GC-MS Based Metabolite Profiling and Phytochemical Screening of Different Solvent Extracts of Moringa oleifera Seeds

The present study aimed at screening the different crude extracts of Moringa oleifera seeds for their bioactive constituents and exploring the metabolites present using GC-MS (Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry). The phytochemical screening of the different crude extracts revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids, terpenoids and alkaloids in various quantities. In the metabolite profiling of the seeds, the presence of fatty acid was found to predominate in the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. GC-MS analysis confirmed the occurrence of forty-one (41) compounds in n-hexane extract, where major compounds include cis-vaccenic acid (9.2 %), cis-13-octadecenoic acid (7.1 %) and n- hexadecanoic acid (4.1 %). Thirty-nine (39) compounds were detected in the GC-MS profile of ethyl acetate extract. The major compounds identified were cis-vaccenic acid (7.5 %), 9-octadecenoic acid (7.2 %) and palmitoleic acid (6.0 %), while methanol extract profile revealed the presence of 39 detectable compounds, including cis-13-octadecenoic acid (14.7 %), ethyl oleate (7.3 %), and cis- vaccenic acid (6.3 %) as the major components present in M. oleifera seeds. In conclusion, extraction solvents influenced the recovery of phyto-constituents; and the therapeutically valued metabolites obtained will serve as a guide on further drug discovery process

DRYING KINETICS OF UNRIPE PLANTAIN CHIPS USING CHARCOAL FUELLED CABINET DRYER.

This study presents the thin layer drying behavior of unripe plantain slices (Musa paradisiaca) in a developed biomass cabinet dryer. The developed dryer provided an environment with an optimum operating temperature between 50 - 700C meant for drying agricultural materials. The use of thin layer drying mechanisms and equations contribute to better understanding of drying food materials. The thin layer drying behaviour of agricultural products was identified based on the mathematical models which describe the heat and mass transfer phenomena of the products. In order to select a suitable drying model, fourteen different thin layer drying models were fitted to experimental data. Fick’s second law was used to calculate the moisture diffusivity with some simplifications. The results were compared for their goodness of fit in terms of correlation coefficient (R2), reduced chi square (χ2), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean bias error (MBE). Effective moisture diffusivity values of unripe plantain slices during drying were -56.8 x 10-1, -2.60 x 10-1 and -6.84 x 10-1 m2/s for charcoal at 5, 10 and 15 mm thicknesses. Midilli and Kucuk, Modified Henderson and Wangh and Singh models were most suitable to describe the drying behavior of unripe plantain at 5, 10 and 15 mm thicknesses respectively when dried with charcoal and there were good agreements between the experimental and predicted variable

Effect of drying methods on the physico-chemical properties of soyflour

This study investigated the relationship between the drying methods and the physicochemical properties of soybean during drying prior to converting it into flour. Three samples were prepared for each of Tax 1485 and mixed varieties. A sample for each variety was subjected to a drying method. The three drying methods used are roasting, oven and sun drying. The dried samples were converted to flour in attrition mill. Supplemented breads (5% soy + 95% wheat) were prepared from the flour for organoleptic evaluation; proximate analysis was also carried on the flour samples. The analyses were replicated thrice. The result of this study showed that oven drying method has highest acceptability levels when compared to the other two methods in both Tax 1485 and mixed variety; showing 58 and 64%, respectively. It was also established that oven drying method retained highest protein content of 40.54 and 33.7% for Tax 1485 and mixed variety, respectively, though there was no significant difference in the protein values. The results show that drying for a long period (as observed in sun drying) and with high temperature (as observed in roasting), to achieve safe moisture content, will defeat the purpose of using soy flour as supplement due to a significant reduction in the protein content and acceptability. Moderately high temperature of 60°C in oven as being investigated is therefore recommended.Key words: Roasting, boiling, oven drying, sun drying, quality

