Phytochemical and antimycobacterial analysis of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Annona muricata Linn (Soursop)

Against the backdrop evidenced in the threat Tuberculosis poses to developing economies, especially its prevalence among people in their productive (15-45) years; this preliminary study examined the phytochemical constituents and antimycobacterial effect of four (4) aqueous and ethanolic extracts from the fruit skin (epicarp) and leaf of Annona muricata Linn

Quality Assurance Practice in African Universities: Lessons from a Private Nigerian University

The education enterprise and indeed businesses worldwide thrive on quality products and services. It can be posited that the success or survival of any enterprise is strongly contingent on the quality of its business processes and products. Information explosion and global competiveness have placed a compelling demand on educational institutions to enhance the quality of their delivery process and products. These clarion statements serve to justify the need for this study. The core research questions addressed are: What are the quality assurance models operational in the Nigerian private university studied? To what extent do the models meet international standard? How are the Quality Assurance models implemented? What are the challenges experienced in the course of implementing the Quality Assurance models? What is the degree of overall success in attaining and maintaining quality? The ex post facto, case study and survey designs were used in this study. Consequently, questionnaires, interview guideline and observation grids were among the instruments used for data collection. Data was analyzed with simple descriptive statistics and qualitative techniques. Some of the Quality Assurances practices/models adopted in the private Nigerian University were: National University Commission [NUC] Accreditation visits; Proprietor’s impromptu visits; Faculty Support Programme; Webometric Ranking Model, and Thomas Reuter University Ranking Model. Findings reveal that though Quality Management practice in the Nigerian private university studied was of world-class standard, there is still room for improvement. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015.v5n2p25

Okochi, “Properties of endoglucanase of Penicillium chrysogemumPCL501,”Australian

Abstract: Crude extracellular enzyme from a 3-day culture of Penicillium chrysogenum (PCL 501), in basal medium containing cellulose as the sole carbon source, yielded 0.67 ± 0.03, 19.94 ± 1.30 and 8.50 ± 0.50 units mg protein of 1, 4-â-endoglucanase, â-glucosidase and xylanase activity -1 respectively. The crude enzyme was subjected to ammonium sulphate precipitation (80% saturation) and gel filtration. A purification-fold of 7.5 was achieved. Two active fractions of 1, 4 â-endoglucanase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4), which exhibited about the same activity towards carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), were obtained and pooled for the subsequent analyses. The endoglucanase gave a Vmax of 10.0 ± 0.4 µmol min mg protein and Km of 11.8 ± 0.4 gL with CMC. The enzyme was Zn , Hg and EDTA inhibited the enzyme activity. The effect of Ca was not significant. Over 3- fold increase in the enzyme activity was recorded with Mn . Percentage inhibition of 65.9 and 79.7 2+ respectively was obtained with Hg and EDTA. The organism appears to produce two types of 2+ endoglucanase which differed in their molecular weight but not significantly in their activity. The enzyme activity was highly stimulated by manganese ion and inhibited by the metal-chelating agent, EDTA

Okochi, “Properties of endoglucanase of Penicillium chrysogemumPCL501,”Australian

Abstract: Crude extracellular enzyme from a 3-day culture of Penicillium chrysogenum (PCL 501), in basal medium containing cellulose as the sole carbon source, yielded 0.67 ± 0.03, 19.94 ± 1.30 and 8.50 ± 0.50 units mg protein of 1, 4-â-endoglucanase, â-glucosidase and xylanase activity -1 respectively. The crude enzyme was subjected to ammonium sulphate precipitation (80% saturation) and gel filtration. A purification-fold of 7.5 was achieved. Two active fractions of 1, 4 â-endoglucanase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4), which exhibited about the same activity towards carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), were obtained and pooled for the subsequent analyses. The endoglucanase gave a Vmax of 10.0 ± 0.4 μmol min mg protein and Km of 11.8 ± 0.4 gL with CMC. The enzyme was Zn , Hg and EDTA inhibited the enzyme activity. The effect of Ca was not significant. Over 3- fold increase in the enzyme activity was recorded with Mn . Percentage inhibition of 65.9 and 79.7 2+ respectively was obtained with Hg and EDTA. The organism appears to produce two types of 2+ endoglucanase which differed in their molecular weight but not significantly in their activity. The enzyme activity was highly stimulated by manganese ion and inhibited by the metal-chelating agent, EDTA

