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Comparative evaluation of grade 10 accounting learners’ performance in papers 1 and 2 in the Lejweleputswa district
Full text linkThesis (Master: Education)--Central University of TechnologyThis mixed methods study was carried out in the Lejweleputswa district, Free State. Its aim was a comparative evaluation of grade 10 Accounting learners’ performance in papers 1 and 2 since the splitting of the Accounting paper and also to develop strategies to improve Accounting learners’ performance. To investigate this phenomenon, a review of the literature was conducted which showed that the performance of grade 10 Accounting learners is still an issue which needs thorough interventions. The discussion included Accounting as a subject in the South African curriculum, and English as language of learning and teaching, with a possibility of teaching Accounting in the mother tongue in South African schools. The population was Grade 10 teachers and learners in the Lejweleputswa district. Convenience sampling was used to select a study sample of 5 teachers and 100 learners, and in the selection process of the target samples, performance of each school was considered. The quantitative data was collected using a content based closed-ended questionnaire and document analyses. The qualitative data was collected using an open-ended questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics (Mean, Median and Standard deviation) and quantified into thematic data analyses with an explanation in each category. Inclusively, the data collected revealed that learners’ activities determine their understanding in each Accounting topic. Formative assessment tasks should be done after each topic and feedback with corrections should be provided to the learners. It is extremely important to have a good Accounting background and a good Accounting foundation because, in Grades 8 and 9, EMS is based on theory, not financial literacy which forms the background of Accounting. This causes many learners to struggle in Grade 10, because they do not have the necessary background/foundation in Accounting. The study further revealed that the splitting of Accounting has been effective since it was introduced, and that most schools have improved in terms of Accounting performance. However, for some schools, the split has brought about a challenge, since paper 2 consists of three terms’ work and the consequent workload for teachers has proved too great. In addition, the findings showed that English is a barrier to learning and teaching in township schools, and hence that use of the mother tongue would be the better option and solution for South African schools. The findings further confirmed the important need for teachers to possess a deep and sound knowledge of the subject content. The scarcity of resources has brought about enormous challenges in most schools because learners were sometimes forced to crowd around one textbook and share calculators. The study recommends learning strategies such as problem-based learning and self-directed learning, and that Accounting learners should consider project-based learning to help them develop the necessary skills
Production and characterization of ti-6al-4v samples manufactured by high-power laser powder bed fusion
Full text linkThesis (Doctor: Engineering: Mechanical Engineering)--Central University of TechnologyThe use of high-powered lasers in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) presents an opportunity to improve productivity without significantly increasing equipment costs. Instead of using a multi-beam system, a single laser equipped with a larger beam spot size can increase the melting volume, thus allowing the melting of a large area of powder to reduce the scanning time, which in turn increases the build rate. However, random porosity, poor surface quality, high residual stresses, and inconsistent mechanical properties are some of the challenges in LPBF, and this can be made worse by the increased intensity at the processing zone when the laser power is increased without increasing the beam spot size. The purpose of this study was to investigate the manufacturability of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using high laser powers at an enlarged beam spot size and shorter interaction times to improve productivity. This study has demonstrated the feasibility of improving productivity by using high laser power and shorter interaction time to gain a high build rate. It was shown that almost fully dense test coupons could be manufactured at a build rate of 18 mm3/s, exhibiting low top surface roughness and residual stress below the yield strength, while the microstructure exhibited coarser priorbeta grains in the as-built condition. The vertical surface roughness of the parts manufactured using high-power was found to be higher due to the presence of partially melted powder particles attached to the surface. Surface finishing by centrifugal barrel finishing was investigated to improve the surface quality, and it was shown that the surface roughness could be reduced by 90%, with some small cavities remaining on the surface. The application of HIPing improved tensile properties and fatigue strength. However, the presence of localized near-surface and interlayer defects drastically affected the fatigue strength. These defects are believed to be related to powder delivery and contouring deficiencies. The key contributions in this study further enrich the scientific knowledge regarding LPBF process development and improvement of build rate and highlight some of the challenges that may arise, especially for researchers and machine developers wishing to improve the build rates of their machines by using high powers from a single laser source
Using action learning approaches to enhance pedagogic practices in civil engineering and construction studies at technical vocational education and training colleges in Free State province
Full text linkThesis (Doctor of Education (D.Ed))--Central University of Technology, 2022This study focused on reviewing an equational formulae and models that shall promulgate effective implementation of action learning approach as the main teaching method in Civil Engineering and Construction at TVET colleges in South Africa. Whereas the objectives are to: 1) determine the teaching approaches used at TVET Civil Engineering Construction Studies Curriculum, 2) assess the extent to which action learning approaches are employed in teaching content knowledge and practical work in Civil Engineering Construction Studies at TVET, 3) evaluate the sequence/procedure lecturers use to assess content knowledge and practical work at TVET colleges, 4) determines the challenges that TVET lecturers may experience during the implementation of action learning approach, 5) review for equational formulae and models for capacitating TVET lecturers in action learning approach to produce good quality work at TVET colleges - regarding the integration of content knowledge and practical work. While the research aim was to explore the use of action learning as a teaching approach with reference to content knowledge and practical work in Civil Engineering Construction studies at TVET colleges and to review existing formulas.
