Trace Metal Levels in Raw and Heat Processed Nigerian Staple Foods from Oil- Producing Areas of Rivers and Bayelsa States

The levels of some trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd) were quantitatively determined in raw and heat processed staple food cultivars (yam, cassava, cocoyam and maize) from oil producing areas of part of the Niger Delta and compared with a non-oil producing area of Ebonyi State as control. The survey was conducted to evaluate the role of foods as exogenous source of these metals among the inhabitants. The data showed that metal levels in allthe raw staple foods from oil producing areas were significantly higher at (

Protein levels in urine of pregnant women in Rivers State, Nigeria

The levels of protein in urine of pregnant Women in Rivers State, Nigeria, were investigated. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) Sample were analyzed, out of which ninety (90) were obtained from pregnant Women and thirty (30) from non-pregnant Women used as control. The protein concentration (mg/100ml) in pregnant Women (56.3 + 8. 8. 7) was significantly (P≤ 0.o5) higher than values in non-pregnant woman (35.3± 8.3). At different gestation periods values decreased from 53. 6± 5.51 mg /100ml in the first trimester to 28.3± 4.20 mg/ 100ml in the third trimester. Protein levels decreased after 25 years of age and then increased after 35 years of age of pregnant women. The concentration of protein in relation to the number of pregnancies showed a range of 40.9± 11.4 mg/ 100ml gravida 2 pra to 75.8± 17.7 mg/100ml at primer. The value at the primer did not differ significantly (p≤ 0.05) from that at fourth pregnancy which was 73.7± 13.7 mg/100ml. It can be concluded that proteinuria occurred during pregnancy especially at the first trimester, and the age and number of pregnancies influenced the level of protein in urine. These findings may offer scientific basis for the monitoring and treatment of pregnant Women for healthy living and safe delivery of their babies. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 10(3) 2006: 171-17

Effect of heat processing on the proximate composition and energy values of selected Nigerian staple foods from oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta

Proximate composition and energy values of four raw and heat processed staple foods (yams, cassava, cocoyam andmaize) from oil-producing (Eleme, Ogoni, Okrika, and Nembe) areas of Rivers and Bayelsa States and Abakaliki (a non-oil producing area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria) as control were investigated. In raw yam tubers, moisture was high in all the locations and ranged from 61.96 ± 0.02% in Abakaliki to 63.77±0.25% in Ogoni. Crude protein rangedfrom 1.39±0.13% in Okrika to 1.71±0.06% in Abakaliki while ash was highest (2.57±0.12%) in Okrika followed by 2.33±0.01% in Eleme and was lowest (0.97±0.06%) in Abakaliki. Crude fat was low in all the locations and ranged from 0.10±0.00% in Okrika to 0.17±0.01% in Nembe while total carbohydrate was high in all the locations rangingfrom 33.32±0.42% in Ogoni to 35.21±0.13% in Abakaliki. The calorific value (kcal/100 g sample) in all the locations was low. It was highest (149.08) in yams from Abakaliki followed by Eleme (142.55) and lowest in Ogoni (140.09). Similar trends in values of the constituents were obtained in raw cassava, cocoyam and maize fromdifferent oil-producing and control locations investigated. In each of these locations, heat processing generally increased moisture content of all the samples (yam, cassava products, cocoyam and maize), but decreased dry matter, crude protein, ash, crude fat, total carbohydrate and calorific value. With the exception of moisture and ash,other nutrients were significantly (

Performance and risk assessment of Bambara beans grown on petroleum contaminated soil and the biostimulation implications

