Phytochemical, nutraceutical and antioxidant studies of the aerial parts of Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae)

Introduction: Carrot is a rich source of anthocyanins, carotenoids, vitamins A, B and C. The aerial parts are used as livestock feed in some parts of Northern Nigeria with little or no scientific evidence of its nutritional potential. This study established the phytochemical, nutritional and antioxidant potentials of carrot aerial parts. Methods: The proximate and elemental analyses of the aerial parts were determined using Association of Official Analyst Chemist (AOAC) method and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method for quantification of antioxidant properties in the crude extracts. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed presence of steroid/triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins and saponins in ethylacetate and methanol crude extracts. The proximate analysis revealed crude protein (14.59%), lipid (10.37%), fibre (9.07%), carbohydrate (51.81%), moisture (10.23%) and the ash content (12.99%). The aerial parts were rich in P (11.00 mg/L), Na (5.38 mg/L), Fe (3.19 mg/L), K (2.25 mg/L), Ca (2.02 mg/L), Mn (1.15 mg/L), Mg (1.02 mg/L), As (0.83 mg/L), Se (0.40 mg/L), Zn (0.26 mg/L), Cu (0.13 mg/L), Cd (-0.02 mg/L), Cr (0.02 mg/L), Ni (0.17 mg/L) and Pb (0.04 mg/L). The antioxidant activity showed that ethylacetate and methanol extracts had EC50 of 86.89 ug/mL and 166.79 ug/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Daucus carota aerial parts are rich in nutritional compositions and may be used as livestock feed supplements and also as vegetables for mankind. Its utilization could be incorporated in daily diets and boost food security in developing countries

Celebrity Expertise and Congruence on Consumer Purchase Intentions: Evidence by Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication Companies

Purpose: Celebrity endorsement is a marketing strategy firms have embraced to survive and fortify their market competitiveness. This study examined how celebrity expertise and congruence affect consumer purchase intentions in Nigerian telecommunications companies.   Theoretical framework: The theory of planned behaviour describes all behaviour of individuals who possess the power to exercise self-restraint. The predictors of purchase intentions as submitted by this theory comprised attitudes; behavioural intention; subjective norms; and perceived behavioural control.   Method: It adopted a survey research design. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique was employed in the research while a questionnaire was used to gather participant data. The instrument was validated while the reliability tests ranged between 0.654 and 0.795. A Partial Least Square (PLS) modelling was adopted to analyse data collected from the respondents.   Findings: The findings showed that celebrity expertise and celebrity congruence all have a significant positive effect on consumers’ intention to purchase in the Nigerian mobile telecommunication operators in Lagos State, Nigeria.   Research Implication: The managerial implication is that it will enhance inter-enterprise collaborations among telecommunications companies by working together with their ideas and skills to accomplish a desired task that is innovative in nature for the benefit of the companies.   Originality/Value: This study is the first of its kind to deal with celebrity expertise and celebrity congruence on consumers’ intention to purchase in the Nigerian mobile telecommunication operators in Lagos State, Nigeria

Phytochemical, nutraceutical and antioxidant studies of the aerial parts of Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae)

Introduction: Carrot is a rich source of anthocyanins, carotenoids, vitamins A, B and C. The aerial parts are used as livestock feed in some parts of Northern Nigeria with little or no scientific evidence of its nutritional potential. This study established the phytochemical, nutritional and antioxidant potentials of carrot aerial parts. Methods: The proximate and elemental analyses of the aerial parts were determined using Association of Official Analyst Chemist (AOAC) method and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method for quantification of antioxidant properties in the crude extracts. Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed presence of steroid/triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins and saponins in ethylacetate and methanol crude extracts. The proximate analysis revealed crude protein (14.59%), lipid (10.37%), fibre (9.07%), carbohydrate (51.81%), moisture (10.23%) and the ash content (12.99%). The aerial parts were rich in P (11.00 mg/L), Na (5.38 mg/L), Fe (3.19 mg/L), K (2.25 mg/L), Ca (2.02 mg/L), Mn (1.15 mg/L), Mg (1.02 mg/L), As (0.83 mg/L), Se (0.40 mg/L), Zn (0.26 mg/L), Cu (0.13 mg/L), Cd (-0.02 mg/L), Cr (0.02 mg/L), Ni (0.17 mg/L) and Pb (0.04 mg/L). The antioxidant activity showed that ethylacetate and methanol extracts had EC50 of 86.89 ug/mL and 166.79 ug/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Daucus carota aerial parts are rich in nutritional compositions and may be used as livestock feed supplements and also as vegetables for mankind. Its utilization could be incorporated in daily diets and boost food security in developing countries

Screening of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors from Seeds of <i>Nigella glandulifera</i> Freyn et Sint. by Ligand Fishing and Their Neuroprotective Activity

Nigella glandulifera is a traditional medicinal plant used to treat seizures, insomnia, and mental disorders among the Tibetan and Xinjiang people of China. Recent pharmacological research indicates that the seeds of this plant have a neuroprotective effect; however, the chemical components responsible for this effect are unknown. Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) has been recognized as a target for developing anti-Parkinson’s disease drugs. In this work, MAO-B functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were used to enrich the enzyme’s ligands in extracts of N. glandulifera seeds for rapid screening of MAO-B inhibitors coupled with HPLC-MS. Tauroside E and thymoquinone were found to inhibit the enzyme with IC50 values of 35.85 μM and 25.54 μM, respectively. Both compounds exhibited neuroprotective effects on 6-OHDA-induced PC-12 cells by increasing the cell viability to 52% and 58%, respectively, compared to 50% of the injured cells. Finally, molecular docking indicated strong interactions of both inhibitors with the enzyme. This work shows that MAO-B functionalized magnetic nanoparticles are effective for rapid screening of anti-PD inhibitors from complex herbal mixtures and, at the same time, shows the promising potential of this plant’s seeds in developing anti-PD drugs