Review of Tools for Early Detection and Screening of Diabetes

This paper reviews features of numerous tools, techniques and technologies that help to identify and detect early risk of diabetes. The paper uses systematic literature review (SLR) guidelines and searched most of the popular journals limiting the results tied to studies that discussed the screening and detection of the risk of diabetes. We reviewed the architecture, features and limitations of the various tools and technologies using the following classification: Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS), Flash Glucose Monitoring Systems (FGMS) and the Unobtrusive Systems. Under the unobtrusive system, we studied the Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA) system and while there are pieces of evidence that proves its benefits and usefulness, we found some required enhancements in areas of decision support system, data entry automation and flexible integration with other systems. Future work will examine the usage of intelligent automation to detect early risk of diabetes during a patient-physician visit

Effect of different drying methods on the physicochemical characteristics of cassava flour (“pupuru”)

The effects of smoking, toasting and oven drying methods on the physical and chemical characteristics of “pupuru”, a fermented cassava product, were studied. Cassava tubers were manually peeled, washed and steeped in water for four days after which the water was decanted; the soft wet mash was packed into Hessian sack and pressed. One portion was moulded into small-sized (500 g) ball shape and smoked on wood fire for 72 hours (Traditional method). The second portion was moulded into 500 g size ball and dried in the hot air oven at 60 °C for 14 hours. The two products were pulverized and sieved with 60 mesh size into fine pupuru flour. The third wet meal was sifted and toasted on an aluminum pan over fire and then milled into fine toasted pupuru flour. The flours were subjected to physicochemical evaluations. There was reduction in drying time when pupuru was toasted compared to the tradition smoking method. The range of final moisture content achieved was 7.14- 8.40% (db). Despite the shortness in the drying time, the toasted samples had the lowest moisture content. Irrespective of the drying methods, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the proximate composition. The crude fibre content was highest in smoked dried with 3.17% compared to the toasted and oven dried samples with 2.12% and 2.53% respectively. The titratable acidity increased by about 78% from 0.09 to 0.16 with corresponding decrease in pH from 5.34 to 4.18. The toasted product had the lowest pH value of 4.18 while smoked and oven dried had 4.67 and 4.63 respectively. The bulk densities for both loosed and packed \ were higher for toasted product with values of 0.54 and 0.62 g/ml respectively,  while smoked dried had the least value of 0.21 and 0.40 g/ml. The swelling power was highest in the toasted pupuru with value 0.38 ml/g and water holding capacity was 259.42 ml/g. The cyanide content of the smoked, oven dried and toasted product were 0.42, 0.48 and 0.47 mg/100g respectively. The toasting method gave the best sample in terms of drying time, moisture content, physical properties and sensory qualities. It can be concluded that toasting drying method is a better alternative method of producing pupuru.Keywords: Cassava, pupuru, physicochemical, sensory, processing

Development of a model rotatory fish smoking kiln using agro-wastes as source of fuel

A model fish smoking kiln was designed and fabricated to use agro-wastes (sawdust, palm kernel shell and rice bran) as alternative to conventionally used charcoal (control) as fuel energy source for smoking fish. Clarias gariepinus was washed, brined and smoked in chunks or whole in the kiln. The smoking kiln has an estimated capacity of 40kg of fish/batch with six fish trays and 36 fish hooks. Heat transfer is by conduction and convection. The rotatory wheel and axle on which the fish drying trays were anchored ensured even distribution of heat. The kiln has 69.4% energy efficiency and drying period of 10 hours at an average temperature range of 60 - 120degreesC, depending on the type of agro-waste used as source of fuel energy. The fuel conversion ratio, drying rates and calorific values of the different agro-waste products were also determined. Calorific value of the four agro-wastes ranged between 16.2MJ/Kg in palm kernel to 30MJ/Kg in charcoal. The drying rates of sawdust and rice bran compare favourably with charcoal and they produced smoked fish similar in dryness and quality with fish smoked with charcoal. Palm kernel had the least drying rate of smoked fish (weight/hour) during the 10-hour smoking duration

Antiprotease and membrane stabilizing activities of extracts of Fagara zanthoxyloides, Olax subscorpioides and Tetrapleura tetraptera

