Petroleum Hydrocarbons Accumulation Potential of Shellfishes from Littoral Waters of the Bight of Bonny, Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Total hydrocarbons concentration in four commercially available shellfishes (Ocypoda africanus, Macura reptantia, Procambarus clarkii and Penaeus notialis) from coastal waters of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria were investigated between June 2003 and February 2004 using standard methods. Levels of total hydrocarbons varied significantly depending on biota species, feeding habit and season. The seasonal mean concentrations reported were: 3.98±0.69, 7.95±1.18, 2.24±0.39 and 5.85±0.57 μg g -1 dry weight for M. reptantia, O. africanus, P. clarkii and P. notialis respectively during the wet season. Enhanced concentrations recorded during the dry season were 7.81±2.32, 11.59±2.63, 6.16±2.12 and 9.69±1.90 μg g-1 dry weight for M. reptantia, O. africanus, P. clarkii and P. notialis, respectively. The results obtained indicated seasonal variations which might have been associated with an incidental crude oil spill recorded during the investigation. In general, O. africanus showed higher levels of total hydrocarbons than other species investigated. However, biota species demonstrated hydrocarbon bioaccumulation potential. Regression between the monthly concentrations of total hydrocarbons in each of the biospecimens with the levels in the surface water and sediments indicated statistically significant (p<0.05) relationships. Moreover, comparison of the seasonal mean concentrations using paired sample t-test at 95% confidence level indicated that the concentrations between the dry and wet seasons were statistically significant

Isolation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid from the antiplasmodial bioactive fraction of Nauclea latifolia (Sm) roots

Purpose: To research the antiplasmodial property of aqueous extract, fractions, and residue of Nauclea latifolia roots and to isolate the components responsible for the antiplasmodial activity.Methods: Roots of N. latifolia were macerated with distilled water; the extract was obtained, successively partitioned with ethyl acetate and butanol. The extract, fractions, and the residue obtained were evaluated for their in vivo antiplasmodial activity and compared with amodiaquine and artesunate. The residue (which exhibited the best therapeutic index) was subjected to column and thin layer chromatography to isolate its components. Purification led to the isolation of betulinic acid, which was characterized with the aid of spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C NMR, and EI-MS).Results: The residue significantly inhibited parasite growth from 42.8 % (D2) to 77.6 % (D5). Therefore, residue exhibited the highest therapeutic index against Plasmodium berghei in the three in vivo antiplasmodial (prophylactic, suppressive, and curative) models and it compared favourably with amodiaquine (80.5 %) and artesunate (85.9 %). The major component of the residue was betulinic acid.Conclusion: The results validate the antiplasmodial claims of the roots of N. latifolia in folkloric medicine, and demonstrated that the isolate has a high therapeutic index in this regard. Further investigations, however, are required to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of the compound/isolate

Development of an Improved Convolutional Neural Network for an Automated Face Based University Attendance System

Because of the flaws of the present university attendance system, which has always been time intensive, not accurate, and a hard process to follow. It, therefore, becomes imperative to eradicate or minimize the deficiencies identified in the archaic method. The identification of human face systems has evolved into a significant element in autonomous attendance-taking systems due to their ease of adoption and dependable and polite engagement. Face recognition technology has drastically altered the field of Convolution Neural Networks (CNN) however it has challenges of high computing costs for analyzing information and determining the best specifications (design) for each problem. Thus, this study aims to enhance CNN’s performance using Genetic Algorithm (GA) for an automated face-based University attendance system. The improved face recognition accuracy with CNN-GA got 96.49% while the face recognition accuracy with CNN got 92.54%

Seasonal variations of heavy metal concentrations in Qua Iboe River Estuary, Nigeria

