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Proximate composition, phytochemical and mineral contents of young and mature Polyalthia longifolia Sonn.leaves
Get PDFProximate composition, phytochemical and mineral composition of young and mature Polyalthia longifolia Sonn. leaves were investigated using standard analytical procedures. Young leaves of Polyalthia longifolia contained 9% protein, 4% ash, 0.21% lipid, 25% fibre, 8% moisture and 54% carbohydrate while the mature leaves contained 10% protein, 5% ash, 0.26% lipid, 19% fibre, 9% moisture and 57% carbohydrates. The results for the quantitative phytochemicals revealed that the young leaves contained 3.91 (ppm) tannins, 0.34 (ppm) phenols and 62% flavonoids with the mature samples showing a relative result of 3.69 (ppm) tannins, 0.33 (ppm) phenols and 63% flavonoids. The mineral analysis of both samples showed that they contained appreciable quantities of minerals with the mature sample having higher concentrations of Na (30.03 mg/100 g), K (23.55 mg/100 g), Ca (89.18 mg/100 g) and Mg (27.55 mg/100 g) relative to Na (20.30 mg/100 g), K (16.93 mg/100 g), Ca (57.03 mg/100 g) and Mg (14.48 mg/100 g) found in the young leaves. The study showed that the leaves examined contained high levels of carbohydrates and fibre, low fat and phenols but very rich in minerals. These findings suggest that the leaves of Polyalthia longifoli a might be a potential source of carbohydrates, fibre, phytochemicals and mineral elements for human and animal use.
Keywords: Proximate composition, minerals, phytochemicals, Polyalthia longifoli
Reclamation of Spent Automobile Engine Lubricating Oil
Get PDFIn this study, some of the property reclamation methods for spent lubricating oil (SLO) were demonstrated. Firstly, 3.5 L of SLO was subjected to physical methods such as natural settling, sedimentation, magnetisaton and filtration to remove all forms of particles irrespective of size. The remaining samples were either subjected to acid treatment using concentrated sulphuric acid or solvent treatment using methanol, butanol and toluene including their blends to study their performance in the extraction process to recover the lubricating oil. The key parameter considered is the volume ratio of solvent/acid to used lubricating oil. In all, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ml respectively were used for each of the treatments. Activated carbon was equally introduced as adsorbent. A ratio of 4:1 (B20 formulation) for the treated spent oil and additives was used in this study for the final reclamation of the spent oil. The performance of each of the treatments process was investigated by subjecting all samples to laboratory analysis using American Standards for Testing and Methods (ASTM) to evaluate certain lubricating/tribological properties such as density, viscosity, pour point, cloud point etc. Both virgin oil and used oil were also simultaneously subjected to analysis with other recovered oil samples. The results suggest that the oil recovered by solvent treatments, particularly methanol exhibited better lubricating properties and can be rendered as good as virgin lubricants with the addition of certain additives. However, acid treatment demonstrated improved colour and appearance recovery compared to solvents.
Keywords: Tribological properties, viscosity, pour point, cloud poin
Microbial Profile of Maize - Pigeon Pea Biscuit in Storage
Get PDFThe production of biscuit from a blend of maize (Zea mays) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) flour had earlier been reported in the literature. However, there is no information on the shelf stability of the biscuit. This study therefore investigated the microbial profile of the biscuit stored for 30 days at  29 oC and 70 % relative humidity. The proximate and microbiological qualities of the biscuit were determined using standard methods. Biscuit had 5.19 % moisture, 1.90 % ash, 21.59 % fat, 0.62 % crude fibre, 15.83 % protein and 54.86 % carbohydrate. The microbial load of the biscuit was below the standard limit of National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on the day of production but increased above the permissible level during storage. Staphylococcus, Enterobacter and Bacillus species were found in the biscuit during storage. The public health importance of these microorganisms was discussed.