The research used a mixed method approach comprised of quantitative as well as the qualitative methodology to collect data. Data collection tools used were questionnaires and semi-structured interview. In the case of data analysis for quantitative data, Cronbach’s Alpha was employed for reliability and confirmed by One-sample test t-test for significance. In addition, for qualitative data, thematic analysis was used to saturate the facts of the responses. The sample-size participants of the study consisted of N=26 lecturers who are both males, n=20 and females, n=6 responsible for content knowledge (theory) and practical work of NCV and NATED 191 programmes for Civil Engineering and Construction subjects from four public TVET colleges in the following municipality districts (Thabo Mofutsanyane, Motheo Mangaung Metropolitan, Lejweleputswa and Fezile Dabi) in the Free State in South Africa.
The study findings indicated that the following dynamics/elements or aspects are problematic in the effective implementation of an action learning approach in Civil Engineering and Construction Studies at TVET colleges: to integrate content knowledge and practical work. The lack of consumable material and insufficient working equipment. The insufficient time allocated for practical work and prescribed measure types of assessments. Also, most lecturers’ lack of professional qualifications in education. Therefore, the study proposed a reviewed action learning formula and has made recommendations on how to implement effective action learning approaches in Civil Engineering and Construction studies at TVET colleges and how to resolve challenges
Impact of microcredit on sme performance and household wellbeing of borrowers: Evidence from Ghana
Full text linkThesis (Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences (Entrepreneurship))--Central University of Technology, 2022The main objective of providing microcredit to Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) is to support the poor who primarily operate in the informal sector to create and support businesses that exhibit the propensity to generate regular income and employment for their owners.
Drawing on the Institutional Theory, this study’s major aim was to determine the impact of the delivery of micro credit by Microcredit Institutions (MCI) on the performance of SMEs and owner household wellbeing in Ghana. The quantitative research approach (sample survey) was adopted. Stratified random sampling was employed to select participants. Out of 632 self-administered questionnaires distributed to SMEs in in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, 455 questionnaires were retrieved. Multiple regression modelling was executed to examine the impact of microcredit on SME’s performance and borrower’s household wellbeing.
Firstly, the study revealed that microcredit factors positively and significantly impact borrower’s household wellbeing at a 1% significant level. Secondly, firm/individual elements (gender, manager's educational level, and business age) are statistically significant at a 5% level and correlate positively with sales growth, profitability growth, and employment growth. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the findings are significantly robust to probable endogeneity challenges.
This study has implications for policy and practice worth noting. First, key stakeholders including the government, the private sector and donor funding agencies should refocus their funding programmes on SMEs to further promote borrowers’ household wellbeing and microcredit factors in Ghana. Second, in view of the overwhelming challenges in loan accessibility by SMEs in Ghana, the process of microcredit delivery needs to be simplified to make it more attractive to SMEs through deliberate institutional support in Ghana.
The study also contributes to the academic discourse on SMEs in a number of ways. Firstly, studies on the delivery of microcredit and SME’s performance, and borrower wellbeing enhancement are underexplored in the Ghanaian research context. The study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by developing a robust framework that conceptualises the linkage between microcredit delivery and wellbeing components. This framework could engender the generation of new pathways for theory building.
