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

Cassava Bio-Ethanol Development in Nigeria and Its Food Security Considerations

Critics of Nigeria’s cassava bio-ethanol production policy have argued that its development will have severe food security implications in the country. Our paper takes a critical look at cassava feedstock and landmass requirements necessary to meet the policy focus. We also considered the cassava production targets of the national cassava production targets and their landmass requirements. We determined that if production targets alone were the basis for analysis, then cassava utilisation as feedstock in the biofuel initiative would compromise food security as production requirements are about 17-25% of cassava production targets in the country. However, if the basis of analysis was landmass utilisation, cassava utilisation as bio-ethanol feedstock would not necessary compromise food security as less than 2% of arable land and less than 4% of cultivated land would be required to produce the cassava required to meet bio-ethanol feedstock requirements. In fact the total land area required to produce the feedstock and meet national production targets are less than 10% of arable land and 20% of cultivated land. Hence government and other key player of the cassava production system can be encouraged to open up the available land for greater production of cassava for the market

Antihyperlipidaemic and Antioxidant Potential of Fermented Citrullus vulgaris Seeds (Thunb.) on Tyloxapol-induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats: A Comparison With Fluvastatin

Globally fermented foods form an integral part of the staple diet of people. Fermented Citrullus vulgaris (FCV) (ogiri) seeds is a nutritious natural fermented condiment that features frequently in West African diets as a spice.This study investigated the antihyperlipidaemic potential of this condiment in tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidaemic rats with reference to that of fluvastatin, a standard antilipidaemic drug. The antioxidant potential of the condiment was also examined using different relevant in vitro assays. Albino rats were divided into six groups (n=5), based on the diet and treatment received. The groups were standard feed (control); FCV supplemented feed; standard feed with tyloxapol administered at the end of the experimental period (tyloxapol control); FCV supplemented feed and tyloxapol at the end of the experimental period; standard feed with fluvastatin sodium (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg body weight separately) followed by tyloxapol. The results revealed that administration of tyloxapol induced significant (p < 0.05) increase in total-cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG). These lipid increases were significantly mitigated in groups initially pre-fed with supplemented FCV feed. Plasma TC decreased by 69.38% (p < 0.05); TG by 80.58% (p < 0.05); LDL-C by 7.80% (p < 0.05) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased by 78.61% (p < 0.05). FCV showed appreciable antioxidant activities in vitro in a dose dependent manner. Histomorphological examination of the liver suggested that the FCV possessed hepatoprotective potential. These results suggest that FCV consumption may be a possible dietary measure for the control of dyslipidaemia

Technological Analysis of Sustainable Biofuels Development in Nigeria

Nigeria’s biofuel policy calls for 10% bioethanol and 20% biodiesel substitution in domestic petrol and diesel consumptions of 35 million and 12 million litres per day respectively. Although the policy was approved in 2005, after six years, a vibrant biofuels industry has not taken off in the country. In this paper, using strategic analysis approach, we determined the key technological impediments to biofuel industry development in Nigeria to be inadequate knowledge on feedstock and landmass requirements, the “food vs fuel” debate, fuel subsidy implications, indifference and low market confidence by investors, limited S&T human capability, poor funding, weak institutional framework and poor infrastructure provision. We have established that Nigeria’s total biofuel production at highest demand by 2020 (11.64 Million Tons) would require 51.8 Million Tons of feedstock comprising 48.44 Million Tons of cassava for bioethanol and 3.36 Million Tons of Jatropha curcas for biodiesel. This production demand would require 57.5 Thousand Sq. Km of land. This is less than 8% and 20% of the arable land (726 Thousand Sq. Km) or cultivated land (340 Thousand Sq. Km) in Nigeria respectively. Hence the food vs fuel fears were deemed unnecessary. We argue that the N1. 2 trillion (US $8 billion) fuel subsidy claimed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2011 be converted as seed capital for the take-off of the biofuels industry in the country

