Effect of Processing on Fatty Acid and Phospholipid Compositions of Harms (Brachystegia eurycoma) Seed Grown in Nigeria

A comprehensive study on the effect of processing on fatty acid and phospholipid compositions of Brachystegia eurycoma seed flour was conducted. Processing methods (boiling, fermentation and roasting) were adopted using standard analytical techniques. The most concentrated fatty acids (%) were linoleic acid (47.95 – 50.91) > oleic acid (26.51 – 30.91) > palmitic acid (11.51 – 14.16) > stearic acid (3.06 – 5.54). Lenoceric, erucic, and arachidic acids were present with none of them recording up to 1% while caprylic, capric and margaric acids were not at the detection limit of GC. All the processing methods increased the contents of palmitic, palmitoleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. The oleic acid content was reduced in boiled, fermented and roasted samples by 60.93, 59.97 and 63.77%, respectively. The phospholipid analysis gave result (%) of phosphatidic > phosphatidylinositol > phospatidyserine > phosphatidyethanolamine concentrations. Generally, the processing methods showed deviations in fatty acid and phospholipid components from the raw seeds. There was a clear indication that the raw and processed samples of B. eurycoma seed oils contained a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, making them a healthy low fat food. Keywords: Brachystegia eurycoma, processing, seed oils, fatty acids, phospholipids

Index Model Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils Selected from Three Irrigated Farm Sites in Fct Abuja, Nigeria

The study was undertaken to examine the concentrations and health risk of heavy metals in soil from selected irrigated sites within Mpape River in FCT, Abuja. The study was carried out in dry seasons between 2015 and 2017 simultaneously from three irrigated farm sites. Heavy metal levels were quantified using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Other parameters were determined using standard methods. The levels of heavy metals in soils varied according to sites. The mean levels of Fe (24.82±0.89), Pb (3.34±0.65) and Zn (2.23±0.27) were significantly higher (P≤0.05) while Ni (0.39±0.19) was generally low. These values did not exceed the WHO/FAO,EU and USEPA permissible limits. However, soil bioavailable form recorded considerably higher concentrations in Fe (22.30±0.84), Zn (0.79±0.25) and Pb (0.79±0.28) while Ni (0.09±0.05) was lowest. Using contamination factor (CF) classifications; showed that soils from different irrigated farm sites along Mpape River were not contaminated by Fe, Zn, Ni and Pb. Pollution index was also (PLI = 0) indicating no pollution of the soil by heavy metals. Geo-accumulation index (igeo) values exhibited a zero category which shows that soils from various irrigated farm sites were unpolluted. Enrichment factor indicated extremely severe enrichment with respect to Pb (66-68.05), very severe enrichment was recorded for Zn (26.5) in farm B while Ni was found to be at very severe enrichment status in all the farms. The pollution index from all the farms were found to be in the low potential risk categories (<40) which suggested that the soils from all the farms do not pose any ecological health risk to the environment. The correlation results showed strong and positive relationship with Zn/Fe (0.959), Ni/Zn (0.978), Pb/Fe (0.970) and Pb/ Ni (0.990) and strong and negative relationship with Ni/ Fe (-0.988) and Pb/Zn (-0.976).The strong positive correlations in the soil samples is an indication that they have common source of pollution while the strong negative correlations observed is an attribute of different origin and sources of pollution load

