Effect of Displacement on Pressure Distribution in Cake Expression

The principle underlying expression basically involves the separation of a solid from the liquid in which it is suspended by passing the mixture through a porous medium with pore sizes too small to allow the passage of the solid particles at an applied pressure. The analytical method of the finite element method has been used to determine the relationship between pressure distribution and displacement distribution along sludge cake height in a filter press expression process. The finite element formulation basically involves the properties of the sludge in question as distinguished from other solution. The solution domain was idealized as a one-dimensional quadratic shape function for the purpose of this analysis and the displacement function formulation method were employed in solving the pressure distribution. It was discovered that pressure increases with an increase in displacement of the cake at different time of expression. It was also discovered that pressure increases simultaneously with displacement as the time of expression increases. The ranges of displacement in a sludge cake height with increase time of expression increases with a decrease in sludge depth, hence impacting positively of the effective pressure. The displacement increases continuously with increase time of expression

Antioxidant Properties of Phenolic Extracts of African Mistletoes (Loranthus begwensis L.) from Kolanut and Breadfruit Trees

Mistletoe (Loranthus begwensis L.) has been used ethno-botanically for the management of several tropical diseases for centuries; and the medicinal properties have been associated with their host plant. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the antioxidant properties of mistletoe from two host plants (breadfruit and kolanut trees). The result of the study revealed that mistletoe from kolanut tree (0.69 mg/g) had higher total phenol content than that of breadfruit tree (0.49 mg/g). Furthermore, the extracts chelate Fe2+ and scavenge DPPH radicals in a dose-dependent (0 – 30 mg/ml) pattern. Nevertheless, the EC50 revealed mistletoes from kolanut as having higher DPPH scavenging (15.77mg/ml) than that of breadfruit (16.29mg/ml), while L.begwensis from Breadfruit tree had higher Fe2+ chelating ability (1.97mg/ml) than that of Kolanut tree (2.23mg/ml). Likewise, mistletoe from kolanut (27.5mg/AAE g) had higher ferric reducing ability (FRAP) than that of breadfruit (22.0mg/AAE g). Although both mistletoe extracts showed promise as good antioxidant sources, the total phenol content and the antioxidant capacity pattern of the extracts suggest host dependency. Keywords: antioxidant, breadfruit tree, kolanut tree, Loranthus begwensis L

Traditional Fermented Condiments Modulate Biochemical Indices in High Cholesterol Diet-Fed Rats

Hypercholesterolemia is implicated in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is identified as a common cause of mortality in this degenerative condition. Hence, CVD management strategy should include control of hypercholesterolemia. This study describes the effect of some legume condiments on biochemical indices in hypercholesterolemia rat model. Adult male Wistar rats were used for this study and hypercholesterolemia was induced by inclusion of 1% cholesterol in the rat feed. The animals were divided into five groups containing six animals each and were fed with diets supplemented with 16% fermented soybean, bambara groundnut and African locust bean. The study lasted for 30 days after which plasma was analyzed for the lipid profile and liver function marker enzymes and the liver tissue analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Elevated plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and MDA content showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in the rats fed with fermented legume condiment-supplemented diets, with a concomitant increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol as compared with the hypercholesterolemia control rats. This study revealed that fermented legume condiment-supplemented diets attenuate hypercholesterolemia and protect the liver of the experimental rats from oxidative damage, with African locust bean condiment displaying the best biological potential

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES AND INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF STRUCHIUM SPARGANOPHORA (EWURO ODO) LEAF ON α - AMYLASE AND α – GLUCOSIDASE ACTIVITIES

Recent studies have shown that vegetables consumption could lower the risk of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory effect of Struchium sparganophora (Ewuro Odo) leaf on key enzyme linked to type-2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) as well as assessing the effect of blanching (a commonly practiced food processing technique) of this leafy vegetable on these key enzymes. Fresh leaves of Struchium sparganophora were blanched in hot water for 10 minutes, and the 70% ethanolic extracts of the fresh and blanched vegetables were prepared and used for subsequent analysis. The antioxidant properties and interaction of the extracts on α - amylase and α - glucosidase activities was determined in vitro. The result revealed that Struchium sparganophora leaf scavenged DPPH free radical and also inhibited α - amylase and α - glucosidase activities in a dose dependent manner (0.05 -0.2 mg/ml). However, blanching of this leafy vegetables caused a significant (