Analysis of Sustainable Cassava Biofuel Production in Nigeria

Nigeria's biofuels policy advocates the adoption of cassava as feedstock for a 10%-biofuel substitution option in Nigerian transport fuel demand. This policy option is expected to address energy security and environmental consequences of using fossil fuels as the sole source of transport energy in the country. This paper appraised the technological and economic factors necessary for achieving Nigeria's cassava-based biofuel initiative at different substitution levels of 5, 10, and 15% by the Year 2020. A multi-stage energy forecasting and project analysis framework adapted from Coate's structure for technology assessment, as well as engineering economy methodology was used for the study. Technological analysis entailed determining petrol consumption projection, R&D capability, input feedstock requirements, environmental considerations and land requirement for feedstock crop production while engineering economy analysis evaluated the economic viability of the project. The results showed that petrol consumption in Nigeria and bioethanol substitution requirements were in the range of 18,285.7 – 19,142.84 thousand tons and 914.28 (5% low demand) – 2871.43 (15% high demand) thousand tons, respectively by 2020. Cassava feedstock and landmass requirements for bioethanol production were in the range of 4.64 – 14.53 million tons and 4.08 – 12.80 thousand sq. km, respectively while carbon dioxide savings were between 1.87 – 5.89 million tons by 2020. The recovery price for cassava bioethanol was estimated to be US$ 0.74/litre . Petrol being subsidised presently is harmful to the environment though it ‘oils’ the economy. Nigeria currently subsidizes petroleum products to the tune of 28% of 2011 budget. The government plans to remove this by 2012. Thus we conclude that weighing both economic and environmental benefits of bioethanol substitution in petrol consumption in Nigeria, the study showed that bioethanol production from cassava feedstock would be both technically and economically viable, provided subsidy, which depends on political will on the side of the government, is introduced for the first ten years of its implementation

Risk mitigation strategies and policy implications for carbon dioxide (CO 2) emission in organically-amended soils in Nigeria

Global food security has been a challenge, especially in Africa. This has attracted the adoption of strategies to improve soil productivity and crop yield. One of such strategies is the use of solid wastes as soil organic matter amendments. An investigation of the effects of soil amendment using poultry manure, sawdust and their mixtures on carbon dioxide (CO 2) emission, maize (Zea mays L.) growth and dry matter yield were assessed under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Top soil obtained from unfertilized plots at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching and Research farm, Ile-Ife, Nigeria was used for the experiments. The organic amendments were added at the rate of 10 g/kg, treatments were in triplicates and treatment means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 95% level of significance. Results obtained revealed that CO 2 emission decreased while maize heights and dry matter yields significantly (P> 0.05) increased with increasing ratios of poultry manure in the poultry manure-sawdust mixtures. The CO 2 emission from poultry manure amended soil was about 61% that from sawdust amended soil while the mean height and dry matter yield in sawdust-amended soils were 84% and 52% respectively those obtained in poultry manure amended soil. This paper concludes that it is essential to design and implement policies that will guide and encourage the use of organic amendments at ratios that can enhance crop yield and mitigate CO 2 emission to the environment

Purification, characterization and toxicity of a mannose-binding lectin from the seeds of Treculia africana plant

In this study, a mannose-specific, homodimeric lectin from the seeds of Treculia africana was purified, characterized and its adverse effects were investigated in mice. The purification protocol involved anionic exchange chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The hemagglutinating activity of lectin towards human erythrocytes was sensitive to inhibition by D-mannose. Treatment of the protein with EDTA exerted no inhibitory effect; however, analysis of metal content by atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed the presence of Cu2+, Fe3+, and Mg2+. The results obtained showed that the lectin possesses maximum hemagglutinating activity towards human erythrocytes activity over the pH range 3–7.2 and is relatively thermostable up to 50°C. Periodic acid Schiff's (PAS) reagent staining showed that the protein was non-glycosylated while its amino acid composition analysis revealed that the protein contained 155 residues per subunit. The subunit had a minimal molecular weight of 22,139 Daltons, while the native molecular weight was estimated to be 41,000 Daltons. The lectin was found to be moderately toxic to mice with an LD50 of 47.21 µg g−1 body weight while, histopathological analysis showed no treatment related effects in any of the organs examined