Study of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues Analysis in Water, Fish and Sediment using GC-ECD in River Loko, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Levels of organochlorine pesticide (OCPs) residues in sediment, water and fish in River Loko, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, were evaluated for possible pollution of the aquatic system. Water and sediment samples were collected from the river at 3 locations. Fish caught in the river were bought from fishermen at the bank of the river. The samples were collected in rainy season and preserved according to standard methods. Liquid-liquid extractions of samples were carried out, and then quantified using gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The OCPs levels ranged from 0.06 to 1.53 µɡ/Kɡ in sediment, 0.03 to 1.34 µɡ/Kɡ in water and 0.02 to 1.34 µɡ/Kɡ in fish.  2, 4-Dichlorophenoxacetic acid (2,4-D) was the most accumulated OCP in sediment (1.64±0.10 µɡ/Kɡ), water (1.34±0.08 µɡ/Kɡ), and fish (1.34 µɡ/Kɡ). Concentrations of OCPs generally varied in the order of sediment > water > water ~ fish.  ANOVA shows that concentrations of OCPs in water and fish  were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower compared to sediment, except for mecoprop, imidacloprid, 2,4-D, and aldrin, which were not significantly different in the samples. Pearson correlation matrix for OCPs in water and sediment show moderate to very strong and positive correlations except for mecoprop (-0.705), alachlor (-0.217), imidacloprid (-0.082), permethrin (-0.339) and aldrin (-0.795).Concentrations of OCPs were within the FAO/WHO acceptable limits except for aldrin, mecoprop, metolachlor, simazine, DDT and dieldrin. Regular monitoring of the quality of River Loko becomes necessary due to accumulation of OCPs

pH Dependence of Cyanogen Potentials of Fresh and Fermented Palm Wine using Cyanomethemoglobin Complex

The cyanogen potentials of local wines (fermented and unfermented palm wine) and the effect of pH (5.6-9.0) on the samples was determined using cyanomethemoglobin complex method. A total of 108 test samples were analyzed and the hydrogen cyanide content was found to vary considerably from 0.0583±0.0030 mg/L to 0.2488±0.0015 mg/L.  Fresh palm wine was found to have the highest cyanogen potential with mean concentration of 0.2488±0.0015 mg/L at pH of 6.8. The highest mean concentration of cyanogen potential found in this study (0.2488±0.0015 mg/L) is lower than the recommended WHO and ISO standard (10mg/kg; 0.5-3.5 mg/kg body weight) and thus the samples may be consumed without the risk of cyanide poisoning

Proximate Compositions and Health Risk Evaluation of Heavy Metal Uptake by Vegetables Grown at a Waste –Water Irrigated Site in Fct, Abuja, Nigeria

The purpose of the study was to evaluate some proximate compositions and health risk of heavy metal uptake by vegetables grown at a waste-water irrigated sites in FCT, Abuja. The study was carried in dry seasons between 2015 and 2017. Two different types of vegetable samples (Lagos Spinach- Celosia argentea and African Egg-plant- Solanum macrocarpon) were collected simultaneously from three irrigated farm sites. Heavy metal levels were quantified using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Other parameters were determined using standard methods. The levels of heavy metals in vegetables varied according to sites. Proximate composition in both vegetable leaves recorded higher mean values for total ash (8.65-8.97), crude fibre (10.83-11.25), protein (4.96-5.08), Fat (3.05-3.29) and dry matter (65.58-68.85) indicating that they were rich in nutrients that  promote healthy living. The mean levels of Zn (3.36±0.50) and Ni (0.03±0.01) in Lagos Spinach ; and Zn (2.80±0.36) and Ni  (0.04±0.02) in African Egg-plant were generally lower than the FAO/WHO permissible limits except for Fe (14.96±0.86),(15.81±0.89) and Pb (1.12±0.11), (1.31±0.11) in both vegetables that were significantly higher (P<0.05) . Lagos Spinach recorded lower Metal Pollution Index (10.35) while African Egg-plant had the highest value (12.18) suggesting that these vegetables may present more health risk to the consumers of these vegetable. Daily Intake values of Fe (0.089), Zn (0.020), Ni (0.001) and Pb (0.006) in Lagos Spinach and Fe (0.094), Zn (0.017), Ni (0.001) and Pb (0.008) in African Egg-plant were below the WHO/FAO and USEPA permissible limits. However, Health risk index of heavy metals in vegetable samples were less than 1 indicating no significant health risk associated with the consumption of vegetables by the consumers