Concentrations of six heavy metals namely Pb, Ni, V, Fe, C and Cd were determined in water samples from Qua Iboe river estuary and its associated creeks for six months (January to June, 1999). Results obtained indicate the following mean concentrations for the metals: Pb, 0.167mg/1 + 0.148; Ni, 0.112mg/1 + 0.089; V, 0.019mg/1 + 0.042; Fe, 0.118mg/1 + 0.077; Cu, 0.020mg/1 + 0.026 and Cd, 0.036mg/1 + 0.036. These concentrations were higher in the wet season than the dry season. On comparing these results with the WHO standard, it was observed that the mean concentrations of Pb and Ni were higher than the acceptable limit while the coefficient of variations of the metals were correspondingly high with the high degree of fluctuations in their concentrations from station to station and from season to season. The location of the river estuary correlated positively with its observed high metal concentrations. The environmental implications of these metals are discussed with reference to existing water quality of the river. KEY WORDS: Heavy metals, water sample, pollution, Qua Iboe River. Global Jnl of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(4) 2004: 611-61

Lipid profile and hepatoprotective effects of combined leaf extracts of Azadirachta Indica (Neem) and Peristrophe bicalyculata in Alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Abstract  Purpose of the study: This study was designed to investigate the protective efficacy of ethanolic extracts of leaves of Azadirachta indica (AI) and Peristrophe bicalyculata (PB) on the liver of alloxan-induced diabetic albino wistar as well as their effect on serum lipid profile. Main findings: A significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in HDL, VLDL and triglyceride values while an increase (P<0.05) was observed in LDL and total cholesterol values in the diabetic control (DC) compared with the normal control (NC). Treatment with PB reversed the decrease in HDL levels comparable to the reversal by insulin. All the extracts caused an increase in the value of VLDL compared to DC. The values of LDL decreased significantly (p<0.05) in all the extract-treated rats relative to DC with the combine extracts showing a synergistic decrease. The decrease in TG was significantly (p<0.05) reversed by treatment with all the extracts and insulin while the increase in TC was reversed only by AI. There was an increase in AST and ALT and a decrease in ALP levels in DC, relative to NC. Only the combined extract resulted in a reduction in AST level, relative to DC, comparable to the Insulin value. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in ALT level in all treated animals compared to DC. Except for AI, no reversals were observed for ALP levels in all the treatment groups. Summary of findings: The results show that a combination of the two plant extracts will be most appropriate for a total normalization of the diabetes-induced hyperlipidemia and protection of the liver against diabetes-induced injury

Cytotoxic action of the leaves of Uvaria chamae P.Beauv. and Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I.Darbysh. from Nigeria mediated through intrinsic apoptotic pathway induction in four cancer cell lines

Background: Over the years, the morbidity and mortality due to cancer have continued to increase worldwide. Plants are well utilized in Nigeria ethno-medicine for cancer treatment. However, scientific evidence, particularly at the molecular level, has been lacking, and biodiversity loss is a threat. Aim of the study: The cytotoxic activity of the leaves of six plants used in Nigeria ethno-medicine was investigated and the molecular pathway of cytotoxic action of two active extracts on four cancer cell lines (A549, RD, MCF-7, and HeLa) was also assessed. Materials and methods: Cytotoxic activities of the plant extracts were assessed on breast (MCF-7), lung (A549), cervical (HeLa), adenocarcinoma and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells using MTT cell viability assay in a time-dependent manner. The sandwich ELISA method was used to assess the protein expressions (Bcl-2, BAX, and executioner caspase 3) involved in the apoptotic pathway in cancer cells after treatment with cytotoxic extracts. UHPLC-MS/MS approach was used to analyze the possible bioactive phytochemicals of the cytotoxic plant extract. Results: Uvaria chamae and Dicliptera paniculata extracts displayed good cytotoxicity across all cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner (CC50 <30 µg/mL). Increased pro-apoptotic BAX and lowered expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 show the cytotoxic action of the two extracts followed the intrinsic apoptotic pathway compared to untreated cells. The increased expression of executioner caspase 3 indicated that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway was caspase-dependent. Conclusion: The anticancer potential of U. chamae and D. paniculata in this study validates the use of these plants in Nigerian ethno-medicine, highlighting apoptosis as a molecular pathway of their cytotoxicity