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 Ethanolic Extract of Avocado (Persea americana) Fruits Peels on Serum Hepatic and Renal Indices in Male Wistar Albino Rats Fed with Crude Oil Contaminated Diet

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of ethanolic extract of Persea americana fruit peels on serum hepatic and renal indices in crude oil contaminated diet stimulated toxicity in male Wistar rats using appropriate standard methods.  The findings of this study revealed that the treatment of rats exposed to contaminated diets with the varying doses of P. americana fruit peels extract had no statistically (p>0.05) significant effect on the AST, ALT and ALP compared to those exposed to only crude oil contaminated diet. However, there were observed significant decrease in ACP activities in crude oil extract treated group when compared to the crude oil control group. Conversely, glucose, total protein, albumin and globulin levels showed no significant difference across the crude oil extract treated group when compared to the crude oil control group. Also it was observed that there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in levels of serum urea, potassium, calcium and chloride in the crude oil extract treated group when compared to the crude oil control group in a dose dependent manner. These activities potentiated by the ethanolic extract of P. americana fruit peels could be attributed to its medicinal properties

Proximate Composition, Mineral Content and Phytochemical Evaluation of Different Solvent Extracts of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Stalk

The objective of this study was to evaluate the proximate composition, mineral content and phytochemical constituents of Ananas comosus stalks using distilled water, methanol, ethanol, chloroform and petroleum ether as extraction solvents. Analysis of minerals present in the different extracts of the stalk of A. comosus revealed that the aqueous extract had the highest concentration of sodium, magnesium, zinc, tin, molybdenum and manganese while the lowest was found in petroleum ether extract. Methanol extract had the highest concentration of potassium, iron and copper. The result of the physicochemical analysis of the stalk of A. comosus revealed that the stalk was high in nitrogen free extract (58.74±1.13 %). However, ether extract had the least value (1.12±0.20 %). Qualitative phytochemical screening of A. comosus stalk extract revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloid and terpenes. Quantitative evaluation of the phytoconstituents revealed that flavonoids and phenol were highest in petroleum ether extracts (2.74±0.02 mg/kg and 2.73±0.02 mg/kg) while alkaloids concentration was highest in the ethanol extract (1.78±0.01 mg/ml). The study found that Ananas comosus stalk extracts had a good amount of micronutrients according to the various criteria examined; the high ash content also supports this finding. The study showed that the stalk of A. comosus is a good source of important phytochemicals.

In vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Alchornea cordifolia

The present study was undertaken to evaluate antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia by in vitro methods. The aqueous extract is prepared by dissolving ground plant materials (100g) in 1 L of distilled for 48 hours, filtered, and then dried using rotary evaporator before it was used for the pharmacological investigations. Standard phytochemical methods were used to test for the presence of phytoactive compounds in the leaf, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were also assayed for using various methods. The qualitative screening of the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extracts of Alchornea cordifolia leaves showed the presence of Phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides while the quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin, alkaloid, flavonoids and phenol. Tannins had the highest concentration, while the lowest was flavonoids. The in-vitro antioxidant study revealed that aqueous leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia possesses antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner against  DPPH, reducing power, total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide  activity while the outcome of the in-vitro anti-inflammatory assay revealed  that the antiproteinase, membrane stabilization and albumin denaturation activities of the extracts  significantly (p<0.05) increased in a concentration-dependent  manner. In conclusion, the leaf of Alchornea cordifolia is rich in phytochemical substances. This could be responsible for the in-vitro antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities

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

Effect of Maize Husk Treatment of Crude Oil Contaminated Soil on Morphological and Biochemical Indices of Cowpea Seedlings

The ameliorative potential of maize husk on crude oil impacted soil had been documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maize husk treatment of crude oil contaminated soil on morphological and biochemical indices of cowpea seedlings. Treatment of soil with maize husk significantly (p< 0.05) increased the morphological and biochemical indices comparable to control seedlings. On the other hand, exposure of cowpea seedlings to crude oil-contaminated soil caused significant (p< 0.05) decreases in both morphological and biochemical indices compare to values in control seedlings. However, these values were restored close to control values   by treatment of crude oil-contaminated with maize husk. The treatment of soil with maize husk caused improvement of morphological parameters and alteration of biochemical indices of cowpea seedlings grown in uncontaminated and crude oil-contaminated soils. This has affirmed the use of maize husk as possible soil conditioner

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