Comparative antioxidant activity, total phenol and total flavonoid contents of two Nigerian ocimum species

Antioxidants are compounds which act as a major defense against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. In this study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant properties, phenolic and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Ocimum canum Sims was carried out. Crude extracts of both plants were obtained by maceration of powdered plant materials in methanol (80%) for 24hrs. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using standard methods while the antioxidant capacities were evaluated using six different in vitro radical scavenging assays: total antioxidant potential, reductive potential, I, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition, hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide scavenging activity. The total phenolic content in O. gratissimum and O. canum were found to be 32.66 ± 6.21 and 17.19 ± 2.54 mg GAE/g dw while total flavonoid content gave 1.94 ± 0.23 and 0.67 ± 0.01 mg QUE/g dw, respectively. Both extracts had effective reductive potential as well as exhibited strong total antioxidant capacity with increasing concentration of extract. Comparatively, O. gratissimum exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher capacity to quench the DPPH free radical with IC50 value of 26.01 ± 3.2 µg/ml than O. canum, which has an IC50 value of 60.45 ± 5.22 µg/m. O. gratissimum also significantly inhibited membrane lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical formation with IC50 of 99.37 ± 8.56 µg/ml and 465.33 ± 21.62 µg/ml, respectively while O. canum correspondingly gave IC50 values of 447.5 ± 35.61 µg/ml and 868.16 ± 43.05 µg/ml. In the nitric oxide scavenging activity, however, O. canum showed a stronger inhibitory effect than O. gratissimum as indicated by their IC50 values of 277.22 ± 15.09 µg/ml and 731 ± 56.99 µg/ml, respectively. These activities are however several folds lower than those of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), ascorbic acid and quercetin used as antioxidant standards. The results demonstrate that O. gratissimum has greater antioxidant capacity than O. canum because of its relatively higher radical scavenging activity in all antiradical tests carried out except the nitric acid scavenging test and higher contents of flavonoid and phenolic compounds. O. gratissimum is therefore more beneficial therapeutically than O. canum since it provides better defense against free radical induced oxidative stress, and this attribute probably explains its relative preference in ethnomedicine for both culinary and medicinal purposes amongst the Ocimum species widely cultivated in South Western Nigeria

Strategic issues in jatropha biofuel enterprise development in Nigeria

In Nigeria today, fossil fuels constitute the major source of energy for the economy with consumption costs in excess of N 654 billion for petrol, N 303.2 billion for diesel and N 194 billion for Kerosene. The global debate on Climate Change/CO 2 emissions and domestic concerns on economic, environmental and energy security implications have necessitated alterative energy options and created opportunities for sustainable biofuel enterprise in Nigeria. Jatropha curcas (known as Lapalapa in Yoruba-speaking parts of Nigeria) is an uncultivated non-food wild-species plant with great potential for bioenergy development in the country. The seeds are resistant to a high degree of aridity and contain 27-40% oil that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine. With estimated diesel demands in Nigeria being 3600-4200 thousand metric tonnes by 2020, there is an expansive opportunity for jatropha biofuel enterprise in the country. This study examines the strategic issues (technological, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural) governing its development and proposes policy recommendations for its successful exploitation

Evaluation of antioxidant and hypolipidaemic effects of fermented Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) seeds in tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidaemic rats

Globally, fermented foods form an intricate part of the staple diet of people. This study investigated the hypolipidaemic potential of fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa (African locust bean/iru), a popular condiment by supplementing (20% w/w) in animal feed. Animals (n= 5) in six treatment groups received; standard rat diet (control); iru-supplemented feed; standard rat feed with tyloxapol administered at the end of the experimental period (tyloxapol control); iru supplemented feed and triton at the end of the experimental period; standard feed with administration of fluvastatin sodium (40 and 80 mg/kg body weight) accordingly. Hyperlipidaemia was induced and ascertained by single intraperitoneal injection of 250 mg/kg triton WR 1339 (tyloxapol) constituted in normal saline. It was administered after six weeks experimental period to respective groups. The results revealed that addition of the fermented condiment into