Model Optimization and In Silico Analysis of Potential Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Antagonists from GC-MS Identified Compounds in Leaf Extracts.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is a pharmacotherapeutic target in type 2 diabetes. Inhibitors of this enzyme constitute a new class of drugs used in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, phytocompounds in (NL) leaf extracts, identified using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), were tested for potential antagonists of DPP-IV via in silico techniques. Phytocompounds present in aqueous (NLA) and ethanol (NLE) leaf extracts were identified using GC-MS. DPP-IV model optimization and molecular docking of the identified compounds/standard inhibitors in the binding pocket was simulated. Drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of promising docked leads were also predicted. Results showed the presence of 50 phytocompounds in NL extracts of which only 2--p-methylphenyl-1-thio-β-d-glucoside, 3-tosylsedoheptulose, 4-benzyloxy-6-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydropyran-2,3,5-triol and vitamin E exhibited comparable or better binding iGEMDOCK and AutoDock Vina scores than the clinically prescribed standards. These four compounds exhibited promising drug-likeness as well as absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties suggesting their candidature as novel leads for developing DPP-IV inhibitors

Model Optimization and In Silico Analysis of Potential Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Antagonists from GC-MS Identified Compounds in Nauclea latifolia Leaf Extracts

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) is a pharmacotherapeutic target in type 2 diabetes. Inhibitors of this enzyme constitute a new class of drugs used in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, phytocompounds in Nauclea latifolia (NL) leaf extracts, identified using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), were tested for potential antagonists of DPP-IV via in silico techniques. Phytocompounds present in N. latifolia aqueous (NLA) and ethanol (NLE) leaf extracts were identified using GC–MS. DPP-IV model optimization and molecular docking of the identified compounds/standard inhibitors in the binding pocket was simulated. Drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of promising docked leads were also predicted. Results showed the presence of 50 phytocompounds in NL extracts of which only 2-O-p-methylphenyl-1-thio-β-d-glucoside, 3-tosylsedoheptulose, 4-benzyloxy-6-hydroxymethyl-tetrahydropyran-2,3,5-triol and vitamin E exhibited comparable or better binding iGEMDOCK and AutoDock Vina scores than the clinically prescribed standards. These four compounds exhibited promising drug-likeness as well as absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties suggesting their candidature as novel leads for developing DPP-IV inhibitors

Socio-demographic and environmental determinants of child mortality in rural communities of Ogun State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s under five-mortality was 132 per 1000 in 2018. The statistic makes Nigeria the country with the third-highest under-five mortality globally. It implies that the government may not achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of 25 per 1000 births by 2030. This situation is of grave concern to policymakers and other stakeholders interested in the country’s development. This study provides unique community micro-level information on child mortality determinants in rural communities where the country's health system is weakest. The study used a sample of 1350 pregnant women aged 20-44 who attended antenatal care in22 health facilities in selected rural communities of Ogun State, South-west Nigeria. The multicollinearity diagnostics tests conducted between the dependent variable and predictors showed no abnormality in the values of the variance inflation factor, eigenvalues, and condition indexes. Logistics regression results showed that the socio-demographic characteristics such as the respondent's age, educational level, number of living children, and husband’s education directly affected child mortality. In contrast, the husband has another wife had an indirect effect on child mortality. Environmental factors that directly impacted child mortality included the type of household toilet facility, source of water supply, and household waste disposal practices. These findings indicate that policies and programs to reduce child mortality in rural Nigeria must address socio-demographic and context-specific factors, especially at the community level. (Afr J Reprod Health 2021; 25[5s]: 159-170)

Quality Assurance Practice in African Universities: Lessons from a Private Nigerian University

The education enterprise and indeed businesses worldwide thrive on quality products and services. It can be posited that the success or survival of any enterprise is strongly contingent on the quality of its business processes and products. Information explosion and global competiveness have placed a compelling demand on educational institutions to enhance the quality of their delivery process and products. These clarion statements serve to justify the need for this study. The core research questions addressed are: What are the quality assurance models operational in the Nigerian private university studied? To what extent do the models meet international standard? How are the Quality Assurance models implemented? What are the challenges experienced in the course of implementing the Quality Assurance models? What is the degree of overall success in attaining and maintaining quality? The ex post facto, case study and survey designs were used in this study. Consequently, questionnaires, interview guideline and observation grids were among the instruments used for data collection. Data was analyzed with simple descriptive statistics and qualitative techniques. Some of the Quality Assurances practices/models adopted in the private Nigerian University were: National University Commission [NUC] Accreditation visits; Proprietor’s impromptu visits; Faculty Support Programme; Webometric Ranking Model, and Thomas Reuter University Ranking Model. Findings reveal that though Quality Management practice in the Nigerian private university studied was of world-class standard, there is still room for improvement