Characteristic of any research activity, this current research has limitations. The following study limitations needs to be considered. Firstly, the generalisation of the findings to the whole of SME context in Ghana could be limited because the study only covers a single region that focused exclusively on the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, thus limiting its generalisation to other parts of the country. However, the sample obtained is large enough to inform the generalisation of the study to the whole of the SME sector in Ghana. Thus, the validity and reliability of the study has not been compromised. Moreso, due to the robustness of the statistical techniques used. Secondly, the absence of qualitative design to consolidate the results of the quantitative strategy might create some level of deficit. However, it needs to be noted that this strategy was not possible due to limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic at the data collection stage
Application of the ecorce m tool to investigate pavement premature failure on South African roads
Full text linkThesis (Master of Engineering: Civil)--Central University of TechnologyMinimising the consumption of materials, energy and water during construction, and evaluating environmental impact indicators and finding ways of reducing environmental impact indicators can help to build sustainable road networks in South Africa. Ecorce M is a tool that was developed by the French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Spatial Planning, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR) in collaboration with CEREMA of the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy (MEDDE). This tool deals with construction and structural maintenance of pavements, installation of foundation layers, preparation of upper part of earthworks and construction of fills. It identifies and evaluates possible measures for improving the environment and it provides Life Cycle Inventory. This tool further provides environmental indicators and yields environmental indicators relative to the earthworks undertaken from an overall perspective. The Ecorce M tool is used in this research to measure consumption of materials, energy and water. It is also used to calculate the values of environmental impact produced by indicators during road construction and rehabilitation. Ecorce M reduces the consumption of materials, water and energy by means of evaluating impacts and assessing environmental impact indicators in road construction. These environmental impact indicators are calculated by identifying and quantifying the flows of energy and materials. Inputs used on this study comprise data gathered from a project that took place in Klerksdorp, namely the Patchwork, Rehabilitation and Reseal of Road P3/ 4 (N12) from Road R503 to Archbishop Desmont Tutu Street Phase 2. The inputs that have been taken into account are: geometry of each layer, composition and mass density of the component layer material, hauling distances and unit consumption values for construction vehicles. The outcomes achieved include, but are not limited to, the amount of material consumption, energy consumption and water consumption. The emissions produced for the following indicators have also been achieved: greenhouse effect indicator; acidification potential, eutrophication indicator; tropospheric ozone; toxicity and eco-toxicity indicators. Most of materials consumption occurs during materials extraction, most of the energy is consumed during processing of aggregates and most of the water is consumed during mixing and processing layer works. Most of the environmental impact indicators result from materials used with 54% on average, and machinery used weighs 46% on average
Assessment of the self-purification capacity of the Mooi river catchment
Full text linkThesis (Master:Engineering:Civil)--Central University of TechnologyDissolved oxygen is the most essential element in natural water bodies for one of the most important reasons, namely aquatic life. This content is usually affected by the type and amount of pollution introduced in natural water bodies. The dissolved oxygen level is usually lowered at any point where a natural water body such as a river is contaminated (deoxygenation); however, using natural purification forces, rivers work hard to gain back the amount of oxygen lost in the water due to pollution (reoxygenation) This study articulated the self-purification capacity of the Mooi River catchment as a function of the rate of change of the amount of dissolved oxygen in flowing water to illustrate the purification strength of a river flow segment between sampling points. This is to subsequently present the impact of inflowing pollution from different types of adjacent sources and tributary rivers. This was achieved by conducting measurement of dissolved oxygen and temperature directly from the river, using an electrolyte dissolved oxygen meter. Respective samples (threelitre samples) were also collected at every sampling point for a biochemical oxygen demand laboratory analysis taken over five days. Using the biochemical oxygen demand and oxygen deficit analysis, deoxygenation and reoxygenation factors or constants were determined for every flow segment. The mathematical ratio between the two constants were then used to calculate the self-purification capacity of every segment. Because the hydraulic dynamics of the river also influence the strength of the river to purify itself, a reoxygenation model of hydraulic properties, such as flow velocity, hydraulic depth and radius, was developed and presented by means of a regression analysis. The findings have proven that, Mooi River’s capacity to purify itself is affected by pollution sources around it. With highest BOD values of 2.1, 2.7 and 1.5mg/l recorded during the months of November, December and January respectively, Mooi River shows to be affected more by pollution during the rainy season because of uncontrolled surface run-off wash-ins of adjacent pollution contents into the river. The high purification fluctuations were also due to the increase inhydraulic flow depth during wet season. The strength of purification for the flow segment before the Vaal River confluence (sampling point 9 and 10) is very high, which means that Mooi River does not affect Vaal River in terms of pollution conveyance. This can be clearly depicted from the positive change in dissolved oxygen deficits between sampling points 9 and 10 for the entire study period, (from 3.74 to 2.83mg/l in November), (4.44 to 3.52 in December)