Phenolic Extract from Moringa oleifera

This study was designed to determine the antioxidant properties and inhibitory effects of extract from Moringa oleifera leaves on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) and arginase activities in vitro. The extract was prepared and phenolic (total phenols and flavonoid) contents, radical (nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH)) scavenging abilities, and Fe2+-chelating ability were assessed. Characterization of the phenolic constituents was done via high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the extract on Fe2+-induced MDA production in rats’ penile tissue homogenate as well as its action on ACE and arginase activities were also determined. The extract scavenged NO∗, OH∗, chelated Fe2+, and inhibited MDA production in a dose-dependent pattern with IC50 values of 1.36, 0.52, and 0.38 mg/mL and 194.23 µg/mL, respectively. Gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol were the most abundant phenolic compounds identified in the leaf extract. The extract also inhibited ACE and arginase activities in a dose-dependent pattern and their IC50 values were 303.03 and 159.59 µg/mL, respectively. The phenolic contents, inhibition of ACE, arginase, and Fe2+-induced MDA production, and radical (OH∗, NO∗) scavenging and Fe2+-chelating abilities could be some of the possible mechanisms by which M. oleifera leaves could be used in the treatment and/or management of erectile dysfunction

Inhibition of key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes and sodium nitroprusside-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas by water-extractable phytochemicals from unripe pawpaw fruit (Carica papaya)

Background: Various parts of unripe pawpaw (Carica papaya Linn) fruit have been reportedly used for the management or treatment of diabetes mellitus in folklore medicine. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the inhibitory effects of the aqueous extract of different parts of unripe pawpaw fruit on key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas in vitro. Methods: The aqueous extracts of the unripe pawpaw (C. papaya) fruit parts were prepared (1:20 w/v) and the ability of the extracts to inhibit α-amylase, α-glucosidase and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas in vitro was investigated. Results: The results revealed that all the extracts inhibited α-amylase (IC50=0.87–1.11 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50=1.76–2.64 mg/mL) and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation (IC50=1.99–2.42 mg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. However, combination of the flesh, seed and peel in equal amounts had the highest inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Conclusions: Strong inhibitory activities of the unripe pawpaw fruit against key enzymes linked to type 2 diabetes and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat pancreas could be part of the mechanism by which unripe pawpaw is used in the management/prevention of diabetes mellitus in folk medicine. However, combining the unripe pawpaw fruit parts in equal amounts exhibited synergistic properties on α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activitie

Impact of drying processes on Bryophyllum pinnatum phenolic constituents and its antiinflammatory and antioxidative activities in human erythrocytes

The effect of drying on the phytoconstituents, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves was investigated. The phenolic constituents were characterized using HPLC-DAD. The aqueous extraction was done and various assays (Inhibition of membrane stabilization, albumin Denaturation and heatinduced hemolysis, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity), were carried out on human erythrocytes. The fresh portion (89.12 µg/ml) exhibited the highest potential to inhibit heat-induced hemolysis compared to the standard drug—Diclofenac (91.51 µg/ml). Freeze-dried sample showed the highest inhibitory potential on albumin denaturation ([Freeze-dried-330.72 µg/ml], [Diclofenac-318.63 µg/ml]) and membrane destabilization ([Freeze-dried-331.93 µg/ml], [Diclofenac-289.57 µg/ml]) when compared with Diclofenac. Similarly, the freeze-dried sample showed the highest GSH and SOD level and lowest MDA level when human erythrocytes challenged with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) were treated with the extract. This study confirms the retention of a considerable quantity of bioactive constituents of plants when freeze-dried

Challenges and opportunities in the design and construction of a GIS-based emission inventory infrastructure for the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

© 2017, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. Environmental monitoring in middle- and low-income countries is hampered by many factors which include enactment and enforcement of legislations; deficiencies in environmental data reporting and documentation; inconsistent, incomplete and unverifiable data; a lack of access to data; and technical expertise. This paper describes the processes undertaken and the major challenges encountered in the construction of the first Niger Delta Emission Inventory (NDEI) for criteria air pollutants and CO2 released from the anthropogenic activities in the region. This study focused on using publicly available government and research data. The NDEI has been designed to provide a Geographic Information System-based component of an air quality and carbon management framework. The NDEI infrastructure was designed and constructed at 1-, 10- and 20-km grid resolutions for point, line and area sources using industry standard processes and emission factors derived from activities similar to those in the Niger Delta. Due to inadequate, incomplete, potentially inaccurate and unavailable data, the infrastructure was populated with data based on a series of best possible assumptions for key emission sources. This produces outputs with variable levels of certainty, which also highlights the critical challenges in the estimation of emissions from a developing country. However, the infrastructure is functional and has the ability to produce spatially resolved emission estimates