Keywords: biscuit, maize, pigeon pea, microorganism
Corrosion Inhibition Effects and Adsorption Characteristics of Ethanol Extract of King Bitters Root (Andrographis paniculata) on Mild Steel in Hydrochloric and Tetraoxosulphate (VI) Acid Media
Get PDFThe corrosion inhibition performance of ethanol extract of Andrographis paniculata (King Bitter) root (EEAPR) on the corrosion of Mild Steel (MS) in 1.0 M HCl and H2SO4 acid solutions at 303K and elevated temperatures of 313, 323 and 333K was investigated and compared. The experimental work was performed by the use of weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques. The results indicate that the extract inhibit the corrosion of mild steel in both acid media. However, the EEAPR exhibits higher maximum inhibition efficiency of 98.9 % in HCl than in H2SO4 (95.0 %) at 5.0 g/L. Inhibition efficiency was found to increase with increasing concentration of extract in both acid media but decreased with rise in temperature. Inhibition mechanism was deduced from the temperature dependence of the inhibition efficiency as well as from activation parameters that govern the process. Adsorption of extract on the MS sample in both acid media was found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The phenomenon of physical adsorption is proposed from the obtained thermodynamic parameters.
Keywords: Weight loss, Thermodynamics, Inhibition efficiency, Surface coverage, Hydrogen evolution
Studies of Water and Sediment Quality of Owalla Dam, Osun State, Nigeria
Get PDFDam water and sediment were collected from ten different locations on Owalla dam to evaluate the quality of the water. The average values of most physical-chemical parameters, the pH, temperature, total dissolved solid (TDS), NO3-, total hardness (TH) were within World Health Organization (WHO) and United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines for drinking water. There was correlation between the results of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), sulphate and phosphate which were higher than the USEPA, Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) or Canadian standard for drinking water. This is an indication of high load of organic pollutants. The dam sediments are texturally immatured coarse sands dominantly comprised of sub-angular to sub-rounded quartz, alkali feldspars with clay and iron-oxide coatings. The sediments geochemical composition is essentially silica, alumina and iron oxide. Toxic trace elements including Cd and Pb occur in very minor to insignificant concentrations with Igeo (index of geo-accumulation) values classifying the sediments as unpolluted. The sediments are also characterised by variably-high CIA (chemical index of alteration) values (av. 60) which is an indication that their derivation was from moderate to high tropical weathered source areas.
Keywords: Owalla dam, physicochemical parameters, geo-accumulation index, chemical index of alteration, biochemical oxygen deman
Amino Acid Composition of Tamarind Fruit Growing Wild in Oyo Town
Get PDFTamarind ( Tamarindus indica L.) fruit grows wild in some parts of the savannah region of Nigeria. The fruit is grossly underutilised in Nigeria, despite its invaluable contribution to the food security and economy of some Asian countries. The amino acid composition of tamarind pulp was determined using amino acid analyser. Tamarind pulp was found to contain both essential and non-essential amino acids. Tamarind pulp could supply 53.8 %, 52.8 %, and 87.6 % of total essential, total sulphur and total aromatic amino acids respectively (FAO/WHO/UNU standard).
Keywords: Tamarind fruit, aromatic amino acid, protein
Effects of Aqueous Root Extract of Jatropha curcas on Hyperglycaemic and Haematological Indices in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats
Get PDFHypoglycaemic potentials of aqueous root extract of Jatropha curcas (250 and 450 mg/kg body weight of rats) was investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Effect of the extract on some haematological parameters was also investigated. Thirty albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) of mean weight 165.0 ± 2.50 g were randomly selected into normal and diabetic groups, each with six rats. Diabetic treated rats were placed on 14.2 mg/kg body weight glucophage (reference drug), 250 mg/kg and 450 mg/kg body weight of extract. All treatments were administered orally, once daily for fifteen days. The blood glucose levels were monitored and the haematological parameters like haemoglobin (Hgb), red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), percentage lymphocytes (LYM) and neutrophils (NEUT) were also analyzed. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in fasting Blood Glucose Levels (BGL) was observed in alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with the extract. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in Hgb, PCV, RBC and WBC and its differentials of the diabetic untreated rats while administration of glucophage, 250 and 450 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous extract (Jc250 and Jc450) to diabetic rats significantly (p<0.05) increase all these parameters. These results suggested that the aqueous root extract of Jatropha curcas possesses hypoglycaemic activity and also improved the aberrations in the blood parameters of alloxan-induced diabetic rat.