Employee perceptions of service quality delivery in the housekeeping departments of graded hotels in Bloemfontein
Full text linkThesis (Master: Management Sciences)--Central University of TechnologyService quality is vital for the success of a business within the hospitality industry. It is deemed crucial, as it contributes towards gaining loyalty of customers and establishes the reputation of a business, as well as whether a company can survive or not. The constant change in guest needs and the complex structure of the hospitality sector, are significant challenges in quality assurance within this industry. Additionally, developing countries such as South Africa, face challenges in service delivery. According to research, one of the most important pull factors that inspire customers to come to a destination, is service quality. The housekeeping department within a hospitality establishment, has been identified as a department worth investigating in terms of service quality, and the employees’ perceptions thereof. Hence the study focused on the housekeeping department, “the pillar” of hotel operations. It should be noted that housekeeping services are among the most important service quality contributors towards increasing customer satisfaction.
The study applied a quantitative research approach. The SERVQUAL model was utilised to measure the perceptions of the participants regarding service quality. A structured questionnaire was administered to the housekeeping employees of Bloemfontein 3, 4 and 5-star graded hotels. Seventy respondents completed the questionnaire. The main objective of the study was to identify employee perceptions of service quality delivery in the housekeeping department, as well as to report on challenges encountered within these housekeeping departments. The results indicate that the tangibles and reliability were perceived as the most important service quality dimensions. Overall results of the study indicate a need for improvement within the housekeeping departments of the selected Bloemfontein hotels
An investigation of the antimicrobial activity of essential oils against antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens related to diarrhoea
Full text linkThesis (Master: Health Sciences: Environmental Health)--Central University of TechnologyInfections that cause diarrhoea, which is a persistent health problem globally, are some of the most prevalent causes of mortality in children under the age of five. This health issue is also known to have caused as many as 500 000 deaths annually around the world (Najim et al., 2019). In children under the age of five, diarrhoea is known to spread through contaminated food, lack of access to safe drinking water, poor hygiene by mothers when handling paediatrics, non-breastfeeding or delayed breast-feeding, socio-economic status, and malnutrition (Akinyemi et al., 2018; Kuhn, 2019). Additionally, the Global Enteric Multicentre Study (GEMS) indicates that the rate of children presenting with diarrhoea which results in morbidity and mortality in developing countries is high (Liu et al., 2016 Aljamali, 2021). Most food poisoning reports (Aljamali, 2021) are associated with pathological defilement, especially among members of Gram-negative microbes like Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Mostafa et al., 2018). Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus have also been identified as causal agents of foodborne illnesses (Mostafa et al., 2018). As severe diarrhoea has been categorised as life-threatening, scientists have endeavoured to discover antibiotic treatments to manage this threat. Initially, antibiotics were effective and reduced diarrhoeal cases among paediatric patients (Mantegazza et al., 2018; Najim et al., 2019). However, most microorganisms have developed resistance to antibiotics such as Cephalosporin, Methicillin, Tetracycline and Ampicillin, resulting in more problems in the medical field (Church & McKillip, 2021). Researchers have thus begun to search for alternative strategies to augment the effect of currently used antibiotics, and one such alternative is the use of essential oils (Gibson et al., 2015; Chandra, 2017). The current investigation focused on the use of essential oils to address the effects of pathogens that cause diarrhoeal infection in children under the age of five. A point of departure was that antimicrobials with plant origins such as essential oils (EOs) are less likely to be associated with adverse side effects as they are natural products. Moreover, many such preparations have been used in foods such as spices and flavour enhancers and have been shown to have therapeutic potential to heal infectious diseases (Mehdi et al., 2018; et al., 2021). To identify the constituents of the essential oils (also referred to as aromatic oils) that were used in the study, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed. The antimicrobial activities of the selected essential oils (Helichrysum splendidum, Mentha piperita, Tagetes minuta, and Pelargonium graveolens) that were used on the selected bacteria (Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus) were evaluated by using the bioassay and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) methods. The analyses revealed that all four the selected oils contained components that are known to have antimicrobial effects on bacteria. However, the EOs that were tested affected bacterial cells differently per bacteria because of the difference in the bacterial cells of the microorganisms. For instance, Tagetes minuta and Pelargonium graveolens were the most effective oils as they showed greater zones of inhibition against the organisms. It is thus argued that these two oils show great promise for use as alternative antimicrobial agents
The implications of chemical contamination in food: a surveillance and probabilistic human health risk assessment of heavy metal accumulation in food
