX-SM 00020/5/P4/P1 x ICGV IS 07890, ICGX-SM 00017/5/P10/P1 x KWANKWASO and ICGX-SM 00017/5/P10/P1 x SAMNUT 14 revealed maximum positive result for pod weight. Lower negative SCA effects were observed among most of the hybrids for the characters studied
Analysis of Heavy Metals in Water around Gidan Saru Mining Site, Zamfara State, Nigeria
Get PDFMining processes result in large amounts of toxic waste Particles, mine tailings might be carried by wind to contaminate broad areas, including water bodies. Chemicals and heavy metals contaminate nearby water sources in most mining areas of Nigeria where Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining is commonly practiced. Five water samples from one of the gold mines of Zamfara state were analysed for heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Fe and Cu) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The analysed samples shows mean concentrations (mg/l) ranged of 0.00-29.40, 9.49-15.70, 10.16-382.44, 1.61-3.91,8.7319.20,14.11-244.01 and 68.22-103.22mg/l respectively. When compared with the maximum allowed limits set by World Health Organisation (WHO), National Standard Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) and United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for drinking water, the samples are totally contaminated with all heavy metals being analysed. The pH value ranged between 5.24-6.72 out of five hand dung wells only one has meet the standard of WHO, NSDWQ and USEPA. This study concluded that the study area was polluted. A possible solution is needed from appropriate agencies to overcome the problems
Impact of Climate Change on Sugarcane Production and Adaptation Strategies in Kaduna State
Get PDFSugarcane production has contributed greatly in creating employment and sources of income to the farmers and the government of Kaduna state. However, like other parts of the world, sugarcane production is greatly affected by climate change. This paper therefore examined the impact of climate change on sugarcane production and adaptation strategies by the sugarcane farmers in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. To achieve this, a total of 200 farmers were randomly sampled and administered questionnaire through the help of Sugarcane Farmers and Marketers Association in the Local Government Area. The results were summarized and presented by means of frequencies and percentages in tabular forms and charts. The study revealed that majority of the farmers have observed a continuous increase in temperature which have positively increased sugarcane growth during the dry season; increase in temperature has resulted in increased need for irrigation, prevalence of weeds, diseases and insect pests of sugarcane. More so, an increase in rainfall amount in recent years has resulted to devastating floods which usually destroy most of the sugarcane farms and sometimes wash away the entire farmlands along the floodplains; Water stress due to excessive drought was also found to be another impact of climate change on sugarcane production in the area. The study highlighted several adaptation strategies which were used by the farmers to cope with the effects of climate change among which are the introduction of new hybrid-black sugarcane which is capable of withstanding the drought period and local boreholes which are dug with local implements. The study recommended the need for climate change awareness/education by both government and private organizations to farmers; creation of small earth dams; government, NGOs interventions to sugar cane farmers in form of loans, grants and subsidies to boost sugarcane production in the study area