The saline and alkaline extracts of Fagara zanthoxyloides, Olax subscorpioides and Tetrapleura tetraptera were investigated for antiprotease and membrane stabilizing activities by spectroscopic procedures. Saline extracts of these plants stabilized human red blood cell membrane subjected to hypotonic- and heat-induced lyses. The results revealed that the degree of membrane stabilization was 84% for F. zanthoxyloides while T. tetraptera and O. subscorpioides exhibited 70% and63.2%, respectively. Also, sodium hydroxide extracts of the three plants exhibited antiprotease activity. A 1:5 dilution of F. zanthoxyloides gave 80% inhibition while undiluted extracts of O. subscorpioides and T. tetraptera showed 96% and 73% inhibitions, respectively

Pathogenic potential of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from cattle faeces in Adoekiti

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic food-borne pathogen causing listeriosis especially among immune-compromised persons. Its high rate of morbidity and mortality has classed the organism among the top watch list in foods. It is known to produce several virulence factors which aid its survival in harsh conditions and its dissemination within host cells. The pathogenicity of L. monocytogenes, isolated from cattle faeces in Ado-Ekiti, was determined in Wister albino rats for two weeks and the relative virulence was calculated. Rats were challenged with isolates producing listeriolysin O and phospholipase orally, intraperitoneally and subcutaneously. Biochemical parameters and haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stained sections of selected organs were examined for significant changes (p < .05) and histopathological effects post-experiment. Relative virulence was recorded at 0% with rats showing no signs of infection or death. However, significant changes in total protein, lipid profile and some selected antioxidant enzymes, as well as cytological changes in the examined H and E sections of organs showed that an infection had occurred. Bacteria may have however been eradicated by the immune-competent rats. This study therefore concludes that isolates may be pathogenic especially for persons tagged ‘high risk’ due to low immunity.Keywords:  L. monocytogenes, listeriosis, pathogenicity, histopathology, cattle feace

Property and Antibacterial Spectrum of Partially Purified Enterocin Produced by Entrocinogenic Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from the Gut of Cockroach

Enterocins are small, heat stable and antimicrobial agents are directed against a broader spectrum of bacteria. Isolation, partial characterization and antibacterial activity of partially purified enterocin from Enterococcus faecalis form the aim of this study. The protein content of crude enterocin of the enterocin from highest producing strain was 16.6 mg/ml and its activity was 170 AU/ml. The antibacterial activity of crude enterocin produced by Enterococcus faecalis was tested on both Gram-positive bacteria which include Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, while Gram-negative bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhi. The effect was pronounced on Gram-negative than Gram-positive pathogens. The enterocin was stable at 40, 50, 60 and 70oC and over a pH range between 4.0 and 8.5. It has bactericidal effect and cause rapid inhibition of the growth of the sensitive strains. No change was observed in the enterocin bioactivity after treatment with sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium dodecyl chloride, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid and urea. In conclusion, since it can withstand a broad range of temperature and pH, it can be used as biocontrol of both pathogenic and spoilage organisms

Comparison of Serum Calcium and Magnesium Between Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnant Nigerian Women in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Background: Evidence suggests the involvement of calcium and magnesium metabolism in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. However, findings from studies are heterogenous and inconsistent.Aim: The study aimed to compare the total serum calcium and magnesium levels in preeclamptic women with that of normotensive pregnant women.Subjects and Methods: A cross‑sectional subjects of eighty pregnant women living in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, South‑East Nigeria, were recruited into the study. The present study compared serum calcium and magnesium in forty preeclamptic (cases) and forty normotensive (control) pregnant women matched for age, parity, and socioeconomic status. Serum calcium and magnesium levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 20 statistical software. Differences between means were compared using Student’s t‑test with P < 0.05 considered as statistically significant.Results: While the mean serum calcium was comparable between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women (13.99 [3.29] vs. 14.02 [5.68] μg/dl), the preeclamptic pregnant women have significantly (P < 0.001) lower serum magnesium in comparison to their normotensive counterparts (3.22 [1.05] vs. 4.15 [0.78]).Conclusion: It may be concluded that serum magnesium seems to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia in this environment.Keywords: Calcium, Hypertension, Magnesium supplementation, Preeclampsi