No full textThesis (Doctor of Philosophy Environmental Health) -- Central University of Technology, 2022Food safety risks remain paramount in designing effective detection and surveillance systems. The globalisation of trade and environmental factors play a significant role in safeguarding against emerging and existing food safety risks from the food production chain to the consumer level. Targeted and routine human health risk assessments are critical in measuring exposure amongst populations. The study of chemical toxicity in the food industry is fundamental and needs to be supported by rigorous toxicological studies. This will improve the quality of food products offered by the food industry and ultimately benefit consumers. Contaminants such as heavy metals can cause adverse human health effects and thus need regulation through adequate legislative interventions and proper monitoring standards supported by curated scientific data. The study aimed to review the key drivers of chemical pollutants influencing contamination in food and their applicable surveillance methods. Then, measure the heavy metal contamination in the Bloemfontein fresh-produce markets. In this study, the first step in the research process included the extensive review of literature which aimed at establishing foundational information based on existing research. This was achieved through a rigorous literature review which framed the research questions and objectives. This study applied an experimental research strategy and encompassed a quantitative research method. Trace metal assessment was carried out in eighteen vegetable samples of six different vegetable types namely: Spinacia oleracea, Beta vulgaris, Daucus carota, Allium, Brassica oleracea, and Solanum Lycopersicum. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emissions Spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in selected vegetables, then measured against the Codex Alimentarius standards for metals in foodstuffs. In addition, probabilistic human health risk assessments were conducted to determine the hazard quotient and hazard index for the non-carcinogenic effects of the selected vegetables. Literature enquiry revealed that the food industry has been gravitating towards using mechanised systems with intelligent algorithms to meet the demand for safe food more cost-effectively. Therefore, the adoption of intelligent systems has shown significant benefits in controlling potential contaminants, thus reducing the burden of disease and economic loss. Findings further revealed that bioremediation studies should be intensified to cover a broad spectrum of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, and microbial contaminants. As such, it should also consider the remediation of biological contaminants at the points of food production, processing, and supply chain. The concentration of cadmium in spinach, tomato, cabbage, and onion was reported to exceed the maximum permissible limits set by the Codex Alimentarius for metals in foodstuffs. However, the estimated daily intake and hazard quotients were less than a unit. Moreover, the hazard index shows that none of the studied metals (As, Cu, Pb, Cd) had values greater than 1. This demonstrated that there are no anticipated adverse health effects. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) in order of exposure for all vegetable types was ranked as follows: As > Cd > Cu > Pb. Based on the findings of this study, precautions should be taken to control the accumulation of cadmium in spinach, tomato, cabbage, and onions due to potentially adverse effects. Most developing nations rely on agricultural produce; therefore, there must be investments in sustainable technologies and research to understand and predict the leading food contaminants. Future studies will incorporate more essential and nonessential metals in the analysis. Additionally, vegetable samples will be collected directly from agricultural land which is the beginning of the food production chain. Toxicological studies are known to be sensitive and difficult due to timelines. This creates a challenge regarding the correlation between chemicals and human health outcomes through epidemiological investigations to assess the risks. To date, no significant study apart from laboratory-controlled research yields any substantial results concerning human exposure and health outcomes. Therefore, there are still gaps regarding the types of chemical toxicants and their subsequent human health effects. This calls for rapid policy adoption on persistent pollutants due to the lack of immediate results of human health deterioration
Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of the antidiabetic and antioxidative properties of caffeic acid and ferulic acid-zinc(II) complexes
Full text linkThesis (Doctor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Technology)--Central University of TechnologyBackground: The morbidity and mortality outcomes of diabetes, as well as the associated expenditure on health care remain notable contributors to global socioeconomic burden. The close association to oxidative stress is a major factor aggravating the notoriousness of diabetes, which has been implicated in many complications, as well as the morbidity and mortality outcomes of the disease. Therapeutic approaches with holistic functional profiles and minimal side effects are being explored to manage the disease; approaches that could manage hyperglycaemia and mitigate or reduce the risk of oxidative complications. In this context, supplements and phytochemicals have gained popularity due to their safety profile and numerous biological benefits, including antioxidant functions and beneficial role in glucose and lipid metabolism. In recent years, zinc has been explored as a supplement for diabetes due to its function in insulin integrity and function. On the other hand, natural phenolic acids are known dietary antioxidants with diabetes-related pharmacological potentials. In this study, we took advantage of the insulin mimetic potential of zinc and the antioxidant and pharmacological potentials of ferulic and caffeic acid to develop novel zinc(II) complexes of ferulic and caffeic acid, which demonstrated improved antioxidant and antidiabetic effects.