The potential of Vigna subterranean commonly called Bambara beans for phytoextraction of copper in a crude oil contaminated soil was investigated. The contamination levels of crude oil in the soil for this pot experiment were 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% (w/v). Amendments were added to increase the uptake and translocation of metal to aerial biomass. A range of amendments was tested for copper uptake enhancement with V. subterranean commonly called Bambara beans. Safe levels of exposure to contaminants were further investigated using albino Wistar rats for 28 feeding trial days to trace inherent biomagnifications. Bambara beans extracted up to 88.88 and 43.38 mg/kg into its shoot and root respectively at 10% contaminant dose while achieving 63.17% Cu removal unamended. Poultry manure was the most effective amendment for enhancing copper uptake and translocation into the shoots of Bambara beans with shoot tissue copper levels of 118.13 mg/kg compared to 98.25 and 93 mg/kg obtained for NPK and UREA amendments. 79.28, 70.07 and 70.99% Cu removal was achieved with poultry manure, NPK and UREA amendment respectively. An assay was carried out with animals on inherent biomagnifications. The results showed that the performance of rats fed diets formulated from contaminated soil differed significantly (P > 0.05) from those of the controls used. Hazard characterization revealed negative effects of potentially toxic copper on organ weight, optimum digestibility and animal growth rate. Weight of pancreas showed pancreatic hypertrophy in rats adapted to diets, which contain higher levels of contaminants compared to controls

Effect of Ethanol Extract of Leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum on the Reproductive Hormones of Lead-Exposed Female Wistar Albino Rats

This study investigated the ameliorative effect of the ethanol extract of leaves of Chrysophyllum albidum on the ovaries and reproductive hormones of lead-exposed female Wistar albino rats. Lead has no physiological role in the body but exerts many deleterious effects on various organs and systems in humans including the reproductive system; this it achieves mainly by the production of free radicals leading to oxidative stress. A total number of forty-two rats (160-180g) were divided into seven groups; group 1 served as the normal control group, group 2 rats were administered 200mgkg-1 of lead and left untreated (negative control group) while groups 3,4,5,6 and 7 were administered lead (200mgkg-1) and 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250mgkg-1 body weight of the ethanol extract of the studied plant respectively. All groups received feed and water ad libitum for 30days. A significant (p≤0.05) increase was observed in FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone levels in C. albidum treated groups compared to the negative control group. The histology of the negative control group showed the presence of cysts with no ovarian follicle whereas treated groups showed normal histology of the ovaries with oocytes except for groups 6 and 7.This ameliorative ability of C. albidum observed in the present study may be attributed to its high antioxidant properties. Further studies on C. albidum could lead to the development of new and highly affordable drugs for the treatment of female infertility.Keywords: Chrysophyllum albidum; reproductive hormones; follicle stimulating hormone; progesteron

Effect of nicotinic acid on Haemoglobin-S (Hbs) gelation and osmotic fragility of Hbs erythrocytes

Various concentrations (1.00, 1.25, 1.67, 2.50, 5.00 and 10mM) of nicotinic acid were tested for their possible effects on HbS gelation (polymerization) and osmotic fragility rate of HbS erythrocytes. The results indicated an inhibition of HbS gelation by nicotinic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. For instance, at concentrations of 1mM and 10mM nicotinic acid, HbS gelation was reduced by 8.93% and 21.43% respectively, after a 10 minute incubation. Similarly, a significant (

Nutritional quality of foods formulated from cowpea-millet-crayfish mixtures

No Abstract. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 12 (4) 2006: 513-51

Effects of consuming fish caught from the crude oil-contaminated freshwater on the relative organ weights and carcass lipid levels of rats

No Abstract. Bio-Research Vol. 4(1) 2006: 63-6

Weight reducing and hypocholesterolemic effects of aqueous extract of the leaves of Tridax procumbens Linn on sub-chronic salt-loaded rats

The effects of aqueous extract of Tridax procumbens on the weight gain and organ weights, plasma lipid profiles and atherogenic indices were studied in sub-chronic salt-loaded Wistar rats. The control group received a diet consisting 100% of the commercial feed, while the four test groups received a diet consisting 8% salt and 92% commercial feed all through, except for the reference treatment group that had its salt-loading discontinued after six weeks. The extract was orally administered daily at 150 and 200 mg/kg body weight; while the test control, reference and control groups received appropriate volumes of water by the same route. Compared to test control, the treatment produced lower (significantly, P<0.05) mean daily weight gain, plasma LDL and non-HDL cholesterol, and (non-significantly) atherogenic indices, plasma triglyceride, total- and VLDL-cholesterol; and higher plasma HDL cholesterol, without significant alterations in organ weights and sizes. These results indicate a likely dose dependent cardio-protective potential of the extract on the hypertensives