Keywords: Jatropha curcas, root, aqueous extract, diabetic rats, hypoglycaemic, haematolog
Safety Evaluation of Aqueous Extract of Crateva adansonii Leaves on Selected Tissues of Rats
Get PDFThe phytochemical constituents and safety of aqueous extract of Crateva adansonii leaves on rats were investigated. Forty rats were grouped into 4 (A-D) of 10 animals each. Group A rats received 1 mL of distilled water, while groups B, C and D received equal volume corresponding to 325, 650 and 1300 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, for seven days. Five rats were sacrificed from each group 24 h after 7 doses, while the remaining five were sacrificed 24 h after discontinuing the administration for another 7 days (recovery period, day 14). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins (2.36%), alkaloids (1.34%), tannins (0.94%), phenolics (1.06%), flavonoids (0.09%), phlobatannins (0.54%) and anthraquinones (0.47%). The extract significantly increased (P<0.05) the kidney, small intestine and serum activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), liver and serum γglutamyl transferase (ϒ-GT), levels of serum globulin, white blood cells and lymphocytes, whereas the liver aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity decreased. By the end of the recovery period, the levels of these biomolecules compared well (P>0.05) with their respective controls. In contrast, the increases in the serum total protein, ALP and AST as well as decreases in liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum chloride and sodium ions were sustained during the recovery period. Furthermore, the levels of serum albumin, total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, creatinine, potassium, bicarbonate, haematological parameters and computed organ-body weight ratios were not significantly (p>0.05) altered. The histology of the kidney and small intestine were preserved whereas there was mild degeneration and congestion of the hepatocytes surrounding the central veins in the liver. Overall, the extract caused mild, selective and reversible changes in the haematological profile and biochemical parameters of organ function. Therefore, because the rats recovered from the assault of the extract, the plant may still be explored as oral remedy.
Keywords: Crateva adansonii; Organ dysfunction; Selective toxicity; recovery; transient effect, histoarchitectur
Statistical Analysis of Growth and Amylase Production by Aspergillus flavus grown on Different Carbon Sources
Get PDFThe mycelial dry weight and dinitrosalicylic acid (D.N.S.A.) method was used to determine growth and amylase production by Aspergillus flavus grown on different carbon sources. Growth of the fungus was determined at 24 h intervals over a period of six days by the dry mycelial weight methods, while the amylase activity in the culture filtrates of A. flavus was determined by the D.N.S.A method. A total of 45 samples were prepared to determine growth and amylase activity of Aspergillus flavus grown on different carbon sources. The concentration of the various carbon sources ranges between 0.4 to 2% W/V. Duncan\u27s multiple range test was used to determine the level of significance of the different carbon sources for effective growth and amylase production by Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus flavus demonstrated the capability to produce significant growth and amylase activities in the medium containing soluble starch, sorghum and cassava peel as sole carbon source. The amount of mycelial dry weight produced from soluble starch, sorghum and cassava peel is significantly higher than those produced from other carbon sources. The data revealed that there is a correlation between growth and amylase production by Aspergillus flavus. The available data from this study showed that soluble starch is the best carbon source for optimum growth and amylase production by A flavus while sorghum and cassava peel are close substitute for optimum growth and amylase production by Aspergillus flavus.
Keywords: Growth, amylase activity and Aspergillus flavu
Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition of Thevetia peruviana and Hura crepitans Seed oils using GC-FID
Get PDFFatty acids were extracted from Thevetia peruviana and Hura crepitans seed oils. The quantitative determination of fatty acid composition was carried out for each sample by methylation and application of gas chromatograph (GC-FID). The predominant fatty acids in the T. peruviana and H. crepitans are Palmitic acid (19.10% and 21.67%), Stearic acid (7.31% and 9.66%), Oleic acid (53.40% and 26.91%) and Linoleic acid (19.03% and 36.61%) respectively. In the two oils, the ratios of unsaturated fatty acid were very high about 73% for T. peruviana and 64% for H. crepitans which is an indication that both would be very good sources of oleochemicals for polymer and other industries.
Key words: Fatty acids, Hura crepitans, GC-FID, Oleochemical, Thevetia peruvian