Materials and methods: Zinc sulphate was complexed with ferulic acid, while zinc acetate was complexed with caffeic acid. Zn(II) was complexed with each phenolic acid in a 1:2 mole ratio, respectively. The synthesized complexes were spectroscopically characterized using NMR, FT-IR, high resolution-mass spectroscopy and HP-LC. The cellular toxicity of the complexes was assessed in Chang liver cells and L-myotubes. In vitro, cellular, and isolated tissue models were used to evaluate the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of the complexes, relative to their precursors. Molecular docking was used to investigate the interaction between the complexes and molecular protein targets that are linked to diabetes. These include GLUT-4, protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The zinc complex of caffeic acid was further subject to in vivo antidiabetic and antioxidant evaluation. Male SD rats were induced with diabetes using 10% fructose and 40 mg/kg bw streptozotocin. Thereafter, the diabetic rats were treated with the Zn(II)-caffeic acid complex and its precursors (caffeic acid and zinc acetate) for 4 weeks at predetermined doses. The effect of the treatments on diabetes and oxidative stress related parameters was measured. Results: Complexation resulted in a bi-caffeic acid-zinc acetate complex and a Zn(II)- biferulate.2H2O complex, thus affording the complexes a moiety of Zn(II) and two moieties of their respective phenolic acids. The complexes showed in vitro radical scavenging, antiglycation, α-glucosidase, α-amylase inhibitory activity that were up to 2.6 folds stronger than that of their precursor phenolic acids. The ability of the complexes to inhibit lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion in hepatocytes was comparable to that of ascorbic acid and up to 3 folds more potent than their precursor phenolic acids. Complexation improved the glucose uptake activity of the phenolic acids in L-6 myotubes and isolated rat muscle tissues. Molecular docking showed the complexes had stronger interaction with the target proteins than their precursor phenolic acids. The complexes were not hepatotoxic and myotoxic. The bi-caffeic acid-zinc acetate complex ameliorated diabetic alterations in diabetic rats. It reduced polyphagia and polydipsia and appreciably recovered weight loss. It increased insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, hepatic and muscle glycogen, muscle hexokinase activity and Akt phosphorylation, which resulted in improved glucose tolerance and reduced blood glucose in diabetic rats. The complex concomitantly reduced systemic and tissue lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant enzymes activity in diabetic rats. Notably, the complex outperformed the antidiabetic and antioxidative action of its precursors and had a broader bioactivity profile. Complexing zinc acetate with caffeic acid improved their ameliorative effect on insulin resistance by ∼24 and 42%, respectively, as well as their anti-hyperglycaemic action by ∼24 – 36% and ∼42 – 47%, respectively. In some instances, the antidiabetic action of the complex was comparable to metformin, while its antioxidant effect was better than that of metformin. It is plausible that the two moieties of the phenolic acids in each of the complexes potentiated their improved antioxidant action, while Zn(II) conferred a potent glycaemic control modulatory attribute on the complexes, which suggests a complexation-mediated synergistic potential.
Conclusion: Zinc(II) complexation with these phenolic acids may be an alternative approach to improving the efficacy of antidiabetic and antioxidative therapy with minimal adverse or side effects