Wine Making: Influence of pH on Physicochemical Parameters of Wine Must Produce from Hot Water Extract of Broom-cluster Fig (Ficus capensis) Leaf using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The chemical and biological stability of wine are very dependent on pH value, hence winemakers believe that pH plays a critical role in fermentation and final wine quality. This paper optimized and assessed the influence of pH on different physicochemical parameters of wine must prepared from hot water extract of the leaf of Broom-cluster Fig (Ficus capensis) leaf with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ameliorating to 22 oBrix using table sugar and adding potassium metabisulfite. Then the pH of the must was adjusted as required and subjected to pasteurization. The must was inoculated with yeast inoculum at 0.8g/ml. Soluble solid, alcohol, titratable acidity and pH profile of the wine was monitored daily. After optimization and fermentation physicochemical parameters of the wine were analyzed. It was shown that pH of the must increase and decreased as the fermentation days progressed from day 1-12 for pH 3 -3.5 and 4-4.5 respectively. Total soluble solid decreased in all the must samples. The alcohol content increased gradually during fermentation. pH 3 and 4 had the highest titratable acidity when compared to pH 3.5 and 4.5. The pH of 4.5 wine had the lowest TSS and highest alcohol content. This study shows that wine can be produced from hot water extract of Ficus capensis leaf and the must fermented at lower pH gave highest percentage of alcohol. There is need to optimize and assess the pH of vegetable must before fermentation

Effect of MethanolicExtract of Justicia flava Leaves on Biochemical Markers in Male Wistar Rats Fed Crude Oil Contaminated Feed

The medicinal potentials of plants have been documented. This study evaluated the capacity of the leaf of Justicia flava methanolic extract (JFME) to alter the biochemical distortions initiated by feeding on diet containing crude oil. Male Wistar albino rats, thirty six, were constituted into nine groups. Each group had six rats. Group 1 had untreated feed. Groups 2 to 4 had untreated feed but were given 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg/ kg b.wt of JFME, respectively. Group 5 had untreated feed and given 200 mg/kg b.wt of ascorbic acid as standard. Group 6 was fed with diet containing crude oil (4ml/100g v/w). Groups 7 to 9 were given contaminated feed and 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg/ kg b.wt of JFME, respectively. The rats were maintained on these treatments for thirty days and had water ad libitum. Thereafter exposure period, lipid profile, hematological and inflammatory markers in the blood were analyzed using standard methods. Petroleum in feed altered the lipid profile, hematological and inflammatory markers compared to values in positive control rats. However, treatment of the rats with JFME had a positive reversal of these markers close to values in control rats; which compared favorably with ascorbic acid, used as standard. This investigation discovered JFME as a candidate for managing crude oil- imposed health issues

A comparative study of superoxide dismutase activity of different yam species

The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in three species of yam: Dioscorea cayenensis poir cv okpai, Dioscorea alata poir cv Chembeli and Dioscorea alata poir cv Kurudu was studied. The study demonstrated a significant variation of superoxide dismutase activity in the three varieties of Dioscorea species. The highest activity was found in Dioscorea cayenensis and the lowest one in Dioscorea alata poir cv Kurudu. The order of activity of the enzyme in the tuber was head > middle > tail physiological region. Inhibition studies with cyanide showed that the enzyme in the yam cell of all the varieties was inhibited by cyanide. These observations indicated that identical SODs are present in the cytosol and mitochondria of the yam cells of the different varieties studied.Thus different yam species vcxzhave different SOD activities that confer peculiar protective role against superoxide `' anion. Keywords: Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea cayenensis, superoxide dismutase. (Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 9(1): 31-34

Effect of abattoir waste water on metabolic and antioxidant profiles of cowpea seedlings grown in crude oil contaminated soil

Abstract Purpose The pollution of agricultural land by crude oil is a wide spread phenomenon in petroleum producing countries of the world. Therefore, there is the need to find effective and eco-friendly means of mitigating the toxic effect of crude oil on crop plants. Methods Green house experiment was conducted with cowpea seeds planted in polybags containing crude oil contaminated soil and similar concentrations treated with known amount of abattoir wastewater. The effect of abattoir wastewater (AWW) treatment of the crude oil contaminated soil on the metabolic and antioxidant properties of the leaves of cowpea seedlings was investigated. The concentrations of total sugar, total protein, total amino acid and β-carotene, chlorophyll, starch metabolizing enzymes as well as oxidative stress markers, lipid peroxidation, catalase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase and superoxide dismutase were determined using standard methods. Results Treatment of the crude oil contaminated soil with AWW resulted in decreases in total sugar, total protein and total amino acid as well as increase in the activities of both α-amylase and starch phosphorylase and total chlorophyll and β-carotene levels compared with those in crude oil alone treated groups. Treatment of the crude oil contaminated soil with AWW also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and Cu/ZnSOD, but increased MnSOD, catalase, xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase activities. Conclusion These observations suggest that abattoir wastewater has the ability to remediate the adverse effects of crude oil polluted soil on cowpea seedlings. Therefore, abattoir wastewater should be harnessed and used in treating crude oil polluted farmland so as to reduce its toxicity on crop plants